The Singles 1969-1973 [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Carpenters

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 12, 1999)
• Original Release Date: November 1973
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B00000HY5F
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #74,969 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

This is the Carpenters best-of collection (there are many) that gives the listener their strongest Top 10 songs in one flawless package. From the hopeful opener, "We've Only Just Begun," to the wistful closing track, "Close to You," these songs epitomize the band's lush and sincere style that won them so much adulation (and many awards) in the 1970s. Karen's passionate vocals take the listener on dizzying rides on "Hurting Each Other" and "Rainy Days and Mondays," and irresistibly pleasant ditties like "Top of the World" and "Sing" continue to rule the perfect-songs-for-the-car-radio kingdom. Their take on the Beatles "Ticket to Ride" is inoffensive if not agreeable, and weepy tunes like "It's Going to Take Some Time" and "Goodbye to Love" can still wring a sniffle out of the sensitive listener. This collection signifies an important period in the timeline of pop-music history. --Lorry Fleming

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Singles" is the First Carpenter Greatest Hits Album, August 4, 2005

By	James Koenig "konedog" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

"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

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The biggest selling album of their careers, March 9, 1999

By A Customer

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfection, January 22, 2005

By	Doc Dave "world music fan" (New York City) - See all my reviews

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!