Carpenters Gold - 35th Anniversary Edition [2 CD]

First off, while I am an "old-school music aficionado," I'll be the first to admit that I'm not much of a pop music fan. While my tastes in music are eclectic, for the last 11-12 years, my absolute favorite music has been Outlaw Country--the type and genre of Country music that is aired on SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Channel 60--the Outlaw Country Channel. So, I even surprised myself when I purchased the "Carpenters Gold" 2-CD Set (40 songs total). When I told my kids I purchased a Carpenters 2-Disc CD Set, they thought I "went over the deep end." They just couldn't see their old man (me), a dyed-in-the-wool Outlaw Country music fan, listening to the Carpenters. But, ya know...to me they're still kids, even if they are in their 30s and 40s, respectively--so what the heck would they know? But, little did they know that even back in the 60s and 70s, when I was listening to almost nothing but classic rock-n-roll (Rolling Stones; Bob Seger; The Kinks; Jefferson Airplane; The Lovin' Spoonful; The Rascals; etc.), I had a very soft spot in my heart for the Carpenters--and especially for Karen. I never admitted it to my buddies, but I was totally enthralled and even hypnotized by Karen Carpenter's voice. While in my 20s I absolutely thought Karen Carpenter had the most beautiful singing voice I'd ever heard; and now, in my late 60s, I reaffirmed what I knew back when I was in my twenties--that Karen Carpenter had the most beautiful singing voice ever. I seriously doubt that her singing voice will ever again be matched. Karen had the innate ability to cross every range and octave with perfect pitch and the most melodic sound from a human voice I'd ever heard. I've read some jaded reviews from other purchasers of the "Carpenters Gold" 2-CD-Set in which their biggest complaint was that some of the songs had been remixed by Richard Carpenter, and that the remixing had somehow detracted from these songs' original sound quality. Please, people...quite a few of these songs are over forty (40) years old. Without altering the originality of the songs, I applaud Richard Carpenter for remixing them. I find nothing wrong with taking advantage of technology. Let's face it: we purchase CDs to obtain the clearest, highest quality listening fidelity, and if remixing helps achieve the best listening experience possible (which it does), then I'm all for remixing songs. Musicians and Record Producers remix songs all the darn time. As for Karen Carpenter's singing voice, I can best describe it as alluring, hypnotic, touching, and angelic--all rolled into one absolutely heavenly sound. This 2-CD-Set so touched my heart and soul that I found myself listening to it incessantly. So, I suppose I'm more of a pop music fan than I first thought. But the Carpenters' songs aren't just pop music; they're (at least they were) soft rock, and--at the time they were cut--contemporary crossover music. Singers and musicians like Karen Carpenter come along only once in the proverbial "blue moon." What makes Karen Carpenter even more utterly amazing is that, not only was she singing the songs on the 2-CD-Set, for many of the songs, she was also playing drums--which, in-and-of-itself is almost a feat unparalleled in the annals of music--any genre of music. A little known fact about Karen Carpenter is that not only was she a great drummer, she was a critically acclaimed drummer. Actually, when Karen Carpenter first became a professional singer, she considered herself "a drummer who sang lead." But when the record producers heard her melodic voice, they convinced her that her future lie in singing--and singing only. So, she turned her drumming responsibilities over to another outstanding drummer (I've forgotten his name, but perhaps someone who reads my review will recall it). In the final analysis, listening to the "Carpenters Gold" 2-CD-Set afforded me the opportunity to return to a much simpler time in my life--all the while providing me the opportunity to resurrect memories of my younger days that had been long ago stored in the deepest recesses of my mind. Perhaps that is why I've listened to these two CDs ad nauseum; Karen's inimitable voice touched me so very deeply that it resurrected recessed emotions that I thought were forever lost to age and non-use. And isn't that one of the gifts of music? That great, timeless music allows us to think, dream, and imagine, while forgetting about the crazy world around us for "a while." Thank you so much, Ms. Carpenter. When you passed at the much-too-young-age of 32, the music world--nay, the entire world itself--lost a beautiful, magnificent, glorious gift that may never be replaced. But thank the Good Lord that through the power of the electron--and the discovery of the semiconductor--what you've left behind cannot be erased. Your striking, touching, alluring voice will live on forever. In my mind, you were, are, and always will be the greatest female singer ever--nay, not just the greatest female singer ever, but the GREATEST SINGER ever, female or male, across EVERY genre of music. Thank you, Karen.

I am biased towards this CD! This is my era of music and the Carpenters were among my favorites. If you have similar leanings you should not miss this CD. "Carpenters Gold" includes their greatest hits (the 12 songs on the album "The Singles 1969 - 1973"), the best of their later releases ("Let Me Be the One," "Bless the Beasts and the Children," etc.), a few of their off beat forays ("Sweet, Sweet Smile," "Calling All Occupants of Interplanetary Craft") AND a special treat or two. Everyone knows about the Carpenters' hits. To this day they are staples on easy listening and 70's music stations. I remember many of the later albums ("Horizons," "Passage," "A Kind of Hush") and am thrilled so many of the best from those releases are included on these two discs. Add a couple of stabs at country music like "Jambalaya" and "Sweet, Sweet Smile" and this album has everything a Carpenters fan could want. The best thing this album does is give more than it has to give. Beyond all of the above, it includes a couple of previously unreleased songs (at least in the U.S.). One of those is a joyful, beautiful, charming rendition of "The Rainbow Connection." Another is a "work lead" vocal Karen recorded in 1978. Richad completed production of it in 1999, "Leave Yesterday Behind." The real gold nugget of this CD set is a Barry Manilow hit, "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again." According to the jacket notes "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" was recorded in 1975 for the 'Horizon' album. Dicarded at the time because that album had enough other ballads, Karen's lead vocal was lost until the early 90's. Her "work lead" of this song was orchestrated and mixed, being released in 1994. I had not heard it until I got this CD. Karen's recording is vocally PERFECT. But the recording wasn't perfect. Karen left a ghost of herself after the first chorus. There, in the quiet before the second verse starts you can hear her turn the page, a ruffle of paper. It gives me chills every time I listen to it. The notes also say these are the original words to the song. Barry had some changed for his interpretation. I'd like to add a plug for JACKET NOTES. These are under appreciated inclusions in CD packaging you just don't get when downloading a song or a CD from the a music store. The one included with this CD is excellent. Richard has written a touching tribute to his sister. His memories become insight to fans. As I write this iTunes version 7.5 is available for download. The last several iTunes versions allow a higher quality download IF you go to "Preferences>Advanced>Import," you can select a 256 kbps quality in AAC encoding or 196 kbps for MP3 encoding. These are quite a bit larger files than 96 kbps, taking longer to import and more space to store, but it also follows that they will provide better sound. I assume other music software has similar options available. I recommend the higher quality. Karen Carpenter had a unique voice. It had great depth, resonance and color. But it is her soul that drove that voice to greatness, to the place it occupies in my heart. This CD set captures all of that charm, power and magic. It's well worth the investment. Even if you have never been a fan, you will find the soothing vocals by Karen will move you.

Wunderbare musik

A Top Quality and Very Useful Product. Great dvd of The Carpenters performing all their hits.

excellent

commande reçu dans les délais bien emballer pour une protection optimum. The Carpenters ont un style musical qui ne laisse pas indifférent, tous en subtilité et douceur par la voix de Karen au destin bien tragique. ce groupe n'est pas pour ma part hase been , un double cd a avoir dans sa collection et écouter pour des heures de plaisir.

Nei primi anni '70, sull'onda di Woodstock e non solo, ascoltavo tutt'altro genere di musica. Dal rock al country, dal blues al prog etc. Forse sarà per l'età che avanza inesorabilmente ma sto scoprendo nuovi/vecchi panorami musicali fino ad ora inesplorati. Questa raccolta dei maggiori successi dei Carpenters mi ha donato momenti di ascolto veramente piacevoli. Grandi musicisti entrambi e ottimi arrangiamenti. Lo consiglio agli amanti dell'easy listening perché davvero di alta qualità.