Carpenters – The Singles 1969–1973

Catalog: SP 3601  |  Side A Matrix: SP-3601-1A O 2-H: DM 18

About the Artists

Karen and Richard Carpenter are among the most successful and beloved recording acts in American pop history, with over 100 million records sold worldwide. Siblings from New Haven, Connecticut who came of age in Downey, California, they signed to A&M Records in 1969 and quickly became one of the label’s defining acts. Richard’s meticulous arrangements and production instincts, combined with Karen’s extraordinarily warm and pure contralto voice — one of the most distinctive and emotionally affecting voices in popular music — created a sound that was immediately recognizable and utterly their own. At a time when rock dominated the cultural conversation, the Carpenters offered something different: immaculate craftsmanship, genuine warmth, and songs that connected with millions of listeners who simply wanted to feel something.

About the Album

The Singles 1969–1973 was released in November 1973 on A&M Records and is one of the best-selling compilation albums of all time, with over 15 million copies sold worldwide. It captures the Carpenters at the absolute peak of their commercial powers — a four-year run of hit singles that placed them among the most charted acts of the early 1970s. The album spent one week at #1 on the Billboard 200 and topped charts in the UK, Australia, and Japan, where the Carpenters enjoyed a particularly devoted following.

For collectors and fans, this is the essential Carpenters record — a single disc that distills everything that made them great.

Record Condition

This copy has been carefully cleaned with a Spin-Clean record washer and stored in a new inner plastic sleeve. The vinyl presents with minor surface scuffs but played flawlessly on a quality turntable with no skips. Minor pops and crackles were noted during playback, consistent with the visual grade.

• Record Grade: VG (Very Good) — plays well, minor surface noise
• Jacket Grade: G (Good) — minor scuffing, wear consistent with age (see photos)

Photos show actual item. What you see is what you get.