I am almost willing to bet the house that this album has brought a hefty percentage of its listeners to tears. It's almost impossible not to cry when you hear Karen Carpenter sing. It's near heart-wrenching to imagine this lovely, attractive woman whose vocal chords emitted perhaps the sweetest, purest sound of her day -- and, perhaps of today -- starving herself to death. In each track on this album, one can't help but hear the agony in Karen's voice. Her misery was our gift, for her ability to emote through music can stir the emotions of even the most cynical among us. In Karen's music, she's often expressing the emotions that so many feel but never admit: longing, lonliness, love, desperation, hurt, and the list goes on. Much like the illness anorexia nervosa which claimed her life, the depth of this particular musical compilation can be overwhelming. One cannot help but wish, "If only someone could have done somethingt to help her." While that's a moot point, her talent should serve as motivation enough to be understanding and supportive of those who battle with eating disorders. When Karen Carpenter died, the world lost a musical wonder. Yet, her genius lives on in the form of her music, and this album in particular, showcases her gifts to tremendous effect.

I have loved listening to Karen Carpenter's voice since I was a little girl. However, from my teen years until I was about 30, I had forgotten about the Carpenters & just how great their music was.

Then, about 5 years ago, my husband had this CD playing in our car - and I fell in love with this music all over again! This particular CD has ALL of my favorite Carpenter's songs on it, so I play it quite often.

If you ever loved the Carpenter's, or just adore love songs, then this CD is for you. I only wish Karen was still around to create more great music with her brother - they made an amazing team!

...listen to the music, listen to the songs, listen to Karen's voice. And then try to say that they ain't great performances. ...this is a primo collection of some of the best music ever made by the duo...or by anyone else, for that matter. I always loved thier rendition of Sedaka's "Solitaire"...and "Goodbye to Love" is one of the greatest tunes ever recorded, in my humble opinion. This is chocked full of tunes you know all the words to and that you already love. It is truly deserving of an Amazon.com double five star rating...and that is no lie. Get it, now.

I am only 13 years old, but I love Karen's beautiful voice. I first heard her when I was listening to a Christmas station. She came on singing "Merry Christmas Darling" and it almost made me cry. Her voice was deep and unique and unlike anyone I had ever heard before. My mom told me about her life and how she died in the 80s. It's a shame that there is no one in this day that can sing like her. Britney, Christina, ect., can only wish they had Karen's voice. Karen's music and beautiful talent is timeless.

"Love Songs" is the definitive Carpenters' collection. Kudos to the wonderful selection of material. Most of the huge classic hits are here, and I like the fact that atypical greatest hits compilation titles were included, such as "You're the One" (this song has become one of my favorites), "A Song for You" (which would have excelled as a single release), the underappreciated but beautiful "Solitaire," and "I Need to Be in Love" (one of Karen's personal favorites). Love songs were the Carpenters' stock in trade, and this compliation highlights this fact to beautiful, polished heights. Richard's songwriting and arranging skills are unmistakably astute. AND KAREN'S ANGELIC, CLEAR, HAUNTING, AND MESMERIZING VOICE SIMPLY HAS NO PEER! As reflected in the 1983 album title, Karen's was a "voice of the heart," and that album is represented here with the inspiring "Make Believe It's Your First Time." This fantastic collection should become a must for even the most casual Carpenters' fan and for anyone who appreciates beautiful music served with an unforgettable voice.