Box Set Tracklist Posted!!

[Mike Blakesley]

Here is some text from the new issue of ICE magazine which clears up a couple of questions about the box set.

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A&M reconfigures its 1991 Carpenters rarities box From the Top (now titled The Essential Collection) on October 22, removing some of the more obscure tracks and filtering in many signature tunes left off the first version ("Jambalaya [On the Bayou]," "I Won't Last a Day Without You"). Other additions include a seven-piece medley previously available in Japan only; a 30-second Japanese commercial for High Crown Chocolate; and the original "Sing" (which replaces the Spanish-sung version). The set has now been distilled into cube form, with a hard slipcase and 76-page booklet; some errors in the credits have also been righted. Director of A&R Mike Ragogna explains to ICE, "The goal of the first box was not to present an overview of The Carpenters, it was to present rarities. The purpose of this box is to give fans essentially everything they need...it's a total overview." Meanwhile, the label just issued a Best of with all 12 tracks chosen by Richard.

 

[Harry]

Director of A&R Mike Ragogna explains to ICE, "The goal of the first box was not to present an overview of The Carpenters, it was to present rarities. The purpose of this box is to give fans essentially everything they need...it's a total overview."

Compare that with:

If you think back to the status quo back around 1990/1991 when FROM THE TOP was issued, there were already a number of Carpenters hit CDs out on the market. The thought behind FROM THE TOP was to include some older rarities and newer favorites.

But Richard, "tweaker" that he is, probably realized that a box set should be more than just that, and the new title "ESSENTIAL" reflects that. These are ESSENTIAL Carpenters recordings, both the familiar hit tracks and the older rare garage days, plus some TV medleys.

See that -- we figured it all out before knowing this!

Harry
NP: radio at work

 

[PJ]

Here is some text from the new issue of ICE magazine which clears up a couple of questions about the box set.

----------------

A&M reconfigures its 1991 Carpenters rarities box From the Top (now titled The Essential Collection) on October 22, removing some of the more obscure tracks and filtering in many signature tunes left off the first version ("Jambalaya [On the Bayou]," "I Won't Last a Day Without You"). Other additions include a seven-piece medley previously available in Japan only; a 30-second Japanese commercial for High Crown Chocolate; and the original "Sing" (which replaces the Spanish-sung version). The set has now been distilled into cube form, with a hard slipcase and 76-page booklet; some errors in the credits have also been righted. Director of A&R Mike Ragogna explains to ICE, "The goal of the first box was not to present an overview of The Carpenters, it was to present rarities. The purpose of this box is to give fans essentially everything they need...it's a total overview." Meanwhile, the label just issued a Best of with all 12 tracks chosen by Richard.

....No surprises from Universal ! This is a great Box Set for New Carpenters Fans or completists ....but this has changed from the conversations with Richard and David Alley in January 2002 :

Richard did confirm that the missing Singles would be included in this Box Set.

Richard was quite clear that the majority of As Time Goes By Non-Medley tracks would be included for all those Fans who were unable to obtain the Album outside Japan & Asia plus the planned Karen / Ella Medley missing from 1991 set.

Richard stated several other rarities would be included , some of the Adverts & Jingles , some tracks mixed / completed, but omitted for ATGB and several other rarities.

Richard was unsure about the completion and release by Universal after ATGB debacle and ongoing issues , David Alley was adament that this Box Set would be released , perhaps in a different format as Universal were keen to repair their working relationship with Richard.

My own view is that Richard , still angry re: ATGB was unwilling to
compromise these new tracks for the Box Set as these should be released on the intended Album Worldwide and Richard decided to include as few rarities as possible.Why offer more unissued material when Universal either choose to ignore or do not understand how to promote these types of releases

The booklet sounds good , ideally with more credits and photos and Richard's expanded liner notes.

Long term Fans will have to wait for another selective Box Set or 2 CD Rarities set in 2004 (35th Aniv) or later in the decade.....

These 2002 releases plus two ? more Japanese Compiliations may be the finale under Universal current contract , it was clear in January 2002 , there is no relationship between Richard and Universal and there is no reason to expect a change in Universal's attitude or Policies unless UME is sold again or major Executive / Music Policies alter .....just keep hoping ....there is no purpose in Richard signing a new contract when A&M as it was is long gone and Richard's loyalty is undermined ..........

Peter....wondering what happened to the planned Box Set......

 

[Harry]

My own view is that Richard , still angry re: ATGB was unwilling to compromise these new tracks for the Box Set as these should be released on the intended Album Worldwide

Exactly. That's what I think. Richard believes that AS TIME GOES BY should be released as is all over the world, and didn't want to include stuff from it on the box set in hopes that it someday may come to fruition.

The problem now is that most ardent fans already know that it's out in Japan and have secured a copy from there. A US release would only now appeal to lesser fans who don't follow the group as deeply as we. Still, if properly promoted, it could someday end up selling well.

Harry
NP: radio at work

 

[Murray]

The problem now is that most ardent fans already know that it's out in Japan and have secured a copy from there. A US release would only now appeal to lesser fans who don't follow the group as deeply as we.

I'm sure that there are many ardent Carpenters fans who don't know that "As Time Goes By" exists, simply because they don't own a computer and aren't online yet. How many of us would have known about it (or been able to order a copy) if not for the internet?

Murray

 

[Rudy]

I was told that some "big box" stores like Media Play and Best Buy were stocking As Time Goes By. (I've seen other imports there as well.)

-= N =-

 

[Harry]

I too have seen stores like Best Buy and Borders carry imports, but as of this writing, over a year after release, I've never seen AS TIME GOES BY in a brick-and-mortar store. Either they carry it and it's snapped up every time they get one in, or it's just not carried in the store and is a special order item.

Harry
...who saw plenty of 20th Century Masters in the racks yesterday, online...

 

[Rudy]

So much for casual listenability. This set is begging to be ripped and resequenced!

Agreed. I'd dispose of all those extras and unreleased tracks myself. (Again, it goes with my thinking of putting all of those extras on a separate CD so those of us who don't want them, don't have to listen to them or skip around them constantly.) The Xmas songs already have a place on another of my home-brew compilations. Seems like I could make at least two good "favorites" CDs from that box set. But since I own all the original albums on CD now, I don't have a need for the set anyway.

I too have seen stores like Best Buy and Borders carry imports, but as of this writing, over a year after release, I've never seen AS TIME GOES BY in a brick-and-mortar store. Either they carry it and it's snapped up every time they get one in, or it's just not carried in the store and is a special order item.

I haven't been to a record retailer in a long time. I do all my buying online now. (Unless it's used vinyl--that's still an all-day trip, going around town to all of my favorite haunts.) It got to the point where I would never find anything I wanted at the local stores, or it was just way too expensive. ATGB, I'd read or heard elsewhere (not here), was spotted at one of those stores, but I don't know if a store like Best Buy even does special orders. They're specialists in volume, and selling loss-leaders into the store to buy their other merchandise.

-= N =-

 

[PJ]

Essential ....UK release date announced for 7/10 , however I tried Virgin in London and there were no details under new releases , I suspect that with the changed USA release date , UK release has been put back two weeks to 21/10 ?

I would be interested in seeing the average UK price for this set , From The Top retails for £27-00 ($40-00) and as the revised Box only contains 73 tracks and larger booklet , £30-00 price is reasonable.Probably charge nearer£40-00($60-00) !!

I am still puzzled by the deletion of Goodnight and yet the set retains the dreadful 1970 Interview , dated when recorded and the odd Radio Contest Outtakes

The running time will still be well under total capacity , so Fans are still not being given real value.Perhaps as in 1991 , tracks originally sought for the set have not been included ?

I will look out for this release and unless I am totally taken with the extras , booklet etc will probably purchase in New Year Sales at better prices

Peter .....waiting for release......

 

[Bruno]

I have just ordered ESSENTIAL online at amazon.de. This is a UK import, it will be released on 10/22 and the price is 61,99 Euro. I keep pressing the Euro sign on my keyboard, Rudy, but your forum can't print it.

To my knowledge, one Euro is about one Dollar, so there you have it.

Don't know how much this is in British Pound; my goodness, the UK is so underdeveloped.....

I know, I earlier wrote, I won't buy ESSENTIAL; but you know, as a Carpenters addict - what shall I do? Can't help myself, cause Baby it's you.