Customer Reviews

Singles 1969-1981

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Sure, Karen's voice is great, and a lot of these songs are great. Richard's contributions to their original recordings were also substantial. What's so disappointing about this release, however, is that many of these songs have been remixed with musical parts recorded after Karen's death. Richard has done this many times before. Despite the original album mixes FINALLY coming out on cd, I guess he just couldn't help himself here and felt he had to remix their singles, once again. Unfortunately several of their original singles differed from their lp versions, and in some cases those single versions have yet to see a proper reissue on cd. I anticipated that this collection would do so, since it came out just after the album remasters series. Very disappointing.

This is therefore a collection for two groups: Carpenters completists who want everything and those who just want most of the Carpenters' biggest hits but don't care if they don't sound exactly like the original singles.

A & M Records present for the first time, all of the Carpenter's most significant singles hits on a one CD collection. For any fan of the '70s, this Carpenters twenty-one song lineup is a collectors dream. Many would read this album as a soundtrack for the "Baby-Boomer" generation, but it's more than that. Three-time Grammy Award winners, including Best New Artist in 1970, many went gold with their timeless sound, others such as their previous hits collection - "Singles 1969 - 1973", released in 1974 and certified seven times platinum. As a special treat for fans, a reprise version of - "FOR ALL WE KNOW" from a British television special is included in this treasury of adult contemporary genre.

The Carpenters although considered too light for the era's rock cognoscenti, had won international fandom and the whole world fell in love with their gentle pop music that was instantly recognizable. Today, the songs of the Carpenters are contnually rediscovered and remain among the most beloved of their time and ours - "The Carpenters - Singles 1969 - 1981"!

Total Time: 71:43 on 21 Tracks/ A & M Records - 069 490 456 2 (2000)

Shame on the Carpenters fan who doesn't have this jewel of a compilation in his collection. To the non-fan, if you never buy another disc, this one is a must-have. Perhaps the most comprehensive compilation of bona fide classics and megahits, this 21-song production takes us from the earliest of the brother-sister duo's first hit to their last to make the charts in a reltively brief but spectacular career. They're all here: "For All We Know," the signature "We've Only Just Begun," "Rainy Days and Mondays," "Top of the World," "Only Yesterday" and "Mr. Postman," et al. In the late '60s and through the mid-'70s, when Richard and Karen dominated the charts, the talk was that anyone into their brand of music was, like the pair, out of touch with reality because it didn't reflect the civil unrest ignited first by the Vietnam War and, later, by the Nixon administration's Watergate scandal. While few supposedly admitted to buying their music, though, the Carpenters were among the best-selling artists of their day, and little wonder. It is quite likely that the late Karen Carpenter remains among the best (if not the best) singer ever with a voice that harmonized the feeling of whatever song she sang. And brother Richard's musical arrangements, unique and noticed because they didn't follow the formula of the day, matched perfectly the emotional intent of whatever the song. Together, Karen and Richard wrote a significant chapter in the history of popular music, and their incredible talent is unarguably one of the reasons they remain a top-seller, even more than 20 years after Ms. Carpenter's truly tragic death. A songbird went to Heaven that day, but the harmonies were recorded for the rest of us to savor forever. Anyone who adds this to their music library definitely will not be disappointed.

Browse through a decent number of reviews and you'll find lots of folks...even those who gave this good star ratings...talking about how Richard Carpenter has overdubbed new piano parts at times ("Sing" in particular is cited) and the CD has been extensively re-mixed. The monkeying is probably most noticeable in the extra reverb added to Karen's voice and the way the drums are pushed forward in the mix more than the originals.

If you don't release the 45RPM version...without re-mixing it, adding extra parts, taking away other parts to "modernize" it..then you have NOT released the singles. These changes are not "remastering"...they are re-recording. If Richard desires to do that, it should be released as "The Carpenters' Greatest Songs...Re-interpreted!" or something similar. Those who want to hear that could still buy it..and those seeking the songs they remember AS they remember them would be spared the deception.

BOTTOM LINE:
Don't buy into the revisionist history. Stick with the "1969-1973" version instead. (ASIN B00000HY5F)

Fact: Karen Carpenter was blessed with a voice that will still be listened to and revered 50 years from now. It is/was a gorgeous, expressive, warm, clear and timeless voice. There will never be another like her. Not Mariah, not Christina, not any of them. The songs are 3-minute gems culled from the best songwriters of the time and are indelible parts of our memories (those of us who grew up in the 70's). They could be used in a class of "How to write perfect pop songs."

Having said that, why, oh WHY, did Richard Caprenter (a formidable musician and producer in his own right) mess with these and re-mix them to modernize them? Why would he mess with something so perfect as the original versions?

I can hear it now, "oh you're just used to the original mixes and you're a purist or music nerd." However you would be wrong. I'm open to re-mixes and have loved many things that have been released over the years with improvements in mixing and mastering. I don't listen to The Smiths so I'm not a music nerd (sarcasm). I'm actually a musician and producer myself. I put this disc up against the original singles disc, in the recording studio AND at home AND in the car, and there is just no match. The originals had vocals that were up front and mixes that were clean, with everything mixed up front. Yes, the drums were a bit boxy and the rim-shots inconsistent but who cares? The vocals were PURRRfect; warm and upfront with just the right amount of compression and 'verb.

Richard went and screwed it up. Sorry but he did. Track #5, "Superstar" is such a far cry from the original. The vocals are awash in reverb, he added piano parts, downplayed the bass licks and ignored the wurlitzer. The worst sin? He mixed the tambourine in the chorus WAY down and replaced that grand opening bass slide down to the root note with a lame piano. The song lost it's spark and charm. Poor Karen's voice is so far back, you'd think she was Britney Spears. It's just sad.

Don't bother with this drivel. Richard fell to the temptation of having a modern studio with modern gear and used it because it was there, NOT because it improved on the original. Get the original "Singles" disc and write Richard a letter telling him that the old cliche of, "If it aint broke don't fix it," applies to music too.

Singles 1969-1981 is an excellent CD of hits by Karen and Richard Carpenter. As a casual fan, I was quite pleased and I never noticed anything terribly wrong with this album as some reviewers have noted. If indeed some of the music has been altered, whatever alterations they made were very good ones indeed! The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done.

"For All We Know" opens the CD with a melody that stuns me with its beauty. I could never forget the lyrics to this song; it's that meaningful to me. Karen Carpenter sings with all her heart and soul and she delivers this as if she's singing just to you! Richard does a great job on this number, too. "It's Going To Take Some Time" has excellent backup vocals as Karen Carpenter sings this with panache; she handles the complicated tempo and key changes like the pro she was and still remains! Richard Carpenter, of course, does his usual superlative performance and that's nothing short of sublime. Great! "We've Only Just Begun" is the sweetest of songs and as Karen and Richard Carpenter perform this song it truly gets such a sensitive, optimistic feeling that it draws you in by the very beauty of its melody. "Superstar" is a most painful ballad that always tugs at my heartstrings and it moves me greatly; I feel such sadness when I hear "Superstar;" this is one of the best torch songs I've heard--ever.

"Rainy Days And Mondays" also impresses me with its beauty even though the lyrics certainly aren't all that positive; and there's also "Goodbye To Love." "Goodbye To Love" has Richard Carpenter playing with all his might and it shows when you hear this tune. Karen sings this to perfection and the end result is that "Goodbye To Love" is easily a major highlight of this album. "Top Of The World" is an especially optimistic ballad and the strings are used to great advantage, too. "Top Of The World" has a fantastic beat, too!

"Ticket To Ride" gets a remarkable makeover as Richard and Karen perform their cover of this classic Beatles song; and "Sing" always brings back good memories--this was the first song I ever heard by Karen and Richard Carpenter. "Sing" has a wonderful message about living your life your own way without hurting anyone--and that's terrific.

"Please Mr. Postman" is yet another sublime cover of a great love song; and listen for "(They Long To Be) Close To You." This Burt Bacharach tune shines like gold when Karen and Richard perform this with panache.

The liner notes include an informative essay, too.

Karen and Richard Carpenter turned out hit after hit that still resonate well today because of their truly classic and timeless beauty. Their songs contained important messages about life that will never be considered out of style. I highly recommend this to Carpenters fans and newcomers especially will love this budget priced compilation CD.

Karen and Richard Carpenter were very good at a certain style of music. Every song I have heard Karen Carpenter sing has been enhanced by her beautiful, mellow, clear voice. This CD collects most of the Carpenters most popular music from their 13 years of creating a style that was seminal in the definition of adult contemporary music.

What is amazing about this music is that is sounds as contemporary today as it did when it was originally released. While many people may attempt to apply "timeless" to the music of various artists, thus far the Carpenters' music is timeless, and I think it will continue to be timeless in the adult contemporary genre for some time to come.

While Karen and Richard's music was mellow and mainstream, the art, technology and effort put into the music pushed music to several limits. Karen tried very hard to create the most perfect music possible. When you listen to many female vocalists you hear when they take a breath. Karen did her best to turn her head from the microphone when she took a breath so you didn't hear the breath. Karen and Richard pushed multi-track vocals to the limit of technology, recording track after track of Karen's voice, and then combining tracks to create the gorgeous harmonies that are typical of the Carpenter's music.

The focus on perfection and technique could easily become the focus of the music, allowing the art to become lost. The Carpenter's always kept art as an important part of their music. Karen had an incredible vocal talent to sing as though she was singing to each and every listener. Her voice was able to communicate emotion in a way that few other vocalists have been able to achieve.

This CD is perfect for both casual and serious fans of the Carpenters, for anyone who appreciates mellow music, and for those who consider adult contemporary to be their favorite type of music. I warn the focused listener that this music can become an emotional experience. Turn up the stereo on "Superstar," turn out the lights, lay back in a comfortable overstuffed chair, and feel the emotions evoked by the song; Karen Carpenter sang to strum the chords of your soul.

Back in 1973, A&M and Carpenters put together a "greatest hits" package called SINGLES 1969-1973. It featured 12 of their top hits up to that time and has remained a top seller all these years. The year 2000 brings us an updated version of SINGLES, this time including later hits and has the tag line, 1969-1981. And there are a couple of "new" things to be found here. As a "thank you" to fans, Richard has included a reprise of "For All We Know" that was featured on an old television special, THE SPECIAL LONDON BRIDGE SPECIAL, and that reprise was arranged by Marvin Hamlisch. It's short -- only :46, but a treat nonetheless. The other "new" thing here is a piano solo lead-out from "I Won't Last A Day Without You" bringing the listener nicely to the next track, "Close To You." These two things, plus the expert remasters of all the tunes make this package a good one.

One other note here about the cover photo: the original issue of this album in Asia (fall of 1999) featured a portait photo of Richard and Karen. As this review is being written, that's the photo shown here on Amazon's page. But with the current release in the States and elsewhere, the cover photo has been changed to one shot for the Rolling Stone article on Carpenters, which features Karen with a hat and silly grin and Richard looking on. That's the picture on the album in stores now, and likely the one you'd get if you ordered this disc from Amazon. The original portrait cover has been retired.

I get so choked up when I hear The Carpenters. It was my mother's favorite group and she used to play their records day and night and sing along in perfect harmony with Karen Carpenter while I sat there looking dreamily at my mother thinking she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

My mother, just like Karen Carpenter, passed away at a relatively young age; 38. Sometimes it's hard for me to believe that I have surpassed that age. I think what makes me the saddest about my mother's passing, is that I no longer remember what her voice sounded like. Unfortunately, a box of tapes that actually had my mother's voice on them got misplaced so I remember my mother through this collection.

And depending on the day, I sometimes cry and I sometimes laugh, but I always smile and remember those precious few years I had with the most beautiful woman in the world.

This CD is the best compliation of the hit selections of Karen and Richard Carpenter I have ever heard. While one can acquire much more comprehensive selections in a one or two CD set, this single CD truly captures the "Best" of the Carpenters. From the rich full sounds of "We Have Only Just Begun" to the soft sensentive melody "I Believe In You", the listener will revist an era of non forgettable songs. "Touch Me While You Are Dancing" and "I Won't Last A Day Without You" are so superbly performed by Karen with her rich voice and the "Reprise" used to close the CD leaves one remembering a time and era as well as a singer who we all shall forever miss. Richard Carpenter has performed an excellent tribute to his Sister in the development of this CD.