This CD seems to be trying to duplicate the success of ABBA's Gold and More Gold CDs -- it looks just like them, for one thing.
Looking at it as simply another Carpenters compilation, it is hardly any different from Twenty-Two Hits of the Carpenters, only without two of the 22 songs... (Actually, it's missing three of the 22 songs, because Twenty-Two Hits doesn't have "Calling Occupants").
Essentially, what The Singles: 1969-1981 does for the American market, and what Twenty-Two Hits of the Carpenters does for the Asian market, Gold does for the UK market -- it is a collection of the top singles for that region.
The best thing Gold has going for it is its liner notes -- there is a very good overview of the Carpenters' career, and also detailed notes about each song.
Don't be confused by the title and cover; this is a single-disc collection that has been replaced by a vastly better two-disc version. If you buy a Gold album by Carpenters, check to make sure you're getting the one you want. The link on this page links to Amazon's page listing the single-disc version.
Produced by Richard Carpenter, Karen Carpenter and Jack Daugherty
Return to the Carpenters Album Index.