Now And Then

Now And Then is the fifth studio album by the American music duo the Carpenters, released on May 1, 1973. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart on July 21, 1973 and ranked No. 20 on the Cash Box year-end pop albums chart. The title, suggested by Karen and Richard's mother Agnes, was taken from a leftover song that did not appear on the album.
Rolling Stone, praised the second side of the album, noting that "side two's the big time here, where America's foremost schmaltzrockers get back to da rootz..."Fun Fun Fun" has got some badass Chuck Berry guitar that really gets on the case. I'll be damned if it didn't blow me right off the stool first time I heard it." The review conceded that "side one ain't quite as exciting, but it's got its moments."
Billboard called it "a unique concept -that of placing a series of new versions of old tunes such as "Johnny Angel" and "Our Day Will Come" in the form of an old DJ radio show with DJ and everything sets this LP far above other LP's. Some radio stations are playing that entire side as a separate "show:" But the flipside is also jammed with hits and Karen Carpenter's charming voice, clear and melodious, virtually turns this LP into a classic...this should be another million-seller for the duo."