Essential Collection: 1965-1997
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| Release Date: |
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| Label: |
A&M Records |
| Rating: |
4.0 |
Description: The sprawling suburbs that sprang up south of Los Angeles during the postwar industrial boom gave white pop two of its most accomplished icons, Brian Wilson's Beach Boys, out of Hawthorne, and Downey's Carpenters. That geography subtly permeates the first disc of this four-CD, 89-track anthology, from the living room demos and indie singles that pushed them to a Hollywood Bowl battle of the bands victory while still teens to their first triumphs for A&M Records, just across town in Hollywood. Assembled, burnished, and annotated with loving care by Richard Carpenter, it's a collection that chronicles an expansive musical vision rooted in prerock pop, yet fueled by the ambitious, neo-baroque arrangement consciousness of the '60s L.A. music scene. Karen Carpenter's warm, inviting alto may have been the band's trademark, but it's Richard's perfect studio frameworks--and a far-ranging taste for material that spans standards, Bacharach's "Close to You," Leon Russell's "Superstar," "A Song for You, " and "This Masquerade"--that made the Carpenters' music considerably more than the sum of its parts. Filled with a wealth of rare outtakes, remixes, radio spots, TV performances (including a duet-medley between Karen and the great Ella Fitzgerald), and commercial spots,
Essential is exactly that for a Carpenters fan.
--Jerry McCulley
Tracklist of Essential Collection: 1965-1997
Reviews:
Buy The Box Set! Ignore All The Single Disc Hits Albums!
If you glance at all the "greatest hits" albums the Carpenters have in their catalog, it will make you feel giddy! Save yourself the headaches and troubles by buying this box set because it is ALL you need! It was done right: ALL the hits are here and the packaging is superb. Plus, some of the songs you can't find anywhere else particularly their pre-1970 material is included.
Review
Sadly, the Karen's track "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" is missing in this box. Why? I don't know, I love that song. It's a shame...
Very Good CD
This set of cds puts the careers of The Carpenters into clear perspective. Some of the tracks that were recorded right before her death have been finished and are included on these cds. You'll really enjoy it. There are even some remixed tracks from the solo album on Disc 4
