Disco de Carpenters: “The Ultimate Collection”

As a die-hard Carpenters fan, I am always happy when another release of their hits comes out, if only to keep their music accessible for new fans. I was particularly pleased with this collection for that group of listeners because of the purity of the content. Ever since A&M and/or Richard Carpenter had been churning out anthologies and hits of collections since Karen's untimely death in 1983, there was always some tinkering done with the original tunes (mostly in re-mixing and re-recorded or newly recorded instrumentals added to the tunes). Soon these "doctored" versions became the only ones you would hear on the radio and on subsequent issues of new hits packages over the years. I believe the only reason this new collection could be made is due to the remastering of all the original Caprenters albums which came out a few years back. The first two discs of this collection plays out (for the most part) as a history of their single releases in chonological order, although these are all the ALBUM versions of those songs. This is not a true all-encompassing "Singles" collection, as there are some actual single releases missing (Merry Christmas Darling, Honolulu City Lights - both of which I assume were not included because a remastered version does not exist for these as yet) and some that are included that to the best of my knowledge were not actual single releases (This Masquerade, Desperado). It is really wonderful, however, to hear the bulk of their early hits in their pristine, original form as I remember them from the old LPs they came from, and more importantly, without the somewhat irritating flourishes Richard added to some of these hits post 1983 (which particularly made We've Only Just Begun and Superstar become heavyhanded and unlistenable IMHO). Why he chose to tinker with the lovely arrangements he orginally committed to vinyl back in 1970-71 is still a mystery to me. I am glad that recent converts to the Carpenters sound can now hear these two tunes in the versions that earned Richard well deserved Grammy nominations as arranger in 1970 and 1971. As I know what a perfectionist Richard is, I was puzzled with why Yesterday Once More was not better edited to omit the motorcycle intro (which on the album led to their oldies medley - on this collection it doesn't make any sense to have left it in). The reason I call this collection as hardly being the ultimate for true Carpenters fans is that if it is really an Ultimate Collection, it should either be a true singles collection, with the original version of Merry Christmas Darling and Karen's Magic Lamp releases, OR it should be an ultimate collection in the sense that it contain more historical recordings such as their RCA sessions, alternate takes of their hits, and the always sought after unreleased material such as the work from their TV shows that have not been released, or appearances on Carol Burnett or the Tonight Show. Now THAT would be an Ultimate Collection!

Karen Carpenter had a great voice,and here is a big collection of songs from this brother and sister team.To name the best songs from this duo is difficult because there is so many to choose from.But a definite favorite is Top Of The World.I love that tune.

But a song that realy established them was (They Long To Be) Close To You.That song is about their most known song and i love it.There is a great assortment of songs here like We've Only Just Begun.I wont go through all the songs as The Carpenters were consistently good.

I am a huge Carpenters fan and I will never stop being one. This is collection has some of the most amazing songs in it. But again, in this complication, they are missing a few hits. Will the record company ever get it correct? It's not truly the Ultimate without all of the hits. The songs they are missing are "A Song For You","Goofus","I Just Fall In Love Again","(Want You) Back In My Life Again","Beechwood 45-789","Make Believe It's Your First Time","Honululu City Lights",and "If I Had You". If these songs were to be included on this Ultimate Collection, then it would be just perfect. Hopefully on the Carpenters 40th anniversary, they will release album with all of these songs on it. I would still recommend this album to you, it does include the major hits "We've Only Just Begun","For All We Know","Superstar","I Need To Be In Love", and many many more. Make sure you pick up a copy!

After all the retinkering and remixing done, I'm a little surprised that Richard Carpenter would allow this to be released, but here it is - the Carpenters hits in their ORIGINAL mixes. There are, of course, a few caveats. "Yesterday Once More" is taken from the album master, which doesn't fade cleanly, there are explosive sounds at the end, a segue to the next track from the Lp. Also, "Top of the World" is the original album version, not the re-recorded version released as a single in 1973, and which drove "The Singles 1969-73" to be their only Number One album. I would also like to know what CD Musicluver31 was listening to when they listed songs that were omitted - four of the choices - "Goofus", "(Want You) Back in My Life Again", "Beechwood 4-5789", and "Make Believe It's Your First Time" - are indeed on this collection. There could have been more songs included - the Carpenters collection CDs have historically been a bit skimpy as a rule - but having the original mixes of these songs surely makes up for that, after hearing them in adulterated versions for years. A fine collection that I recommend without hesitation.

Because this is the most comprehensive CD set to use original mixes of the tracks. They are the album mixes, not the singles, which is important in some cases, but these versions are closest to what we heard on the radio and on our, cough, records.

Any 2-disc set (this has a 7-song bonus disc of solo songs) will by necessity leave off some favorites. However, this is the only collection I've found with versions of all 28 of the Carpenters' Hot 100 hits. That includes the uncharacteristically uptempo "(Want You) Back in My Life Again" and "Beechwood 4-5789", as well as "Goofus", actually quite an interesting single but its chart chances had to be done in by its title. Like, duh.

Why not 5 stars? Because of "Top of the World" and "Yesterday Once More". "World" was a Number One single only after having been substantially reworked from the version here (from "A Song For You"). The vocals and instrumentation are, to my ears, much improved on the single. Also, the compilers somehow couldn't separate out the fade-out on "Yesterday" from the vroom-motor intro to the oldies medley that followed it on "Now and Then". This happens to be one of my favorite Carpenter hits, of course.

Also of interest (to me anyway): The LP version of "Close To You" is relatively rare...some may be surprised by the extra WAAAAH...Close-To-You's that follow the fade from the single. Finally, the version of "Goodbye To Love" is very different from the one Richard Carpenter has remixed for every other CD sice 1985. He'd redone the piano and pumped up the bass and drums, which I admit does work in its own way. However, Karen's voice dominated the original, which was more appropriate for the heartbroken lyric.

Listening to Karen's voice and Richard's beautiful arrangements (remixed or otherwise) bring back the early '70's for me like nothing else. This can be bittersweet, both because Karen and some people I love are no longer among us, but when I can get past that "Rainy Days and Mondays", "Goodbye To Love", "Yesterday Once More", "Superstar", and so many others can be sweet tonic for a troubled soul. So, 26 out of 28 original mixes, six fine non-singles and seven bonus solo songs makes this the best Carpenters CD available today.