Customer Reviews

The Singles 1969 - 1973

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"The Singles" a greatest hits album of the Carpenters, was released in 1973, just three short years after their debut album, "Offering" in 1969. The duo of Karen and Richard Carpenter produced so many hit singles in such a short period of time that a greatest hits album was a natural and a huge seller. "The Singles" reached #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K. - where it remained on top for a over 4 months!

What is neat about this album is that it is not just a track by track compilation of the hit Carpenter songs. The album runs like a continuous music track with a new introduction to "We've Only Just Begun", and new transition music between some songs. So even though you may have heard the original songs before, here they are presented in a different manner which catches the discerning ear. There are no "weak" tracks; all are true Carpenter hits. I guarantee you will not get bored or tired with this album.

There are many (many!) Carpenter "Greatest Hits" compilations. Richard is adept at taking his previous hits, reworking them a bit and rearranging them into numerous greatest hit albums. The best is perhaps the two-disk "Yesterday Once More". But as for being the first, "The Singles" is a huge album and should be a part of your collection. I have the album and listen to it regularly. It takes me back to the early 1970's when I'd listen to the radio at night in bed turning the dial to catch the latest top-40 songs. The Carpenter sound was (and is) so distinct that I could instantly recognize Karen's voice and Richard's multi-track vocal arrangements.

This is a terrific and pleasing album that I highly recommend!

Jim "Konedog" Koenig

As I mentioned in the other review of the updated CD version of this album Singles 1969-1981, this is the album to get. The remastering job is as close to perfection (albeit there are flaws and problems with excessive reverbs during choruses), with the preserved full range of Karen's vocals. Instruments are clear and not overpowering. Haven't heard the new SACD version of 1969-1981; but the inclusion of remixed versions makes me wary.

This CD is out of print, but I was able to find one for a more than reasonable price. Less songs (than the new version), more quality (night and day difference vs. the "phoned-in" sound of the new version), works for me!

Out of all the Carpenter albums released, this is the one most people refer to. This album collects all of their early hits and places them in one beautiful package. Sticklers for detail, both Richard and Karen decided to present their songs in the best possible way, and if that meant tearing down the old performances and begin anew, so be it. By 1973, Karen had complete control of her voice and the now-mature Karen re-recorded most of their early hits. One of the most obvious re-recordings is "Ticket To Ride" featuring a confident Karen lead vocal and a gutiar addition performed by Tony Peluso. For future compiliations, Richard would use this rendition of "Ticket." This album was not only the biggest selling album of their career, it was one of the best selling albums in the history of music. Outside of "I Won't Last A Day Without You" which was released in 1974, this album collects all of their hits and is now beautifully remastered. The original mixes are used, none of the overdubbs recorded and used for "Yesterday Once More" are present, forever preserving the albums original integrity. If ony one album of Carpenters classics is desired, this one is it.

We all were saddened and surprised by the untimely death of Karen Carpenter a decade or so ago. Yet she and her talented brother left us quite a collection of songs to remember them by, and this collection neatly captures them for our enjoyment. From their initial offering of "We've Only Just Begun" to ""Close to You", this is a wonderful greatest hits album. Karen Carpenter was, in essence, a female version of James Taylor, in the fact that her voice was such a unique and relaxing vehicle to listen to, that she could sing anything from the Star Spangled banner to the Mickey Mouse song and make the experience memorable. She has a range of albums I can recommend from collections of covers of other people's work to a few excellent Christmas albums.

As a matter of fact, I remember a few years ago having the experience of listening for the first time to her cover of Nat King Cole's famous Christmas Song ("Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire") and being amazed at just how fantastic her own version was. SO too was her version of "White Christmas". Here, of course, we have a whole range of more popular songs to listen to. Included is quite a range of hits, such as "Ticket To Ride", "Superstar", "Rainy Days And Mondays", and "Goodbye To Love". I particularly like "Yesterday Once More", "It's Going To Take Some Time", and "For All We Know". Of course, such a collection would hardly be complete without "Sing" and "Hurting Each Other". Karen is singing in more ethereal venues these days, but we can still listen to all she left behind. Enjoy!

I just finished reading THE CARPENTERS: THE UNTOLD STORY, and after that in-depth look at the life of Karen and Richard, this album -- long a favorite of mine -- seems an even more poignant collection. Karen went through so much, and whatever she sang was imbued with a deep emotional quality -- something all the more interesting since during the years these great hits were recorded, she never had time to pursue a steady relationship, and so many of the songs seem to have come from longing rather than from experience {contrast exceptions like "Goodbye To Love," though}. The songs are all good {how often can you say that of ANY album?}, and there are tunes {"Rainy Days and Mondays," "Hurting Each Other," "Goodbye To Love"} as fine as any pop songs ever recorded. Such was the genius of Karen the singer and Richard the musician, and such is the genius of this fine collection. You won't be disappointed.

For a while, this album (the group's only album to go to number one) was the best Carpenters hits set around. Then "Singles: 1969 - 1981) and "Gold" came along and made this set completely obsolete. While it may useless now, it's still good if you don't want to pay too much money to get their hits.

"Singles: 1969 - 73" pretty much sticks to its title, containing all Karen and Richard's (better known as The Carpenters) biggest hits from their first four years on A & M are here. Everybody will recognize these songs, including "(They Long To Be) Close To You", "Hurting Each Other", "We've Only Just Begun" and "Yesterday Once More". The only chart single I can think is missing is "Bless The Beasts And The Children" (number 67), which was released as a double A - side with "Superstar".

If you're a beginner's Carpentersfan, this may be a good starting point. But even if you are, you're cheating yourself out of later big hits "I Won't Last A Day Without You", "Please Mr. Postman", "Only Yesterday", "Solitaire", "There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World)" and "Touch Me When We're Dancing)". For this stuff, I suggest you pick up "Gold: 35th Anniversary".
In short, good collection with timeless songs but better cds with other great songs.

The Carpenters made classy pop music and ruled the charts throughout much of the seventies. This excellent collection contains their hit singles from the late 60s to the mid 70s and every one's a winner. All the songs are melodic, with lovely piano lines and Karen's understated singing. My favourites include the cheerful Top Of The World, the sad Superstar (the lament of a groupie which raised a few eyebrows back then), the gorgeous Rainy Days and Mondays and of course the much covered classics For All We Know and Close To You. This is real elegant melodic pop music for romantics!

What a sad loss when Karen Carpenter died. She had such talent. This showcases the best from 1969-1973. One of the most listenable albums imaginable. Just sit back and listen to her voice and Richards' piano - it will make you feel good.

I am actually listening to this CD right now. Karen Carpenter has such a unique voice. When she sings those really low notes...it's just so awesome! If you love romance songs, this CD is great! I just absolutely love it!

I guess if you are a very big fan of the Carpenters this disc is perfect for you. In my opinion they should've spaced between songs instead of segueing to the next, if you want to hear the Carpenters and only the Carpenters just play this disc, but if you had any intensions of recording any one song off of the CD forget it. Like I said a very nice Carpenters CD.