Singles 1969-1973
One of the most emblematic albums of its AM era, the brother-and-sister duo's first greatest-hits collection brings together most of the reasons Karen Carpenter's gloomy-Monday vocals are still revered by thrift-shopping college kids and their moms alike. The seminovelty "Sing" and "Yesterday Once More" aside, this is smart, cry-in-your-Evian pop that comes out of the speakers sounding a lot less dated than it might in your memory. "Close to You" and "Hurting Each Other" are, yes, soulful claims on the then-new soft-pop tradition, while the towering "Goodbye to Love" is worthy of Christine McVie.--Rickey Wright