(They Long to Be) Close to You - Carpenters, Bacharach, Burt
We've Only Just Begun - Carpenters, Nichols, Roger
For All We Know - Carpenters, Griffin, James
Rainy Days and Mondays - Carpenters, Nichols, Roger
Superstar - Carpenters, Bramlett, Bonnie
Bless the Beasts and Children - Carpenters, Botkin, Perry Jr.
Hurting Each Other - Carpenters, Geld, Gary
It's Going to Take Some Time - Carpenters, King, Carole
Goodbye to Love - Carpenters, Bettis, John
Top of the World - Carpenters, Bettis, John
I Won't Last a Day Without You - Carpenters, Nichols, Roger [Eng
Sing - Carpenters, Raposo, Joe
Yesterday Once More - Carpenters, Bettis, John
This Masquerade - Carpenters, Russell, Leon
Jambalaya (On the Bayou) - Carpenters, Williams, Hank
Please Mr. Postman - Carpenters, Bateman, Robert
Desperado - Carpenters, Frey, Glenn Lewis
Track Listings (17) - Disc #2
Only Yesterday - Carpenters, Bettis, John
Solitaire - Carpenters, Cody, Phil [2]
There's a Kind of Hush - Carpenters, Reed, Les
I Need to Be in Love - Carpenters, Bettis, John
Sandy - Carpenters, Bettis, John
All You Get from Love Is a Love Song - Carpenters, Eaton, Steve [1]
Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of Wor - Carpenters, Draper, Terry Edwar
Sweet Sweet Smile - Carpenters, Newton, Juice
I Believe You - Carpenters, Addrisi, Dick
Touch Me When We're Dancing - Carpenters, Bell, Ken
When It's Gone - Carpenters, Handley, Randy
Those Good Old Dreams - Carpenters, Bettis, John
Where Do I Go from Here - Carpenters, McGee, Parker
You're the One - Carpenters, Ferguson, Steve
Now - Carpenters, Nichols, Roger
Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore - Carpenters, Weiss, Larry
Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again - Carpenters, Pomeranz, David
The Carpenters Made Some of the Most Famous Records of the Last 40 Years. Richard Carpenter's Precise Songwriting and Production Skills Combined with Karen Carpenter's Crystal-clear Vocals to Create Tracks that Are as Popu... more »lar Today as They were in the '70s and Early '80s. The "Carpenters Gold" Album Has So Far Sold 600k and this "Ultimate Collection Album", Compiled and Mastered by Richard, Expands Upon it Adding More Timeless Songs to Create a Definitive Carpenters Album.« less
The Carpenters Made Some of the Most Famous Records of the Last 40 Years. Richard Carpenter's Precise Songwriting and Production Skills Combined with Karen Carpenter's Crystal-clear Vocals to Create Tracks that Are as Popular Today as They were in the '70s and Early '80s. The "Carpenters Gold" Album Has So Far Sold 600k and this "Ultimate Collection Album", Compiled and Mastered by Richard, Expands Upon it Adding More Timeless Songs to Create a Definitive Carpenters Album.
CD Reviews
THE BEAUTIFUL KAREN LIVES ON FOR ETERNITY.....
barry | Boston, MA United States | 04/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
To review this cd collection is simple - short and sweet it has all the hits plus some added extras and the remastering is pure perfection. It seems that with every new collection that came out Richard tinkered with the orchestration, vocal intensity and the songs over time lost all their essence of beauty and power that was there when first recorded.
These songs are all great due to the wonderful arrangements by Richard, the excellent song selection but foremost the rare vocal ability that Karen possessed. Her voice was always so pure with open, honest emotion and an ever constant tinge of melancholy/sadness. To change this in any way denies us of the gift that is Karen Carpenter. Her voice is one of the best of all times. Perfection cannot be enhanced as those other collections tried to do.
These songs I can guarantee are the original versions remastered perfectly and it is very emotional to hear that voice come out so clear, so pure - the voice of an angel. These are the original songs in their original form as you remember them.
All Carpenter fans - this cd will be a dream come true. Purchase it and Karen will live on for you forever.
"
Great Sound
Y2bjs Reviews | Melbourne Australia | 04/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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.
"
Almost Perfect! But they missed again!
Music | Lafayette, Louisiana | 02/27/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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!"
Best ever of the Carpenters
The Rabbi | Johnson City, TN USA | 11/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Thoroughly enjoyable. I play it frequently and it never ceases to please. Karen Carpenter had a voice to remember forever."
Time to clear up the confusion: There are two Carpenters col
David Pearlman | Arlington, MA United States | 01/23/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Reading the reviews already written for this collection, I can see there's some confusion. Some say the collection includes "Goofus", some say it doesn't. Some say it uses the original mixes, rarely used on CDs, others suggest no.
Here's the answer: A 3 disc version of this collection, The Ultimate Collection, was issued in The Netherlands that A) contained Goofus (among other substitutions) and B) used all the original mixes. (The 3rd CD, included as a bonus, added 7 tracks from Karen and Richard solo efforts.)
This Dutch version of The Ultimate Collection was quickly deleted from the catalog, and it is widely believed that that occurred because he Richard Carpenter did not authorize a collection using the original mixes. (Richard has remixed many of the Carpenters tracks for the CD age, sometimes multiple times, and those who grew up with the original versions do not necessarily consider this a plus).
Subsequently, another Carpenters collection, also titled "The Ultimate Collection", was issued in Europe and other parts of the world. THAT'S the collection listed here. In place of Goofus, it substitutes Sandy, and there are a few other track substitutions as well. This collection uses the CD era mixes for songs that have been used on basically every other Carpenters collection issued in the CD era.
While the Dutch "Ultimate Collection" is desirable for the uncommon original mixes, this collection is no better or worse than the many similar 2CD best-ofs that are available. The material is excellent and the mixes are modern (for good or bad).
For those curious, here's the track listing for the original Dutch "The Ultimate Collection". These were all the original mixes, and by comparison to the track listing for the CD being sold here, you can determine the handful of song differences:
Disc 1:
1. Ticket to Ride
2. (They Long to Be) Close to You
3. We've Only Just Begun
4. For All We Know
5. Rainy Days and Mondays
6. Superstar
7. Bless the Beasts and Children
8. Hurting Each Other
9. It's Going to Take Some Time
10. Goodbye to Love
11. Top of the World
12. I Won't Last a Day Without You
13. Sing
14. Yesterday Once More
15. This Masquerade
16. Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
17. Please Mr. Postman
Disc 2:
1. Desperado
2. Only Yesterday
3. Solitaire
4. There's a Kind of Hush
5. I Need to Be In Love
6. Goofus *
7. All You Get from Love is a Love Song
8. Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day)
9. Sweet Sweet Smile
10. I Believe You
11. Touch Me When We're Dancing
12. (Want You) Back In My Life Again *
13. Those Good Old Dreams
14. Beechwood 4-5789
15. Now
16. Make Believe It's Your First Time *
17. Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again
Disc 3:
1. Lovelines (Karen Carpenter)
2. If I Had You (Karen Carpenter)
3. Still Crazy After All These Years (Karen Carpenter)
4. When Time Was All We Had (Richard Carpenter)
5. Calling Your Name Again (Richard Carpenter)
6. Sandy (Richard Carpenter)
7. Karen's Theme (Richard Carpenter)
Here's a link to the original Dutch issue on Amazon. It's out of print, but a used copy might eventually show up. Be very careful, if one does, to contact the seller first to ensure they have not mis-listed the CD based only on title...
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1