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

Carpenters
4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews) | More about this product

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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
  • In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,611 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.

Samples
Song Title Time Price
listen  1. We've Only Just Begun 4:09$0.99 Buy Track
listen  2. Top Of The World 2:58$0.99 Buy Track
listen  3. Ticket To Ride 4:09$0.99 Buy Track
listen  4. Superstar 3:40$0.99 Buy Track
listen  5. Rainy Days And Mondays 3:20$0.99 Buy Track
listen  6. Goodbye To Love 3:53$0.99 Buy Track
listen  7. Yesterday Once More 3:59$0.99 Buy Track
listen  8. It's Going To Take Some Time 2:56$0.99 Buy Track
listen  9. Sing 3:20$0.99 Buy Track
listen10. For All We Know 2:34$0.99 Buy Track
listen11. Hurting Each Other 2:48$0.99 Buy Track
listen12. (They Long To Be) Close To You 3:42$0.99 Buy Track

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

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Customer Reviews

28 Reviews
5 star:
 (23)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (28 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars "The Singles" is the First Carpenter Greatest Hits Album, August 4, 2005
"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
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9 of 9 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.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfection, January 22, 2005
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!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best compilations you can find
Luis Mejia - The first single album by The Carpenters came early; as it's title states, it only covers 4 years. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Humberto Mejia

4.0 out of 5 stars OK In Its Day - But A More Comprehensive Compilation Needed Now
When this was released in 1999 as a digitalized version of the original A&M 1973 vinyl album, a 12-track release was pretty much the norm. Read more
Published 11 months ago

5.0 out of 5 stars Not the same as the original but close
I had this album when I was a kid in the 70's and played it over and over. This CD is close to the original album, but some changes were made. Read more
Published 15 months ago by enterprise01

5.0 out of 5 stars Get the 1969-1981 Collection Instead
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. Read more
Published on September 12, 2006 by Lonnie E. Holder

5.0 out of 5 stars The most well known album of the Carpenters!
This album of the Carpenters contains their well known songs that were recorded from 1969-1973. A lot of these I like very much. Read more
Published on December 24, 2005 by Matt Tawesson

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this CD now!
The CD is superb. In it, one will notice the distinct change in Karen from her girlish voice and style in their earlier albums to a mature and professional singer and artist. Read more
Published on October 13, 2004 by R. B. Martin

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Collection Of Early Singles
For a while, this album (the group's only album to go to number one) was the best Carpenters hits set around. Read more
Published on September 1, 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars May be the only Carpenters CD you'll ever need
Richard and Karen Carpenter both had special talents that
resulted in may be the greatest recording duo of all time. Read more
Published on July 12, 2004 by Todd Ebert

5.0 out of 5 stars Win someone over
If anything, this IS the definitive collection! These are some of the greatest songs ever recorded! Everyone should own this CD. Read more
Published on June 14, 2004 by Mr. Wynn

5.0 out of 5 stars We've Only Just Begun
By now, virtually all of The Carpenter's fans own this in some capacity: 8-track, cassette, or CD. This is truly the essential collection during this time period. Read more
Published on January 19, 2004

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