Passage [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Carpenters | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 8, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B00000G3WV
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,721 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Out of print in the U.S.! Digitally remastered edition of this 1977 album from the American Soft Pop duo. When siblings Richard and Karen Carpenter released their debut album in 1969, nobody could predict the enormous success they would achieve throughout the next decade. With Karen's angelic voice and Richard's stellar arrangements, The Carpenters became a musical force to be reckoned with. Their popularity spread from the U.S. to Europe, Japan, Australia and beyond. Even 25+ years after Karen's death, they are one of the most recognizable Pop duos in music history, and deservedly so. Passage features eight tracks including 'All You Get From Love Is A Love Song' and a cover of Klaatu's 'Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft'. Universal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Passage" is Differnt Fare for Richard and Karen, August 2, 2005

By 

kone "kone" (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Passage (Audio CD)

"Passage", released in 1977, would be the last Carpenter album to be relased until "Made In America" in 1981. After this album, both Karen and Richard were spent emotionally and physically and needed a break from the constant touring and studio recording. Richard would go into detox at The Menninger Institute in Topeka, Kansas, to kick prescription sleeping pills, while Karen would cut a solo album with Phil Ramone in New York and begin therapy for her ever deeper descent into anorexia nervosa.

The rock critics of 70's viewed the Carpenters' music as nothing more than sugar sweet filler material, best suited for elevators. While their fans bought their albums at a frantic pace, I believe Richard Carpenter produced "Passage" as an attempt to silence the critics and show that he and Karen could produce more than just "sugar songs for the masses". And so, thus we have "Passage", an album that was made to showcase the diversity of the Carpenter sound. There are some very different non-typical Carpenter songs on this eclectic album. First, there is the 7-plus minute extraterrestrial "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft", then an exploration into Broadway with Karen's lush rendition of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina". Three singles were released from the album, "Occupants", the jazzy "All You Get From Love Is A Love Song", and the jaunty county tune "Sweet Sweet Smile". A Carpenter album would not be complete without a sweet ballad or two, and this album has two: "I Just Fall In Love Again", and "Two Sides".

Again, it is not your typical Carpenter fare, but it certainly holds its own musically, and of course, Karen's vocals are unequalled.

If you are looking for the love ballads that made the Carpenters famous, this album may disappoint you. However, you also may be surprised at the diversity of the Carpenters sound, and appreciate this album for what it is - a change of course for the brother and sister act.

I like the album for its diversity and recommend it to you as well.

Jim "Konedog" Koenig

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A CLASSIC IN IT'S OWN WAY, May 14, 2003

By 

cdmusicline "cdmusicline" (Fullerton, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Passage (Audio CD)

"Passage" initially was not a commercial success, but has gone on to become a CLASSIC of sorts being known as The Carpenters' most diverse and experimental album.
The album opens with a triumph of robust jazz inflections on Michael Franks' "B'wana She No Home". The song was recorded live in the studio, so you get the full effect of the musical jam between Pete Jolly's keyboard and Tom Scott's flute. Tony Peluso adds some ripping guitar riffs throughout the song. Karen's vocal is bold and seductive. This is a style which should have been further investigated by The Carpenters.
The album is full of one highlight after another. There is not one loser on this set. "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" is no exception. Peter Knight (who orchestrated The Moody Blues' "Days Of The Future Passed" album) orchestrated and arranged "Don't Cry For Me Argentina". Karen's reading of the song is flawless, it's as if it was written especially for her to sing. She soars on every note reaching each to perfection. She tells the story as if she lived it herself with a convincing emotional urgency. The Carpenters have recorded the definitive version of this song, they were even televised during the recording which was shown on news stations across the U.S. in 1977.
The album's most exciting moment is "Sweet, Sweet Smile", which was written by Juice Newton (Queen Of Hearts). The song moves along with an infectious upbeat bounce and once again Tony Peluso shines with his guitar chords. It reached #6 on the Country Music Charts in 1978.
"I Just Fall In Love Again" and "Two sides" are the album's ballads. Both are outstanding and should have been released as singles. "Two Sides" is the favorite track on the album according to a voting poll. ...
The album closes with a very unlikely song for The Carpenters to record. It's a space song written by Canadian prog-rock group Klaatu. Klaatu recorded the song using synthesizers, while The Carpenters used all real instruments to create the other worldly effect. Again Peter Knight did the outstanding orchestration and arrangement. "Calling Occupants" was so well recorded that The Carpenters recieved a Grammy nomination for it in the U.S. and it reached the top ten in the U.K. The song opens with guitarist Tony Peluso portraying a confused DJ who is taking a song request from an alien. The song is an amazing work of art all the way through. Leon Russell (author of the songs "Superstar", "A Song For You" and "This Masquerade") provides futuristic keyboard parts and Tony Peluso's fuzz guitar solo just sends you out of this world. But above all is Karen's pristine crystal clear stellar vocal, she's right at home with this offbeat song. Others like Olivia Newton-John or Barbra Striesand would have never been able to pull it off effectively - but Karen Carpenter has a youthful versatility in her voice which is very evident on the album "Passage".
"Passage" may not have reached the top of the charts, but it is a musical triumph and has grown to be recognized a The Carpenters' most daring effort.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Passage" blew me away., August 8, 2003

By 

Eric D. Piskurich "KLAXON" (Pittsburgh, PA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Passage (Audio CD)

I was blown away by "Passage" when I bought it the year the Carpenters released it. The songs range from familiar Carpenters' fare to unbelievably different and innovative. Like this album or not, one word that can't be used to describe it is boring.

Even my friends who considered themselves rockers asked me to bring this album along to parties, something quite unusual for teen-agers in the late 1970s. "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" was definitely the most-liked of the songs.

"Passage" is a prime example of Richard's talent as a producer and arranger, and it highlights the versatility of Karen's voice as well as her impeccable ability to make any song or song style her own.

"Passage" also provided me with another one of those times when I found myself scratching my head and wondering what Richard was thinking by not releasing some of the songs as singles, specifically "I Just Fall In Love Again" and, one of my all-time favorite Carpenters ballads, "Two Sides". Each and every time I listen to "Two Sides" I am convinced it would have been a major hit at a time when the duo's commercial success was unfortuantely waning. Karen's voice was arguably never better, and the haunting ending of the tune as well as the length of time Karen holds the last note on the word "goodbye" leaves me wishing the song were not ending.

"Passage" always has been and will remain one of my favorite Carpenters albums.