The tragedy of Karen Carpenter and her death was the only engine that derailed the forward movement of The Carpenters. The loss of the mesmerizing voice that drew you into a song and made you feel a part of the entire experience, was a devastating one. There could be no replacement.

The issue of this 2CD release in the US, one that has been available for some time in European and Japanese markets in a single CD, 20+ song variation, is an expanded one that contains the largest selection of hits that The Carpenters enjoyed and tha their audience revered. And this collection is pregnant with the great stuff that endeared an era.

The largest impetus for this 2CD collection is the roundup of 21 of their Top 40 singles. In addition, Gold includes 3 unreleased (in the US) tracks. "The Rainbow Connection" is a nice fan requested addition recorded in 1980 yet not included on any official Carpenters releases. If Kermit the Frog's nasally rendition always left you a bit drippy, this rendition will leave you with a fresh feeling. Karen's warm vocals lend to the emotional impact of the song and makes for a stronger quality.

"California Dreamin' " is another unreleased song that was recorded by Karen while she was 17 years old. While the song isn't a knockout with its jazzy delivery and rather cold presentation, it does showcase the embryonic vocal range of Karen Carpenter who nurtured and refined her voice to give us the future collection that resides on this album.

This album includes the completed 'unfinished' song, "Leave Yesterday Behind". The torch carried so devotedly by her brother and one half of the Carpenters is bright revealing a touching committment to the memory of his sister. This song was finished in 1999 and is a warm and beautiful track so reminiscent of the power of Karen's contributions to the success of The Carpenters.

"There a Kind Of Hush (All Over the World)" is served up as a nice substitute to the Herman's Hermits version while "Jambalaya (On The Bayou)" is countrified Carpenters lite fare, not their strength despite enjoying a Top Ten hit with "Sweet, Sweet Smile", a song more pop than country and which is included on this set.

The album concludes with a touching "Karen's Theme", a piano instrumental composed by Richard Carpenter for the 1989 "The Karen Carpenter Story" and also released on his 1997 A&M release, Richard Carpenter - Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor.

This album's array of nicely remastered songs also feature popular album tracks and Christmas selections. One of the songs, "Bless the Beasts and Children", was an Oscar nominated song from the movie of the same name. "Touch Me When We're Dancing" was, sadly, to be their final Top 40 hit, charting in 1981. Early in 1983, Karen passed away and thus ended the era of The Carpenters as they pertained to the airwaves and sales of their albums. However, The Carpenters have maintained a place in the hearts of the generation they played for and thus a domestic release that offers the complete collection of their hits, a smattering of their popular album cuts, satisfying covers, and unreleased bonuses as well as a booklet that offers a track by track recollection by Richard Carpenter is a gem that we all can enjoy as a reasonably priced definitive Carpenters collection.

Track Listing: Superstar; Rainy Days and Mondays; Top of the World; Maybe It's You; Let Me Be The One; Reason to Believe; Jambalaya (On the Bayou); Leave Yesterday Behind; Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore; Bless the Beasts and Children; It's Going To Take Some Time; The Rainbow Connection; Only Yesterday; Sweet,Sweet Smile; There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World); California Dreamin'; Solitaire; We've Only Just Begun; This Masquerade; Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day); Yesterday Once More; Please Mr Postman; Hurting Each Other; I Need to be In Love; Merry Christmas Darling; (They Long to Be) Close to You; All You Get From Love is a Love Song; Sing; Make Believe It's Your First Time; Ticket to Ride; Goodbye to Love; I Just Fall in Love Again; I Believce You; Tryin' to Get The Feeling Again; For All We Know; Touch Me When We're Dancing; I Won't Last a Day Without You; Mr Guder; A Song For You; Karen's Theme .

The Carpenters: Karen Carpenter - Vocals; Richard Carpenter - Keyboards / Vocals.