The Essential Collection: 1967-1997 is a box-set compilation album from The Carpenters

The Carpenters

Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...

 that, with the exception of a few track changes, is essentially the same as the 1991 From the Top set. Coming in at four discs and 73 songs, this album is one of the biggest of all Carpenters compilation sets. The songs from this box set are everything from the Richard Carpenter Trio recordings from 1965 to their biggest hits in the early 1970s to the last song ever recorded by the Carpenters, "Now".

Track listing

Disc one: 1965-1970

1. Caravan (1965)
2. The Parting of Our Ways (1966)
3. Looking for Love (1966)
4. I'll Be Yours (1966)
5. Iced Tea (1966-1967)
6. You'll Love Me (1967)
7. All I Can Do (1967-1968)
8. Don't Be Afraid (1968)
9. Invocation (1968; remix)
10. Your Wonderful Parade (1968)
11. All of My Life (1969; remix)
12. Eve (1969; remix)
13. Ticket to Ride
    Ticket to Ride
    "Ticket to Ride" is a song by The Beatles from their 1965 album, Help!. It was recorded 15 February 1965 and released two months later. -Composition:...
    
     (1969; 1973 remix)
14. Get Together (1970; Your Navy Presents)
15. Interview (1970; Your Navy Presents)
16. Love Is Surrender (1970; remix)
17. Maybe It's You (1970; remix)
18. (They Long to Be) Close to You
    (They Long to Be) Close to You
    " Close to You" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was first recorded by Richard Chamberlain and released as a single in 1963 as "They Long to Be Close to You," without parentheses. However, it was the single's flip side, "Blue Guitar," that became a hit...
    
     (1970)
19. Mr. Guder (1970; remix)
20. We've Only Just Begun
    We've Only Just Begun
    "We've Only Just Begun" is the signature song of The Carpenters, written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams , and is often used as a wedding song. The song was ranked at #405 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".The song was recorded by Smokey Roberds, a friend...
    
     (1970)
21. Merry Christmas Darling
    Merry Christmas Darling
    "Merry Christmas, Darling" by The Carpenters was written by Richard Carpenter & Frank Pooler and originally recorded in 1970. At the time, it was first available on a 7" single from A&M Records and later in 1974 reissued as A&M 1648 and in 1977 as A&M 1991...
    
     (1970; Single Version)
22. For All We Know
    For All We Know (1970 song)
    "For All We Know" is a popular song written for the 1970 film, Lovers and Other Strangers, by Fred Karlin, Robb Wilson and Arthur James . It was originally performed by Larry Meredith....
    
     (1970-1971)

Disc two: 1971-1973

1. Rainy Days and Mondays
   Rainy Days and Mondays
   "Rainy Days and Mondays" is a 1971 song by The Carpenters that went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA. It was also the duo's fourth #1 song on the Adult Contemporary singles chart...
   
    (1971; 1985 remix)
2. Superstar
   Superstar (Delaney and Bonnie song)
   "Superstar" is a 1969 song written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell that has been a hit for many artists in different genres and interpretations in the years since; the best known version is by the Carpenters in 1971.-Original Delaney and Bonnie version:Accounts of the song's origin vary...
   
    (1971)
3. Let Me Be the One (1971)
4. Bless the Beasts and Children
   Bless the Beasts and Children (song)
   The theme song to the 1971 film Bless the Beasts and Children was performed by The Carpenters, and was featured on the B-side to their then-recent hit, "Superstar". The B-side charted on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually topping out at #67. In order to promote it, The Carpenters performed it on...
   
    (1971; 1991 remix)
5. Hurting Each Other (1972; 1973 remix)
6. It's Going to Take Some Time (1972)
7. I Won't Last a Day Without You (1972)
8. A Song for You
   A Song for You
   "A Song for You" is a soulful love song written and originally recorded by rock singer-songwriter and pianist Leon Russell for his first solo album 'Leon Russell', which was released in 1970 on Shelter Records. A slow, pained plea for forgiveness and understanding from an estranged lover, the tune...
   
    (1972; 1987 remix)
9. Top of the World
   Top of the World (The Carpenters song)
   "Top of the World" is the name of a 1972 song by The Carpenters. Originally recorded for and released on the duo's 1972 studio album A Song for You, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in late 1973, becoming the duo's second U.S. number-one single...
   
    (1972)
10. Goodbye to Love (1972)
11. This Masquerade (1973)
12. Sing (1973)
13. Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
    Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
    "Jambalaya " is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music singer Hank Williams that was first released in July 1952...
    
     (1973)
14. Yesterday Once More
    Yesterday Once More (song)
    "Yesterday Once More", written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis, is a hit song by The Carpenters from their 1973 album Now & Then. Composed in the key of E, "Yesterday Once More" preceded an "Oldies Medley" on the album, consisting of nine songs from the 1960s. At the end of the song a...
    
     (1973)
15. Oldies Medley (1973)
    1. Fun, Fun, Fun
       Fun, Fun, Fun
       "Fun, Fun, Fun", written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, was a hit single by The Beach Boys that was released in 1964 on the band's album Shut Down Volume 2.- Composition :...
       
       
    2. The End of the World
    3. Da Doo Ron Ron
       Da Doo Ron Ron
       "Da Doo Ron Ron" is a 1963 hit single by The Crystals, produced by Phil Spector in his Wall of Sound style. The song was written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Spector. The drummer was Hal Blaine....
       
       
    4. Dead Man's Curve
    5. Johnny Angel
       Johnny Angel (song)
       "Johnny Angel" is the debut pop single by Shelley Fabares released in 1962 on the Colpix label.It was the first single taken from her debut solo album Shelley! which was produced and arranged by Stu Phillips. "Johnny Angel" was written by Lyn Duddy and Lee Pockriss. The single premiered on an...
       
       
    6. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes
       The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (song)
       "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" is a popular song written by Benjamin Weisman, Dorothy Wayne, and Marilynn Garrett made famous by Bobby Vee on his 1963 Liberty Records album, The Night Has a Thousand Eyes. The popular single hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the Easy Listening survey, and #9...
       
       
    7. Our Day Will Come
       Our Day Will Come
       "Our Day Will Come" is a popular song composed by Bob Hilliard and Mort Garson which was a #1 hit in 1963 for Ruby & The Romantics.-Ruby & the Romantics:...
       
       
    8. One Fine Day
       One Fine Day (song)
       "One Fine Day" has been recorded by a diverse array of artists including Susie Allanson, the Carpenters as part of the oldies medley on their album Now and Then, Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, Even in Blackouts, Kids Incorporated, David Lasley, Natalie Merchant , the Mountain Goats, Aaron Neville,...
       
       
16. Yesterday Once More (Reprise) (1973)
17. Radio Contest Outtakes (1973)

Disc three: 1974-1978

1. Morinaga Hi-Crown Chocolate Commercial (1974)
2. Please Mr. Postman
   Please Mr. Postman
   "Please Mr. Postman" is the debut single by The Marvelettes for the Tamla label, notable as the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. The single achieved this position in late 1961; it hit number one on the R&B chart as well. "Please Mr...
   
    (1974)
3. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
   Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
   "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is a Christmas song. It was written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor's radio show in November 1934....
   
    (1974)
4. Only Yesterday (1975)
5. Solitaire (1975)
6. Tryin' to Get the Feelin' Again (1975)
7. Good Friends are for Keeps (1976)
8. Ordinary Fool (1976; released on "Voice of the Heart" in 1983)
9. Sandy (1976)
10. There's a Kind of Hush
    There's A Kind Of Hush
    "There's a Kind of Hush" is a popular song written by Les Reed and Geoff Stephens which was a hit in 1967 for Herman's Hermits and again in 1976 for the Carpenters.-First recordings:...
    
     (1976)
11. I Need to Be in Love (1976)
12. From This Moment On (1976; Live at the Palladium)
13. Suntory Pop - Jingle #1 (1977)
14. Suntory Pop - Jingle #2 (1977)
15. All You Get From Love is a Love Song (1977)
16. Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft
    Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft
    "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft " is a song by Klaatu, originally released in 1976 on their first album 3:47 EST. The following year, The Carpenters covered the song, using a crew of 160 musicians...
    
     (1977)
17. Sweet, Sweet Smile (1977)
18. Christ Is Born (1978)
19. White Christmas
    White Christmas (song)
    "White Christmas" is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.Accounts vary as...
    
     (1978)
20. Little Altar Boy (1978)
21. Ave Maria (1978)

Disc four: 1978-1997

1. Where Do I Go From Here? (1978)
2. Little Girl Blue
   Little Girl Blue (song)
   "Little Girl Blue" is a popular song with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, published in 1935. The song was introduced by Gloria Grafton in the Broadway musical Jumbo....
   
    (1978)
3. I Believe You (1978)
4. If I Had You (1979; Karen Carpenter Solo)
5. The Doctor and I (1980)
6. 1980 Medley
   1. Sing
   2. Knowing When to Leave
   3. Make it Easy on Yourself
   4. Someday
   5. We've Only Just Begun
      We've Only Just Begun
      "We've Only Just Begun" is the signature song of The Carpenters, written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams , and is often used as a wedding song. The song was ranked at #405 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".The song was recorded by Smokey Roberds, a friend...
      
      
7. Make Believe It's Your First Time (1980)
8. Touch Me When We're Dancing (1980)
9. When It's Gone (It's Just Gone) (1980)
10. Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song) (1980)
11. Those Good Old Dreams (1981)
12. Now (1982)
13. Karen's Theme (1997)