The Carpenters were a musical group consisting of the brother and sister Karen and Richard Carpenter. They were the number one selling American music act of the 1970s! Their sound is very easy listening, relaxing type music. According to an article I read, To date, Carpenters' album and single sales total more than 100 million units. During their 14-year career, the Carpenters recorded 11 albums, five of which contained top 10 singles (Close to You, Carpenters, A Song for You, Now & Then and Horizon), thirty-one singles, five television specials, and one short-lived television series. Unfortunately, and for reasons probably a lot of people don't understand ...  Read the complete review

Is it the slick production? Or the catchy tunes? The irresistible hooks? Or is it the true sweetness of Karen Carpenter's voice? What exactly is the enduring appeal of The Carpenters? I'm usually found listening to loud, guitar-driven music, or sometimes jazz if I'm in the mood. Smooth, easy-listening tunes are not my thing at all - so why do The Carpenters never fail to improve my mood and bring a smile to my face? I've noticed that many, much more unlikely, people have a similar strange bent! I once arrived home to find my flatmate of the time (a frighteningly trendy club DJ in the early acid house scene) smooching in the living ...  Read the complete review

Only Yesterday? - The Carpenters First , a brief history...> Many of you who read this review , will have read other music reviews of mine , concentrating on groups I really love , eg Queen , Fleletwood Mac and Erasure . All have been very well received via the ratings given , which is always good news . Well here lies a review , on what is basically a greatest hits album , from a brother/sister duo , who first hit the headlines in 1968 , and continued to do so unto the untimely death of Karen in 1983 . Yet still the albums sell , and so the world is richer for the voice of an angel , who just happens to have got my vote as best female vocal , ...  Read the complete review

Only Yesterday includes many of their tops hits including Rainy Days and Mondays, Goodbye to Love and For All We Know. I think it encompasses their hits during the height of their fame and reflects the incredible depth of feeling they had at this time. Many of the songs are about love and hurt, especially, my all time favourite.. The Masquerade. This song alone, shows the hurt and loneliness Karen, especially felt and gives her incredible vocals, especially at the lower end of her range a medium to prove what a fantastic voice she had. Another of their best songs.. Only Just Begun (remixed on this album) was originally an advertising tune for an american bank, but once ..  Read the complete review

I love this cd, it is one of my favourite Carpenters albums and it has a lot of the big songs from the carpenters on it. (like rainy days and Mondays, Ticket to ride and Close to you) If I need a pick me up this is the album I stick on it is also brilliant when cleaning on really loud (singing along obviously ;o). ) Karen Carpenter has the most beautiful voice and the soft romantic style of the Carpenters is not something we often get in this day and age so I supose some people might find this a little out of their dept their loss I say this is defenitly one album that I will be taking with my on my desert island. ...  Read the complete review