I have to disagree. . .

I'm afraid I can't be as thoroughly enthusiastic about this title as other reviewers seem to be. I was hoping for a revelatory listening experience, but was disappointed. Yes, spreading the arrangements out over 5.1 channels DOES help you hear all of the instruments and voices more effectively. Yes, taken on its own, this SACD is pretty impressive. BUT, it's IN COMPARISON that it doesn't stand up very well.



There are two major problems with this release, in my opinion.



The first is the remixes that were done a couple of years ago by Richard Carpenter. He does, of course, have the right to remix his own work. Absolutely. BUT, if you are going to call the disc "SINGLES" then I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to hear a mix very similar to what we heard when the record was first released all those years ago. Case in point: SUPERSTAR. One of the most memorable parts of the instrumentation for me has always been the cymbal at the beginning - that "chick-chick-chick" sound. Well, it's so far down in the mix that you can barely hear it. Also, the bass is punched up a lot, to the point that the chorus of the song is "thumpy." These types of modifications have been made to most of the songs on the disc, to varying degrees. If you're going to change the mix that much, call the Disc "REMIXES."



The second problem is a quality issue. If you go back and listen to one of the pre-remix cd releases of these songs, there is some noticeable hiss in the vocal track. For the SACD and CD releases of "Singles", it sounds as though they applied some noise reduction to try and eliminate the hiss. They DID eliminate it, but took enough of the high end away in the process that the vocals sound ever so slightly, well, dull. Not as natural or lifelike. "Rainy Days and Mondays" is a prime example.



I should mention that I previously purchased the CD version of this title. The problems are there as well. I had hoped that the SACD surround mix would be better, but I was disappointed again.



My advice - if you have fond memories of these songs, look for one of the older collections. Steer clear of "Singles" and "Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition"

Richard brings Karen into your listening room!

I have been a fan since their career began and I have bought the usual formats that have been released including LP and now CD and now SACD. I have owned a universal player for about a year now and own several dozen recordings in the new SACD and DVD-audio formats. This remastered recording of 21 Carpenter hits in SACD is phenonmenal. Karen's voice is right up front and the backing arrangements are discretely separated into the 5.1 channels so that it is as if you are hearing these recordings for the first time. There is an utterly quiet background and it is hard to imagine that these are 35+ year old recordings. If you have an SACD setup you need this release. Kudos to Richard Carpenter for the immaculate mixing of these wonderful songs. It should be noted that this release will play on any CD player as there are three different layers, CD stereo, SACD stereo and surround.

State of the Art all the way!

Karen Carpenter possessed one of the most beautiful voices in popular music, but playback technology being what it was when these songs were first committed to tape, we never got to hear the true magnificence of her pipes. Never, that is, until now. Thanks to the Super Audo CD, and the loving remix by Richard himself, we can finally hear and appreciate what a wonderful singer she was. This SACD includes all of my personal favorites by The Carpenters. "Top of the World" never sounded so good; in fact, I was on top of the world as I listened to it. I was thrilled that they reduced the reverb in her voice that was present on the stereo (and quadraphonic) recordings, and the clarity of the instrumental backup made it clear that listening only in two-channel doesn't allow all of what was recorded to be heard. I was also blown away by "Only Yesterday". Heck, my socks were knocked off by every track on this disc! And the sound... well, if you haven't experienced music in full 5.1 discrete surround sound, you're in for a treat. And if you don't own a player for SACD, word is this disc will be soon available on DVD-Audio. All I can say is run, don't walk, to your computer (Oh, you're aleady there!) and ORDER THIS DISC!!!