Carpenters - Christmas Collection (1996)

In 1978, The Carpenters released their Christmas Portrait album, followed by another Christmas album, An Old-Fashioned Christmas, in 1984. This 2 CD set contains both albums with their original sequencing. It supplants the previously released Christmas Portrait compilation CD.

1978		1984

I've never been asked what my favorite Christmas album is, but Christmas Portrait would certainly get some serious consideration, along with Vince Guaraldi and Phil Spector. (Rolling Stone recently ranked it at #16 of all-time; I respectfully disagree.) It is nice to listen to it here in its original running order. If you don't mind, I'm just going to enjoy Karen's effortless voice and Richard's classic arrangements for a while and not write anything.

Disc 2, An Old-Fashioned Christmas, released after Karen's death, contains several unused tracks from the Christmas Portrait along with some newly-recorded instrumentals alongside their 1974 single, a slow version of Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town. Complete liner notes available here.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: originally, Christmas Portrait #145, An Old-Fashioned Christmas #190, the Christmas Portrait album has made more appearances in subsequent years.

Tracks: It's all good and while I love a good Christmas tune medley, it doesn't get much better than Merry Christmas Darling.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Christmas Portrait was introduced to me in the early '80s by a good friend, so listening to it always brings back good memories of his brief time with us. Did I mention how nice it is to hear the original sequencing again?

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Singles: 1969-1981 (2000)
Christmas Portrait (1984)

Carpenters - The Singles: 1969-1981 (2000)

The older I get, the better they were. This is a fantastic compilation featuring the pure voice of Karen Carpenter and the imaginative arrangements of brother Richard. Granted, the early '70s stuff is the best, but it's all familiar to these ears. To be honest, though, if you're in the market for a Carpenters compilation, go with The Ultimate Collection from 2006.

This is where I usually complain about the song sequence not being chronological, but it doesn't seem to bother me on this disc. That cover photo, on the other hand...

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #45

Tracks:

Song	Year	Hot 100	AC*
For All We Know	1971	3	1
I Believe You	1978	68	9
It's Going To Take Some Time	1972	12	2
We've Only Just Begun	1970	2	1
Those Good Old Dreams	1981	63	21
Superstar	1971	2	1
Rainy Days And Mondays	1971	2	1
Goodbye to Love	1972	7	2
All You Get From Love Is A Love Song	1977	35	4
Top Of The World	1973	1	2
Only Yesterday	1975	4	1
Ticket To Ride	1969	54	19
Hurting Each Other	1971	2	1
Yesterday Once More	1973	2	1
Sing	1973	3	1
Touch Me When We're Dancing	1981	16	1
Please Mr. Postman	1974	1	1
I Need To Be In Love	1974	25	1
I Won't Last A Day Without You	1971	11	1
(They Long To Be) Close To You	1970	1	1
For All We Know (Reprise)	1972

*Before 4/7/79, the Adult Contemporary chart was known as the Easy Listening chart.

Songs that peaked in the Top 40 that didn't make the cut for this compilation: Solitaire (#17, 1975), There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World) (#12, 1976), and Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft (#32, 1977). Solitaire and There's A Kind Of Hush both topped the AC chart, too, bringing the Carpenters' total #1 songs on the AC chart to 15, spending a combined 38 weeks atop that chart.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Growing up, my sister had a Carpenters piano songbook that included most of these tunes and she would play them often. On occasion, I would go in and sing along. IIRC, she also had a copy of the A Song For You Lp, so I'm sure we listened to that as well as I had neither albums nor a stereo at the time.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Christmas Portrait (1984)

Carpenters - Christmas Portrait (1984)

Along with the Vince Guaraldi Trio's A Charlie Brown Christmas and A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector, this is one of my top three Christmas CD's. It is actually a compilation of two Christmas albums by the duo, Christmas Portrait (1978) and An Old-Fashioned Christmas (1984). It's cheesy soft pop highlighted by Karen Carpenter's wonderfully pure voice and it's exactly the kind of cheesy soft pop goodness that I need this time of year.

Click here to get Richard Carpenter's take on the album. He mentions that this album is patterned after the 1956 album, Spike Jones Presents A Xmas Spectacular. I wonder if that's available anywhere.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Christmas Portrait #145, An Old-Fashioned Christmas #190. This "Special Edition" compilation returns to the charts almost annually; as I write this, it sits at #117.

Tracks: It's a pleasant 70 minutes of music, sequenced perfectly. It's hard to pick favorites, but today I'll pick Christmas Waltz, It's Christmas Time, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and Merry Christmas Darling. Because of personal childhood issues, I'm not a fan of O Holy Night, but the instrumental version offered here is somewhat tolerable.

Exclusive CD longbox photo courtesy of
Dirk Digglinator of the Hambonian Archives.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  This music was introduced to me by my good friend Richard L. as we drove together around town during a progressive Christmas party for our church choir. Progressive parties are a horrible idea, but getting from home to home with Richard made it much more pleasant. Richard loved this album and enjoyed pointing out his favorite parts of the complex arrangements.