Music review: 鈥楥arpenters with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra鈥�
鈥淲hen I was young I鈥檇 listen to the radio/Waiting for my favorite songs/When they played I鈥檇 sing along/It made me smile,鈥� sweetly sings Karen Carpenter on the beautiful 1973 track 鈥淵esterday Once More.鈥�
As a kid, I spent countless hours listening to the radio and singing along (quite poorly) with songs from my favorite artists.
I fondly recall my parents owning a copy of 1970鈥檚 鈥淐lose to You鈥� by the Carpenters. My mother would play it on our console stereo on Saturdays as she cleaned the house after the chaos caused during the week by her three sons.
Nearly 50 years later, I can close my eyes and still hear Karen sing, 鈥淥n the day that you were born/The angels got together/And decided to create a dream come true鈥� from 鈥�(They Long to Be) Close to You.鈥� Even now, this magnificent arrangement penned by Burt Bacharach and Hal David manages to make me tear up just a bit.
There have been several recent albums released featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with notable artists such as Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison and the Beach Boys.
The Carpenters were just added to the list. The new album pairs original vocal and instrumental tracks from memorable Carpenters鈥� songs with new accompaniment from a 70-plus piece orchestra.
Recorded at legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, the set contains 18 tracks produced and arranged by Richard Carpenter.
It鈥檚 heartwarming to once again hear arrangements like 鈥淲e鈥檝e Only Just Begun,鈥� 鈥淭op of the World,鈥� 鈥淩ainy Days and Mondays鈥� and 鈥淚 Just Fall in Love Again鈥� with lush orchestration and Karen鈥檚 iconic voice bringing new life to these glorious pop arrangements.
Other standout moments include a tender performance of the Beatles鈥� 鈥淭icket to Ride鈥� and a soft and soothing cover of Leon Russell鈥檚 鈥淭his Masquerade.鈥�
Even the heartbreak depicted on 鈥淪uperstar鈥� and 鈥淗urting Each Other鈥� comes away sounding more promising than desperate.
Also included on the album is the holiday track 鈥淢erry Christmas, Darling,鈥� originally recorded in 1970. Karen鈥檚 voice is so warm and inviting as she sings, 鈥淢erry Christmas, darling/We鈥檙e apart, that鈥檚 true/But I can dream and in my dreams/I鈥檓 Christmasing with you.鈥�
Treat yourself to these timeless classics and fall in love once again with the music of the Carpenters.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.