Carpenters | ||
| Allmusic Biography : With their light, airy melodies and meticulously crafted, clean arrangements that appealed to a variety of audiences, the Carpenters stood in direct contrast to the excessive, gaudy pop/rock of the 70s. Yet, they became one of the most popular artists of the decade, winning four Grammy Awards, and scoring 12 Top Ten hits, and three number one singles, including the classic "(They Long to Be) Close to You" off 1970s Close to You. Karen Carpenters calm, pretty voice was the most distinctive element of their music, settling in perfectly amidst the precise, lush arrangements provided by her brother Richard. Though their popularity began to fade as the 70s progressed, the duo continued to make music together until Karens tragic death in 1983. The Carpenters formed in the late 60s in Downey, California, after their family moved from their native New Haven, Connecticut. Richard had played piano with a cocktail jazz trio in a handful of local Connecticut nightclubs. Once the family had moved to California, he began to study piano while he supported Karen in a trio that featured Wes Jacobs (tuba/bass). With Jacobs and Richard forming her backup band, Karen was signed to the local California record label Magic Lamp, which released two unsuccessful singles by the singer. The trio won a Battle of the Bands contest at the Hollywood Bowl in 1966, which led to a record contract with RCA. Signing under the name the Richard Carpenter Trio, the group cut four songs that were never released. Jacobs left the band at the beginning of 1968. Following Jacobs departure, the siblings formed Spectrum with Richards college friend John Bettis. Spectrum fell apart by the end of the year, but the Carpenters continued performing as a duo. The pair recorded some demos at the house of Los Angeles session musician Joe Osborn; the tape was directed toward Herb Alpert, the head of A&M; Records, who signed the duo to his record label in early 1969. Offering, the Carpenters first album, was released in November 1969. Neither Offering nor the accompanying single, a cover of the Beatles "Ticket to Ride," made a big impression. However, the Carpenters fortunes changed with their second single, a version of Burt Bacharach and Hal Davids "(They Long to Be) Close to You." Taken from the album Close to You, the single became the groups first number one, spending four weeks on the top of the U.S. charts. "Close to You" became an international hit, beginning a five-year period where the duo was one of the most popular recording acts in the world. During that period, the Carpenters won two Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist of 1970, and had an impressive string of Top Ten hits, including "Rainy Days and Mondays," "Superstar," "Hurting Each Other," "Goodbye to Love," "Yesterday Once More," and "Top of the World." After 1975s number four hit "Only Yesterday," the groups popularity began to decline. For the latter half of the 70s, the duo were plagued by personal problems. Richard had become addicted to prescription drugs; in 1978, he entered a recovery clinic, kicking his habit. Karen, meanwhile, became afflicted with anorexia nervosa, a disease she suffered from for the rest of her life. On top of their health problems, the groups singles had stopped reaching the Top Ten and by 1978, they werent even reaching the Top 40. Consequently, Karen decided to pursue a solo career, recording a solo album in 1979 with Phil Ramone; the record was never completed and she returned to the Carpenters later that year. The reunited duo released their last album of new material, Made in America, in 1981. The album marked a commercial comeback, as "Touch Me When Were Dancing" made it to number 16 on the charts. However, Karens health continued to decline, forcing the duo out of the spotlight. On February 4, 1983, Karen was found unconscious at her parents home in Downey; she died in the hospital that morning from cardiac arrest, caused by her anorexia. After Karens death, Richard Carpenter concentrated on production work and assembling various compilations of the Carpenters recorded work. In 1987, he released a solo album called Time, which featured guest appearances by Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick. More posthumous albums followed including 1989s Lovelines, which featured unreleased Carpenters tracks next to curated solo tracks by Karen. As Time Goes By also arrived in Japan in 2001. In 2018, Richard oversaw the production of Carpenters with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Recorded at the famed Abbey Road Studios, the album featured many of the duos original songs reworked with added orchestration by the London-based Royal Philharmonic. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 41 Title: Offering Released: 1969-10-09 Tracks: 13 Duration: 36:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Invocation (01:01) 2 Your Wonderful Parade (02:54) 3 Someday (05:20) 4 Get Together (02:37) 5 All of My Life (03:06) 6 Turn Away (03:12) 7 Ticket to Ride (04:13) 8 Dont Be Afraid (02:07) 9 Whats the Use (02:43) 10 All I Can Do (01:41) 11 Eve (02:53) 12 Nowadays Clancy Cant Even Sing (04:21) 13 Benediction (00:42) |
 | Album: 2 of 41 Title: Close to You Released: 1970-08-19 Tracks: 12 Duration: 39:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 We’ve Only Just Begun (03:05) 2 Love Is Surrender (01:59) 3 Maybe It’s You (03:05) 4 Reason to Believe (03:04) 5 Help (03:05) 6 (They Long to Be) Close to You (04:36) 7 Baby It’s You (02:52) 8 I’ll Never Fall in Love Again (03:00) 9 Crescent Noon (04:13) 10 Mr. Guder (03:15) 11 I Kept on Loving You (02:17) 12 Another Song (04:25) |
| Close to You : Allmusic album Review : Hurriedly put together in the wake of the success of the title song, and containing the follow-up hit "Weve Only Just Begun," Close to You is a surprisingly strong album, and not just for those hits. Richard Carpenters originals "Maybe Its You" and "Crescent Noon" are superb showcases for Karen Carpenters developing talent, the latter a superbly atmospheric, hauntingly beautiful art song of the kind that Judy Collins was doing well at the time, and gorgeously arranged. Theres also a Swingle Singers-style number, "Mr. Guder," showing off their paired vocal talents and more of Richards arranging talents. Karens singing on "Reason to Believe" isnt so much somber as it is passionate, as she emphasizes the melancholy component in the song more than most versions. Their version of "Help" lacks the inventiveness of "Ticket to Ride," although it has some pleasing vocal flourishes. The finale, "Another Song," tries hard for a serious rock sound, especially in Karens animated drumming, but its her voice that stands out. Released amid the political turmoil of 1970, in the wake of the Cambodian incursion, Kent State, and the conservative backlash against the antiwar forces, there was no way that the rock press or the most politically active listeners were going to appreciate this record, but the fact that it had two huge hit singles and earned a gold record award raised their ire against the Carpenters, a problem that would dog the duo for most of its career. But the public bought, and kept on buying. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 41 Title: Carpenters Released: 1971 Tracks: 10 Duration: 31:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 2 Saturday (01:18) 3 Let Me Be the One (02:25) 4 (A Place to) Hideaway (03:41) 5 For All We Know (02:33) 6 Superstar (03:46) 7 Druscilla Penny (02:14) 8 One Love (03:25) 9 Bacharach/David Medley: Knowing When to Leave / Make It Easy on Yourself / (There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me / I’ll Never Fall in Love Again / Walk On By / Do You Know the Way to San Jose (05:27) 10 Sometimes (02:52) |
| Carpenters : Allmusic album Review : The Carpenters radio-friendly soft rock virtually defined the genre in the early 1970s, and this album -- their third full-length -- was the groups ace card. Following on the heels of the wildly successful Close to You, Carpenters features more breezy melodies marked by rich arrangements and beautiful lead vocals, courtesy of siblings Richard Carpenter and Karen Carpenter, respectively. The record is most notable for two of the duos strongest and best-loved singles. "Rainy Days and Mondays," written by soft pop gods Paul Williams and Roger Nichols, is a bittersweet pop masterpiece fleshed out by Richards string orchestrations and smoothly produced backing vocals, while Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramletts "Superstar," from its melancholic verse to its dramatic chorus, is equally hard to resist. (Both songs showcase Karens sultry alto.) The rest of the album includes Richards bubble-gum pop originals, another Williams-Nichols tune ("Let Me Be the One"), and a medley of Burt Bacharach-Hal David tunes. Even more commercially streamlined than its predecessors, Carpenters is a classic of early-70s pop. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 41 Title: A Song for You Released: 1972 Tracks: 13 Duration: 37:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 A Song for You (04:41) 2 Top of the World (02:59) 3 Hurting Each Other (02:48) 4 It’s Going to Take Some Time (02:57) 5 Goodbye to Love (03:53) 6 Intermission (00:24) 7 Bless the Beasts and Children (03:08) 8 Flat Baroque (01:45) 9 Piano Picker (01:59) 10 I Won’t Last a Day Without You (03:48) 11 Crystal Lullaby (03:55) 12 Road Ode (03:44) 13 A Song for You (reprise) (00:56) |
| A Song for You : Allmusic album Review : The duos best album, and the place to start beyond the hits compilations. Up to the release of A Song for You, the Carpenters success had seemed an awesome if somewhat fluky phenomenon, built on prodigious talent, some beautifully crafted pop sensibilities, and a very fortunate choice of singles -- their albums Close to You and Carpenters, though they were top-sellers, both seemed just a bit thrown together. Then came A Song for You, a seemingly unified concept album written and recorded during a frantic period of concert activity, and brimming with lovely musical ideas even more lovingly executed, laced with good humor, and enough hits of its own to have established any artists career on its own. And even in between the hits, the album was built on material that could have made a whole career for anyone. The duos version of a then-new Carole King song, "Its Going to Take Some Time," not only became a hit single but helped them in the "cool" department, Carole King being about the hottest musical personality there was at that particular time. One song, "Top of the World," which Richard Carpenter had only visualized as album track, became an unexpected hit single and one of the most popular songs of the decade. And where the Close to You LP had included some beautiful album tracks ("Crescent Noon," " "Maybe Its You"), A Song for You was dripping with masterpieces, including "Crystal Lullaby" and "Road Ode"; Richard Carpenters "Piano Picker," a confessional piece sung by the composer, also marked the high point of his solo vocal contributions to the duos music. Even the two cuts that reach back into the past -- the soft jazz instrumental "Flat Baroque," a 1966-vintage Richard Carpenter composition that he resurrected for this release, and "Bless the Beasts and the Children," the B-side of "Superstar" from more than a year earlier (written for a Stanley Kramer movie) -- slot in perfectly among the new songs. The high point of their recording career, A Song for You marked the last time that their music (and the only occasion that one of their albums) would be accepted in the rock world on its own terms, without the duos squeaky-clean image and sound, and middle-class dorkiness becoming a drag on their sales and image. A Song for You has been released several times on CD, the best of which by far is the 1999 A&M; remastering with new notes and full lyrics. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 41 Title: The Carpenters Collection Released: 1973 Tracks: 36 Duration: 1:57:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 (They Long to Be) Close to You (04:33) 2 Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (03:38) 3 Bless the Beasts and Children (03:08) 4 Saturday (01:20) 5 Help (03:05) 6 For All We Know (02:33) 7 A Song for You (04:37) 8 Sing (03:18) 9 Let Me Be the One (02:25) 10 Mr. Guder (03:17) 11 Ill Never Fall in Love Again (03:02) 12 Goodbye to Love (03:50) 1 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 2 Love Is Surrender (01:58) 3 Heather (02:51) 4 Maybe Its You (03:02) 5 Druscilla Penny (02:18) 6 This Masquerade (04:50) 7 Superstar (03:49) 8 Flat Baroque (01:45) 9 I Wont Last a Day Without You (03:50) 10 I Kept On Loving You (02:16) 11 Crystal Lullaby (03:55) 12 I Cant Make Music (03:17) 1 Yesterday Once More (03:49) 2 Bacharach/David Medley: Knowing When to Leave / Make It Easy on Yourself / (There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me / I’ll Never Fall in Love Again / Walk On By / Do You Know the Way to San Jose (05:27) 3 Baby It’s You (02:52) 4 Hurting Each Other (02:48) 5 Reason to Believe (03:04) 6 Sometimes (02:52) 7 Weve Only Just Begun (03:04) 8 Top of the World (02:56) 9 One Love (03:25) 10 Its Going to Take Some Time (02:55) 11 Hideaway (03:40) 12 Another Song (04:25) |
 | Album: 6 of 41 Title: The Singles 1969–1973 Released: 1973 Tracks: 12 Duration: 41:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 We’ve Only Just Begun (04:10) 2 Top of the World (02:59) 3 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 4 Superstar (03:46) 5 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:25) 6 Goodbye to Love (03:56) 7 Yesterday Once More (03:58) 8 It’s Going to Take Some Time (02:57) 9 Sing (03:18) 10 For All We Know (02:36) 11 Hurting Each Other (02:48) 12 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) |
| The Singles 1969–1973 : Allmusic album Review : Theres a certain inherent sadness listening to this concise 12-song collection of the Carpenters early hits, especially as it opens with "Weve Only Just Begun," with its hopeful, dreamy lyrics -- for it was never supposed to be definitive, just the first of at least two such collections. But changes in the publics taste and a slackening (though never a disappearance) of hits for the duo, and Karen Carpenters death in 1983, made this the first and only real mass choice for a Carpenters collection. Ten of the duos dozen Top Ten hits are present, from "Close to You" to "Top of the World," with their gorgeous and original slow ballad interpretation of "Ticket to Ride" and their cover of Carole Kings "Its Going to Take Some Time" thrown in to offer a slightly wider perspective. Listening to this material, its easy to accuse the Carpenters of being hopelessly retro even in their own time -- bear in mind that "Weve Only Just Begun" and "Superstar" being contemporaneous with the Allman Brothers At Fillmore East and Eat a Peach and you get the idea. But the lush melodies brought out in Richard Carpenters arrangements and Karens singing are justification in themselves. [The 1999 reissue in A&M;s Remastered Classics series (#82839-3601-2) has a closer, toughened but warmer sound. Yes, the strings are brighter, to the point of glistening, but the rhythm section (Joe Osborn on bass, Hal Blaine on drums) has more impact as well. Moreover, the full original notes from the insert are now included, explaining how each song came to be discovered and recorded.] | ||
 | Album: 7 of 41 Title: Carpenters: The Singles: 1969-1973 Released: 1973 Tracks: 12 Duration: 41:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 We’ve Only Just Begun (04:08) 2 Top of the World (02:58) 3 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 4 Superstar (03:43) 5 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:23) 6 Goodbye to Love (03:56) 7 Yesterday Once More (03:59) 8 It’s Going to Take Some Time (02:56) 9 Sing (03:20) 10 For All We Know (02:34) 11 Hurting Each Other (02:48) 12 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) |
 | Album: 8 of 41 Title: Now & Then Released: 1973-05-09 Tracks: 15 Duration: 37:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Sing (03:18) 2 This Masquerade (04:53) 3 Heather (02:51) 4 Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (03:42) 5 I Can’t Make Music (03:19) 6 Yesterday Once More (03:58) 7 Fun, Fun, Fun (01:40) 8 The End of the World (02:26) 9 Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home) (01:46) 10 Deadman’s Curve (01:32) 11 Johnny Angel (01:31) 12 The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (02:17) 13 Our Day Will Come (02:00) 14 One Fine Day (01:39) 15 Yesterday Once More (reprise) (00:59) |
| Now & Then : Allmusic album Review : It was with the release of Now & Then that the Carpenters lost any pretense of being even dorky cool. The album jacket was a giveaway, depicting them in a car in front of a suburban home. The problem also laid in the relentlessly cheerful childrens chorus on "Sing," which seemed to come out of every public music outlet that spring and summer; the silly version of "Jambalaya" on side one; and the oldies medley on the second side, which at least predated Happy Days going on the air but still botched its job, mixing Karen Carpenters haunting rendition of "Johnny Angel" and her spirited version of "One Fine Day" (anticipating her white-bread but effective version of "Beechwood 4-5789") with filler like "Fun, Fun, Fun" and "Dead Mans Curve," all interspersed with Tony Peluso doing his best (i.e., worst) imitation of an obnoxious disc jockey. Whatever the reason, from the moment of the release of Now & Then, listeners under 30 buying a Carpenters album would have good reason to go to a neighborhood where no one knew them to make the purchase, and hide it from their friends. The pity is that the medley paled next to its framing song, the wistful "Yesterday Once More," the last really memorable song that the duo introduced, which summed up in four minutes all of the emotions and sensations that the medley took 15 to deliver. And that song was botched in its album edit, which, instead of giving it an ending, made it part of the medley, with an annoying segue into the latter. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 41 Title: Horizon Released: 1974 Tracks: 10 Duration: 34:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Aurora (01:33) 2 Only Yesterday (04:11) 3 Desperado (03:37) 4 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 5 I Can Dream Cant I (04:59) 6 Solitaire (04:41) 7 Happy (03:50) 8 (Im Caught Between) Goodbye and I Love You (04:06) 9 Love Me for What I Am (03:31) 10 Eventide (01:31) |
| Horizon : Allmusic album Review : The Carpenters were one of the more ubiquitous and successful acts of the early and mid-70s. Songs like "Close to You" and "Rainy Days and Mondays" make the shortlist of pop classics of the 70s. Unfortunately, their 1973 retrospective, 1969-1973, might have wrapped up their commercial careers too soon. This 1975 effort seems to be willing to explore sad emotions with the blithe songs appearing almost as an afterthought. Although it would sound the death knell for many efforts, with Karen Carpenters pitch-perfect and sorrowful voice, its actually a nice fit, and an emphasis on the duos subtext. The beautifully arranged "Aurora" sets the albums ambience. "Eventide," a continuation of the melody and theme, shows up later in the album. The covers, "Desperado" and "Please Mr. Postman," have the duo adding nothing new to the tracks. A more convincing take on the standard "I Can Dream, Cant I?" was co-arranged and orchestrated by the legendary Billy May. The track, despite the depressing horn and backing vocal arrangement, has Carpenters empathy and tone ringing clear. Another cover, "Solitaire" written by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody, is melodramatic but a great match for Carpenters voice. The originals, including "(Im Caught Between) Goodbye and I Love You," are competent but not magical, and that fact diminishes the effort. Although some might be put off by the sorrow-or-bust ethos of this, Horizon gains its strength from strong production values and, of course, Karen Carpenters singular gifts as an interpreter. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 41 Title: A Kind of Hush Released: 1976-06-11 Tracks: 10 Duration: 33:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 There’s a Kind of Hush (03:04) 2 You (03:47) 3 Sandy (03:42) 4 Goofus (03:09) 5 Cant Smile Without You (03:24) 6 I Need to Be in Love (03:37) 7 One More Time (03:32) 8 Boat to Sail (03:31) 9 I Have You (03:27) 10 Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (02:35) |
| A Kind of Hush : Allmusic album Review : The formula behind the Carpenters albums was starting to get fairly routine -- a hit single and an oldie or two (which sometimes was the single) surrounded by some well-produced soft pop/rock, driven by electric piano, strings, and a guitar solo or two cropping up. "Theres a Kind of a Hush" and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" are the two most memorable tracks on this pleasant, well-sung, and well-played, but basically bland, album, A Kind of Hush. There are virtues here -- "You" has a good guitar solo by Tony Peluso, and the vocals on "Sandy" are radiant, but this record was where the real rot began to set into the Carpenters fortunes, in terms of remaining connected to rock. Instead of covering Leon Russells or Carole Kings contemporary material, theyre doing songs like "Cant Smile Without You" -- the latter is very sweetly sung by Karen Carpenter, and gets a lyrical but spare arrangement from Richard Carpenter, but they needed something more credible to the under-30 audience (and especially material that, if not attractive to guys in that age range, at least wouldnt make them self-conscious about listening to it with their girlfriends) on this album, and it wasnt here. If you close your eyes, its possible to imagine Captain & Tennille, not to mention Debby Boone, taking lessons from this release, although Karens voice was still beyond comparison with any of them. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 41 Title: Passage Released: 1977 Tracks: 8 Duration: 39:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Bwana She No Home (05:35) 2 All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (03:46) 3 I Just Fall in Love Again (04:04) 4 On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada / Dont Cry for Me Argentina (08:13) 5 Sweet, Sweet Smile (03:02) 6 Two Sides (03:28) 7 Man Smart, Woman Smarter (04:21) 8 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (07:06) |
| Passage : Allmusic album Review : Passage is surprisingly ambitious, almost experimental by the standards of the Carpenters -- there are no Richard Carpenter-authored songs, a first for the duo, and what is here seems an almost conscious effort to sound different from their prior work. That includes the ornate versions of "Dont Cry for Me Argentina" and "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft," both arranged by Peter Knight (best known for his work with the Moody Blues on Days of Future Passed). The Evita song, which comes complete with its surrounding musical material, is so much more elaborate than anything else on the album that it seems completely out of place. Richard evidently had what he felt were good reasons for choosing to record Klaatus piece of space rock ersatz, and it is hard not to luxuriate in Karen Carpenters enunciation of the lyrics, but overall "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" is one of those 70s records that is truly embarrassing to be caught listening to today, a pop culture Jimmy Carter-era artifact on a par with pet rocks. The album also has its unusually playful side, represented by the country number "Sweet, Sweet Smile" and the Calypso piece "Man Smart, Woman Smarter," although the latter doesnt work at all and neither track would ever find a place even on a "volume three" of the best of the Carpenters. Much more memorable was "All You Get from Love Is a Love Song," which also had more of a beat than one was accustomed to in the duos music, and the dark, melancholy-tinged "Two Sides." The effort was admirable even if most of the results arent memorable or essential. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 41 Title: The Singles 1974-1978 Released: 1978 Tracks: 12 Duration: 47:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Sweet Sweet Smile (03:02) 2 Jambalaya (03:43) 3 Cant Smile Without You (03:24) 4 I Won’t Last a Day Without You (03:50) 5 All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (03:47) 6 Only Yesterday (04:11) 7 Solitaire (04:41) 8 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 9 I Need to Be in Love (03:33) 10 Happy (03:51) 11 Theres a Kind of Hush (02:58) 12 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (07:06) |
| The Singles 1974-1978 : Allmusic album Review : The second hits compilation by the Carpenters wasnt dealing from strength nearly as much as its predecessor -- The Singles 1969-1973 represented tens of millions of radio plays, and songs that were impossible to avoid (nor would most of us have wanted to avoid them). The years covered on this album, by contrast, represent the point where the Carpenters really big hits had stopped coming, though what is here comes off today as perfectly good, eminently listenable soft rock -- its hard to get through their version of "Jambalaya" with a straight face, and "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" is still an unfortunate artifact of its time (which, ever more so, as the decades roll on, requires an explanation for listeners who werent around at the time). But otherwise, it is great fun, even if the best material here isnt much more than an echo of the convergence of music, moment, and talent represented by the duos first four years of work. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 41 Title: Christmas Portrait Released: 1978-10-13 Tracks: 17 Duration: 49:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 O Come, O Come Immanuel (00:28) 2 Overture (04:39) 3 Christmas Waltz (02:13) 4 Sleigh Ride (02:39) 5 Its Christmas Time / Sleep Well, Little Children (02:53) 6 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (03:54) 7 Santa Claus Is Comin to Town (01:05) 8 Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (03:39) 9 Silent Night (03:21) 10 Jingle Bells (01:11) 11 First Snowfall / Let It Snow (03:33) 12 Carol of the Bells (01:39) 13 Merry Christmas Darling (03:07) 14 Ill Be Home for Christmas (03:49) 15 Christ Is Born (03:13) 16 Winter Wonderland / Silver Bells / White Christmas (05:29) 17 Ave Maria (02:35) |
| Christmas Portrait : Allmusic album Review : The Carpenters were just about the last adult pop outfit of their era with anything resembling rock credibility (they did have a little of the latter in the early days, and werent a kid act like the Osmonds) who could have pulled off a straight Christmas album. And they did it in superb style here, illuminated throughout by the delightful, complex, often playful arrangements, courtesy of Peter Knight, Richard Carpenter, and Billy May. Actually, for a change on a Carpenters album, Richard is the dominant personality on display across this record, as both co-arranger and producer, as well as the mastermind behind the project; Karen Carpenters voice is also prominent, to be sure, most notably on "Merry Christmas, Darling" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and she threw herself into this next-to-last completed project (and their final release before a two-year hiatus), but its Richard who comes to the fore everywhere here, in ways that are impossible to ignore. And the results are mightily impressive, as the mood never slackens in what amounts to a wall-to-wall celebration of the Christmas holiday. After a suitably festive introductory section, Karen Carpenters solo voice comes up on the "Christmas Waltz" and the proceedings really take off, carrying us into the most engaging rendition of Leroy Andersons "Sleigh Ride" that has come down in many a year, and it only gets better from there, through a brace of holiday staples that end up sounding fresh in her voice and his arrangements. Theres not a slack moment on this album. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 41 Title: Made in America Released: 1981 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Those Good Old Dreams (04:12) 2 Strength of a Woman (03:59) 3 (Want You) Back in My Life Again (03:40) 4 When Youve Got What It Takes (03:43) 5 Somebodys Been Lyin (04:26) 6 I Believe You (03:54) 7 Touch Me When We’re Dancing (03:20) 8 When Its Gone (Its Just Gone) (05:02) 9 Beechwood 4-5789 (03:08) 10 Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song) (05:01) |
| Made in America : Allmusic album Review : The Carpenters final album, Made in America, released after their two-year break from work, a period in which Karen Carpenter attempted a solo album and when Richard was incapacitated due to a drug problem, is very much a comeback effort, with a fair amount of energy on most of it, newly radiant arrangements ("The Wedding Song," etc.), one cute oldie cover ("Beechwood 4-5789," which was made into a video), and the best new songs theyd had since the mid-70s ("Those Good Old Dreams," "Touch Me When Were Dancing"). The latter song, in particular, marked a breakthrough to a new sound and a new sensuality in Karens image as a singer, and could have led to a new beginning for all concerned, and the album as a whole was more energetic and memorable than anything theyd done since A Song for You. Unfortunately, the singer was already suffering from worsening effects of the psychological disorder that would kill her less than two years after the release of this album -- "The Wedding Song," in particular, seems now like an unintentionally poignant bookend on the other end of her life and career from "Weve Only Just Begun." | ||
 | Album: 15 of 41 Title: Voice of the Heart Released: 1983-10-18 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Now (03:51) 2 Sailing on the Tide (04:23) 3 Youre Enough (03:48) 4 Make Believe Its Your First Time (04:09) 5 Two Lives (04:34) 6 At the End of a Song (03:39) 7 Ordinary Fool (03:42) 8 Prime Time Love (03:12) 9 Your Baby Doesnt Love You Anymore (03:51) 10 Look to Your Dreams (05:14) |
| Voice of the Heart : Allmusic album Review : Consisting of previously unreleased masters for a solo album by Karen, this album was compiled by Richard. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 41 Title: Yesterday Once More Released: 1984 Tracks: 13 Duration: 49:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Yesterday Once More (03:57) 2 Superstar (03:45) 3 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:38) 4 (Want You) Back in My Life Again (03:37) 5 Ticket to Ride (04:08) 6 Goodbye to Love (03:57) 7 Bless the Beasts and Children (03:16) 8 Its Going to Take Some Time (02:55) 9 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (07:07) 10 Sweet Sweet Smile (02:57) 11 I Wont Last a Day Without You (03:50) 12 For All We Know (02:29) 13 Touch Me When Were Dancing (03:21) |
 | Album: 17 of 41 Title: An Old-Fashioned Christmas Released: 1984 Tracks: 14 Duration: 49:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (00:43) 2 Overture: Happy Holiday / The First Noel / March of the Toys / Little Jesus / I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus / O Little Town of Bethlehem / In Dulce Jubilo / Gesu Bambino (The Infant Jesus) / Angels We Have Heard on High (08:14) 3 An Old-Fashioned Christmas (02:14) 4 O Holy Night (03:10) 5 (Theres No Place Like) Home for the Holidays (02:35) 6 Medley: Here Comes Santa Claus / Frosty the Snowman / Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Good King Wenceslas (03:43) 7 Little Altar Boy (03:43) 8 Do You Hear What I Hear? (02:53) 9 My Favorite Things (03:54) 10 He Came Here for Me (02:12) 11 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (04:04) 12 What Are You Doing New Years Eve? (02:51) 13 Selections from The Nutcracker: Overture Miniature / Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy / Trepak / Valse Des Fleurs (06:15) 14 I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (02:24) |
| An Old-Fashioned Christmas : Allmusic album Review : Their second Christmas album, with more of the soft sounds of the season, is made for mistletoe and someone you love. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 41 Title: Carpenters (A&M Gold Series) Released: 1986 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:02:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) 2 Top of the World (02:59) 3 Superstar (03:46) 4 I Won’t Last a Day Without You (03:48) 5 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 6 Goodbye to Love (03:56) 7 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 8 Reason to Believe (03:04) 9 Love Is Surrender (01:56) 10 It’s Going to Take Some Time (02:57) 11 Desperado (03:37) 12 Solitaire (04:41) 13 Let Me Be the One (02:25) 14 Touch Me When We’re Dancing (03:20) 15 Those Good Old Dreams (04:12) 16 Sweet, Sweet Smile (02:58) 17 I Need to Be in Love (03:30) 18 Make Believe Its Your First Time (04:09) |
 | Album: 19 of 41 Title: Classics, Volume 2 Released: 1987 Tracks: 27 Duration: 1:40:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Yesterday Once More (03:58) 2 Superstar (03:46) 3 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 4 (Want You) Back in My Life Again (03:38) 5 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 6 Goodbye to Love (03:56) 7 Bless the Beasts and Children (03:16) 8 It’s Going to Take Some Time (02:57) 9 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (07:06) 10 Sweet, Sweet Smile (02:58) 11 I Won’t Last a Day Without You (03:48) 12 For All We Know (02:29) 13 Touch Me When We’re Dancing (03:20) 1 There’s a Kind of Hush (03:04) 2 This Masquerade (04:53) 3 Hurting Each Other (02:48) 4 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 5 I Need to Be in Love (03:30) 6 Make Believe Its Your First Time (04:03) 7 All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (03:46) 8 Top of the World (02:59) 9 Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song) (05:02) 10 We’ve Only Just Begun (03:05) 11 Those Good Old Dreams (04:12) 12 Sing (03:18) 13 Only Yesterday (03:49) 14 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) |
 | Album: 20 of 41 Title: Reminiscing Released: 1988 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:11:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Yesterday Once More (03:58) 2 Superstar (03:46) 3 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 4 Goodbye To Love (03:56) 5 Its Going to Take Some Time This Time (02:56) 6 Sweet, Sweet Smile (03:01) 7 Solitaire (04:39) 8 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 9 I Need to Be in Love (03:35) 10 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (07:04) 11 Only Yesterday (03:53) 12 Theres a Kind of Hush (03:05) 13 Hurting Each Other (02:47) 14 Touch Me When Were Dancing (03:22) 15 For All We Know (02:35) 16 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) 17 Top of the World (02:59) 18 All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (03:46) 19 Weve Only Just Begun (03:06) 20 Sing (03:10) |
 | Album: 21 of 41 Title: Only Yesterday - O Melhor de Carpenters Released: 1989 Tracks: 14 Duration: 52:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Only Yesterday (04:46) 2 Superstar (03:45) 3 For All We Know (02:29) 4 (Want You) Back in My Life (03:38) 5 Sing (03:14) 6 All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (03:32) 7 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthemof World Contact Day) (06:56) 8 Please Mr. Postman (02:47) 9 Hurting Each Other (02:43) 10 Goodbye to Love (03:48) 11 Rainy Days And Mondays (03:34) 12 Its Going To Take Some Time (02:54) 13 This Masquerade (04:47) 14 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) |
 | Album: 22 of 41 Title: Lovelines Released: 1989 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Lovelines (04:30) 2 Where Do I Go from Here (04:25) 3 The Uninvited Guest (04:25) 4 If We Try (03:45) 5 When I Fall in Love (03:08) 6 Kiss Me the Way You Did Last Night (04:04) 7 Remember when Lovin Took All Night (03:49) 8 Youre the One (04:14) 9 Honolulu City Lights (03:21) 10 Slow Dance (03:33) 11 If I Had You (03:58) 12 Little Girl Blue (03:24) |
| Lovelines : Allmusic album Review : Lovelines commemorated the duos 20-year association with A&M; Records, though Karen had passed away six years before. Ten of the 12 tracks were recorded for other albums but were not included for various reasons; two are remixes of previously released material. Richard penned the liner notes, which give some insight into the history of the pieces. "When I Fall in Love" brings a tear to the eye as it captures that indefinable and completely unique quality that Karen brought to each song she sang. While the material in this compilation is not sensational or ground-breaking, it is definitely a sentimental selection of tunes that go easy on the ear. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 41 Title: Carpenters, Volume 1 Released: 1990 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:02:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) 2 Top of the World (03:00) 3 Superstar (03:50) 4 I Wont Last a Day Without You (03:49) 5 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 6 Goodbye to Love (03:56) 7 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 8 Reason to Believe (03:04) 9 Love Is Surrender (01:55) 10 Its Going to Take Sometime (02:57) 11 Desperado (03:37) 12 Solitaire (04:42) 13 Let Me Be the One (02:26) 14 Touch Me When Were Dancing (03:22) 15 Cant Smile Without You (03:24) 16 Sweet, Sweet Smile (03:03) 17 I Need to Be in Love (03:36) 18 Make Believe Its Your First Time (04:03) |
 | Album: 24 of 41 Title: Their Greatest Hits Released: 1990 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:16:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Yesterday Once More (remix) (03:58) 2 Superstar (remix) (03:45) 3 Rainy Days and Mondays (remix) (03:35) 4 Top of the World (single mix) (02:58) 5 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 6 Goodbye to Love (remix) (03:56) 7 This Masquerade (04:53) 8 Hurting Each Other (02:48) 9 Solitaire (04:41) 10 We’ve Only Just Begun (remix) (03:03) 11 Those Good Old Dreams (04:12) 12 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 13 I Won’t Last a Day Without You (03:48) 14 Touch Me When We’re Dancing (03:20) 15 Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (03:41) 16 For All We Know (02:33) 17 All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (03:47) 18 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) 19 Only Yesterday (03:49) 20 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (remix) (07:08) |
 | Album: 25 of 41 Title: Only Yesterday: Richard & Karen Carpenter’s Greatest Hits Released: 1990-03-01 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:16:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Yesterday Once More (remix) (03:58) 2 Superstar (remix) (03:45) 3 Rainy Days and Mondays (remix) (03:35) 4 Top of the World (single mix) (02:58) 5 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 6 Goodbye to Love (remix) (03:56) 7 This Masquerade (04:53) 8 Hurting Each Other (02:48) 9 Solitaire (04:41) 10 We’ve Only Just Begun (remix) (03:03) 11 Those Good Old Dreams (04:12) 12 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 13 I Won’t Last a Day Without You (03:48) 14 Touch Me When We’re Dancing (03:20) 15 Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (03:42) 16 For All We Know (02:33) 17 All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (03:47) 18 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) 19 Only Yesterday (03:49) 20 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognised Anthem of World Contact Day) (remix) (07:08) |
 | Album: 26 of 41 Title: From the Top Released: 1991 Tracks: 67 Duration: 3:25:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Caravan (03:38) 2 The Parting of Our Ways (02:20) 3 Looking for Love (01:52) 4 Ill Be Yours (02:28) 5 Iced Tea (02:36) 6 Youll Love Me (02:27) 7 All I Can Do (01:50) 8 Dont Be Afraid (02:07) 9 Invocation (01:01) 10 Your Wonderful Parade (02:22) 11 Goodnight (02:34) 12 All of My Life (03:02) 13 Eve (02:52) 14 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 15 Get Together (02:37) 16 Interview (01:35) 17 Maybe Its You (03:10) 18 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) 19 We’ve Only Just Begun (03:05) 20 Merry Christmas Darling (03:07) 21 For All We Know (02:32) 1 Superstar (03:45) 2 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 3 Let Me Be the One (02:48) 4 Bless the Beasts and Children (03:15) 5 Hurting Each Other (02:48) 6 Top of the World (02:59) 7 Goodbye to Love (04:00) 8 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (04:04) 9 This Masquerade (04:53) 10 Canta - Sing (Spanish lyric) (03:20) 11 Yesterday Once More (03:50) 12 Medley: A. Fun, Fun, Fun (01:40) 13 Medley: B. The End of the World (02:26) 14 Medley: C. Da Doo Ron Ron (01:46) 15 Medley: D. Deadmans Curve (01:32) 16 Medley: E. Johnny Angel (01:31) 17 Medley: F. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (02:22) 18 Medley: G. Our Day Will Come (02:00) 19 Medley: H. One Fine Day (01:33) 20 Yesterday Once More (Reprise) (01:02) 21 Radio Contest Outtakes (01:53) 1 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 2 Only Yesterday (03:59) 3 Solitaire (04:41) 4 Good Friends Are for Keeps (01:08) 5 Ordinary Fool (03:42) 6 I Need to Be in Love (03:48) 7 From This Moment On (02:13) 8 Suntory Pop Jingle # 1 (00:33) 9 Suntory Pop Jingle # 2 (00:33) 10 All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (03:46) 11 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (07:09) 12 Christ Is Born (03:12) 13 White Christmas (02:29) 14 Little Altar Boy (03:43) 15 Ave Maria (02:36) 1 Where Do I Go from Here (04:25) 2 Little Girl Blue (03:24) 3 If I Had You (03:58) 4 My Body Keeps Changing My Mind (03:50) 5 Still Crazy After All These Years (04:19) 6 Medley: Sing / Knowing When to Leave / Make It Easy on Yourself / Someday / Weve Only Just Begun (09:08) 7 Touch Me When Were Dancing (03:22) 8 When It’s Gone (05:01) 9 Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song) (05:02) 10 Now (03:51) |
| From the Top : Allmusic album Review : The Carpenters box set retrospective From the Top is a 67-track, four-CD set running under 3 ½ hours (which means it could have fit on three CDs) that traces Richard and Karen Carpenters musical efforts from the formation of the Richard Carpenter Trio in 1965 to Karens final recording session in April 1982. This is Richards compilation; he introduces it and writes a track-by-track commentary, and has also done a lot of refurbishing, remixing 40 tracks and providing "additional recording" on many. The set proceeds chronologically, and most of the 20 previously unreleased tracks date from the 60s, as the groups emerging sound can be traced in demos. The Carpenters hitmaking period of 1970-75 is extensively covered from the last quarter of the first disc to the start of the third, with most of their big hits included, though Richard excludes a few without comment. Also included are many album tracks that sometimes match the quality of the singles. Richard includes a couple of the Carpenters singles from the second half of the 70s, and devotes the rest of the third disc and most of the fourth to excerpts from stray projects -- Christmas albums, TV specials, Karens solo album (which Richard carefully notes went unreleased "at Karens behest"). As such, there is necessarily a fall-off in the sets quality. But by sequencing the songs chronologically, choosing only the ones he wants, and remaking them to his satisfaction, Richard is telling his version of the Carpenters story, chronicling his bands rise and fall, which occurred in artistic and commercial terms well before his sisters death. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 41 Title: Carpenters Best vol.1 Released: 1994 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:09:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Superstar (03:49) 2 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 3 Top of the World (02:59) 4 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 5 This Masquerade (04:53) 6 Sometimes (02:39) 7 Theres a Kind of Hush (All Over the World) (03:04) 8 It’s Going to Take Some Time (02:57) 9 Touch Me When We’re Dancing (03:20) 10 Now (03:51) 11 A Song for You (04:37) 12 Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song) (05:02) 13 I Need to Be in Love (03:48) 14 Hurting Each Other (02:47) 15 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 16 Desperado (03:37) 17 All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (03:46) 18 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (07:09) |
 | Album: 28 of 41 Title: Radio Years Released: 1994 Tracks: 10 Duration: 34:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Aurora (01:32) 2 Only Yesterday (04:11) 3 Desperado (03:37) 4 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 5 I Can Dream Cant I (04:59) 6 Solitaire (04:39) 7 Happy (03:50) 8 Goodbye I Love You (04:05) 9 Love Me for What I Am (03:31) 10 Eventide (01:35) |
 | Album: 29 of 41 Title: Carpenters Best vol.2 Released: 1994 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:04:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Yesterday Once More (03:58) 2 We’ve Only Just Begun (03:05) 3 Those Good Old Dreams (04:11) 4 Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (03:38) 5 Mr. Guder (03:20) 6 I Won’t Last a Day Without You (03:54) 7 Sandy (03:41) 8 For All We Know (02:33) 9 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) 10 Bless the Beasts and Children (03:15) 11 Sing (03:17) 12 Only Yesterday (03:46) 13 Let Me Be the One (02:48) 14 Make Believe Its Your First Time (04:09) 15 I Just Fall in Love Again (04:04) 16 I Believe You (03:54) 17 Reason to Believe (03:04) 18 Goodbye to Love (03:56) |
 | Album: 30 of 41 Title: Interpretations: A 25th Anniversary Celebration Released: 1994 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:19:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Without a Song (A Cappella version) (01:01) 2 Sing (03:18) 3 Bless the Beasts and Children (03:15) 4 This Masquerade (04:53) 5 Solitaire (04:41) 6 When I Fall in Love (03:08) 7 From This Moment On (01:56) 8 Tryin to Get the Feeling Again (04:21) 9 When It’s Gone (05:01) 10 Where Do I Go from Here (04:25) 11 Desperado (03:37) 12 Superstar (03:46) 13 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 14 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 15 If I Had You (03:56) 16 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 17 We’ve Only Just Begun (03:05) 18 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (07:09) 19 Little Girl Blues (03:24) 20 Youre the One (04:14) 21 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) |
| Interpretations: A 25th Anniversary Celebration : Allmusic album Review : The point of the relatively brief Interpretations: A 25th Anniversary Celebration video compilation is to present performances by the Carpenters of songs written by people other than Richard Carpenter. That includes some of their biggest hits, such as "(They Long to Be) Close to You," "Weve Only Just Begun," "Rainy Days and Mondays," and "Superstar." No sources are given for the material, though it can be presumed to come from the Carpenters television specials, since they are usually found on what look like TV sound stages, miming the studio recordings of their songs. Karen Carpenter is generally seen wearing a gown or lacy granny dress, while Richard turns up in tuxedos with frilly shirts and droopy bowties, as if the two of them are just about to leave for their senior prom. Some segments are slightly more elaborate. "Bless the Beasts and Children" features footage of animals and children; "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" begins with a disc jockey and features an orchestra; "(They Long to Be) Close to You" seems to be, if not a live performance, at least not just a lip-synched version of the original recording. Far better than the rest are several renditions of standards by Karen, notably "Little Girl Blue" and "When I Fall in Love," though in these late tapes she looks thin and prematurely old, in striking contrast to the younger version of her on the early tapes. | ||
 | Album: 31 of 41 Title: Sixteen Hits of the Carpenters Released: 1994 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:00:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Superstar (remix) (03:50) 2 Rainy Days and Mondays (remix) (03:37) 3 Top of the World (single mix) (03:00) 4 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 5 Sing (03:19) 6 Solitaire (04:41) 7 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 8 I Won’t Last Day Without You (03:55) 9 For All We Know (02:33) 10 Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (03:39) 11 There’s a Kind of Hush (03:05) 12 Touch Me When We’re Dancing (03:22) 13 Those Good Old Dreams (04:14) 14 Bless the Beast and Children (03:19) 15 Goodbye to Love (remix) (03:59) 16 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (remix) (07:12) |
 | Album: 32 of 41 Title: Treasures Released: 1994-09-01 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:00:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Baby It’s You (02:52) 2 Look to Your Dreams (05:10) 3 Bless the Beasts and the Children (03:15) 4 I Just Fall in Love Again (04:04) 5 Desperado (03:37) 6 Eve (02:53) 7 Make Believe Its Your First Time (04:09) 8 Because We Are in Love (05:02) 9 Dont Cry for Me Argentina (05:46) 10 Let Me Be the One (02:25) 11 Road Ode (03:53) 12 I Need to Be in Love (03:49) 13 Now (03:50) 14 Reason to Believe (03:04) 15 Help (03:05) 16 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) |
 | Album: 33 of 41 Title: Interpretations: Carpenters: A 25th Anniversary Celebration Released: 1995 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:00:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Without a Song (A Cappella version) (01:01) 2 Superstar (03:46) 3 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 4 Bless the Beasts and Children (03:16) 5 This Masquerade (04:53) 6 Solitaire (04:41) 7 When I Fall in Love (03:08) 8 From This Moment On (01:58) 9 Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again (04:22) 10 When It’s Gone (05:01) 11 I Believe You (03:55) 12 Reason to Believe (03:04) 13 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) 14 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (07:09) 15 Little Girl Blue (03:24) 16 We’ve Only Just Begun (03:04) |
 | Album: 34 of 41 Title: Reflections Released: 1995 Tracks: 14 Duration: 50:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 I Need to Be in Love (03:50) 2 I Just Fall in Love Again (04:04) 3 Baby It’s You (02:52) 4 Cant Smile Without You (03:24) 5 Beechwood - 45789 (03:06) 6 Eve (02:52) 7 All of My Life (03:02) 8 Reason to Believe (03:04) 9 Your Baby Doesnt Love You Anymore (03:51) 10 Maybe Its You (03:10) 11 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 12 Sweet Sweet Smile (03:01) 13 A Song for You (04:37) 14 Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song) (05:02) |
| Reflections : Allmusic album Review : Not your typical Carpenters collection, Reflections collects not the duos most recognized songs, like "Superstar," but rather some less remembered songs. The majority here come from four albums -- Close to You (1970), A Kind of Hush (1976), Passage (1977), and Made in America (1981) -- and though these selections generally arent perhaps what youd consider to be some of the Carpenters best moments, theyre still quite impressive songs nonetheless. Some of the more recognized songs here include the duos version of "Ticket to Ride," the classic ballad "I Just Fall in Love Again," and the latter-day gem "Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song)." The fact that this compilation avoids songs like "Rainy Days and Mondays" is what makes it such a fun listen -- its quite unpredictable, particularly for someone not overly familiar with the Carpenters. But, again, everything here is of high quality, so its nice that this collection isnt random or trivial in its inclusions, even if it is unpredictable. Youre better off starting with a more definitive best-of like Singles (1969-1981), but Reflections is a good place to look next, once youve heard all the duos bigger hits and want to dig a little deeper. | ||
 | Album: 35 of 41 Title: SWEET MEMORY at last Released: 1995 Tracks: 15 Duration: 59:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 I Need to Be in Love (03:49) 2 Crescent Noon (04:11) 3 Sailing on the Tide (04:20) 4 I Believe You (03:54) 5 Now (03:49) 6 (Im Caught Between) Goodbye and I Love You (04:05) 7 Weve Only Just Begun (03:05) 8 This Masquerade (04:52) 9 Goofus (03:09) 10 Two Lives (04:34) 11 Bwana She No Home (05:34) 12 Another Song (04:24) 13 Cant Smile Without You (03:23) 14 Ill Never Fall in Love Again (02:57) 15 All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (03:46) |
 | Album: 36 of 41 Title: Twenty-Two Hits of the Carpenters Released: 1995-11-10 Tracks: 22 Duration: 1:18:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Need to Be in Love (03:50) 2 We’ve Only Just Begun (03:05) 3 Superstar (03:46) 4 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 5 Top of the World (03:01) 6 Sing (03:18) 7 Only Yesterday (03:59) 8 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 9 Goodbye to Love (03:56) 10 It’s Going to Take Some Time (02:57) 11 This Masquerade (04:53) 12 Sweet, Sweet Smile (03:02) 13 I Wont Last a Day Without You (03:55) 14 Solitaire (04:41) 15 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 16 Hurting Each Other (02:48) 17 There’s a Kind of Hush (03:04) 18 Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (03:38) 19 For All We Know (02:33) 20 Touch Me When We’re Dancing (03:20) 21 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) 22 Yesterday Once More (03:58) |
 | Album: 37 of 41 Title: Christmas Collection Released: 1996 Tracks: 31 Duration: 1:38:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 O Come, O Come Emmanuel (00:28) 2 Overture (04:39) 3 Christmas Waltz (02:13) 4 Sleigh Ride (02:39) 5 Its Christmas Time / Sleep Well, Little Children (02:54) 6 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (03:54) 7 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (01:05) 8 The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (03:39) 9 Silent Night (03:21) 10 Jingle Bells (01:11) 11 The First Snowfall / Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (03:33) 12 Carol of the Bells (01:39) 13 Merry Christmas Darling (03:07) 14 Ill Be Home for Christmas (03:49) 15 Christ Is Born (03:13) 16 Winter Wonderland / Silver Bells / White Christmas (05:29) 17 Ave Maria (02:35) 1 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (00:42) 2 Overture: Happy Holiday / the First Noel / March of the Toys / Little Jesus / I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus / O Little Town of Bethlehem / In Dulce Jubilo / Gesu Bambino (The Infant Jesus) / Angels We Have Heard on High (08:14) 3 An Old-Fashioned Christmas (02:14) 4 O Holy Night (03:09) 5 (Theres No Place Like) Home for the Holidays (02:35) 6 Medley: Here Comes Santa Claus / Frosty the Snowman / Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Good King Wenceslas (03:43) 7 Little Altar Boy (03:43) 8 Do You Hear What I Hear? (02:53) 9 My Favorite Things (03:54) 10 He Came Here for Me (02:12) 11 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (04:04) 12 What Are You Doing New Years Eve? (02:51) 13 Selections from The Nutcracker: Overture Miniature / Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy / Trepak / Valse Des Fleurs (06:15) 14 I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (02:24) |
| Christmas Collection : Allmusic album Review : In 1998, A&M; released the original Carpenters albums for the first time on CD. Along with the reissues, the label released Christmas Collection, a double-disc that combines Christmas Portrait and An Old Fashioned Christmas on one set. Neither album offers any surprises -- they sound exactly like youd imagine a Carpenters Christmas album would sound like. Since the two albums are virtually interchangeable, relying on Richards famously light, inoffensive arrangements and Karens sweet, soaring vocals, they make for a terrific pairing. It is true that only hardcore fans will need this set, but they should be more than pleased by this definitive collection. | ||
 | Album: 38 of 41 Title: Anthology Released: 1997-11-06 Tracks: 42 Duration: 3:01:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 A Song for You (04:37) 2 Top of the World (02:59) 3 Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song) (05:02) 4 We’ve Only Just Begun (03:05) 5 Those Good Old Dreams (04:13) 6 Sing (03:18) 7 Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (03:38) 8 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) 9 Ave Maria (02:35) 10 Bless the Beasts and Children (03:15) 11 All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (03:46) 12 Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (07:09) 1 Desperado (03:37) 2 Superstar (03:46) 3 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 4 Masquerade (04:54) 5 (Want You) Back in My Life (03:37) 6 Ticket to Ride (04:09) 7 Yesterday Once More (medley) (19:45) 1 I Just Fell In Love Again (04:04) 2 Honolulu City Lights (03:21) 3 Goodbye to Love (03:56) 4 Help (03:05) 5 Beechwood 4-5789 (03:02) 6 Hurting Each Other (02:48) 7 There’s a Kind of Hush (03:04) 8 Sweet, Sweet Smile (03:02) 9 I Wont Last a Day Without You (03:55) 10 Now (03:51) 11 For All We Know (02:33) 12 Touch Me When We’re Dancing (03:20) 1 (Im Caught Between) Goodbye And I Love You (03:59) 2 Please Mr. Postman (02:50) 3 I Need to Be in Love (03:50) 4 On The Balcony Of Casa RoCasa Rosada-Dont Cry For Me Argentina (02:14) 5 Dont Cry For Me Argentina (05:46) 6 Mr. Guder (03:15) 7 I Kept On Loving You (02:16) 8 Two Lives (04:34) 9 Only Yesterday (03:59) 10 Bachrach & David Medley (14:41) 11 Sometimes (02:52) |
 | Album: 39 of 41 Title: Love Songs Released: 1997-12-17 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:16:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Yesterday Once More (03:58) 2 I Need to Be in Love (03:50) 3 Solitaire (04:42) 4 Weve Only Just Begun (03:06) 5 This Masquerade (04:53) 6 Youre the One (04:15) 7 Superstar (03:50) 8 Rainy Days and Mondays (03:36) 9 Top of the World (03:01) 10 I Just Fall in Love Again (04:04) 11 (They Long to Be) Close to You (03:42) 12 For All We Know (02:34) 13 Where Do I Go From Here (04:25) 14 Only Yesterday (03:59) 15 All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (03:49) 16 When I Fall in Love (03:09) 17 Hurting Each Other (02:47) 18 I Wont Last a Day Without You (03:55) 19 A Song for You (04:39) 20 Goodbye to Love (03:57) |
| Love Songs : Allmusic album Review : There may be too many Carpenters compilations on the market -- there are certainly enough to confuse the average neophyte -- but Love Songs is a welcome addition to the clutter, since it offers 20 of the duos very best love songs, including "Weve Only Just Begun" and "Top of the World." Anyone looking for a collection of the duos romantic songs should definitely consider this fine collection, even it does leave off some of their poppier, rock-inflected material. | ||
 | Album: 40 of 41 Title: As Time Goes By Released: 2001 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:01:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Without a Song (01:59) 2 Medley: Superstar / Rainy Days and Mondays (03:08) 3 Nowhere Man (02:54) 4 I Got Rhythm (04:41) 5 Dancing in the Street (01:59) 6 Dizzy Fingers (02:28) 7 Youre Just in Love (03:54) 8 Karen / Ella Medley (06:00) 9 Medley: Close Encounters / Star Wars (06:00) 10 Leave Yesterday Behind (03:32) 11 Carpenters / Como Medley (06:54) 12 California Dreamin (02:31) 13 The Rainbow Connection (04:36) 14 Hits Medley 76 (08:11) 15 And When He Smiles (03:00) |
| As Time Goes By : Allmusic album Review : As Time Goes By is a collection of songs taken from demos, live shows, and television performances recorded by the Carpenters between 1967 and 1980. In his liner notes Richard Carpenter says this is a record for hardcore Carpenters fans only and he is right. The songs from the various TV specials the duo recorded are cute, mostly versions of standards like "I Got Rhythm," versions of the hits of the day, and Richard Carpenter instrumentals. Apart from the pretty take on the Wildweeds country-rock-influenced "And When He Smiles," a song that should have been a hit for them if they had officially released it, the best of the lot is the duet on a medley of standards by Karen Carpenter and Ella Fitzgerald from 1980. While Ella is near the end of the road vocally, it is interesting to have two of the most precise singers ever trading verse back and forth. The "Carpenters/Como Medley" is also fun but much cheesier. The disc also includes a couple of songs that were previously unreleased ("Leave Yesterday Behind," a sweetly sung ballad recorded for a TV movie of the same name, and "The Rainbow Connection," which features a typically charming vocal from Karen as well as their versions of "California Dreamin" and "Nowhere Man" from the original demos that got the band its record deal). The only problem with the outtakes and rarities here are that Carpenter felt the need to go in and fix, sweeten, or totally refurnish the songs. Perhaps he just has too much free time, perhaps he is an obsessive tinkerer. Whatever the excuse, the archival value of the songs has been tampered with and that makes the songs less valuable somehow. If indeed this set is designed with Carpenters diehards in mind, wouldnt they have liked to hear the original version of "Nowhere Man," the one-track mono version? Richard proudly boasts that he transferred the acetate disc to a 48-track, leaving him "47 tracks with which to play." Fine and dandy, but why not put the original on the disc and then follow it with the new version for comparisons sake? Or just listen to your new version at home and let the fans get a chance to hear an extremely rare and no doubt very interesting piece of Carpenters history? As for the tracks like "The Rainbow Connection" and the "Superstar/Rainy Days and Mondays" medley, Richard drenches his sisters vocals with strings and background singers when he should have left them alone. Maybe he just doesnt understand that people dont really care about his arrangements. What they care most about are his sisters vocals. As it is, he has done Karen and Carpenters fans a big disservice by tampering with artifacts that could have made for a very interesting disc. It still might be worthwhile to have for the material from the television specials and to hear Karens voice again, however. | ||
 | Album: 41 of 41 Title: Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Released: 2018-12-07 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:06:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Overture (01:30) 2 Yesterday Once More (03:56) 3 Hurting Each Other (03:58) 4 I Need To Be In Love (04:30) 5 For All We Know (02:56) 6 Touch Me When We’re Dancing (03:15) 7 I Believe You (03:53) 8 I Just Fall In Love Again (05:01) 9 Merry Christmas, Darling (03:01) 10 Baby It’s You (03:11) 11 (They Long To Be) Close To You (03:40) 12 Superstar (03:51) 13 Rainy Days And Mondays (03:36) 14 This Masquerade (04:50) 15 Ticket To Ride (04:10) 16 Goodbye To Love (03:58) 17 Top Of The World (02:59) 18 We’ve Only Just Begun (04:04) |