Your All-Time Top Fifteen

[ps11932]

1-Sing. (This has all the elements of a great Carpenter song- excellent mixing of wide variety of instruments, and outstanding vocals ((I love the Spanish version, but the regular English version is my favorite)). The presence of the children is a unique and powerful touch. Perhaps the attribute that seals the #1 ranking is the message of the song, which I interpret as an encouragement to do whatever you primarily do (in my case, certainly not sing) fearlessly, pressing on despite opposition that may come- and with the belief that the world will be a better place for the use of your gift. "Whatever you do, do it with your whole heart.")

2-When You've Got What It Takes
3-I Can Dream, Can't I
4-Where Do I Go From Here
5-Crescent Noon
6-Good Friends Are For Keeps
7-He Came Here For Me
8-Love Me For What I Am
9-Leave Yesterday Behind
10-Little Girl Blue
11-You're The One
12-I Want You Back In My Life (Again)
13-Let Me Be The One
14-I Need To Be In LOve
15-What's The Use

[carprave]

1. Only Yesterday
2. I Just Fall In Love Again
3. One More Time
4. Road Ode
5. I Won't Last A Day Without You
6. Please Mr. Postman
7. Guess I Just Lost My Head
8. Goodbye And I Love You
9. Desperado
10. Let Me Be The One
11. Goodbye To Love
12. Eve
13. Crescent Noon
14. Make Believe It's Your First Time solo Karen
15. Leave Yesterday Behind

[makapipi]

1. We've Only Just Begun (all versions, studio, concert, medley)
2. Superstar (and the medley too)
3. This Masquerade
4. Slowdance
5. Rainy Days and Mondays (studio and medley version)
6. Kiss me the Way You Did Last Night
7. Lovelines
8. Uninvited Guest
9. Honolulu City Lights
10. Como/ Carpenters Medley
11. If I Had You
12. Little Altar Boy
13. Merry Christmas Darling
14. For All We Know (Medley, Live version and studio)
15. Yesterday once More (reprise) this one has special effects
something like spinning speaker
effect and one part of the background vocal has a weird effect almost like an alien sound but
probably an loopback effect. First time I heard this on Carpenters.

[Peteruk]

Hi Rick & All ,

After AGES away due to family , domestic & other issues / problems ....at last catching up on a few favourite sites :

From top of my head .....just 15 non-singles favs :

Baby Its You

Crescent Noon

Turn Away

One More Time

I Have You

Happy

I'm Caught Between ...

Two Sides

You're The One

Where Do I Go From Here

Flat Boroque

Look To Your Dreams

This Masquerade

Desperado

You're Enough

Catch up again later -best to all

Peter UK

[Rick Henry]

Very nice to see you PeterUK - it's been a long time - we miss your Carpenters expertise here.

Thanks for checking in.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

I second that, Peter. It's GREAT to have you back with us - hope you're back to stay for a while.

All the best,
Tim

[Rick Henry]

The Carpenters Online Top 35

(In parenthsis is the album the song is from)
35. A Song For You (A Song For You)
34. Please Mr. Postman (Horizon)
33. Solitaire (Horizon)
32. It's Going To Take Sometime (A Song For You)
31. Make Believe It's Your First Time (from the album "Karen Carpenter" solo)
30. Sometimes (Carpenters)
29. Ordinary Fool (Voice Of The Heart)
28. Ave Maria (Christmas Portrait)
27. I Can't Make Music (Now And Then)
26. Top Of The World (A Song For You)
25. Leave Yesterday Behind (As Time Goes By)
24. Guess I Just Lost My Head (Karen Carpenter)
23. Little Altar Boy (An Old Fashioned Christmas)
22. I Can Dream Can't I (Horizon)
21. Love Me For What I Am (Horizon)
20. Sing (Now And Then)
19. Mr. Guder (Close To You)
18. If I Had You (Karen Carpenter)
17. I Won't Last A Day Without You (A Song For You)
16. Boat To Sail (A Kind Of Hush)
15. One More Time (A Kind Of Hush)
14. Making Love In The Afternoon (Karen Carpenter)
13. Yesterday Once More (Now And Then)
12. Two Sides (Passage)
11. Desperado (Horizon)
10. Goodbye To Love (A Song For You)
9. Crescent Noon (Close To You)
8. Close To You (Close To You)
7. Superstar (Carpenters)
6. Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again (Interpretations)
5. Road Ode (A Song For You)
4. We've Only Just Begun (Close To You)
3. This Masquerade (Now And Then)
2. Rainy Days And Mondays (Carpenters)
1. Only Yesterday (Horizon)

[wisejester7]

admin said:

The Carpenters Online Top 35

(In parenthsis is the album the song is from)
35. A Song For You (A Song For You)
34. Please Mr. Postman (Horizon)
33. Solitaire (Horizon)
32. It's Going To Take Sometime (A Song For You)
31. Make Believe It's Your First Time (from the album "Karen Carpenter" solo)
30. Sometimes (Carpenters)
29. Ordinary Fool (Voice Of The Heart)
28. Ave Maria (Christmas Portrait)
27. I Can't Make Music (Now And Then)
26. Top Of The World (A Song For You)
25. Leave Yesterday Behind (As Time Goes By)
24. Guess I Just Lost My Head (Karen Carpenter)
23. Little Altar Boy (An Old Fashioned Christmas)
22. I Can Dream Can't I (Horizon)
21. Love Me For What I Am (Horizon)
20. Sing (Now And Then)
19. Mr. Guder (Close To You)
18. If I Had You (Karen Carpenter)
17. I Won't Last A Day Without You (A Song For You)
16. Boat To Sail (A Kind Of Hush)
15. One More Time (A Kind Of Hush)
14. Making Love In The Afternoon (Karen Carpenter)
13. Yesterday Once More (Now And Then)
12. Two Sides (Passage)
11. Desperado (Horizon)
10. Goodbye To Love (A Song For You)
9. Crescent Noon (Close To You)
8. Close To You (Close To You)
7. Superstar (Carpenters)
6. Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again (Interpretations)
5. Road Ode (A Song For You)
4. We've Only Just Begun (Close To You)
3. This Masquerade (Now And Then)
2. Rainy Days And Mondays (Carpenters)
1. Only Yesterday (Horizon)

Here is the breakdown of the number of songs from each album represented from our top 35:

A Song For You 6
Horizon 6

Close To You 4
Now & Then 4
Karen Carpenter 4

Carpenters 3

A Kind Of Hush 2

Passage 1
Christmas Portrait 1
An Old Fashioned Christmas 1
Voice Of The Heart 1
Interpretations 1
As Time Goes By 1

[Prisoner_Walking]

Hey Rick,
What a great TOP 35! I might burn myself a double CD of those tracks! Well done.
Leo

[wisejester7]

Hmmm...not a bad idea, Leo. : )

[enigma]

I like that idea another compilation record "The Carpenters Online presents Fans Choice the best of the Carpenters" songs chosen by the fans for the fans of the Carpenters. Think I'll be doing a copy myself good idea Leo I like it!

[ps11932]

This was great! Tahnks for the concept, the participation and the thoughtful compilations and comments. I have yet to hear 6 of the top 35 entries, showing me there is much room for growth as a fan. I note that there seems to be a fairly equal proportion of "hits" and gems that most people aren't aware of, a tribute to the Carpenters appeal both to the larger audience (of their time) and to those atune to the fine intricacies of the work.

[Rick Henry]

I like the idea of the compilation - I believe I will burn myself a copy also - these songs will make great listening as a double CD set. Great idea Leo!

O.E., you mentioned that there are just as many nhits and gems on this list. I've counted 21 songs which were not released as an A-side single. Seems Carpenters fans favor the album cuts over the hit singles for the most part. This is truly a testament to the quality of Carpenters music overall. All their albums were solid with many songs other the hits that were strong and memorable recordings. This is one of many reasons why Carpenters music has lasted the test of time in a strong way. They still sell millions each year - that's an accomplishment not many of their contemporaries of the 70's have done. As far as ongoing popularity Carpenters are in the same ranks as Eagles, Chicago and the Bee Gees (just to name a few who also still sell in the millions annually).

[Rick Henry]

By the way... If we are going to burn a double disc set of this countdown we might as well make it the Top 40 as each 80 minute disc can hold around 20 songs.

So here it is -
The Carpenters Online Top 40

(In parenthsis is the album the song is from)

40. All You Get From Love Is A Love Song (Passage)

39. (I'm Caught Between) Goodbye And I Love You (Horizon)

38. You (A Kind Of Hush)

37. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Christmas Portrait)

36. Let Me Be The One (Carpenters)

35. A Song For You (A Song For You)

34. Please Mr. Postman (Horizon)

33. Solitaire (Horizon)

32. It's Going To Take Sometime (A Song For You)

31. Make Believe It's Your First Time (from the album "Karen Carpenter" solo)

30. Sometimes (Carpenters)

29. Ordinary Fool (Voice Of The Heart)

28. Ave Maria (Christmas Portrait)

27. I Can't Make Music (Now And Then)

26. Top Of The World (A Song For You)

25. Leave Yesterday Behind (As Time Goes By)

24. Guess I Just Lost My Head (Karen Carpenter)

23. Little Altar Boy (An Old Fashioned Christmas)

22. I Can Dream Can't I (Horizon)

21. Love Me For What I Am (Horizon)

20. Sing (Now And Then)

19. Mr. Guder (Close To You)

18. If I Had You (Karen Carpenter)

17. I Won't Last A Day Without You (A Song For You)

16. Boat To Sail (A Kind Of Hush)

15. One More Time (A Kind Of Hush)

14. Making Love In The Afternoon (Karen Carpenter)

13. Yesterday Once More (Now And Then)

12. Two Sides (Passage)

11. Desperado (Horizon)

10. Goodbye To Love (A Song For You)

9. Crescent Noon (Close To You)

8. Close To You (Close To You)

7. Superstar (Carpenters)

6. Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again (Interpretations)

5. Road Ode (A Song For You)

4. We've Only Just Begun (Close To You)

3. This Masquerade (Now And Then)

2. Rainy Days And Mondays (Carpenters)

1. Only Yesterday (Horizon)

[YesterdayOnceMore]

I'm all about the two disc set. Great initial idea, L and Rick - thanks for adding the other 5.....super idea, and I think I'll do the same and burn away. What fun.

Thanks for the time it took to compile this info for us, too. I think this top 40 is something we can all sink our ears into (?)!

Tim

[smoothie2]

;DHi everybody...I've had some computer problems for about 2 days, so I'm just now checking in ...Wonderful choices Everyone!
Welcome new members..carprave and josephd...always good to have new folks...And yes, it's good to hear again from you Peteruk!
Here's my list for now:
1. ONLY YESTERDAY...This one comes to mind first of all
as number one...It's SUCH an Awesome
song! It must have sold ka-billion records
when it came out...and still is I'm sure.
;DIt's a real pick-me-up cheerful song...
great HARMONY, LYRICS, and great message of "why focus so much on the past cuz now I have someone to love,
" life waits ahead, share it with me, the
best is about to be...".. Great guitar and drums also!

2. ;D FOR ALL WE KNOW

3. ;D SWEET SWEET SMILE
4. ;D PLEASE MR. POSTMAN

5. ;D YEST. ONCE MORE
6. ;D IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME THIS TIME

7. ;D Rainy Days and Mondays
8. ;D ROAD ODE

9. ;D A SONG FOR YOU
10. ;D WE'VE ONLY J. BEGUN

11. ;D ALL YOU GET FROM LOVE IS A LOVE SONG
12. ;D YOU

13. ;D BOAT TO SAIL
14. ;D HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

15. ;D NOW

[smoothie2]

well, Rick, looks like you took a lot of time and effort with that list,
I may have screwed things up a bit since i came late into the game...anyway.....................

[Rick Henry]

Hi Kathy... thanks for adding your Top 15 list.

The inclusion of your list keeps the top 40 pretty much the same - just some songs have a slightly higher or lower position and "Sweet Sweet Smile" is now added to the Top 40 - so it's easy to say this double disc compilation should include 41 songs instead of 40.