Carpenters - Only Yesterday [Richard & Karen Carpenter's Greatest Hits]Back in the early seventies, i would listen to the radio [i don't do that now], plus i would buy vinyl singles [and i certainly don't do that either], this takes me back to those formative years, before Classical music even crossed my path [and Jazz], where i was learning to love music, the pop charts was my musical kindergarten, and i still have some loves left behind from those years.
The Carpenters ended in 1983 after Karen's death, but of course they live on in the hearts of many, during their time at the top they received criticism for being too 'kitsch', and even though some of their effects are a bit dated, real talent is everlasting, i still enjoy listening to this album, it brings back pleasant memories.
On this listening i really enjoyed tracks 1, 4, 6, 10, 16 & 18-20, my favourite song is track 19 'Only Yesterday', but this time i was really touched by track 16 'For All We Know', it's the oboe intro that has a wonderful effect, and Richard Carpenter was clever at creating atmosphere [0:00-0:14, +1:18-1:32 & 2:08-2:32], Karen's voice is so pure, partly due to an excellent mix in the recording, the unobtrusive piano in the background just adds that touch of variety and colour [0:43, 1:01 & 1:51], the lyrics are no great shakes, short and sweet at under 3 minutes.
Here's Karen singing 'For All We Know', live at the BBC on YouTube, ...err the hairstyle is certainly kitsch!, ha ha.
