Carpenters (album)
Encyclopedia
Carpenters is the third studio album by the Carpenters
. Released on May 14, 1971, the album was successful, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200
chart and #12 in the UK. With the hit songs "For All We Know
", "Rainy Days and Mondays
" and "Superstar", Carpenters solidified Karen Carpenter
as one of her generation's most endearing pop vocalists.
It has been said that the strength of these recordings is what caused Richard Carpenter to ask his sister to front the band for their live performances instead of playing behind the drums. Amongst many fans, the album has simply been referred to as "The Tan Album," because the original LP cover, complete with overlapping flap, looked like an oversized tan envelope, and is presumably a play on The Beatles
' so-called White Album
.
In Cash Box's Top 100 Albums of 1971, Carpenters peaked at #8. This is the first album to feature the familiar Carpenters logo
.
All lead vocals are by Karen, except on the tracks, "Druscilla Penny" and "Saturday", and the "Walk on By" segment of the Bacharach/David Medley, where Richard Carpenter
sings lead vocal, with Karen in the background.
, and the lyrics were written by Paul Williams
, who later recorded his own version of the song. It was released as a single and charted well in the United States at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
. "Rainy Days and Mondays" was The Carpenters' second Nichols/Williams hit, after "We've Only Just Begun
" of the Close to You
album the previous year.
of "Rainy Days and Mondays
." The song talks about how joyful Saturday is, and how joyful it is to finish Friday. In 1973 on the TV program Robert Young with the Young
, Richard and Karen perform "Saturday" and talk about its meaning.
"Let Me Be The One," a Paul Williams tune, was a 1971 Easy Listening chart selection for Jack Jones
.
. According to Richard Carpenter, Randy Sparks was the opening act for Richard Carpenter at his club in Westwood in late 1967-early 1968. Sparks had played "(A Place To) Hideaway" for the duo. Three years later, Richard remembered the tune and felt it would be suited for the album. The Carpenters performed it on their television series, Make Your Own Kind of Music
on August 10, 1971 on a set where Karen wears a white and red ensemble with a dark blue background with a big letter "K."
. It was used during the wedding sequence, where it was sung by the relatively undiscovered Larry Meredith. The Carpenters released their version as a single in January 1971. Later that year, the Carpenters performed it on The Andy Williams Show, with Karen in a lacy outfit with a blue background. Although the song only peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, it still remains a favorite amongst many Carpenters fans. The video from The Andy Williams Show is not widely available, with the exception of snippets of their documentary, Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters
.
Perhaps mainly as a result of the hit single, "For All We Know" went on to win an Academy Award for "Best Song." James [Arthur] Griffin and Robb [Wilson] Royer of the popular 70's soft-rock group Bread
petitioned the National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to use their real names on their awards, but to no avail, as the published composer credits are under their respective pseudonyms.
and Leon Russell
. The song had been made popular by Rita Coolidge
in 1970, but the Carpenters version, released as a single in August 1971, became an international hit. In the liner notes for "Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition
," Richard writes that he saw Bette Midler
singing the song on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, and felt that it would be a perfect fit for Karen's voice. Richard did have reservations about the lyrics, however, which he found a little too suggestive. After changing "I can hardly wait to sleep with you again" to "I can hardly wait to be with you again," he recorded Karen singing the song, reading the revised lyrics from a napkin. What wound up on the finished recording was the first time Karen had ever sung “Superstar.” After only the first take, Richard claimed that her performance was “perfect” as it was, and did not need repeating.
, and the lyrics written by John Bettis
, in the late 1960s, when both men had jobs at Disneyland. It was originally called "Candy." On the television series "Make Your Own Kind of Music," both Karen and Richard performed the song. Richard replaced the strings solo with a live piano solo for that performance.
Richard Carpenter remixed the song by adding a heavier bassline and refining the vocals, and it was released on 2003's Carpenters Perform Carpenter. The song was also released as the B-side
of "I Won't Last a Day Without You
" in 1974.
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
. Released on May 14, 1971, the album was successful, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart and #12 in the UK. With the hit songs "For All We Know
For All We Know (1970 song)
"For All We Know" is a popular song written for the 1970 film, Lovers and Other Strangers, by Fred Karlin, Robb Wilson and Arthur James . It was originally performed by Larry Meredith....
", "Rainy Days and Mondays
Rainy Days and Mondays
"Rainy Days and Mondays" is a 1971 song by The Carpenters that went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA. It was also the duo's fourth #1 song on the Adult Contemporary singles chart...
" and "Superstar", Carpenters solidified Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo The Carpenters. She was a drummer of exceptional skill, but she is best remembered for her vocal performances of idealistic romantic ballads of true love...
as one of her generation's most endearing pop vocalists.
It has been said that the strength of these recordings is what caused Richard Carpenter to ask his sister to front the band for their live performances instead of playing behind the drums. Amongst many fans, the album has simply been referred to as "The Tan Album," because the original LP cover, complete with overlapping flap, looked like an oversized tan envelope, and is presumably a play on The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' so-called White Album
The Beatles (album)
The Beatles is the ninth official album by the English rock group The Beatles, a double album released in 1968. It is also commonly known as "The White Album" as it has no graphics or text other than the band's name embossed on its plain white sleeve.The album was written and recorded during a...
.
In Cash Box's Top 100 Albums of 1971, Carpenters peaked at #8. This is the first album to feature the familiar Carpenters logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
.
All lead vocals are by Karen, except on the tracks, "Druscilla Penny" and "Saturday", and the "Walk on By" segment of the Bacharach/David Medley, where Richard Carpenter
Richard Carpenter (musician)
Richard Lynn Carpenter is an American pop musician, best known as one half of the brother/sister duo The Carpenters, along with his sister Karen Carpenter. He was a producer, arranger, pianist and keyboardist, and occasional lyricist, as well as joining with Karen on harmony...
sings lead vocal, with Karen in the background.
Side one
- "Rainy Days and MondaysRainy Days and Mondays"Rainy Days and Mondays" is a 1971 song by The Carpenters that went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA. It was also the duo's fourth #1 song on the Adult Contemporary singles chart...
" (Roger NicholsRoger NicholsRoger Scott Nichols was an American seven-time Grammy Award-winning recording engineer and producer....
, Paul WilliamsPaul Williams (songwriter)Paul Hamilton Williams, Jr. is an Academy Award-winning American composer, musician, songwriter, and actor. He is perhaps best known for popular songs performed by a number of acts in the 1970s including Three Dog Night's "An Old Fashioned Love Song", Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World",...
) - 3:40 - "Saturday" (John BettisJohn BettisJohn Bettis is an American lyricist who has co-written many famous popular songs over the years. In 2011, John was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame....
, Richard CarpenterRichard Carpenter (musician)Richard Lynn Carpenter is an American pop musician, best known as one half of the brother/sister duo The Carpenters, along with his sister Karen Carpenter. He was a producer, arranger, pianist and keyboardist, and occasional lyricist, as well as joining with Karen on harmony...
) - 1:20 - "Let Me Be the One" (Nichols, Williams) - 2:25
- "(A Place To) Hideaway" (Randy Sparks) - 3:40
- "For All We KnowFor All We Know (1970 song)"For All We Know" is a popular song written for the 1970 film, Lovers and Other Strangers, by Fred Karlin, Robb Wilson and Arthur James . It was originally performed by Larry Meredith....
" (Fred KarlinFred KarlinFred Karlin was an American composer of more than one hundred scores for feature films and television movies. He also was an accomplished trumpeter adept at playing jazz, blues, classical, rock, and medieval music....
, Arthur JamesJimmy GriffinJames Arthur Griffin was a singer, guitarist, and songwriter with the 1970s rock band Bread.-Early life:An Academy Award winning songwriter, Griffin was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. His musical training began when his parents signed him up for accordion lessons...
, Robb WilsonRobb RoyerRobert Wilson "Robb" Royer was the bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, and songwriter with Bread from 1968 to 1971. While he was with the band, they had a #5 UK/#1 US hit single with "Make It With You"...
) - 2:34
Side Two
- "Superstar" (Bonnie BramlettBonnie BramlettBonnie Bramlett is an American singer and sometime actress known for her distinctive vocals in rock and pop music. This began in the mid 1960s as a backing singer, forming the husband-and-wife team of Delaney & Bonnie, and continuing to the present day as a solo artist.-Life and career:Bramlett...
, Leon RussellLeon RussellClaude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
) - 3:49 - "Druscilla Penny" (Bettis, R. Carpenter) - 2:18
- "One Love" (Bettis, R. Carpenter) - 3:23
- "Bacharach/David Medley": - 5:25
- "Knowing When to Leave"
- "Make It Easy on YourselfMake It Easy On Yourself"Make It Easy On Yourself" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David which was first a hit for Jerry Butler in 1962 and has since been a Top 40 single for the Walker Brothers - for whom it was a #1 UK hit - and Dionne Warwick.-Jerry Butler:...
" - "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" Always Something There to Remind Me" is a song written in the 1960s by songwriting team Burt Bacharach and Hal David.-First charting versions:...
" - "I'll Never Fall in Love AgainI'll Never Fall in Love Again"I'll Never Fall In Love Again" is a popular song by composer Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David. Originally written for the 1968 musical Promises, Promises, it soon became one of Bacharach and David's most enduring songs. It was nominated for Song of the Year in the 1969 Grammy awards...
" - "Walk On By"
- "Do You Know the Way to San JoseDo You Know the Way to San Jose"Do You Know the Way to San Jose" is a popular song written for Dionne Warwick by Burt Bacharach and Hal David . Introduced on the 1968 RIAA Certified Gold album Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls, "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" was issued as the follow-up single to the double-sided hit "...
"
- "Sometimes" (HenryHenry ManciniHenry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
and Felice Mancini) - 2:52
"Rainy Days and Mondays"
The music of "Rainy Days and Mondays" was composed by Roger NicholsRoger Nichols (songwriter)
Roger Nichols Roger Nichols Roger Nichols (born in Missoula, Montana, is an American composer and songwriter. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays violin, guitar, bass, and piano.-Biography:...
, and the lyrics were written by Paul Williams
Paul Williams (songwriter)
Paul Hamilton Williams, Jr. is an Academy Award-winning American composer, musician, songwriter, and actor. He is perhaps best known for popular songs performed by a number of acts in the 1970s including Three Dog Night's "An Old Fashioned Love Song", Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World",...
, who later recorded his own version of the song. It was released as a single and charted well in the United States at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. "Rainy Days and Mondays" was The Carpenters' second Nichols/Williams hit, after "We've Only Just Begun
We've Only Just Begun
"We've Only Just Begun" is the signature song of The Carpenters, written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams , and is often used as a wedding song. The song was ranked at #405 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".The song was recorded by Smokey Roberds, a friend...
" of the Close to You
Close to You (Carpenters album)
-We've Only Just Begun:We've Only Just Begun started out as a commercial for Crocker Citizen's Bank in 1970, composed by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols. The commercial showed a couple getting married and starting their life together...
album the previous year.
"Saturday"
"Saturday" is a short, upbeat song with a runtime of 1:18. It was used as the B-sideA-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
of "Rainy Days and Mondays
Rainy Days and Mondays
"Rainy Days and Mondays" is a 1971 song by The Carpenters that went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA. It was also the duo's fourth #1 song on the Adult Contemporary singles chart...
." The song talks about how joyful Saturday is, and how joyful it is to finish Friday. In 1973 on the TV program Robert Young with the Young
Robert Young (actor)
Robert George Young was an American television, film, and radio actor, best known for his leading roles as Jim Anderson, the father of Father Knows Best and as physician Marcus Welby in Marcus Welby, M.D. .-Early life:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Young was the son of an Irish immigrant father...
, Richard and Karen perform "Saturday" and talk about its meaning.
"Let Me Be the One"
"Let Me Be the One" has a runtime of 2:25. There was a remix in 1991, with an extended beginning, end, and a different piano line. The 1991 remix of "Let Me Be the One" can only be found on the From the Top box set. It starts with Richard counting off, and Richard's piano line is different from the original mix. The fadeout is also removed."Let Me Be The One," a Paul Williams tune, was a 1971 Easy Listening chart selection for Jack Jones
Jack Jones
Jack Jones may refer to:In the arts*Jack Jones , Welsh novelist and playwright*Jack Jones , American jazz and pop singer*Jack Jones , singer now known as Irwin ThomasIn politics...
.
"(A Place To) Hideaway"
"(A Place To) Hideaway" is a song originally written and composed by Randy Sparks, the ex-manager of a nightclub in Westwood, Los Angeles, CaliforniaWestwood, Los Angeles, California
Westwood is a neighborhood on the Westside of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is the home of the University of California, Los Angeles .-History:...
. According to Richard Carpenter, Randy Sparks was the opening act for Richard Carpenter at his club in Westwood in late 1967-early 1968. Sparks had played "(A Place To) Hideaway" for the duo. Three years later, Richard remembered the tune and felt it would be suited for the album. The Carpenters performed it on their television series, Make Your Own Kind of Music
Make Your Own Kind of Music (TV series)
Make Your Own Kind Of Music is an American television series starring The Carpenters that aired on NBC from July 20, 1971 to September 7, 1971. Some guest stars were Don Knotts, Herb Alpert, Al Hirt, Mark Lindsay, Patchett & Tarses, and the Doodletown Pipers.The key concept of the series is that...
on August 10, 1971 on a set where Karen wears a white and red ensemble with a dark blue background with a big letter "K."
"For All We Know"
"For All We Know" had been written and composed by Fred Karlin, James Arthur Griffin (credited as Arthur James), and Robb Wilson Royer (credited as Robb Wilson) for the film Lovers and Other StrangersLovers and Other Strangers
Lovers and Other Strangers is a 1970 comedy film based on the play by Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna. The film features an ensemble cast including Richard Castellano, Gig Young, Cloris Leachman, Anne Jackson, Beatrice Arthur, Bonnie Bedelia, Michael Brandon, Harry Guardino, Anne Meara, Bob Dishy,...
. It was used during the wedding sequence, where it was sung by the relatively undiscovered Larry Meredith. The Carpenters released their version as a single in January 1971. Later that year, the Carpenters performed it on The Andy Williams Show, with Karen in a lacy outfit with a blue background. Although the song only peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, it still remains a favorite amongst many Carpenters fans. The video from The Andy Williams Show is not widely available, with the exception of snippets of their documentary, Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters
Close to You: Remembering The Carpenters
Close to You: Remembering The Carpenters is a 100 minute long documentary that was released on DVD by MPI Home Video. It features interviews by Richard Carpenter, John Bettis , Gary Sims , Petula Clark, et al....
.
Perhaps mainly as a result of the hit single, "For All We Know" went on to win an Academy Award for "Best Song." James [Arthur] Griffin and Robb [Wilson] Royer of the popular 70's soft-rock group Bread
Bread (band)
Bread was a rock band from Los Angeles, California. They placed 13 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart between 1970 and 1977 and were a prime example of what later was labeled soft rock....
petitioned the National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to use their real names on their awards, but to no avail, as the published composer credits are under their respective pseudonyms.
"Superstar"
"Superstar" was written by Bonnie BramlettBonnie Bramlett
Bonnie Bramlett is an American singer and sometime actress known for her distinctive vocals in rock and pop music. This began in the mid 1960s as a backing singer, forming the husband-and-wife team of Delaney & Bonnie, and continuing to the present day as a solo artist.-Life and career:Bramlett...
and Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
. The song had been made popular by Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop, Country, Adult Contemporary and Jazz charts.-Career:...
in 1970, but the Carpenters version, released as a single in August 1971, became an international hit. In the liner notes for "Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition
Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition
Carpenters Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition is a two-disc compilation released by The Carpenters in early 2004. It peaked at #4 in the UK Album Charts.-Disc one:#"Superstar" #"Rainy Days and Mondays" #"Top of the World" #"Maybe It's You"...
," Richard writes that he saw Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
singing the song on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, and felt that it would be a perfect fit for Karen's voice. Richard did have reservations about the lyrics, however, which he found a little too suggestive. After changing "I can hardly wait to sleep with you again" to "I can hardly wait to be with you again," he recorded Karen singing the song, reading the revised lyrics from a napkin. What wound up on the finished recording was the first time Karen had ever sung “Superstar.” After only the first take, Richard claimed that her performance was “perfect” as it was, and did not need repeating.
"One Love"
The music of "One Love" was composed by Richard CarpenterRichard Carpenter (musician)
Richard Lynn Carpenter is an American pop musician, best known as one half of the brother/sister duo The Carpenters, along with his sister Karen Carpenter. He was a producer, arranger, pianist and keyboardist, and occasional lyricist, as well as joining with Karen on harmony...
, and the lyrics written by John Bettis
John Bettis
John Bettis is an American lyricist who has co-written many famous popular songs over the years. In 2011, John was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame....
, in the late 1960s, when both men had jobs at Disneyland. It was originally called "Candy." On the television series "Make Your Own Kind of Music," both Karen and Richard performed the song. Richard replaced the strings solo with a live piano solo for that performance.
Richard Carpenter remixed the song by adding a heavier bassline and refining the vocals, and it was released on 2003's Carpenters Perform Carpenter. The song was also released as the B-side
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
of "I Won't Last a Day Without You
I Won't Last a Day Without You
"I Won't Last a Day Without You" is a song composed by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols. Williams released his version as a single in 1973, but garnered only minor success. Maureen McGovern recorded the song and also released it as a single in 1973 , with results similar to those of Williams...
" in 1974.
Personnel
- Hal BlaineHal BlaineHal Blaine is an American drummer and session musician. He is most known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine played on numerous hits by popular groups, including Elvis Presley, John Denver, the Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, and...
– drums - Dick Bogert – engineer
- Karen Carpenter – drums, vocals
- Richard Carpenter – arranger, keyboards, vocals, orchestration
- Jack Daugherty – producer
- Ray Gerhardt – engineer
- Jim HornJim HornJim Horn is an American saxophonist and woodwind player. He was born in Los Angeles, and after replacing saxophonist Steve Douglas in 1959, he toured with member Duane Eddy for five years, playing sax and flute on the road, and in the recording studio...
– reeds, wind - Norm Kinney – assistant engineer
- Bob Messenger – bass, reeds, wind
- Joe OsbornJoe OsbornJoe Osborn is an American bass guitar virtuoso, notable for his work as a session musician in Los Angeles and Nashville during the period from the 1960s through the 1980s. Osborn's work is widely admired by fellow musicians.Osborn began his career working in local clubs, then played on a hit...
– bass - Doug Strawn – reeds, keyboards, wind
- Guy Webster – photography
- Roland Young – art direction