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Carpenters Gold: Greatest Hits by Carpenters

• 
• Label: U.M.T.V.
• Released: 23 August 2002
• The Carpenters were even more panned by the musical press than ABBA. Squeaky clean (they weren't), establishment friendly and popular. Everything the music journalists hated - or said they did.
  
  The Carpenter siblings were a perfect blend. Richard's musical arrangements and song writing just fused with one of the best female vocalist ever. As far as I'm concerned the only female singer to compare with Karen is Dusty Springfield. They had the ability to wring every drop of emotion out of a song and do it in a subtle way. No bellowing or screaming.
  
  Carpenters Gold couldn't be a better way to introduce anyone to their music. Yesterday Once More, Superstar (one of my favourites), Rainy Days and Mondays, Top Of The World, the smash hit Yesterday. Burt Bacharach's Close To You - yes very very cheesy and rather sickly, but so what? Solitaire is another favourite of mine. Perhaps this is the song that document's Karen's wonderful voice the most.
  
  There are a few not so good inclusions, namely Jamalaya, a dodgy cover of Ticket To Ride and Sing. But on the whole this is a very strong compilation.
  
  It has been said that Richard was jealous of the attention Karen got as he felt the didn't get the credit he should have. As Dave Hill of Slade told Noddy Holder and Jim Lea who wrote the songs " You write the music. I sell it". The same could be said of Karen.
   
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• • Yesterday once more
  • Superstar
  • Rainy days and Mondays
  • Goodbye to love
  • It's going to take some time
  • I Won't last a day without you
  • For all we know
  • Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
  • Touch me when we're dancing
  • Please Mr Postman
  • I Need to be in love
  • Solitaire
  • We've only just begun
  • (They long to be) Close to you
  • This masquerade
  • Ticket to ride
  • Top of the world
  • Only yesterday
  • Sing
  • Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft