Search - Carpenters :: Singles: 1969-1973

William W. (wdavidw) from TYLER, TX
Reviewed on 9/27/2010...

Karen Carpenter had a voice like no other, and her brother was a great arranger together they made many hit songs, which are featured on this CD. It doesn't contain them all, that would take a box set, but if you want to return to yesterday, once more, check it out.

0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Judith B. (butchpoodle) from EL SOBRANTE, CA
Reviewed on 2/25/2007...

12 tracks on this disc.

0 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Get the 1969-1981 Collection Instead

Lonnie E. Holder | Columbus, Indiana, United States | 09/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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. This CD collects most of the Carpenters' most popular music from their first four years of creating music. However, a later version of this collection has twenty-one songs in it. One proviso; some people think the remixing Richard Carpenter did in that collection was undesirable. You decide!



What is amazing about this music is that is sounds as contemporary today as it did when it was originally released. While many people may attempt to apply "timeless" to the music of various artists, thus far the Carpenters' music is timeless, and I think it will continue to be timeless in the adult contemporary genre for some time to come.



While Karen and Richard's music was mellow and mainstream, the art, technology and effort put into the music pushed their music to several limits. Karen tried very hard to create the most perfect music possible. When you listen to many female vocalists you hear when they take a breath. Karen did her best to turn her head from the microphone when she took a breath so you did not hear the breath. Karen and Richard pushed multi-track vocals to the limit of technology, recording track after track of Karen's voice, and then combining those tracks to create the gorgeous harmonies that are typical of the Carpenter's music.



The focus on perfection and technique could easily become the focus of the music, allowing the musical art to become lost. The Carpenters' always kept art as an important part of their music. Karen had an incredible vocal talent to sing as though she was singing to each and every listener. Her voice was able to communicate emotion in a way that few other vocalists have been able to achieve.



This CD is perfect for both casual and serious fans of the Carpenters, for anyone who appreciates mellow music, and for those who consider adult contemporary to be their favorite type of music.



I warn the focused listener that this music can become an emotional experience. Turn up the stereo on "Superstar," turn out the lights, lay back in a comfortable overstuffed chair, and feel the emotions evoked by the song; Karen Carpenter sang to strum the chords of your soul.

"