Interpretations: 25th Anniversary
This collection features three previously unreleased tracks, but they're beside the point. More importantly what is here are the sickly sweet vocals of Karen Carpenter, the lush '70s style production that's as hip as a wood-paneled station wagon or a wide-lapel polyester leisure suit, and songs that immediately stir up memories of the dentist office's waiting room. It doesn't feature all the hits, but "Rainy Days and Mondays," "Superstar," "We've Only Just Begun," and "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" (a bizarre late-take on psychedelia) are illustrative of Richard and Karen's abilities to make substantial pop-lite.--Rob O'Connor