| The Singles 1969–1973 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | November 9, 1973 | |||
| Recorded | 1969–1973 | |||
| Studio | A&M Studios (Los Angeles) | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 41:47 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Producer | Richard & Karen Carpenter,Jack Daugherty | |||
| The Carpenters chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C+[2] |
| Džuboks | (favorable)[3] |
| MusicHound Lounge | [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
The Singles: 1969–1973 is a compilationalbum by the pop duothe Carpenters. It topped the charts in the United States and the United Kingdom and became one of the best-selling albums of the 1970s.
The compilation include a re-recorded single version of "Top of the World" and newly re-recorded "Ticket to Ride" specially for the compilation.
It also includes a number of musical introductions and segues between the songs "Superstar", "Rainy Days and Mondays" and "Goodbye to Love", the latter two were sped up in pitch, much to the regret ofRichard in subsequent years.[6]
Richard Carpenter gave the album this title because he doesn't like the term "greatest hits" because he felt it was "an overused thing".[7] He continues:
On January 5, 1974, the album peaked at #1 on theBillboard 200, becoming the Carpenters' first and only number one album in the US.[8]The Singles: 1969–1973 has been certified 7× platinum in the US, becoming Carpenters' best selling album to date in the US. In the UK, the album reached number 1 for 17 non-consecutive weeks. In Canada, the album was in the Top 100 for 33 weeks,[9] and number 21 in the year-end chart.[10]
In their review,Billboard noted that "Karen's clear, clean, pristine tones have a glisten whether its heard on "We've Only Just Begun" or 'Top of the World." Placed end-to-end, the group's music has a compelling quality which stands the test of time. They are capable of making 'Ticket to Ride" by Lennon/McCartney their own special vehicle, principally because of Karen's slow, invoking vocal. Brother Richard's orchestrations and arrangements, plus his own sweet harmonizing on this and the other cuts, adds the middle and bottom ranges to Karen's top levels."[11]
Cashbox called it "a brilliant package at a perfect time. What a splendid combination for the duo who have done as much to change the face of pop music as any group in its history. Every song on this album is genuine gold...this collection is really one of the best we’ve seen in quite some time and Karen andRichard Carpenter can look forward to a very bright and happy holiday season because this package is sure to delight everyone who has ever loved music.[12]
In the British magazineMusic Scene, Richard Green wrote, "In terms of recording success it's almost impossible to fault the chippies and though they may not be your cup of tea, an awful lot of people seem to have a taste for the beverage. The fact that nine of the twelve tracks were million sellers must prove something."[13]
AllMusic rated the album four stars, commenting that "there's a certain inherent sadness listening to this concise 12-song collection of the Carpenters' early hits, especially as it opens with "We've Only Just Begun," with its hopeful, dreamy lyrics - for it was never supposed to be definitive, just the first of at least two such collections. Listening to this material, it's easy to accuse the Carpenters of being hopelessly retro even in their own time. But the lush melodies brought out in Richard Carpenter's arrangements and Karen's singing are justification in themselves."[14]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We've Only Just Begun" | 4:09 | |
| 2. | "Top of the World" (Single version) | 2:56 | |
| 3. | "Ticket to Ride" (Re-recorded version) | Lennon–McCartney | 4:10 |
| 4. | "Superstar" | 3:49 | |
| 5. | "Rainy Days and Mondays" |
| 3:40 |
| 6. | "Goodbye to Love" |
| 3:50 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Yesterday Once More" |
| 3:50 |
| 2. | "It's Going to Take Some Time" |
| 2:55 |
| 3. | "Sing" | Joe Raposo | 3:20 |
| 4. | "For All We Know" | 2:34 | |
| 5. | "Hurting Each Other" |
| 2:46 |
| 6. | "(They Long to Be) Close to You" | 3:44 |
Notes
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[26] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| Netherlands | — | 100,000[27] |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[28] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[29] | 7× Platinum | 7,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
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