Track Listing

1. I Need To Be In Love
2. Solitaire
3. We've Only Just Begun
4. This Masquerade
5. You're The One
6. Superstar
7. Rainy Days And Mondays
8. Top Of The World
9. Make Believe It's Your First Time
10. I Just Fall In Love Again
11. (They Long To Be) Close To You
12. For All We Knew
13. Where Do I Go From Here?
14. Only Yesterday
15. All I Get From Love Is A Love Song
16. When I Fall In Love
17. Hurting Each Other
18. I Won't Last A Day Without You
19. A Song For You
20. Goodbye Love

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7208 in Music
• Released on: 1998-03-24
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
1997 release featuring 20 of their best loved ballads, including 13 of their 20 top 40 hits! Contains 'Solitaire', 'We've Only Just Begun', 'Superstar', 'Rainy Days And Mondays', 'Top Of The World', '(They Long To Be) Close To You', 'For All We Know', 'Only Yesterday', 'Hurting Each Other', 'Goodbye To Love' and much more! An A&M release.

Amazon.com
There was a time, before Karen Carpenter was born, when most American female popular singers, even the black ones, sounded a lot like the way she would one day sound. The music of singer-drummer Carpenter and her piano-playing brother Richard came to be called soft rock, but it's really just good, straight American pop. This CD, released in March 1998, is a collection of greatest hits, with a special emphasis on romance. Paul Williams, Burt Bacharach, Sam Lewis, and Victor Young provide lovely melodies, and Carpenter's expressive voice makes each song genuinely affecting. --Stanley Booth

Customer Reviews

Best Of The Best
What can I say that hasn't been said already? Karen Carpenter is the greatest female vocalists to ever live. I was deeply saddened by her lost back in 1983. When this was released back in 1997, I remember purchasing it and it had heavy airplay in my cd player. Richard did a great job at remastering every song on this album. There is only one glitch to this collection. It's missing one of there finest love songs, "Touch Me When Were Dancing" from the 1981 "Made In America" album is missing. That song is one of there most beautiful songs ever recorded. But I do recommend this album to you, but if you want ALL the hits I suggest you pick up the Gold - 35th Anniversary Album or pick up the 2 disc set "Yesterday Once More".

Thank You Karen
Karen Carpenter has such a wonderful voice that female singers of today would kill for. My boyfriend once told me that she is perhaps the best female singer in history.

I'm in love with this cd. I have a copy in my car, and a copy on my IPOD. When I'm having a bad day, I just play her music and all my troubles seem to go away.

Such a terrible thing that happened to her, and I wish she was still here today making lovely music.

stars that still twinkle and shine--BRAVO, KAREN AND RICHARD CARPENTER !!!
Love Songs by Karen and Richard Carpenter is an amazing CD collection of many of their greatest love songs and ballads. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done. This is a wonderful CD for Carpenters fans; and people who appreciate classic love songs everywhere will want this CD.

"I Need To Be In Love" is a tender ballad that Karen Carpenter sings with great sensitivity; and this moves me very much. Richard plays this so well and "I Need To Be In Love" is an excellent start for this album. "Solitaire" shines just as brightly as Karen sings this to perfection--and beyond! Karen's voice is showcased on "Solitaire" and that impresses me greatly. I especially enjoy "We've Only Just Begun;" this touching optimistic love song sounds beautiful to me and I could never tire of hearing this Carpenters song! The chorus is very well done and this `70s love song stands the test of time effortlessly. "You're The One" is another major highlight of this album; Karen sings this in such a way that you believe she's truly singing just to you and the vulnerability in her voice enhances her performance, too.

"Superstar" is one of the most moving, heartbreaking torch songs I've heard--ever; and I highly recommend this ballad for torch song lovers out there. "Rainy Days And Mondays" is another sad song; but it's beautifully done that I will always enjoy this stunningly beautiful love song. Karen delivers this with all her heart and soul; and just one listen proves it! "Rainy Days And Mondays" is an awesome love song about a woman in pain after her lover has gone. "(They Long To Be) Close To You)" is a wonderful Burt Bacharach tune that is yet again timeless; the passion in this song resonates from Karen's voice and the exceptional musical accompaniment.

"For All We Know" is an optimistic love song even though it hints at the uncertainty and insecurities we all sooner or later feel when we're in love; and this number flows magnificently. "Only Yesterday" celebrates the joys of a new love blossoming; and this is anything but elevator music! "When I Fall In Love" gets the royal treatment from Karen and Richard Carpenter; they handle this cover song with grace and style. In addition, "Hurting Each Other" is a poignant song about the pain lovers can feel when they don't always get along; and listen for "I Won't Last A Day Without You." "I Won't Last A Day Without You" explores the need for companionship and soul mates that we all want from our one true love--and that's terrific! The CD ends well with Karen and Richard Carpenter performing "Goodbye To Love." "Goodbye To Love" is a sad but very beautiful song about a love that has faded.

Karen and Richard Carpenter turned out many superlative tunes in their day; and this CD of love songs easily contains many of their best efforts. We are all better off for their sharing their wonderful talents with us.

Thank you, Karen and Richard Carpenter!