The Essential Collection: 1965–1997 is a box-set compilation album by the Carpenters released in 2002.
Overview The box set is a revised version of the 1991 From the Top. The tracks are once again attributed by the year of recording. The timeline is extended to 1997 by the inclusion of a single post-1982 track, Richard Carpenter's "Karen's Theme" from Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor.
While most of the previously unreleased tracks from From the Top were included on The Essential Collection several remained absent: a cover of The Beatles "Good Night" and Spanish version of "Sing" remained exclusive to From the Top; another absence are the tracks from Karen Carpenter's solo album which was finally released by the time of The Essential Collection.
The other difference is that The Essential Collection features more of the original mixes of the songs than From the Top and some alternative remixes as well.
Track listings
Disc one 1965–1970
Disc two 1971–1973
Disc three 1974–1978
Disc four 1978–1997
From Music, Music, Music TV Special, performed by Karen Carpenter and Ella Fitzgerald Performed by Richard Carpenter
References