The Essential Collection: 1965–1997 is a box-set compilation album by The Carpenters released in 2002.

Overview

The box set is a revised version of the 1991 From the Top. The tracks are once again attributed by the year of recording. The timeline is extended to 1997 by the inclusion of a single post-1982 track, Richard Carpenter's "Karen's Theme" from Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor. While most of the previously unreleased tracks from From the Top were included on The Essential Collection several remained absent: a cover of The Beatles "Good Night" and Spanish version of "Sing" remained exclusive to From the Top; another absence are the tracks from Karen Carpenter's solo album which was finally released by the time of The Essential Collection. The other difference is that The Essential Collection features more of the original mixes of the songs than From the Top and some alternative remixes as well.

Track listings

Disc one

1965–1970

Disc two

1971–1973

Disc three

1974–1978

Disc four

1978–1997