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The Carpenters' radio-friendly soft rock virtually defined the genre in the early 1970s, and this album--their third full-length--was the group's ace card. Following on the heels of the wildly successful CLOSE TO YOU, CARPENTERS features more breezy melodies marked by rich arrangements and beautiful lead vocals, courtesy of siblings Richard Carpenter and Karen Carpenter, respectively.
The record is most notable for two of the duo's strongest and best-loved singles. "Rainy Days and Mondays," written by soft-pop gods Paul Williams and Roger Nichols, is a bittersweet pop masterpiece fleshed out by Richard's string orchestrations and smoothly produced backing vocals, while Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett's "Superstar," from its melancholic verse to its dramatic chorus, is equally hard to resist. (Both songs showcase Karen's sultry alto.) The rest of the album includes Richard's bubble-gum pop originals, another Williams-Nichols tune ("Let Me Be the One"), and a medley of Burt Bacharach-Hal David tunes. Even more commercially streamlined than its predecessors, CARPENTERS is a classic of early-'70s pop.
Additional personnel includes: Bob Messenger (reeds, bass); Douglas Strawn, Jim Horn (reeds); Joe Osborn (bass); Hal Blaine (drums).
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Personnel: Richard Carpenter (vocals, keyboards); Karen Carpenter (vocals, drums); Doug Strawn (reeds, keyboards, wind); Jim Horn, Bob Messenger (reeds, wind); Hal Blaine (drums).
Photographer: Guy Webster.
Arranger: Richard Carpenter .
The Carpenters: Richard Carpenter (vocals, arranger, keyboards); Karen Carpenter (vocals, drums).
Rolling Stone (6/24/71, p.43) - "...Ultimately the Carpenters have more going for them than against. There is no question that they have contributed mightily to the inherently limited genre of MOR music..."
Bacharach/David Medley: Knowing When To Leave/Make It Easy On Yourself/There's Always Something There To Remind Me/I'll Never Fall In Love Again/Walk On By/Do You Know the Way To San Jose
A Perfect Album and The Best of Classic Carpenters Few compilations of any artist's music leave the listener enjoying, and remembering every song. This Carpenters tour-de-force is not only one of those few, but can make using the "repeat" button a necessity.
Karen's voice has been named by many contemporary artists as one of the most beautiful ever. It draws one to it, wanting more, wanting to touch it; feeling it's depth and it's clarity. And Richard's award winning arrangements showcase it to absolute perfection. Submitted by David (Virginia) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
OLD MEMORIES A GREAT CD THAT I LOVED AS A TEEN! Submitted by rdmusicknotes (ASSUMPTION, IL.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Album With The Carpenters Greatest Single If this album had just RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS and FOR ALL WE KNOW, it would be considered a great LP, but add to it SUPERSTAR (a song which might be the single greatest soft pop ballad of all-time, a truly perfect single) and you've got an amazing collection that must be labeled "Classic". Submitted by Cap (Merrick, New York) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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