I just picked up Their Greatest Hits And Finest Performances used for $8. It's a 3-CD 1997 release from Reader's Digest. I wanted to know if this comp uses the original mixes or Richard's remixes. Is this collection worth anything? Thanks for your help.

I don't know about Reader's Digest, but AFAIK there are only two official Carpenters comps from A&M that use the original single mixes, "The Singles" and I think the other one is called "Yesterday Once More" - or is that an original album? I still need to get those two to complete my run. I'm not sure I really need the Christmas album.

Mark,
The Reader's Digest collection contains remixes.
I believe GM is correct regarding the only comps that use original mixes, but beware that there are at least 3 comps with the title "Yesterday Once More", and only 1 has the original mixes. Also, only the original "Singles" album has the original mixes-the updated 1969-1981 uses remixes. I believe the original is no longer in print. Anyone with any different or further
info please advise.

Your right Kid about the "Singles" disc, I have kicked myself for selling the original for the remixes.

Well, at least I still have the 1/2 speed A&M vinyl.

Rick A.

KId Bailey,

Do you by any chance know which edition of YOM that contains original mixes?

I know it was sold through either a fan club or TV only. The versions that were sold for retail were all, I believe, remixed. I don't know if the original is currently available.

What are the differences with the new mixes? Are they something a casual fan would notice?

Yeah, Richard Carpenter remixed and made quite noticeable changes, so I've read. But the original albums that have been remastered for CD have not been tampered with. Of course, many of those are OOP now, but you can still get Japanese editions, last I saw.

I have a Caprenters comp called "The Ultimate Collection", released by Universal Music in 2006, that has the original mixes of the songs ...
It's a 3-CD set, 32-bit remastered ...
Checking Amazon, it looks like Universal re-released this in 2007, with a slightly altered track listing than the 2006 version ...



The 2007 release's track listing:
Disc: 1
1. Ticket to Ride
2. (They Long to Be) Close to You
3. We've Only Just Begun
4. For All We Know
5. Rainy Days and Mondays
6. Superstar
7. Bless the Beasts and Children
8. Hurting Each Other
9. It's Going to Take Some Time
10. Goodbye to Love
11. Top of the World
12. I Won't Last a Day Without You
13. Sing
14. Yesterday Once More
15. This Masquerade
16. Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
17. Please Mr. Postman
18. Desperado
Disc: 2
1. Only Yesterday
2. Solitaire
3. There's a Kind of Hush
4. I Need to Be in Love
5. Sandy
6. All You Get from Love Is a Love Song
7. Calling Occupants of the Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of
8. Sweet Sweet Smile
9. I Believe You
10. Touch Me When We're Dancing
11. When It's Gone
12. Those Good Old Dreams
13. Where Do I Go from Here
14. You're the One
15. Now
16. Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore
17. Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again
Disc: 3
1. If I Had You [*] - Karen Carpenter
2. If We Try [*] - Karen Carpenter
3. Calling Your Name Again [*]
4. When Time Was All We Had [*]
5. Time [*] - Richard Carpenter
6. Flat Baroque [*] - Richard Carpenter
7. Karen's Theme [*]

Meanwhile, the 2006 version I have has THIS track listing:
Disc 1 --
1. Ticket To Ride
2. (They Long To Be) Close To You
3. We've Only Just Begun
4. For all We Know
5. Rainy Days And Mondays
6. Superstar
7. Bless The Beasts And Children
8. Hurting Each Other
9. It's Going To Take Some Time
10. Goodbye To Love
11. Top Of The World
12. I Won't Last A Day Without You
13. Sing
14. Yesterday Once More
15. This Masquerade
16. Jambalaya (On The Bayou)
17. Please Mr. Postman
Disc 2 --
1. Desperado
2. Only Yesterday
3. Solitare
4. There's A Kind Of Hush
5. I Need To Be In Love
6. Goofus
7. All You Get From Love Is A Love Song
8. Calling All Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft
9. Sweet Sweet Smile
10. I Believe You
11. Touch Me When We're Dancing
12. (Want You) Back In My Life Again
13. Those Good Old Dreams
14. Beechwood 4-5789
15. Now
16. Make Believe It's Your First Time
17. Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again
Disc 3 --
1. Lovelines (Karen Carpenter)
2. If I Had You (Karen Carpenter)
3. Still Crazy After All These Years (Karen Carpenter)
4. When Time Was All We Had (Richard Carpenter)
5. Calling Your Name Again (Richard Carpenter)
6. Sandy (Richard Carpenter)
7. Karen's Theme (Richard Carpenter)

I've looked for the version that you have, but I think it's already OOP.

i also own the ealier version of the 3cd "ultimate collection" from holland.
it's one of many of these 2 and 3 cd sets in the series that i own.
all are supberbly remastered using only full-length album-versions.
most are completely comprehensive as well.
my only regret is that the 3rd discs are short - only 7 or 8 tracks.
i suppose few compilations are ever perfect, but this CARPENTERS one comes close.
NO dicked-up "Richard-Remixes"...i only wish they'd included the track
"honolulu city lights" and maybe one more track from the first album.

i highly recommend this compilation or any other in this series.
the best prices i've seen are on http://www.cduniverse.com.
if anybody can find a website listing all of the titles and/or future titles in this series,
please let me know. THANKS!

Thanks for the info. I do have the A Song For You CD, which sounds like I remember the vinyl. I would like to get at least a couple more of their original albums on CD, and had no idea they were already out of print. Guess I'll have to keep a lookout for these.

Glenn,

I recommend "A Kind of Hush" for the title song.