Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Richard Carpenter largely remained silent in the years following his sister Karen's death, releasing only one album in nearly 15 years. Ten years after the release of his solo debut, he returned with his second, the insturmental Pianist-Arranger-Composer-Conductor. The convoluted title may suggest that Carpenter is intent on restoring his reputation as a pianist, arranger, composer and conductor, and that suspicion would be correct. Selecting a variety of the Carpenters' best-loved songs ("Yesterday Once More," "Bless the Beasts and Children," "Top of the World," "We've Only Just Begun") and adding new material, including his tribute to his sister, "Karen's Theme," Carpenter has created a lush, symphonic record that flirts with straight-up easy listening. Of course, the Carpenters were never far removed from easy listening, but removing the vocals and the mild rock flourishes only confirms how sweet and gentle their music was. It also, as he intended, showcases his skills at arranging and, on occasion, composing, but anyone who listened to the original Carpenters records would know that already. In the end, the album is pleasant and enjoyable, but oddly inconsequential -- as it's playing, it sounds quite good, but it leaves no lasting impression other than the desire to listen to the duo's original records.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From €13,50/month
Orchestra, Orchestra, Artist - Richard Carpenter, Composer, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Orchestra, Orchestra, Artist - JOHN BETTIS, ComposerLyricist - Richard Carpenter, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Roger Nichols, ComposerLyricist - Bonnie Bramlett, ComposerLyricist - Leon Russell, ComposerLyricist - Orchestra, Orchestra, Artist - JOHN BETTIS, ComposerLyricist - Joe Raposo, ComposerLyricist - Paul Williams, ComposerLyricist - Richard Carpenter, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Albert Hammond, ComposerLyricist - Orchestra, Orchestra, Artist - JOHN BETTIS, ComposerLyricist - Richard Carpenter, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
JOHN BETTIS, ComposerLyricist - Richard Carpenter, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 A&M Records
Orchestra, Orchestra, Artist - Richard Carpenter, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robb Royer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Karlin, ComposerLyricist - James Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Orchestra, Orchestra, Artist - Richard Carpenter, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Orchestra, Orchestra, Artist - JOHN BETTIS, ComposerLyricist - Richard Carpenter, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Perry Botkin Jr., ComposerLyricist - Richard Carpenter, Conductor, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Barry De Vorzon, ComposerLyricist - Jack Daugherty, Producer
℗ 1972 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Orchestra, Orchestra, Artist - Richard Carpenter, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Pamela Phillips Oland, Composer - Orchestra, Orchestra, Artist - Richard Carpenter, Composer, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Orchestra, Orchestra, Artist - JOHN BETTIS, ComposerLyricist - Richard Carpenter, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Roger Nichols, ComposerLyricist - Orchestra, Orchestra, Artist - Paul Williams, ComposerLyricist - Richard Carpenter, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Armin Steiner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlie Paakkari, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Carpenter, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Richard Carpenter largely remained silent in the years following his sister Karen's death, releasing only one album in nearly 15 years. Ten years after the release of his solo debut, he returned with his second, the insturmental Pianist-Arranger-Composer-Conductor. The convoluted title may suggest that Carpenter is intent on restoring his reputation as a pianist, arranger, composer and conductor, and that suspicion would be correct. Selecting a variety of the Carpenters' best-loved songs ("Yesterday Once More," "Bless the Beasts and Children," "Top of the World," "We've Only Just Begun") and adding new material, including his tribute to his sister, "Karen's Theme," Carpenter has created a lush, symphonic record that flirts with straight-up easy listening. Of course, the Carpenters were never far removed from easy listening, but removing the vocals and the mild rock flourishes only confirms how sweet and gentle their music was. It also, as he intended, showcases his skills at arranging and, on occasion, composing, but anyone who listened to the original Carpenters records would know that already. In the end, the album is pleasant and enjoyable, but oddly inconsequential -- as it's playing, it sounds quite good, but it leaves no lasting impression other than the desire to listen to the duo's original records.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:52:00
- Main artists: Richard Carpenter
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: A&M
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.