Carpenters - Carpenters Gold (CD) [2 Discs]
![Carpenters Gold (CD) [2 Discs]](/images/Carpenters-Gold-CD-2-Discs-B0001AP0OU-L.jpg)
List Price:
Our Price: $11.02
You Save: $8.96 (45%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $10.67 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: CarpentersEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2004-02-10
Music Label: Utv Records
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Superstar
- Rainy Days and Mondays
- Top of the World
- Maybe It's You
- Let Me Be the One
- Reason to Believe
- Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
- Leave Yesterday Behind [#]
- Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore
- Bless the Beasts and Children [From Bless the Beasts and Children]
- It's Going to Take Some Time
- The Rainbow Connection [#]
- Only Yesterday
- Sweet, Sweet Smile
- There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)
- California Dreamin' [#]
- Solitaire
- We've Only Just Begun
- This Masquerade
- Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of Wor
- Yesterday Once More
- Please Mr. Postman
- Hurting Each Other
- I Need to Be in Love
- Merry Christmas, Darling
- (They Long to Be) Close to You
- All You Get from Love Is a Love Song
- Sing
- Make Believe It's Your First Time
- Ticket to Ride
- Goodbye to Love
- I Just Fall in Love Again
- I Believe You
- Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again
- For All We Know [From Lovers and Other Strangers]
- Touch Me When We're Dancing
- I Won't Last a Day Without You
- Mr. Guder
- A Song for You
- Karen's Theme
Free Music Notes for Carpenters Gold (CD) [2 Discs]
Free Music Review: If There's A Better Collection, I Don't Wanna Know About It
Hit: 5 Stars
35 years after they released their first single, the legacy of Karen and Richard Carpenter remains one of the greatest success stories (with nearly a dozen gold albums and singles, 3 number one pop hits, 9 other top 10 hits, and 17 consecutive top 2 hits on the "Easy Listening" chart, including 7 number ones in a row) and ultimate tragedy in pop music history. After Karen's untimely passing at the age of 32 in 1983, many hits collections have come out, claiming to be tributes to them but are really just easy ways of getting money by cashing in on a timeless body of work. This left many fans feeling cheated, and in 2003 Richard decided to solve this problem by releasing "Carpenters Gold", a 2 - disc set with 40 tracks, including 3 that were never released. The result would've made Karen proud.
Dis 1 is a nice mix of classic hits and album cuts. Aside from the obvious "Superstar" (a great choice for the opener), "Rainy Days And Mondays", "Top Of The World", "Only Yesterday" and "We've Only Just Begun", key album cuts like "Let Me Be The One", "Jambalaya (On The Bayou)", "This Masquerade" and "Reason To Believe" are surprisingly strong additions. There's some sort of irony in them recording "Reason To Believe", and I'd like to share it with you.
"Reason To Believe" is a contemporary folk classic written by Tim Hardin (best known for writing "If I Were A Carpenter"). In 1970, The Carpenters recorded it for their "Close To You" album. A year later, they released "Superstar" as a single. "Superstar" peaked at number 2 on the Hot 100. It was kept from getting to number ne by Rod Stewart's "Maggie Mae". The other half of Stewart's single was none other than his own version of "Reason To Believe".
The three unreleased tracks are a great treat. First, there's "Leave Yesterday Behind". It's musically a rewrite of "For All We Know" but it has great lyrics sung flawlesly by Karen and I think that had this song been a single circa 1971 it would have been a huge hit. "The Rainbow Connection" became famous for its inclusion in 1979's "The Muppet Movie", sung there by Kermit The Frog. Karen's performance is flawless, and the msuic and lyrics are hopeful and happy. "California Dreamin'" is a cover of the Mamas And The Papas hit. It was recorded in 1967 while the duo was signed to the ill - fated Magic Lamp record label. Karen was only 17 when she recorded this, but her voice's range seems too mature for her someone this young. I personally think that Karen is the greatest female singer of our time.
Some fans complain about Richard adding to the original recordings. I say, don't complain. Richard obviously cares for his work and cares for his fans. He wanted the fans to have a nice listening experience with these songs. If you don't like what he did to them, get the vinyl out.
Disc 2 is where the hits get their due; "(They Long To Be) Close To You", "Please Mr. Postman", "Goodbye To Love", "For All We Know", "Hurting Each Other", "Sing", "Yesterday Once More" and "I Won't Last A Day Without You" make up the bulk of the disc. Still some great lesser - heard tracks are here. The original "feminine" version of "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again" easily equals if not buries the "masculine" hit version by Barry Manilow. "I Believe You" is a beautiful love song while Karen's original version of "I Just Fall In Love Again" easily beats the Anne Murray version by a long shot. Their last top 40 hit, 1981's "Touch Me When We're Dancing", showcases the band's harmonies very well. "I Need To Be In Love" was Karen's personal favorite, and you can tell. She gives it her all here, as if she thinks it will be the last song she'll evr sing again. "Mr. Guder" is the group's only anti - love song (with the exception of the also included, more upbeat "All You Get From Love Is A Love Song") with a mystical flute and a somewhat menacing Karen vocal. "Song For You" is a lovely album vcut, and the closing "Karen's Theme" shows that as a composer, Richard still has it.
There are a few songs I would've loved to see here, like their cover of The Eagles' "Desperado", their original version of Barry Manilow's "Can't Smile Without You", the oldies medley from "Now And Then" and the Richard - sung "I Kept On Loving You". But you can't complain about what's here. Also included is a great booklet filled with pictures, an essay by Richard and stories of eachs ong told by Richard. I really suggest this album as well as their studio albums.
Broadway & Vocalists Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in Broadway & Vocalists Music CDs
George Shearing, Mel Torme - Elegant EveningSHEARING,G/TORME,M; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $7.11
Price in other shops:
Stan Getz - Spring Is HereRelease date: 1993-01-11; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Rosemary Clooney - Girl SingerRelease date: 1999-04-01; Music CD
Best price: $8.97
Price in other shops:
The Blenders - NogRelease date: 1998-10-20; Music CD
Best price: $9.73
Price in other shops:
Brave Combo, Tiny Tim - GirlTIM,TINY/BRAVE COMB; Release date: 1996-03-19; Music CD
Best price: $10.36
Price in other shops:
Belleville a Cappella Choir - Southern Journey, Vol. 11: Honor The Lamb - The Belleville A Cappella ChoirRelease date: 1998-02-10; Music CD
Best price: $83.93
Diane Schuur - Love SongsRelease date: 1993-05-11; Music CD
Best price: $4.00
Price in other shops:
![Love Is the Thing [Vinyl] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
Nat King Cole - Love Is the Thing [Vinyl]Release date: 1996-11-19; Music CD
Best price: $169.99
Linda Ronstadt - Linda Ronstadt: Greatest HitsRelease date: 1998-01-13; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Buddy Rich, Sammy Davis Jr - Sounds of 66Release date: 1996-09-17; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
Abba - ABBA - Gold: Greatest HitsRelease date: 1993-09-21; Published: 1999; Music CD
Best price: $9.00
Price in other shops:
Olivia Newton-John - Magic: The Very Best of Olivia Newton-JohnRelease date: 2001-09-11; Music CD
Best price: $9.92
Price in other shops:
Mamas & Papas - The Mamas & the Papas - Greatest HitsMAMAS & THE PAPAS; Release date: 1998-03-10; Music CD
Best price: $6.93
Price in other shops:
Bread - The Best of BreadBREAD; Release date: 2001-06-19; Music CD
Best price: $8.73
Price in other shops:
Daryl Dragon, Toni Tennille - Captain & Tennille: The Compete HitsRelease date: 2001-05-22; Music CD
Best price: $9.55
Price in other shops:
Carpenters - Christmas PortraitCARPENTERS; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $7.29
Price in other shops:
Anne Murray - The Best ...So FarRelease date: 1994-11-29; Music CD
Best price: $5.50
Price in other shops:
Carpenters - Christmas CollectionRelease date: 1998-09-22; Music CD
Best price: $6.88
Price in other shops:
Carpenters - Love SongsRelease date: 1998-03-24; Music CD
Best price: $3.90
Price in other shops:
Barry Manilow - Ultimate ManilowUltimate; Release date: 2002-02-05; Music CD
Best price: $6.40
Price in other shops: