Carpenters - THE CARPENTERS****

Rainy Days & Mondays/Saturday/Let Me Be The One/(A Place To) Hideaway/For All We Know/Superstar/ Druscilla Penny/One Love/Knowing When To Leave-Make It Easy On Yourself-Always Something There To Remind Me-I'll Never Fall In Love Again-Walk On By-Do You Know The Way To San Jose (Medley)/Sometimes

Self titled third album from the easy listening vocal duo featuring the exquisite voice of Karen Carpenter. Includes the No.2 US hit singles Rainy Days & Mondays and Superstar. (US:2 UK:12)

“On this album, the famous (and often detracted) Carpenters sound really falls into place. Karen Carpenter has one of the all-time greatest voices (sweet and pure, but with plenty of pain in it as well). They also display an artistic level of sophistication that very few of their contemporaries could even begin to match.”

“As ever with The Carpenters we have some truly great songs, Karen's great voice, a sprinkling of cheesiness and some fascinating arrangements. Worth it just for Superstar, but there is much else to enjoy too.”

“This is an unexpected masterpiece in its own sub-genre of easy listening romantic melancholia. The languid afternoon hangovers of sleeping pills and antidepressants have never been conveyed better. It’s highly melodic, and lyrically superior to other Carpenters albums.”

“The real stars here are Karen Carpenter and the stellar material chosen for this album. Superstar is one of those songs that exist in its own universe and is, as far as I'm concerned, the Carpenter's signature tune. One other song, Rainy Days & Mondays, has achieved iconic status over the years. Not only is all of this stuff great material, but all the songs seem to have been tailor made for Karen's voice and the Carpenters' sound.”

“This is arguably their best album and includes two of their most loved songs, Rainy Days & Mondays and Superstar. The vocal focus has quite clearly shifted to Karen, with Richard singing lead on only two songs, both vastly different in style and tone from those sung by Karen.”

“I remember growing up in the early 1970s, heading into a record store looking both ways to ensure no one I knew saw me go in to buy this Carpenters LP. Their unfortunate, squeaky clean promo image was at its height; and I didn't want to be thought uncool or something even less flattering. If only they had listened to Karen's smouldering, melancholy vocals perhaps they would see the light.”