This is the second time in 5 years that Universal music Japan came out this Mini-album replica of the Carpenters' catalogue (The first was 10 years ago by then Polygram Music International). This is by far one of the best replica in this series/release. The paper used is of premium and almost similar to the materials used for original vinyl sleeve. The inner jacket is being properly reproduced this time (as opposed to the 30th and 35th anniversary editions where it was replicated on a single piece of art paper) in the form of a real jacket/envelope where it could hold a CD inside.
The original replication of the Japanese front-cover featuring the photo of the duo taken from the inner jacket is included, but on a single piece of cardboard (better than none).
Music-wise, any Carpenters fan could NOT do without this album in their collection. It has 5 hit singles ("Top of the World", "Hurting Each Other", "Goodbye to Love", "Won't Last a Day Without You" and "It's Going to Take Some Time") with the other 7 equally powerful album cuts like "Bless the Beasts and Children", "A Song for You", "Crystal Lullyby", "Road Ode", the ticklish "Piano Picker", the playful "Intermission", and the Grammy-nominated (for arrangement) "Flat Baroque"! The mastering is the 1998 version that was done for the 30th Anniversary release. The disc is being pressed on SHM-CD for the clarity of sound.
I have currently 6 versions of this album on CD (the first release in '86, Gold MFSL edition, '89 edition (Some tracks remixed by RC himself), 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition, '98 Reissue re-mastered edition, and this latest) and this would be by far my favourite!