Customer Reviews

Treasures

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4 star:		(2)
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This is the Japanese release called "Treasures", not the English disc put out by Pickwick. Here, this set contains 2 CDs with all of the best of the Carpenters non-hits (album tracks not released as singles). Sonically, this set is tremendous and Richard has remixed (as usual, but here to great advantage) many of the cuts. In particular, "I Can't Make Music" is remixed so that Karen truly sounds as if she's "sitting 'round in a vacant room," and the song builds to become perhaps the most dramatic cut ever recorded by Richard and Karen. Despite the high import price, I highly recommend this (and it also has some interesting/nonselfserving liner notes by Richard).

Hearing some of the Carpenters earliest recordings from 1969 and 1970 completely remixed and re-edited on CD is revelatory. Beats the heck out of my Radio Shack turntable and speakers that I used to first play well-worn and scratched Carpenters LPs in the early seventies.

Richard has electronically re-recorded piano, oboe and other instruments to achieve sonically superior remixes of album cuts from "Ticket to Ride," "Close to You," "Carpenters," "A Song for You," and "Now and Then." Songs in this collection taken from later albums-- 1975's "Horizon" through 1983's "Voice of the Heart"-- are the same as previously released.

"I Can't Make Music" is the most stunning cut on "Treasures"-- Karen's vocal is fresh, totally undateable, though it was recorded in 1973 for "Now and Then." The layers of production on the original version have been stripped away to lay bare Karen's expressive, melancholy vocal, which generates an ethereally-surreal feeling. Maybe she's still here, because it sounds like Karen's in the room with you.

I got the shivers when I first heard the remix of "I Can't Make Music," making the purchase of this CD certainly well worth it.

This is one of my favorite CD's ever. Anyone who likes good music must listen to Treasures. Some of the best non-popular songs are on this CD. Remember Anne Murray's "I Just Fall in Love" well you will be in for a big surprise to hear Karen sing this song with Richard's arrangements. Absolutely beautiful. The song "Now" would be a great wedding song along with "Because We Are in Love". For the child in us there is "Crystal Lullaby" and another of my favorites are "I Can't Make Music". This whole CD is fantastic! Would be a great gift for any music lover!

All of the songs were on the "B" side of the 45 hits on the record. Good CD to sdd to your collection. You'll have both CD Singles 1969-1981.

I have been a fan of the Carperter's music since the early 70's and this release of their non-hits in Treasures is the reason why! I've always believed that the Carpenters best music never got radio time. "Masquerade" and "I Can't Make Music" are a testimony to the beauty and power of Karen's voice and to Richards geniuses at arrangement. This CD is worth the price. Karen is alive in her music.

When you hear track 17 "I Can Dream can't I", you are reminded about the paucity of singing, and lack of musicianship in today's popular music. Indeed, it would be hard to imagine someone being able to put together something of this quality today...Gin and Tonic 40's Americana classic.

I found the digital mastering to be good here.

I preferred the original of " I can't make music", because I prefer the additional orchestration and find the echo chamber effect on Karen's voice a tad overdone. However, it's still good to have this version too.

Treasures is an excellent collection of Carpenters non-hits and includes the then unreleased track "Slow Dance." Buyer beware however, this is just a re-issue of the 1987 release in its original master, this cd set is NOT remastered. Be that as it may, the original mastering is clean and the liner notes suggest this set may have been done before the entire Carpenters catalog was "transferred" to their original cd re-issue. The remixes are brilliant and makes this set worth having. You may have to turn up the volume and the fullness isn't what it could be had they remastered this set before re-releasing it.

Can you imagine the Carpenters mixed in 5.1 surround DVD audio???!! Their music was made for this medium - Richard, if you're reading...!