The Carpenters - Carpenters Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition
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Free Music Notes for Carpenters Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition
Free Music Review: Some minor flaws, but otherwise excellent.
Hit: 4 Stars
This is an excellent collection of the best and most popular music of Karen and Richard Carpenter, otherwise known as (The) Carpenters.
I confess. I'm a closet Carpenters fan and have been since I was an admitted one in the 1970's.
There is something about their sound that seems to grab you, almost regardless of what type of music you most prefer. That was true in the 1970's and is still true 30+ years later.
The death of Karen was sad and tragic and brought an end to the group. Karen had a phenomenal voice. A sweet soothing alto. I've not heard anything like it before or since.
They also had a knack for picking songs from some of the best writers (including but not limited to) Paul Williams, Burt Bacharach and Richard Carpenter himself (who was also an excellent arranger).
All of their big hits are here and then some. I have to agree that I'm somewhat disappointed with Richard's remixing on some of the tunes. It's not that they sound worse, it's just that they are somewhat different.
And it seems a bit odd for half of the group to mess with the original music, when the other half has no say in it......
However, if you're new to the Carpenters, then you're not going to notice. If you are indeed new to their music, I can't recommend this CD enough.
As a dedicated fan I have to say that one of the most glaring flaws is the inclusion of (what I believe is) the single mix of "(They Long to Be) Close to You". The track from the original album is somewhat longer and ends with (for lack of a better term) a fake ending, before "bursting back" into more of the chorus. It doesn't add much time wise to the song, it just makes it even more interesting.
True aficionados might want to purchase the "Close To You" CD as well, in order to get the original album track. Not to mention, the CD as a whole (along with their first 4-5 original albums) is comprised of excellent material in it's own right.
I will say that the remastering of all the material is superb. The whole CD sounds as if it were recorded yesterday.
So despite some flaws, "Gold: 35 Anniversary Edition" is a very good collection of the best of the Carpenters and then some.
Were it not for the unnecessary remixes and the exclusion of the best version of "(They Long to Be) Close to You", I'd give it 5 Stars. Alas, I gave it 4.
Free Music Review: An amateur outsider's opinion
Hit: 5 Stars
I am not an expert on the 'Carpenters' and cannot provide the kind of detailed knowledge about their records that other reviewers can.
I am one of the I suspect many many listeners who simply 'fell' for some of their songs when they heard them. Among those for me are 'Close to You' and 'Yesterday Once More'.
I am also one of those who was saddened at the early passing of Karen Carpenter. She had given so much beauty in music, it is sad to think that she did not have an especially happy adult life.
The 'Carpenters' have a sound all their own. Sometimes when hearing their songs begin I feel a special joy. They kind of lift you up and then hold you there. I think the heart of it was Karen's voice .
Strangely when I hear them now there is also some residual restraint or sadness that the singer whose voice I am hearing is no longer here.
Free Music Review: The Ultimate Carpenters Collection
Hit: 5 Stars
I listened to virtually no post-rock-and-roll pop music until I discovered the Carpenters on a airplane flight. It was love at first listen. I then bought this collection, loved it, and never looked back.
This collection has all Carpenters' major hits (as Richard states in the liner notes, there isn't supposed to be a "the"), such as the number ones 'Close To You', 'Top Of The World' and 'Please, Mr. Postman', and the top tens 'Superstar', 'Yesterday Once More', and, of course, 'We've Only just Begun' and many songs that should have been hits as well, such as 'Let Me Be The One' and 'A Song For You'.
There are many great songs here, some of which I would consider among my all-time favorites, such as 'Goodbye To Love' and my favorite Carpenters song ever, 'Only Yesterday'. They are largely romantic in nature, though some can be interpreted platonically as well, though few besides me would probably want to. In any case, they are also just good songs in any case.
The most obvious strength to the music here is Karen's incredible voice, which has not only incredible range, but a warm, soothing quality as well. This is perfectly complemented by Richard's arrangements and their overdubbed harmonies, both truly beautiful.
These factors combine to create a wonderful sound that has an almost magical effect on me. (I have a low appetite normally, but listening to them often enables me to clean my plate within minutes.)
Carpenters will always have a special meaning to me. I've since explored various kinds of music, but this was where it began.
Many of these songs resonated deeply with me when I first heard them, and, trite as it may sound, gave me a sense of hope. I have some trouble expressing myself, and one of the qualities I look for in songs is whether they describe things I've experienced, or felt, and many of these did, and most of those that aren't are still great to listen to.
This collection covers their entire career from their first recordings ('California Dreamin'') to their very last work ('Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore' and other tracks from the 'Made in America' sessions). I personally would have left off 'Tryin' To Get The Feelin' Again' and included 'Those Good Old Dreams' and 'Now'.
On the negative side, this collection has so much, there may not be much reason to buy the original albums if you haven't already, apart from the remixing issue. Over half of the album 'A Song for You' is here.
And also, because it's so long, I find I rarely have the time to listen to all of it.
And the end of the day however, if you like slow, pretty stuff with a bit of a rock and roll sensibility, and meaningful lyrics, you can't go wrong.
Free Music Review: Need Two Versions!
Hit: 4 Stars
This is the Carpenters finest collection ever released, but there are some open ended questions. Did these songs need added music or did they get it right the first time? Do these songs have to be remixed? The answer to both is "No". This act was never meant to be heard in a souped up sound. The Carperters were never meant to come off like The Miami Sound Machine. They were suburbia-vanilla with wonderful vocal overdubs led by one the greatest pop singers of the century - Karen Carpenter. Richard Carpenter often being given not enough credit for his contribution to the duo goes a bit too far. He would do everybody a favor and release a second version of this collection in original form. If you are a purist music listener and decide to purchase this baby lower your bass to about 1/4 because Karen's vocals at times gets lost. The only other alternative is buy the original albums if you got the bread. What should have been easy became difficult. God bless you Karen Carpenter! You are right there with Barbara Streisand and belong in The Rock Hall Of Fame. Too bad we can't get a collection that finally serves your legacy to the max. Maybe brother Richard will one day figure it out and get off his perfectionist ways. Free Music Review: The Purest Alto I Have Ever Heard
Hit: 5 Stars
Karen Carpenter is a gal I think about often. I miss...very much miss what I can only characterize as the purest Alto I have ever heard. I purchased another Carpenters' greatest hits album awhie back, and it somehow went missing. I just purchased this one tonight and I can't wait to hear that sublime, divine, voice once again. Now this isn't to ignore the extraordinary gifts in composition and arranging of Richard. Indeed, some huge names in Music still consider him to be among the best arrangers of all time. This album is very much evidence of that fact. I would recommend this purchase to anyone who simply loves the best-of-the-best. It's all here, including...the purest soul-and-Alto, Karen.