Carpenters - The Essential Collection (1965-1997) (2002) [4 CD Box Set, 2006]

2002’s ESSENTIAL COLLECTION is basically an updated, new and improved version of FROM THE TOP. After a decade in the marketplace, Universal felt it could better the Carpenters box set, so Richard was asked to re-compile it, this time making sure that all of the hits were included – one of the weaknesses of FROM THE TOP. Richard added a couple of rarities to it as well – the Karen/Ella Medley, which hadn’t yet been issued in the States, and a Japanese Morinaga High Crown Chocolate commercial that had been an extra on a DVD release. ESSENTIAL COLLECTION marks the first appearance of a minor change to the album mix of “Solitaire” as a few mouth/saliva sounds are removed to make Karen’s vocal track sound smoother.

The ESSENTIAL COLLECTION also balanced out some of the remixing by placing some genuine original mixes of some of the early hits alongside later remixes of other tracks. The track “Good Night” is omitted here as are a couple of Karen’s solo tracks.

After four years in the marketplace, ESSENTIAL COLLECTION got a re-release in 2006 with slightly revised packaging, omitting the outer cardboard box.

Disc 1: 1965 ⇾ 1970

01. Caravan (03:38)
02. The Parting Of Our Ways (02:20)
03. Looking For Love (01:52)
04. I'll Be Yours (02:28)
05. Iced Tea (02:36)
06. You'll Love Me (02:27)
07. All I Can Do (01:50)
08. Don't Be Afraid (02:07)
09. Invocation (01:00)
10. Your Wonderful Parade (02:22)
11. All Of My Life (03:02)
12. Eve (02:53)
13. Ticket To Ride (04:09)
14. Get Together (02:40)
15. Interview (01:34)
16. Love Is Surrender (01:58)
17. Maybe It's You (03:03)
18. (They Long To Be) Close To You (04:34)
19. Mr. Guder (03:21)
20. We've Only Just Begun (03:05)
21. Merry Christmas Darling (03:05)
22. For All We Know (02:36)



Disc 2: 1971 ⇾ 1973

01. Rainy Days And Mondays (03:36)
02. Superstar (03:50)
03. Let Me Be The One (02:25)
04. Bless The Beasts And The Children (03:14)
05. Hurting Each Other (02:48)
06. It's Going To Take Some Time (02:56)
07. I Won't Last A Day Without You (03:54)
08. A Song For You (04:37)
09. Top Of The World (02:59)
10. Goodbye To Love (03:56)
11. This Masquerade (04:53)
12. Sing (03:18)
13. Jambalya (On The Bayou) (03:39)
14. Yesterday Once More (03:49)
15. Oldies Medley: a) Fun, Fun, Fun b) The End Of The World c) Da Doo Ron Ron d) Deadman's Curve e) Johnny Angel f) The Night Has A Thousand Eyes g) Our Day Will Come h) One Fine Day (14:54)
16. Yesterday Once More (Reprise) (01:02)
17. Radio Contest Outtakes (01:53)



Disc 3: 1974 ⇾ 1978

01. Morinaga Hi-Crown Chocolate Commercial (00:35)
02. Please Mr. Postman (02:49)
03. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (04:09)
04. Only Yesterday (03:47)
05. Solitaire (04:41)
06. Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again (04:21)
07. Good Friends Are For Keeps (01:08)
08. Ordinary Fool (03:42)
09. Sandy (03:41)
10. There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World) (02:57)
11. I Need To Be In Love (03:48)
12. From This Moment On (02:14)
13. Suntory Pop Jingle 1 (00:32)
14. Suntory Pop Jingle 2 (00:34)
15. All You Get From Love Is A Love Song (03:46)
16. Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft (07:09)
17. Sweet, Sweet Smile (03:02)
18. Christ Is Born (03:12)
19. White Christmas (02:29)
20. Little Altar Boy (03:44)
21. Ave Maria (02:36)



Disc 4: 1978 ⇾ 1997

01. Where Do I Go From Here (04:24)
02. Little Girl Blue (03:24)
03. I Believe You (03:54)
04. If I Had You (03:58)
05. Karen/Ella Medley: a) This Masquerade b) My Funny Valentine c) I'll Be Seeing You d) Someone To Watch Over Me e) As Time Goes By f) Don't Get Around Much Anymore g) I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart (05:58)
06. 1980 Medley: a) Sing b) Knowing When To Leave c) Make It Easy On Yourself d) Someday e) We've Only Just Begun (09:08)
07. Make Believe It's Your First Time (04:09)
08. Touch Me When We're Dancing (03:20)
09. When It's Gone (05:00)
10. Because We Are In Love (The Wedding Song) (05:01)
11. Those Good Old Dreams (04:12)
12. Now (03:51)
13. Karen's Theme (02:41)

Produced by Richard Carpenter, Karen Carpenter, Joe Osborn, Rick Jarrard, Jack Daugherty
Audio Mixers: Dave Iveland; Karen Carpenter
Audio Remixers: Roger Young; Robert DeLaGarza

Musicians

• Richard Carpenter (vocals, arranger, piano, electric piano, keyboards)
• Karen Carpenter (vocals, drums)

Additional musicians includes:

• Ella Fitzgerald (vocals)
• Bob James (arranger, keyboards)
• Ray Parker, Jr. (guitar)
• Tim Weisberg (flute)
• Tom Scott, Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone)
• Hal Blaine (drums)

Personnel: Gary Sims, John Bettis (vocals, guitar); Timothy May (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Tony Peluso (guitar, electric guitar); David Brown, Ray Parker, Jr., Russell Javors (guitar); Dennis Budimer, Fred Tackett (acoustic guitar); Larry McNeely (banjo); Bobby Bruce (fiddle); Bob Messenger (flute, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Tim Weisberg, David Shostac, Sheridon Stokes (flute); Tommy Morgan (harmonica); Tom Scott (recorder, woodwinds, tenor saxophone); Doug Strawn (clarinet, background vocals); James Kanter (clarinet); Earl Dumler (oboe, English horn); Jim Horn (oboe); John Phillips, Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); Chuck Findley (trumpet); David Duke (French horn); Wes Jacobs (tuba); Tom Hensley (tack piano); Pete Jolly, Rob Mounsey (keyboards); Cubby O'Brien, Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon , Larrie Londin, Ron Tutt, Liberty DeVitto (drums); Tom Chorale Bahler, Julia Tillman, Carolyn Dennis, Maxine Willard Waters, Gregg Smith, Carlena Williams (background vocals)
DJ: Tony Peluso

Notes

Recorded between 1965 & 1997. Includes liner notes by Richard Carpenter.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Recording information: Carpenter Home (1965-1996); Joe Osborn's Garage Studio (1965-1996); Living room (1965-1996); Los Angeles, CA (1965-1996); United Audio, Orange County (1965-1996); Your Navy Presents Studio (1965-1996).

UMe ℗ © 2002 A&M Records
Distributed by Universal Music & Video Distribution.









Many thanks to the original uploader: YV_Wanderer