The Carpenters - Now & Then (1973)

Featuring a surprisingly poignant cover photo of a suburban house not unlike the Downey, CA homestead in which Karen and Richard Carpenter grew up Now & Then is a concept album about the music that inspired Karen and Richard in their childhood. Besides the hit single "Sing" and a charming take on Hank Williams' "Jambalaya," the centerpiece of Now & Then is Richard Carpenter and John Bettis' nostalgic "Yesterday Once More." The song opens and closes a side-long medley of early-'60s pop hits that includes the Beach Boys' "Fun, Fun, Fun," Skeeter Davis' "The End of the World," the Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron," and Jan & Dean's "Dead Man's Curve." Also included are Shelley Fabares' "Johnny Angel," Bobby Vee's "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes," Ruby & the Romantics' "Our Day Will Come," and the Chiffons' "One Fine Day." Given Karen's immense skills as an interpretive singer, not one of the covers is less than interesting, and most are flat-out wonderful.