Carpenters - The Complete Singles

https://www.kqed.org/donate/catalogue.j ... 425&page=1

Carpenters – The Complete Singles features, for the very first time, the A- and B-side of every Carpenters single released on A&M Records in the United States between 1969 and 1989 in their original single versions. As longtime fans and collectors know, the Carpenters’ singles frequently featured variations in mixes, length, vocals and instrumentation from the familiar album versions and subsequent remixes. These unique single versions have been highly sought-after on CD, and some of the tracks have never previously been released in the CD format at all.

The Complete Singles collects 66 songs on three discs, from 1969’s “Ticket to Ride” through 1989’s cassette-single release of Karen’s solo “If I Had You.” “Ticket to Ride” and “Your Wonderful Parade” are heard in their original mono single mixes, while the remaining 64 tracks are presented in their original stereo single mixes. I’m thrilled to announce that I have written the new liner notes for the 16-page booklet included with The Complete Singles. The set has been beautifully designed by Bill Pitzonka and includes rare and previously unpublished photos of the duo. Every shimmering track on this first-of-its-kind anthology has been freshly remastered at Universal Mastering. Jim Pierson and Richard Carpenter himself have assembled and supervised the release.

The Complete Singles is being released as a Public Television exclusive in conjunction with the upcoming broadcasts of Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters as part of the acclaimed series My Music. The Complete Singles will not be for sale in stores or through online retail outlets and can only be purchased by making a contribution to Public Television stations when they begin airing Close to You: Remembering The Carpenters this December. However, KQED-TV in San Francisco will be airing an advance, sneak-peek broadcast of Close to You on Thursday, August 27 at 8:00 pm and is already offering The Complete Singles on their website which allows fans nationwide to make a contribution to KQED and receive The Complete Singles CD set by October, two months prior to the nationwide release on Public Television.

CD 1
Ticket to Ride (A&M 1142, 1969)
Your Wonderful Parade (A&M 1142, 1969)
(They Long to Be) Close to You (A&M 1183, 1970)
I Kept On Loving You (A&M 1183, 1970)
We’ve Only Just Begun (A&M 1217, 1970)
All of My Life (A&M 1217, 1970)
Merry Christmas Darling (A&M 1236, 1970)
Mr. Guder (A&M 1236, 1970)
For All We Know (A&M 1243, 1971)
Don’t Be Afraid (A&M 1243, 1971)
Rainy Days and Mondays (A&M 1260, 1971)
Saturday (A&M 1260, 1971)
Superstar (A&M 1289, 1971)
Bless the Beasts and Children (A&M 1289, 1971)
Hurting Each Other (A&M 1322, 1972)
Maybe It’s You (A&M 1322, 1972)
It’s Going to Take Some Time (A&M 1351, 1972)
Flat Baroque (A&M 1351, 1972)
Goodbye to Love (A&M 1367, 1972)
Crystal Lullaby (A&M 1367, 1972)
Sing (A&M 1413, 1973)
Druscilla Penny (A&M 1413, 1973)
Yesterday Once More (A&M 1446, 1973)
Road Ode (A&M 1446, 1973)
Top of the World (A&M 1468, 1973)
Heather (A&M 1468, 1973)

CD 2
I Won’t Last a Day Without You (A&M 1521, 1974)
One Love (A&M 1521, 1974)
Please Mr. Postman (A&M 1646, 1974)
This Masquerade (A&M 1646, 1974)
Santa Claus is Coming to Town (A&M 1648, 1974)
Only Yesterday (A&M 1677, 1975)
Happy (A&M 1677, 1975)
Solitaire (A&M 1721, 1975)
Love Me for What I Am (A&M 1721, 1975)
There’s a Kind of Hush (All Over the World) (A&M 1800, 1976)
(I’m Caught Between) Goodbye and I Love You (A&M 1800, 1976)
I Need to Be in Love (A&M 1828, 1976)
Sandy (A&M 1828, 1976)
Goofus (A&M 1859, 1976)
Boat to Sail (A&M 1859, 1976)
All You Get from Love is a Love Song (A&M 1940, 1977)
I Have You (A&M 1940, 1977)
Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (A&M 1978, 1977)
Can’t Smile Without You (A&M 1978, 1977)
Sweet, Sweet Smile (A&M 2008, 1978)
The Christmas Song (A&M 1991, 1977)

CD 3
I Believe You (A&M 2097, 1978)
B’wana She No Home (A&M 2097, 1978)
Touch Me When We’re Dancing (A&M 2344, 1981)
Because We Are in Love (A&M 2344, 1981)
(Want You) Back in My Life Again (A&M 2370, 1981)
Somebody’s Been Lyin’ (A&M 2370, 1981)
Those Good Old Dreams (A&M 2386, 1981)
When It’s Gone (It’s Just Gone) (A&M 2386, 1981)
Beechwood 4-5789 (A&M 2405, 1982)
Two Sides (A&M 2405, 1982)
Don’t Cry for Me Argentina (A&M 8629, 1983)
Make Believe It’s Your First Time (A&M 2585, 1983)
Look to Your Dreams (A&M 2585, 1983)
Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore (A&M 2620, 1984)
Sailing on the Tide (A&M 2620, 1984)
Honolulu City Lights (A&M 8667, 1986)
I Just Fall in Love Again (A&M 8667, 1986)
If I Had You (A&M 1471, 1989)
The Uninvited Guest (A&M 1471, 1989)

This is not (yet) a general release, so moved to Collector's Corner. I've updated the link to a more direct one that goes right to the KQED-TV ordering page.

As much as I'd love to have this set, $120 for 4 CDs is a little too rich for me.

I find it hard to believe that this won't get a general release at some point.

In the meantime, I just recently ordered that Collected comp, to finally get the original mixes.

I'm counting on this being a general release, probably after PBS' pledge drive in December.

I want this bad, but I don't want to fork over $120 to a station I barely watch to get this.

The set's producer doesn't believe this will get a general release:

http://www.amcorner.com/forum/threads/p ... ost-142829

This Carpenters set is exquisite-looking. Pictures here: http://www.amcorner.com/forum/threads/p ... 587/page-8

For those that want the original mixes, wouldn't the original A&M CDs have the original mixes? I have all of those.

Not guaranteed, no. The original A&M CDs featured a potpourri of original mixes, remixes and single mixes. It wasn't until the Remastered Classics series in 1998 or so that all of the albums were released in their original mixes on CD. This new release does for singles what that Remastered Classics series did for albums.

Ok I know I did buy the original albums in CD form because of this debate at Hoffman. So I know I have them somewhere around here.

Can't wait to receive my copy! Got a shipment notification on Friday, but the tracking number is still not working.

Harry's pictures look beautiful. (I only see the thumbnails, but you can tell even from those.) But this collection mines a new depth of exclusivity that I thought we'd never reach once we saw Country Kitchen issuing exclusive CDs last Christmas.

This collection seems tailor-made for Universal UK, and I would not be surprised to see it end up in general release somewhere down the line.

I noticed the price varies "station to station." $120 is the lowest and most common price I've found so far, but for some reason my local station wants $150 for it...

My mama told me you better shop around...

I'm in Ohio, but purchased it from the initial station to offer it (in California). I think I paid $180. I just chalked it up to paying a premium for the privilege of being one of the first to own it. The $120 price would have been nice though! LOL!!

I really can't say enough about how nice this set it. It is absolutely one of the best domestic (US) Carpenters compilations ever released. (And I believe I have them all!!)

Hopefully we will see this set released thru other channels. If so, I'm in!

Rick A.

This is pretty funny. The Carpenters show is on the telly again, they are advertising the 4 CD set for $120, referencing my local station's website & phone #. I go to the website, it says $150. I call my station and talk to a rep, she says it's $150. Told her about the $120 price, she can only take a donation for $150...

Has there been any word anywhere on this set getting a general release?

None that I have seen. Just checked the Carpenters A&M forum and no hints of a general release.

I did finally bite the bullet and ordered this when the TV special aired on WLIW (Long Island's PBS station) over the winter. They threw in the Christmas CD too, which I already have, of course. It is a beautiful package and sounds nice, to my ears.

Agreed, Jim. Definitely a must-have for serious Carpenters fans.

Time out: here's a rare nugget of the Carpenters doing Laura Nyro's "And When I Die", supposedly from when Karen was in college.



Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

nope... not gonna buy it.