Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

having been a Carpenters fan all my life and a collector of everything Carpenters, I`ve really enjoyed this new album with the philharmonic orchestra. it has `freshened` up the tracks and certainly enhanced Karen` vocals. Many have complained that the tracks were fine as they were and I certainly agree, but those tracks will always be around, so purists will always have those. Changing the tracks was never the point of the exercise, but it was certainly a good excuse for Richard to get rid of some issues, that have bothered him over the years.Personally, I think they did a great job, without over doing it. When the cd was released, it was great to hear that a few months later, the vinyl release would follow, both in black vinyl and white, HOWEVER, Richard had decided that he wanted to `tweak` a couple of the tracks still further, which eventually caused the release to be delayed by some 6-7 months. This initially bothered me, because what I wanted was a vinyl release `true` to the cd, not effectively a different album, but given it wasn't released, this was going to prove difficult, however, in Aug 2019, I was lucky enough to come across a copy on Ebay, albeit almost double the cost it would have been, so I`m really happy that I managed to get this album, which could turn out to be pretty rare!!Fast forward a month and we now have the vinyl release with the revised tracks. I have to say, I think Richard should have left things how they were, those tambourines on two of the tracks are just to much and I personally don`t like them, but that aside, I still love these tracks :)My biggest disappointment, is the quality control that Universal Music have. Following the issues with the 12 album set and the issues with that, which was so bad the set was withdrawn from production, here we are over a year later and I`m reading about buyers suffering the same issues again, such as poor spindle holes, torn labels, chunks missing on edges and scratchy sounds from the vinyl. Luckily, my set arrived with just `untidy` spindle holes, which aren't bad enough to return, just to be sent another set as bad or worse, but this is really poor service from Universal, not just to it`s products, but to it`s customers. They really need to get a handle on this situation, because in any line of business, this is simply unacceptable, especially when artists rely on the sales of these items for their income!

Didn’t know what to expect with this album as the cherished original recordings are so perfect. However - on first listen the words spectacular and gorgeous were mumbled repeatedly as I listened. Tone wise it’s close to their Christmas albums with some new and beautiful interludes between tracks - and it is an album that’s best listened through start to finish rather than a collection of hits you can dip into.Yes some of the tracks are very close to the originals but why not when those originals were so perfect. I Just Fall In Love Again has always been a personal favourite and this recording is so much more open than the original.Overall it’s different enough to be fresh, but similar enough to still keep the carpenters sound. For me this album, more than any other, shows both of the Carpenters talents in full - Richards brilliance as an arranger, orchestrator and pianist - and Karen’s perfection as a singer.

There are so many of these albums where deceased vocalists are re-imagined with the backing of the RPO. The question is always whether it was all worth the effort.With most vocalists, I would say definitely NO. With Karen Carpenter, my answer is that the jury in this bloke's mind is still out. It doesn't stop me from giving this five stars because the music is so wonderful - all eighteen tracks on the one disc add up to 66 minutes and it is almost perfection (except the tamborine on "Top Of The World" - I jest not, it annoyed me). Apart from that one irritation, everything else works.However, I still ask the question - was it worth it? A few more listens should give me the answer, but the orchestra is very tasteful and beautifully sounding with Karen's voice and Richard's arrangements being perfection.

This would have been a 5 star review had it not been for the condition of the vinyl record. All sides of this double album were covered with dust and fingerprints. Wet cleaning on my rcm visually improved the appearance but unfortunately there are too many pops and crackles throughout. As for the music it’s gorgeous The added orchestration of the RPO is not overwhelming at all and just enhances the overall original recordings. Unfortunately the noisy pressing makes listening a bit frustrating. This vinyl release was delayed for several months and after all this time one would have thought they would have got it right. My copy is going back for exchange and I just hope this is not a general pressing issue.Update. Have now received replacement. Both records were covered again with fingerprints and debris. Why on earth are records allowed to leave any pressing plant in this condition. However, after wet cleaning which eliminated most of this playback was considerably better than the first copy with just the occasional loud pop and click ( not static). I’ll keep this copy as I am unlikely to get any better. I’ve upgraded the rating from 3 to 4 stars. Anyone who buys this vinyl record and does not possess a wet cleaning machine is likely to be disappointed. Visually it looks old and used many times. Christmas will be here in a few months, perhaps the staff at the pressing plant will be given gloves as presents !

Karen Carpenter what a voice unique saw them in concert in the 70s fabulous music

We have had Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys and Buddy Holly with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The latest release is The Carpenters with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.How do you improve on songs that were already sheer perfection ?This album is sublime , totally beautiful. I have listened to it several times now and it never ceases to amaze me. This is one of the best releases in the series to date . Hopefully there will be a second volume of The Carpenters with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Five stars insufficient. Perfection !!!!

I was unsure about buying this collection, but went ahead and it is a magnificent set of the Carpenters classics. The orchestration is wonderful and if you need an album to chill out and relax to then this is the one for you. 'Yesterday Once More' and 'Goodbye To Love' have never sounded better. The beautifiul voice of Karen is perfect throughout. A voice of an Angel. I love 'This Masquerade' which has always been one of the highlights of their albums. Love to see an updated remastered luxury box set of all of the Carpenters albums. A class act from the Seventies. Certainly takes me back to Yesterday Once More

The great thing about these collaborations with the RPO is that they compliment the unique sound of the artists they are supporting rather than take over or dominate. Such is the situation with this album when one can relive the magical sound of Karen Carpenter, and at points when in the original version you may have wondered if an orchestral backing would have helped just give it that extra oomph it is now there. Great stuff!

Reading through Discogs reviews on the US copy, as well as reviews here on Amazon, I had little hope that this EU pressing would be good, as many reported noise and poor sound. When I received this, I checked the records and yes, there were some tiny speckles of dust but nothing alarming. No scratches whatsoever. However, one of the gatefolds had a dent at the corner.I then cleaned both records using my Humminguru before playing them. My fears were unfounded as the records are both quiet and have great sound. Karen's vocals come through amazingly. I wish the sound stage was a little wider but that's just nitpicking. Overall, this is an excellent pressing with great arrangement.

La moda di riarrangiare i pezzi con l'accompagnamento di una orchestra tocca anche i Carpenters.un piccolo valore aggiunti a pezzi che tutti conoscono

technische Ausführung ein Flop,täuscht es oder werden die Platten immer schlechter, für den Preis erwarte ich Qualität und die Box ist so lieblos hergestellt. Nichts mit buntem Covern drin oder … einfach nichts.Und dann der Popa gleich zum Anfang eine große Verzerrung auf dem linken Kanal. Nicht zu überhören, und will man den Rest genießen ärgert man sich über den Beginnenden Fehler und aus ist es. Wenn ich eine LP auflege mit einem großen Namen, dann soll das Gewitter beginnen im Klang, ehr zu hören sind die Nebengeräusche.In der Qualität ist die LP Box nicht zu empfehlen.

great sound

全タイトルの中でこれが一番音質が良い。ロイヤルフィルのダビングはウザいがカレンのボーカルは素晴らしい。