The Carpenters - The Essential Collection [1965-1997] Box Set 4 CD's (@320)

 

The Carpenters - The Essential Collection [1965-1997]

The Essential Collection [1965-1997] Review by William Ruhlmann.

The Carpenters' 2002 box set, The Essential Collection (1965-1997) is a revised version of their 1991 box set, From the Top. This time, Richard Carpenter has aimed more at a comprehensive treatment of the Carpenters' career, including all of their Top 40 hits (some with grudging remarks in the liner notes) in an expansion that adds 45 and a half minutes to the running time. There are also some more album cuts and rarities, though the only previously unreleased tracks are a commercial and a medley of standards by Karen Carpenter and Ella Fitzgerald from a television special. In total, he has added 17 tracks, while deleting four: a cover of the Beatles' "Goodnight"; a Spanish-language version of "Sing" (replaced by the English-language hit version that had been left off From the Top); and two songs from his sister's solo album (which he no longer describes as having been shelved in 1980 "at Karen's behest," but now "for reasons that are well-chronicled elsewhere," presumably in Ray Coleman's 1994 authorized biography), "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" and "Still Crazy After All These Years." Since that album finally saw release in 1996, he may have thought it was no longer necessary to represent so much of it. The result of the changes is a big improvement. From the Top didn't really justify its four discs; it could have fit on three. And it was a compromise between an all-out rarities set and a thorough career overview. This version uses its greater length to satisfy the latter goal. It is worth noting, too, that like From the Top, The Essential Collection (1965-1997) is a retouched version of the Carpenters' story. Richard Carpenter has not hesitated to remix, overdub, and otherwise spiff up the band's recordings. Purists may object, but the sound justifies the changes.

Tracklist:

 

CD1: 1965-1970

 

01. Caravan

02. The Parting Of Our Ways

03. Looking For Love

04. I'll Be Yours

05. Iced Tea

06. You'll Love Me

07. All I Can Do

08. Don't Be Afraid

09. Invocation

10. Your Wonderful Parade

11. All Of My Life

12. Eve

13. Ticket To Ride

14. Get Together

15. Interview

16. Love Is Surrender

17. Maybe It's You

18. (They Long To Be) Close To You

19. Mr.Guder

20. We've Only Just Begun

21. Merry Christmas, Darling

22. For All We Know

 

CD2: 1971-1973

 

01. Rainy Days and Mondays

02. Superstar

03. Let Me Be The One

04. Bless The Beasts and The Children

05. Hurting Each Other

06. It's Going To Take Some Time

07. I Won't Last A Day Without You

08. A Song For You

09. Top Of The World

10. Goodbye To Love

11. This Masquerade

12. Sing

13. Jambalya (On The Bayou)

14. Yesterday Once More

15. Oldies Medley

16. Yesterday Once More (Reprise)

17. Radio Contest Outakes

 

CD3: 1974-1978

 

01. Morinaga Hi-Crown Chocolate Commercial

02. Please Mr.Postman

03. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town

04. Only Yesterday

05. Solitaire

06. Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again

07. Good Friends are For Keeps

08. Ordinary Fool

09. Sandy

10. There's A Kind Of Hush

11. I Need To Be In Love

12. From This Moment On

13. Suntory Pop Jingle №1

14. Suntory Pop Jingle №2

15. All You Get From Love Is A Love Song

16. Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft

17. Sweet, Sweet Smile

18. Christ Is Born

19. White Christmas

20. Little Altar Boy

21. Ave Maria

 

CD4: 1978-1997

 

01. Where Do I Go From Here

02. Little Girl Blue

03. I Believe You

04. If I Had You

05. Karen/Ella Medley

06. 1980 Medley

07. Make Believe It's Your First Time

08. Touch Me When We're Dancing

09. When It's Gone

10. Because We are In Love (The Wedding Song)

11. Those Good Old Dreams

12. Now

13. Karen's Theme

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