The Essential Collection (1965–1997)

~ Release by Carpenters (see all versions of this release, 2 available)

Annotation

2002’s ESSENTIAL COLLECTION is basically an updated, new and improved version of FROM THE TOP. After a decade in the marketplace, Universal felt it could better the Carpenters box set, so Richard was asked to re-compile it, this time making sure that all of the hits were included – one of the weaknesses of FROM THE TOP. Richard added a couple of rarities to it as well – the Karen/Ella Medley, which hadn’t yet been issued in the States, and a Japanese Morinaga High Crown Chocolate commercial that had been an extra on a DVD release. ESSENTIAL COLLECTION marks the first appearance of a minor change to the album mix of “Solitaire” as a few mouth/saliva sounds are removed to make Karen’s vocal track sound smoother.

The ESSENTIAL COLLECTION also balanced out some of the remixing by placing some genuine original mixes of some of the early hits alongside later remixes of other tracks. The track “Good Night” is omitted here as are a couple of Karen’s solo tracks.

After four years in the marketplace, ESSENTIAL COLLECTION got a re-release in 2006 with slightly revised packaging, omitting the outer cardboard box.

Annotation last modified on 2022-06-09 10:25 UTC.

Tracklist

1▶CD: 1965 → 1970
2▶CD: 1971 → 1973
3▼CD: 1974 → 1978
#TitleRatingLength
1Morinaga Hi-Crown Chocolate Commercial
0:35
2Please Mr. Postman
engineer:
Ray Gerhardt (Recording and mixing engineer)
associate producer:
Karen Carpenter
producer:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
lead vocals:
Karen Carpenter
arranger and orchestrator:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
A&M Records, Inc. (in 1974)
cover recording of:
Please Mr. Postman (on 1974-07-22)
writer:
Robert Bateman (R&B singer/songwriter/record producer) (in 1961), Georgia Dobbins (in 1961), William Garrett (in 1961), Freddie Gorman (in 1961) and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter) (in 1961)
publisher:
Dominion Music, EMI Blackwood Music Inc., EMI United Partnership Ltd., Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., Stone Agate Music Division and United Partnership Ltd.
42:49
3Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
recording of:
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
lyricist:
Haven Gillespie (in 1932)
composer:
J. Fred Coots (in 1932)
publisher:
EMI Allans Music Australia Pty Ltd, EMI Feist Catalog Inc., EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd (not for release label use!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), EMI United Partnership Ltd., Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd., Haven Gillespie Music Publishing, Jobete Music Co., Inc., Leo Feist Ltd, Leo Feist, Inc., SBK United Partnership and The Songwriters Guild
sub-publisher:
フジパシフィックミュージック SBK事業部 (Fujipacific Music SBK Department) and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label)
34:09
4Only Yesterday
associate producer:
Karen Carpenter
producer:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
lead vocals:
Karen Carpenter
arranger and orchestrator:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
A&M Records, Inc. (in 1975)
recording of:
Only Yesterday (on 1975-01-30)
lyricist:
John Bettis
composer:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP), Hammer and Nails Music, Inc., Rondor Music (London) Ltd. and Sweet Harmony Music (US publisher)
3:47
5Solitaire
associate producer:
Karen Carpenter
producer:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
lead vocals:
Karen Carpenter
arranger and orchestrator:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
A&M Records, Inc. (in 1975)
cover recording of:
Solitaire (in 1975)
lyricist:
Phil Cody (of Neil Sedaka-fame)
composer:
Neil Sedaka
publisher:
EMI Jemaxal Music Inc., EMI Sosaha Music, Inc., Kirshner, Neil Sedaka Music (BMI-affiliated), R2M Publishing H. & R. Lastrada Music, Screen Gems–EMI Music, Inc. (USA, affiliated with BMI), Songs of SJL RSL Music Company, Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP), Warner Bros. Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label), Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996), ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division), フジパシフィックミュージック BMG事業部 (Fujipacific Music Inc., BMG Division), イーエムアイ音楽出版 ソニー事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan Ltd., Sony Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング EMI外国事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., EMI Overseas Division, sub‐publisher for non‐Japanese works) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
34:42
6Tryin' To Get the Feeling Again
cover recording of:
Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again (version as recorded by Barry Manilow)
lyricist and composer:
David Pomeranz (in 1975)
publisher:
Upward Spiral Entertainment Inc., Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label), WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (until 2019-05-28) and WC Music Corp. (from 2019-05-28 to present)
sub-publisher:
ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
version of:
Tryin’ to Get the Feeling (original version as recorded by David Pomeranz)
4:21
7Good Friends Are for Keeps
recording of:
Good Friends Are for Keeps
writer:
Jon Silberman
1:09
8Ordinary Fool
bass guitar [bass]:
Chuck Del'Monico (American bassist)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Ron Tutt (drummer)
flute:
Sheridon Stokes (American flautist, composer, and studio musician)
harp:
Gayle Levant (American studio musician, harpist)
keyboard [keyboards]:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
John Phillips (saxophonist)
lead vocals:
Karen Carpenter
arranger:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
cover recording of:
Ordinary Fool (Bugsy Malone)
lyricist and composer:
Paul Williams (US songwriter/soft rock vocalist)
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP), Hobbitron Enterprises inc. and Sunset Squid Music (ASCAP)
sub-publisher:
Rondor Music (France), Universal Music Publishing France (not for release label use!), シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.), ヤマハミュージックEH(CM) (Yamaha Music EH(CM)), ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division), ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング合同会社 (work publisher – do NOT use as a release label), ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 株式会社 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division), フジパシフィック音楽出版 (Fujipacific Music inc.) (until 2014-12-31), ヤマハミュージックパブリッシング (Yamaha Music Publishing) (until 2017-03-31), フジパシフィックミュージック (Fujipacific Music, Inc.) (from 2015-01-01 to present) and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) (from 2017-04-01 to present)
part of:
Bugsy Malone
33:43
9Sandy
recording of:
Sandy
lyricist:
John Bettis
composer:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
publisher:
Almo Music Corporation (USA, affiliated with ASCAP) and Hammer and Nails Music
3:42
10There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)
cover recording of:
There’s a Kind of Hush
lyricist and composer:
Les Reed and Geoff Stephens
publisher:
Donna Music Ltd. (publisher), Glenwood Music Corp., Peermusic (UK) Limited, Songs of Peer, Ltd. (ASCAP), Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. ((ASCAP) tradename Peermusic), ピアーミュージック (Peer Music Japan, Japan, subsidiary of Nichion), イーエムアイ音楽出版 ソニー事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan Ltd., Sony Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング EMI外国事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., EMI Overseas Division, sub‐publisher for non‐Japanese works) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
2:58
11I Need to Be in Love
recording of:
I Need to Be in Love
lyricist:
John Bettis and Albert Hammond
composer:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP), EMI April Music Inc., Hammer and Nails Music, Inc. and Landers Roberts Music
3:48
12From This Moment On
cover recording of:
From This Moment On (Kiss Me, Kate, 1953 film & 1999 Broadway revival casts only)
lyricist and composer:
Cole Porter (composer) (in 1950)
part of:
Kiss Me, Kate (musical)
2:14
13Suntory Pop Jingle #1
0:33
14Suntory Pop Jingle #2
0:34
15All You Get From Love Is a Love Song
engineer:
Ray Gerhardt (Recording and mixing engineer), Dave Iveland (Music Engineer) and Roger Young (engineer)
associate producer:
Karen Carpenter
producer:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
bass:
Joe Osborn (American bass guitar player, session musician and songwriter)
congas [conga]:
Tommy Vig (Hungarian jazz drummer, vibraphonist, bandleader and composer)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Ed Green (US violinist/percussionist)
electric guitar:
Tony Peluso (American writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist) and Ray Parker
electric piano and piano [acoustic piano]:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
percussion:
Jerry Steinholtz (American percussionist)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Tom Scott (saxophonist, Blues Brothers, LA Express, Starsky & Hutch)
background vocals [background singer]:
Karen Carpenter, Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters), Julia Tillman, Maxine Willard and Carlena Williams
lead vocals:
Karen Carpenter
vocals:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
arranger and orchestrator:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
A&M Records, Inc. (in 1977)
cover recording of:
All You Get From Love Is a Love Song
lyricist and composer:
Steve Eaton
publisher:
Hampstead Heath Music Publishing Ltd. and Universal Music–MGB Songs
33:47
16Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day)
engineer:
Ray Gerhardt (Recording and mixing engineer), Dave Iveland (Music Engineer) and Roger Young (engineer)
associate producer:
Karen Carpenter
producer:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
bass:
Joe Osborn (American bass guitar player, session musician and songwriter)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Ron Tutt (drummer)
electric guitar and spoken vocals [DJ]:
Tony Peluso (American writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist)
electric piano, piano [acoustic piano] and synthesizer:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
oboe:
Earl Dumler (multi-instrumentalist)
choir vocals:
Gregg Smith Singers
lead vocals:
Karen Carpenter
vocals:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
orchestra:
Overbudget Philharmonic
conductor:
Peter Knight (British arranger, conductor and composer)
chorus master:
Gregg Smith (choral conductor)
arranger:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
orchestrator:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters) and Peter Knight (British arranger, conductor and composer)
cover recording of:
Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft
writer:
Terry Draper and John Woloschuk
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Magentalane Music Ltd.
27:09
17Sweet, Sweet Smile
engineer:
Ray Gerhardt (Recording and mixing engineer), Dave Iveland (Music Engineer) and Roger Young (engineer)
associate producer:
Karen Carpenter
producer:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
acoustic guitar and electric guitar:
Tony Peluso (American writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist)
banjo:
Larry McNealy
bass:
Joe Osborn (American bass guitar player, session musician and songwriter)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Ron Tutt (drummer)
fiddle:
Bobby Bruce
tack piano:
Tom Hensley (American songwriter, pianist, arranger)
lead vocals:
Karen Carpenter
vocals:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
arranger and orchestrator:
Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)
recording of:
Sweet, Sweet Smile
writer:
Juice Newton (American pop and country singer, songwriter, and musician) and Otha Young
publisher:
Addison Street Music, BMG Gold Songs and Sterling Music Co. (Seperate entry from "The Sterling Music Co.")
23:02
18Christ Is Born
recording of:
Christ Is Born
lyricist and composer:
Domenico Bartolucci (Italian composer)
additional writer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
3:12
19White Christmas
cover recording of:
White Christmas
lyricist and composer:
Irving Berlin (from 1938 until 1940)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Irving Berlin Music Corp., Williamson Music Company and Irving Berlin Music Company (from 1940 to present)
sub-publisher:
EMI Allans Music Australia Pty Ltd, Irving Berlin Music Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd. (Australian subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group), Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), Warner/Chappell Music, Hong Kong Limited (華納音樂版權香港有限公司, 1995–2019), シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
part of:
The 15th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 1) and Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 1942 winner)
2:30
20Little Altar Boy
recording of:
Little Altar Boy
writer:
Howlett Smith (American pianist, keyboardist & composer)
33:45
21Ave Maria
cover recording of:
Ave Maria (catch-all for arrangements of the Bach / Gounod work)
composer:
Johann Sebastian Bach (German Baroque period composer & musician) and Charles Gounod (French composer)
publisher:
Lam Larghetto Music (from 1993 to present)
arrangement of:
Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
32:35
4▶CD: 1978 → 1997