CD remix/alternate versions of album 'Christmas Portrait'

[Stefano]

Different CD compilations have been released through the years by the Carpenters. These compilations not also gave birth to many remixes of Carpenters’ songs, but (finally) presented us with CD-debuts of single mixes, alternative versions, demo cuts, karaoke sing-a-longs and even newly SACD mixes.

After a few dozen compilations I totally lost count and felt the urge to make an overview which gives information about which version has been released on which CD compilation. I used the official Universal CD compilations released in Europe, Japan and the US, starting with the first ‘Yesterday Once More’ UK set in 1984 and (for now) ending with the ‘Japanese Single Box’ in 2006.

Titles without any additional remix information don’t have other versions than the original album version (to my knowledge).

I tried to be as accurate as possible, but nobody is perfect.
Errors? Disagreements? Additional remix information? Please use this forum to elaborate.

This is the ninth survey, proceeding with the original 1978 ‘Christmas Portrait’ album and the 1984 'Christmas Portrait Special Edition' version. The full original 1978 mix of 'Christmas Portrait' has been released on CD once: in Europe in the early eighties. The CD was manufactured by PolyGram in Hannover (West-Germany), using the original 1978 LP-master. This first print with catalog number of 394 726-2 has never been reprinted by PolyGram, but was being replaced by the Special Edition in 1984. This ninth survey starts with the first PolyGram CD print, followed by the Special Edition, which more or less saw a worldwide release.

The 1984 'An Old-Fashioned Christmas' album and the 1996 'Christmas Collection' will be followed later on.


Christmas Portrait (1978)

1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel - 0.28
1992 Alternate Version:
•CHRISTMAS WITH THE CARPENTERS (1992) TIME LIFE

2. Overture - 4.39
Deck The Halls
I Saw Three Ships
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Away In A Manger
What Child Is This (Greensleeves)
Carol Of The Bells
O Come, All Ye Faithful

3. The Christmas Waltz - 2.13

4. Sleigh Ride - 2.38

5. It's Christmas Time/Sleep Well, Little Children - 2.54

6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - 3.54

7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (1978 Version) - 4.05
1974 Original Single Version:
•JAPANESE SINGLE BOX (2006) JAPAN ONLY (VINYL TRANSFER)
1984 Remix:
•CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT SPECIAL EDITION (1984)
•FROM THE TOP (1990)
•THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION: 1965-1997 (2002)

8. The Christmas Song - 3.39
Stand Alone Version:
•JAPANESE SINGLE BOX (2006) JAPAN ONLY

9. Silent Night - 3.19
1990 Remix:
•THEIR GREATEST HITS AND FINEST PERFORMANCES (1997) READER’S DIGEST

10. Jingle Bells - 1.11

11. The First Snowfall/Let It Snow - 3.33

12. Carol Of The Bells - 1.38

13. Merry Christmas Darling (1978 Version) - 3.05
1970 Original Single Version:
•FROM THE TOP (1990)
•THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION: 1965-1997 (2002)
•JAPANESE SINGLE BOX (2006) JAPAN ONLY
1978 Album Version:
•CARPENTERS PERFORM CARPENTER (2003)
•GOLD: THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY 2 CD EDITION (2004)
1990 Remix:
•THEIR GREATEST HITS AND FINEST PERFORMANCES (1997) READER’S DIGEST
1992 Remix:
•CHRISTMAS WITH THE CARPENTERS (1992) TIME LIFE
2004 SACD Hybrid Remix:
•THE SINLGES: 1969-1981 SACD HYBRID (2004)

14. I'll Be Home For Christmas - 3.50

15. Christ Is Born - 3.14
1990 Remix:
•FROM THE TOP (1990)
•THEIR GREATEST HITS AND FINEST PERFORMANCES (1997) READER’S DIGEST
•THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION: 1965-1997 (2002)

16. Winter Wonderland/Silver Bells/White Christmas - 5.30
White Christmas 1990 Remix:
•FROM THE TOP (1990)
•THEIR GREATEST HITS AND FINEST PERFORMANCES (1997) READER’S DIGEST
•THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION: 1965-1997 (2002)

17. Ave Maria - 2.36
1984 Remix:
•CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT SPECIAL EDITION (1984)
•ANTHOLOGY (1989) JAPAN ONLY
1990 Remix:
•FROM THE TOP (1990)
•THEIR GREATEST HITS AND FINEST PERFORMANCES (1997) READER’S DIGEST
•THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION: 1965-1997 (2002)


Christmas Portrait Special Edition (1984)

1. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - 1.42
1984 Original ‘An Old-Fashioned Christmas’ Album Mix

2. Overture - 8.16
Happy Holiday
The First Noel
March Of The Toys
Little Jesus
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
In Dulci Jubilo
Gesu Bambino
Angels We Have Heard On High
1984 Original ‘An Old-Fashioned Christmas’ Album Mix

3. An Old-Fashioned Christmas - 2.12
1984 Original ‘An Old-Fashioned Christmas’ Album Mix

4. Christmas Waltz - 2.13
1978 Original ‘Christmas Portrait’ Album Mix

5. Sleigh Ride - 2.39
1978 Original ‘Christmas Portrait’ Album Mix

6. It's Christmas Time/Sleep Well, Little Children - 2.53
1978 Original ‘Christmas Portrait’ Album Mix

7. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - 3.54
1978 Original ‘Christmas Portrait’ Album Mix

8. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - 4.05
1984 Remix

9. Christmas Song - 3.39
1978 Original ‘Christmas Portrait’ Album Mix

10. Carol Of The Bells - 1.40
1978 Original ‘Christmas Portrait’ Album Mix

11. Merry Christmas Darling - 3.07
1978 Original ‘Christmas Portrait’ Album Mix

12. Christ Is Born - 3.13
1978 Original ‘Christmas Portrait’ Album Mix

13. O Holy Night - 3.10
1984 Original ‘An Old-Fashioned Christmas’ Album Mix

14. (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays - 2.36
1984 Original ‘An Old-Fashioned Christmas’ Album Mix

15. Medley - 3.43
Here Comes Santa Claus
Frosty The Snowman
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Good King Wenceslas
1984 Original ‘An Old-Fashioned Christmas’ Album Mix

16. Winter Wonderland -
1978 Original ‘Christmas Portrait’ Album Mix

17. Silver Bells -
1978 Original ‘Christmas Portrait’ Album Mix

18. White Christmas - 5.29
1978 Original ‘Christmas Portrait’ Album Mix

17. Ave Maria - 2.35
1984 Remix (With Choir)

18. Selection From The Nutcracker - 5.27
1984 Original ‘An Old-Fashioned Christmas’ Album Mix

19. Little Altar Boy - 3.44
1984 Original ‘An Old-Fashioned Christmas’ Album Mix

20. I'll be Home For Christmas - 3.49
1978 Original 'Christmas Portrait' Album Mix

21. Silent Night - 3.21
1978 Original ‘Christmas Portrait’ Album Mix

 

[Rick-An Ordinary Fool]

The limited edition pressing of the German CD Christmas Portrait contains an alternate version of Ave Maria without the choir. Shouldn't we list this under 17 since we are primarly talking about alternate versions released to CD only. The version has only appeared in a digital format on this German CD.

17. Ave Maria - 2.36

 

[Mark-T]

Stephano, you are to be commended for your detailed work! Thank you.

 

[goodjeans]

...so the original track of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", Karen's finest reading ever in my opinion has never been touched? Makes sense. It was perfection in the original form.

 

[Stefano]

The limited edition pressing of the German CD Christmas Portrait contains an alternate version of Ave Maria without the choir. Shouldn't we list this under 17 since we are primarly talking about alternate versions released to CD only. The version has only appeared in a digital format on this German CD.

17. Ave Maria - 2.36

Hi Chris, thanks for your comment. I understand completely what you are saying, but I am a bit principle on this point. My survey takes the original album as starting point.

We have to take the view that the 1978 'Ave Maria' version without the choir is and remains the original LP version. The re-discovering of the choir track in 1984 does not change that.

Apart from the fact that the 1984 version actually was the version Richard originally intended to release on the album in 1978, technically we can't speak of an alternate version here. So that's the reason my survey placed the choir version as the alternate (or remix) version compared to the 1978 version.

The fact that the original 1978 LP-master has been issued on CD for a limited period of time in Europe only, doesn't make this CD any different: this is and remains the original album and all the other versions or remixes are (just) alternates to this 1978 master - at least in my humble opinion.

Kind regards, Stefano.

 

[A&M Retro]

AWESOME JOB!
A few additions:
The version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" you hear on the common "Christmas Portrait" CD is DEFINITELY remixed. Karen's vocals have added reverb/echo, and the instrumentation is much cleaner.
As for "Ave Maria"....Richard didn't find the 'track' to the men's choir in 1984. However, he did find the arrangements on paper, so decided to finish it when preparing the album for CD release. The choir you hear on that track was recorded in 1984.

 

[michaeldila]

wait, i'm confused...."santa claus is coming to town" was RE-recorded in 1978??? these are brand new vocals?

 

[A&M Retro]

Nope, same vocals as originailly released in 1974. But the song was remixed in 1984 for the "An Old Fashioned Christmas" album.