| The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter | |
| Type: | compilation |
| Artist: | Mary Chapin Carpenter |
| Cover: | File:The_Essential_Mary_Chapin_Carpenter.jpg |
| Genre: | Country |
| Length: | 69:31 |
| Label: | Columbia |
| Prev Title: | Time* Sex* Love* |
| Prev Year: | 2001 |
| Next Title: | Between Here and Gone |
| Next Year: | 2004 |
The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter is the second compilation album by American singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, released by Columbia Records on November 4, 2003. Unlike Carpenter's first compilation album, Party Doll and Other Favorites (1999), which comprised a mix of studio and live versions of her greatest hits, The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter features the original studio versions only.
The album reached No. 63 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. AllMusic rated the collection 4-out-of-5-stars, writing: "While the majority of these tracks are also included on Party Doll and Other Favorites, the difference is Essential contains the radio versions, not alternate takes or live tracks. Both discs are recommended to fans of Carpenter's modern folk/country hybrid." Barnes & Noble stated: "It's a challenge to summarize Mary Chapin Carpenter's deep catalogue on one disc, but this Essential release does a fine job of surveying the impressive range and sophistication of the singer-songwriter's music over the past decade-plus."[1]
All songs written by Mary Chapin Carpenter, except where noted.[2]