Singles 1974-1978

Personnel: Richard Carpenter (vocals, keyboards); Karen Carpenter (vocals, drums).
The second hits compilation by the Carpenters wasn't dealing from strength nearly as much as its predecessor--THE SINGLES 1969-1973 represented tens of millions of radio plays, and songs that were impossible to avoid (nor would most of us have wanted to avoid them). The years covered on THE SINGLES 1974-1978, by contrast, represent the point where the Carpenters' really big hits had stopped coming, though what is here comes off today as perfectly good, eminently listenable soft rock--this reviewer will never be able to get through their version of "Jambalaya" with a straight face, and "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" is still an unfortunate artifact of its time (which, ever more so, as the decades roll on, requires an explanation for listeners who weren't around at the time). But otherwise, it is great fun, even if the best material here isn't much more than an echo of the convergence of music, moment, and talent represented by the duo's first four years of work.