Carpenters Gold Indeed
I grew up listening to the Carpenters, and this album brought back so many wonderful memories! There were many old favorites, and some I had not heard before. Liner notes by Richard Carpenter were very interesting. I recommend this album to anyone who enjoyed the Carpenters.

Carpenters creativity overshadowed by vocals and overdubs
For some the Carpenters music is too polished and the multiple vocal tracks can sound corny. Karen's voice is the savior though. Her deep alto voice is always a pleasure to listen to. They experimented with jazz and rock, especially the guitar solo in Goodby to Love. At that time they had backlash and some people thought it was a slap to their music. Like all good musicians they tired new things even though their fans weren't always appreciative. The songs are as memorable as Beatle tunes as they have a strong melody.

Wonderful memories!
I have been a Carpenters fan from their beginning. I still greatly miss Karen's one of a kind voice and style!

Carpenter's CD
I love the Carpenter's music. However, my CD's both skip, ruining the continuity of the music. Now I'm actually reluctant to buy any more CDs.

Code
There is no understanding girlhood in the early 70's without at least a cursory familiarity of (the) Carpenters. They ruled. And, for me, that was queer. Socialized as a boy, Carpenters were off-limits; I was supposed to get down with Grand Funk Railroad, or something. My Carpenters greatest hits LP was yet one more secret.

In a parallel universe, there was this "mystery group," supposedly the secret synthesizer reunion of the Beatles. Sucker. Really, just Klaatu, lightweight pot pop following the Dark Side of the Oz, or something. Boys did listen to that, including my stoner pals. Long version (LP) and short version (45).

Now meanwhile back in femland, there was the Carpenters' long and short version, too. These two conflicting demographics could not exist within the same timespace. Nope. The illogical association incinerated both careers in a flash. But, me, a secret girl performing, poorly, boyhood, I understood the unity of opposites contained within.

"Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft," the Carpenters version, remains one of the proto-postmodernist jukebox achievements of the era. For that reason alone, this CD is essential. Plus, as any normatively gendered person will assure you, "Rainy Days And Mondays" is a capital S standard.

I remember and still adore you.