Very Best Of Herb Alpert, The - Herb Alpert

Advantages: A couple of excellent songs
Disadvantages: The rest of the album is dispensable and on the slushy side

...Don’t be fooled by the title. With a title like “The Carpenters”, you could be forgiven for thinking it was a 'best of' or a 'greatest hits' package. It's neither of these. Neither was it the Carpenters' debut album, interestingly enough. "The Carpenters" is actually a very mediocre album, so I would advise anyone but the hardened fan to steer clear. It was the third album release from the brother and sister duo, Karen and Richard Carpenter. They weren’t exactly superstars by this time, in 1971, but a couple of their singles had been hits, and they were definitely gaining in popularity. The first track, “Rainy days and Mondays” starts ever so quietly. You may wonder whether you’ve got the volume turned up at all until it gets to half a minute in. There is some heart-wrenching harmonica, and strings (aren't there always... Read review

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Advantages: Great mood music, good tunes, varied
Disadvantages: Brief moments of Euro discopop

...that Nicolas Godlin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel are French - there's their names for a start, a song called "Ce Matin La", and half the lyrics, of "Sexy Boy" (destined to be played in gay clubs for evermore) especially, are in French. The song that I adore, and the one that I bought the album for, is Kelly Watch the Stars, has a wonderous, mesmerising, quality about it. Another favourite of mine is "Remember", which has a fantastic Beach Boys style beat, and some nice electric guitars - because of which I suppose, it ends up reminding me of the late Pixies stuff, surprisingly enough. The album is varied. "Ce Matin La" is very easy listening in style, with a herb Alpert style trumpet, but even this manages to sound good, probably due to the guitars again. Then the track "All I Need" is acoustic-based, and features vocals from American singer Beth... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful music, exquisite arrangements, sweet memories
Disadvantages: none (except having to wait ages for the 'Rainbow Connection') album!

...; Richard played piano, Karen (after some time) hit it off with the drums. In 1966, Karen and Richard entered and won their first big-time competition: the Hollywood Battle of the Bands. They were offered a recording contract, cut a few tracks, and were unceremoniously dumped. They were, it seemed, too ‘square’ for the simmering sixties and an age dominated by Dylan, Marley and the Rolling Stones. ‘He’s got a ticket to ride..’ 2 But in 1969, the Carpenters were invited to join A & M, a prestigious record company part owned by bestselling musician Herb Alpert. Alpert loved Karen’s voice and Richard’s arrangements and asked the duo to start recording for a first album: ‘TICKET TO RIDE’ Released: 1969 (*** out of 5) Highlights: Ticket to Ride (their first single, reached no.54... Read review

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