18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"From the Top" is a Treasure of Carpenter Music, June 29, 2005
This review is from: From the Top (Audio CD)
"From the Top" is a 4-CD collection of all the Carpenters top musical hits and many other little heard rarities. If you are a Carpenters fan (like me!), you already have their greatest hits, and perhaps have all or many of their albums. What's great about this set is that it offers more than just the hits. On the first CD, we are treated to the Carpenter's earliest efforts to break into the music industry. Here we hear a sound quite different from the unique layered vocal sound that came to define Richard Carpenter's arrangements for the Carpenters. Karen's young voice does not have the mature emotional inflection that characterized her later work. Song by song we hear the distictive Carpenter sound develop.
Disc Two is a collection of all the great Carpenter hits, the songs of their prime. Included on this disc is a track of Karen singing the song "Sing" in Spanish. Her diction is remarkable considering she did not speak spanish! There is also a humorous track of outtakes in the making of the "Yesterday Once More" radio medley.
Disc Three has three tracks of TV/radio commercials the Carpenters did in Japan and the United States. I doubt that anyone in the US has heard the japan commercials. There are also four tracks taken from their popular Christmas albums.
The final disc has the better cuts from Karen's solo album, and cuts from Made In America. Two gems are found on this disc, these being the Medley of five songs from the TV special "Music, Music, Music, where Karen's rendition and interpretation of "Someday" is simply superb. One can sense the hearkache in her voice as she sings this tender song about a woman who is not ready to make a total committment to her love/lover. The final gen is Karen's "Now", a touching love song about a woman who at long-last finds love. The song is a studio work lead, which was so flawless that Richard later added the orchestration and made it into Karen's final recording. The song was originally released on the "Voice of the Heart" album.
For each disc there is an excellent song by song narrative written by Richard Carpenter which gives information about the song, pictures of the Carpenters, and credits. There are numerous color pictures that supplement the narrative.
For those unfamiliar with the Carpenters, this is an excellent introduction to the beautiful music the duo produced in the 1970's. For die-hard Carpenter fans, this is another "MUST" album. I have had the album for over 10 years and still listen to it regularly. It is a treasure of Carpenter music.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must buy for anyone who loves the Carpenters, March 14, 2000
This review is from: From the Top (Audio CD)
This Box set is great.It starts from 1965 to 1982.It goes year to year.The first CD is the begining of the Carpenters. At first they didn't even know that Karen could sing,and they were winning awards for just playing Drums,Piano and Base. All of the Carpenters hits are in here,and we get to hear three of Karen's songs from her solo album. "If I had you" is so much better on this CD then Karen's album.Richard remixed the sound so much clearer,and kept the fantastic ending as it should have been. Also,we get the great Oldies but Goodies medly from the "Now and Then" album,and a taste of the Carpenters Christmas Mega Hit,including the beutifull,"Little altar Boy." My favorite is from the 1980's Carpenters special,"Music,Music,Music." The medley is a masterpiece.The last song will tear you heart apart. Its the last song Karen ever recorded in April of 1982 called "Now." This isn't even the way the song was ment to be,just a lead vocal to help the musicians with the record. This Box set is a must for anyone who loves great music,and anyone who is a Carpenters fan like I am.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This box set is a "must-have" for dedicated Carpenter's fans, July 16, 1998
This review is from: From the Top (Audio CD)
When I purchased this 4 CD box set, I had NO idea I would treasure it this much! There are two things to love about this compilation; the music and the booklet that's included. Being a Carpenter's fan for 25 years, I figured I knew/heard/seen everything! Boy, was I wrong. I love the way Richard chose to present the 67 selections chronologically, from 1965 through 1982. I had NO idea Karen was only 16 years old when she sang "Looking For Love" and "I'll Be Yours", recorded in 1966. My favorite is "You'll Love Me", from 1967. I was just amazed at the talent both Karen and Richard possessed as teenagers! And the booklet is packed with photos of the duo as well as Richards thoughts/comments he wrote about each title. (All 67 of them!) I definetly recommend "From The Top" for all Carpenter's enthusiasts; you won't be disappointed.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
