You can't give Karen less than 5 stars

How can you criticize any Carpenter's album? Karen Carpenter was one of the best female pop vocalists of our time. She could sing these songs acapella and I'd buy it. Here, Richard has put together a collection of material primarily from the Carpenters TV specials, sans editing for time and canned applause. The song "As Time Goes By" (Herman Humpfeld from "Casablanca") is not on this album, so it is a curious title. The album is worth any price to get the Carpenter's hit you've never heard: "Leave Yesterday Behind." Absolute perfection. As the Carpenters worked closely with composer Paul Williams, it's long been suspicioned that Karen probably recorded a demo track of "Rainbow Connection." Her reading of the tune written for Kermit the Frog in the original "Muppet Movie" is flawless, but the arrangement is...well, appalling might be a bit strong, but the kiddy toy piano is really obnoxious. Many people have recorded this song with much better musical backgrounds, including Paul Williams himself. Richard does a passable job standing in for John Davidson on a medley from the "Music, Music, Music" special. Apparently this is a track they produced at the time (1980) but it would have been better to have Davidson come in to sing his track for this release. As others have written, the early Karen material is pleasant. Her voice wasn't as polished on "Nowhere Man" or "California Dreaming" and the arrangements are pedestrian by the standards of then and now. Richard is capable of better arrangements and it's a real mystery why he didn't make more of an effort to produce these tracks with more complex and contemporary arrangements. So far, no female pop artist has been able to challenge the unique sound that is Karen Carpenter. So, we'll have to enjoy whatever memories that remain of a remarkable talent. One wishes they'd spent less time doing concerts back in the 1970s and more time in the studio.

A must have for Carpenters fans

This collection of previously unreleased songs begins with the complete version of "Without A Song" and works into a flawless live medley of "Rainy Days And Mondays / Superstar". In these opening numbers Karen's voice is crystal clear and full of longing and soul. Karen Carpenter turns the Beatles' "Nowhere Man" into a sweepingly beautiful ballad and at the young age of 17 she sings the song with conviction.
The album also contains a few excellent instrumental numbers including Richard's awesome piano work on "Dizzy Fingers".
One of my personal favorites is the "Karen Carpenter / Ella Fitzgerald Medley", this unexpected duo is a smash hit blending together perfectly on classics like "My Funny Valentine", "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", "This Masquerade" and others.
"Danicng In The Street" is the album's fun upbeat tune, while Karen's reading of "The Rainbow Connection" is beautifully sublime. Karen's drum work and Richard's keyboard finesse trade instrumental solos on "I Got Rhythm" which is a highlight on the album.
This album is a delight and a very welcome addition to my Carpenters collection.

Karen Still Shines as a Vocalist...

I have been a fan of the Carpenters for the last 11 years and in that time I have managed to get all of their studio albums on CD. However this CD has by far become my all-time favorite.

Karen's voice is at it's all time best on this CD. I loved her covers of the songs " The Rainbow Connection and Your Just In Love." The way that Karen and Ella bouce off one another on the Medley that they sing on is just wonderful.

If I had to choose my favorite song off this album it had to be the hidden track " And When He Smiles " I think it's due to that fact that I'm Scottish and for some reason I like to think that Karen is singing about a Scottsman that she'd met.

All in all this CD is a must for all old and new Carpenter's fans alike. I'm sure that you will love it as much as I do.