Track Listing

1. Without a Song
2. Medley: Superstar/Rainy Days and Mondays
3. Nowhere Man [Demo Version]
4. I Got Rhythm
5. Dancing in the Street
6. Dizzy Fingers
7. You're Just in Love
8. Karen/Ella Medley
9. Medley: Close Encounters/Star Wars
10. Leave Yesterday Behind [Outtake]
11. Carpenters/Como Medley
12. California Dreamin' [Demo Version]
13. Rainbow Connection [Outtake]
14. Hits Medley '76

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #331582 in Music
• Released on: 2002-07-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Import, Original recording remastered

Album Description
Import edition of 2001 compilation is a 15 track collection of rare material most of which has never seen the light of day on record! All tracks have been digitally remastered. Includes one hidden bonus track, 'And When He Smiles'. Other highlights include, 'Without A Song' (From TV Special 'Music Music Music in 1980)', 'Dancing In The Street (From TV special program 'Space Encounters', 'Leave Yesterday Behind' (Outtake track recorded in 1978 and remixed by Richard Carpenter in 1999), 'California Dreaming' (Outtake track recorded in 1978 & remixed by Richard Carpenter in 1999) & many more. A Universal/2001 release.

Customer Reviews

The Last Original Carpenters Album is a MUST!
Richard Carpenter has arranged another superb album of Carpenter songs. Taking a variety of previously unreleased Carpenter renditions and original recordings, Richard Carpenter has given all Carpenter fans a the continued gift of their music, and especially one more chance to hear and appreciate the lovely voice of Karen Carpenter.

The songs in this album have been silent for almost 20 years and longer, as many of the tracks came from the Carpenter's last TV performance, "Music, Music, Music", in 1980. There are also several tracks that had served as "draft" vocals for the band to lay down their sound, but Karen's voice is so superb, the draft vocal was used as the main vocal with good results. Carpenter fans will be delighted to have this album in their collection. It is not another compilation of standards mixed together in a new way - this is music that will be new to most listeners. Fans of the Carpenters have long requested Richard Carpenter to put together all the previously unreleased and TV recordings of Karen Carpenter. This is Richard's answer, "As Time Goes By", and he states that after this album there are no more unreleased songs.

Highlights are many, but songs that especially charmed me were "The Rainbow Connection", "Without A Song","You're Just In Love","Nowhere Man", and the Karen-Ella Fitzgerald Medley. All are superb recordings and highlight the rich and talented voice of Karen Carpenter. I guarantee after listening to this album a few times, you'll catch yourself humming several of the melodies outloud. The album has over an hour of music on it and I beleive you will be very pleased with it.

I highly recommend this album! It will become one of your favorite Carpenter albums.

Jim Konedog Koenig

Terrific Carpenters Sound!
The songs in this album have been silent for almost 20 years and longer, as many of the tracks came from the Carpenter's last TV performance, "Music, Music, Music", in 1980. There are also several tracks that had served as "draft" vocals for the band to lay down their sound, but Karen's voice is so superb, the draft vocal was used as the main vocal with good results. Carpenter fans will be delighted to have this album in their collection. It is not another compilation of standards mixed together in a new way - this is music that will be new to most listeners.

Highlights are many, but songs that especially charmed me were "The Rainbow Connection", "Without A Song","You're Just In Love","Nowhere Man", and the Karen-Ella Fitzgerald Medley. All are superb recordings and highlight the rich and talented voice of Karen Carpenter. I guarantee after listening to this album a few times, you'll catch yourself humming several of the melodies outloud. The album has over an hour of music on it and I beleive you will be very pleased with it.

I highly recommend this album! It will become one of your favorite Carpenter albums.

Konedog

Two "shining stars"- Karen's voice & Richard's arrangements
I ran across this CD on Amazon.com and could not order it fast enough especially after reading the reviews. While listening to Karen's voice again on the "new" songs, there were a couple of brief flashes that it truly was "yesterday once more"- that she hasn't left us at all, that Richard is still creating new songs and arrangements, and Karen is still singing them.

8 of the 15 songs were taken from various Carpenters' TV specials and television appearances. I assume some of the critical reviewers who feel these "TV tunes" don't work 100% for them probably didn't see the TV specials (which I can remember in my mind while listening to them). These songs and arrangements also had a visual intent to them as they were not created to be "studio songs." Example; "Dizzy Fingers," which I remember had Richard in tux bouncing from about 4 or 5 pianos to create this piece. It's a shame, especially since this past February was the 20th anniversary of Karen's passing, that ABC-TV didn't think to do a composite of the Carpenters TV specials for the long-time fans and newer fans to see and/or appreciate again.

My two preferred songs on the album are the two "demo" songs of two of the Carpenters' contemporaries, The Mammas & the Pappas ("California Dreamin' ") and The Beatles ("Nowhere Man"). Richard and Karen's slower ballad version of The Beatles' "Nowhere Man" alone makes the purchase of this CD worth it. Both of these songs were cut in Joe Osborn's studio garage with his record label "Magic Lamp." Even at her young age, Karen's voice was simply incredible and Richard's talent of arrangement (especially with the strings) in "Nowhere Man" is mesmorizing. I find myself playing this tune over and over again. "Nowhere Man" makes me think of the duo's ballad version of "Ticket To Ride." A wonderful Carpenter project would have been an album of Richard and Karen taking a selection of Beatles' songs and putting the "Carpenters brand" on them. I can only say it would been a creative and satisifying project.

If, as Richard states in the booklet, the rest of these 4-track tapes were destroyed in a fire in Joe Osborn's house in 1974, the fans have lost a lot more of Richard's incredible arrangements and Karen's one-of-a-kind voice. Thank you, Richard, at least for these "snipets." As a long-time Carpenters' fan of BOTH you and Karen, this CD truly again makes me wonder in awe and appreciation of the contribution the two of you made to music together.

This is a CD definitely worthy of the Carpenters' legacy. Carpenters fans- you will NOT be disappointed with this collection of songs!