Which Single Should Have Been Their Biggest Hit and Why?
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Jeff
Well-Known Member
Rainy Days showcases Karen's lower register and the raw ache in her voice sounds so alone, dismal and riveting. We have the famous overdubs, Richard's exquisite arrangement and Karen in fine form. A beautiful showcase of CarpenterS in their heyday. It was #2 I believe but # one couldn't have been that far away. I wonder what was #1 that held K&R at bay? I'll bet they were pissed everytime one of their singles stalled at #2. They held some record for the most #2's didn't they?
Jeff
Jeff
Of all the polls here on A&M Corner, this one was by far the hardest for me to decide. I certainly spent more time pondering my choice here than on any other. Though many of the singles listed here deserve to be the their "biggest hit", I went with "Close To You". Yes, I know it's not their most prolific artistic moment, nor their most dynamic performance on record... Heck, Richard actually went on to write better songs than this Bacharach classic...
But it was the song that introduced me to the wonderful talents of Karen and Richard. And by "talents", I not only refer to the introduction to the most fabulous female singer in my lifetime but it was the first time I became aware of Richard's contributions to the group. First and foremost, his arrangement of the music and the tremendous "layered" background vocals that became part of their trademark. I have always considered the Carpenters' "sound" to be Richard's production all the way....even long before he emerged to defend his positon as producer when A&M insisted on using Jack Daugherty's name on the early releases.
The enormous success of "Close To You" encouraged the whole world to take notice of this incredible musical duo. Zillions of fans followed the rest of their career after this single shot to Number One.
As for me, I went out and bought the "Ticket To Ride" / "Offering" lp and every album and single that followed from this point on. What a wonderful musical journey that turned out to be despite their tragic ending.
But it was the song that introduced me to the wonderful talents of Karen and Richard. And by "talents", I not only refer to the introduction to the most fabulous female singer in my lifetime but it was the first time I became aware of Richard's contributions to the group. First and foremost, his arrangement of the music and the tremendous "layered" background vocals that became part of their trademark. I have always considered the Carpenters' "sound" to be Richard's production all the way....even long before he emerged to defend his positon as producer when A&M insisted on using Jack Daugherty's name on the early releases.
The enormous success of "Close To You" encouraged the whole world to take notice of this incredible musical duo. Zillions of fans followed the rest of their career after this single shot to Number One.
As for me, I went out and bought the "Ticket To Ride" / "Offering" lp and every album and single that followed from this point on. What a wonderful musical journey that turned out to be despite their tragic ending.
goodjeans
Well-Known Member
...by the way, I found my avatar 'Karen Carpenter Simpson' on the internet but don't remember where. If this is someone's property and I am using it illegally let me know and I'll delete it. If there is a 'Karen Carpenter Simpson' playing the drums, I am all for seeing it. Thanks. 
As with a lot of polls, it's easier to pick least favorites cough"Goofus"cough. But I think the top best pinnacle Carpenters singles are "Close to You," "Superstar," and "Yesterday Once More." I never get tired of hearing any of these great songs. Of those three, I think I'll give my vote to "Yesterday Once More." They have great lyrics, memorable hooks, they make you feel all fuzzy for the good old days and sound great. The other two have all those qualities too, but "Yesterday Once More" has the added plus of being a homegrown Carpenters song, so it gets the nod from me.
I have a feeling there will be a lot of votes for "Only Yesterday" but that song has always sounded overproduced to me.
I have a feeling there will be a lot of votes for "Only Yesterday" but that song has always sounded overproduced to me.
newvillefan
I Know My First Name Is Stephen
Even though 'Touch Me When We're Dancing' is my all time favourite Carpenters track, I went with 'Only Yesterday', for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it has all the magic ingredients of the Carpenters sound: Karen's rich lower register; the overdubbed sound in the choruses (Richard once said this track contains more overdubs by just the two of them, than any other Carpenters track); the sax solo; catchy hook; beautiful arrangement...what more could you want?
The other reason of course is that it's the first ever Carpenters song that I heard, back in 1990 when I was 16. So sentimentally it holds a special place in my heart too
The other reason of course is that it's the first ever Carpenters song that I heard, back in 1990 when I was 16. So sentimentally it holds a special place in my heart too
Dave
Well-Known Member
"Touch Me When We're Dancing" was such a stunning renewal for the group!
MADE IN AMERICA, altogether was a really great album and enough that my ROLLING STONE RECORD GUIDE should'a reviewed it, too (even getting the write-off and low ratings The Carpenters get!)...
A come-back which should'a kept on going, especially on the strength of that song!
Dave
MADE IN AMERICA, altogether was a really great album and enough that my ROLLING STONE RECORD GUIDE should'a reviewed it, too (even getting the write-off and low ratings The Carpenters get!)...
A come-back which should'a kept on going, especially on the strength of that song!
Dave
newvillefan
I Know My First Name Is Stephen
Dave said:
Yeah I agree Dave, I think partly that's why it's my favourite, because it hints at what might have come in the 80s had Karen lived. So classy, and I love how it got to #16 on the Billboard Charts. As Richard said, it was just a matter of time before they came up with something that the public just couldn't resist. I think they were only a song or two away from that.
davidgra
Active Member
I have to admit that this was a VERY tough call between "Superstar" and "Rainy Days and Mondays." Both of those songs completely epitomize what is "Carpenters" to me -- Karen was never more in her element than when she sang something dark and melancholy.
In the end, I went with "Superstar," as it is just the perfect song. Timeless, both in songwriting and production. And one of the best vocal performances of all time.
David
In the end, I went with "Superstar," as it is just the perfect song. Timeless, both in songwriting and production. And one of the best vocal performances of all time.
David
Moritat
Well-Known Member
First of all, I'm not a hard core passionate Carpenters fan. I enjoyed their music and am aware of 90% of the songs posted. From my point of view, there were two songs that stood far above the rest. Goodbye To Love and Superstar. Great songwriting, great melodies, not just pop fluff with these 2. I voted for Goodbye To Love. The cool guitar solo put it just slightly above Superstar.
John from Aus
Well-Known Member
I'd say that Top of the World warrants the spot - after all, it's the hit that nearly wasn't! Public opinion finally got it released as a single, and deservedly so. It was perhaps a bit more optimistic than some of the classic melancholy stuff (Superstar, Rainy Days, Goodbye to Love), but had all of Rich's brilliance in the arrangement (especially the Single remix), with Karen's full vocals and of course the multilayered vocals by both of them. It's the hit that hooked me as a 10 year old in '72.
Dave
Well-Known Member
I agree--"Top Of The World" really was a bit of a relief from the usual more sadder stuff... My mom bought this very single (with the newer green & yellow Forget Me (K)Not striped label) and I don't think I remember what was on the other side, as it probably never got played even by me, as mom passed it over to...
I had no idea about a "single remix"...; is it that different from the album version?
Dave
I had no idea about a "single remix"...; is it that different from the album version?
Dave
This is the chart of Carpenters Top 100 singles as found in Billboard Magazine over the years.
Given that the original question is "Which single should have been their biggest hit and why?", I would have to rule out those that did in fact reach number one.
One could argue that the many number two's deserved to go higher on the chart, and any of those would be a valid choice.
But I'm going to go with "I Need To Be In Love". It was reportedly one of Karen's favorites, and though it's a slow ballad, it deserved to go higher on the charts than 25.
Harry
Code:
Chart
Pos Wks Title
--------------------------------------------------------------------
74 04 BEechwood 4-5789
72 08 (Want You) Back In My Life Again
68 05 I Believe You
67 10 Bless The Beasts & Children
63 06 Those Good Old Dreams
56 05 Goofus
54 12 Ticket To Ride
44 13 Sweet, Sweet Smile
35 10 All You Get From Love Is A Love Song
32 14 Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft
25 11 I Need To Be In Love
17 10 Solitaire
16 14 Touch Me When We're Dancing
12 10 It's Going To Take Some Time
12 13 There's A Kind Of Hush
11 12 I Won't Last A Day Without You
07 10 Goodbye To Love
04 13 Only Yesterday
03 13 For All We Know
03 14 Sing
02 12 Hurting Each Other
02 12 Rainy Days And Mondays
02 13 Superstar
02 14 Yesterday Once More
02 17 We've Only Just Begun
01 17 Please Mr. Postman
01 17 (They Long To Be) Close To You
01 20 Top Of The WorldGiven that the original question is "Which single should have been their biggest hit and why?", I would have to rule out those that did in fact reach number one.
One could argue that the many number two's deserved to go higher on the chart, and any of those would be a valid choice.
But I'm going to go with "I Need To Be In Love". It was reportedly one of Karen's favorites, and though it's a slow ballad, it deserved to go higher on the charts than 25.
Harry
You know, I almost put that one in my list of three, too. A great tune. I had forgotten that it did such a poor showing on the charts - I agree it should have gone much higher.
John from Aus
Well-Known Member
Dave said:
no1kandrfan
Well-Known Member
Superstar - for all of the reasons already listed here. Her vocal was incredible - such pain and longing, and Richard's arrangement is the best of any of their records.
Dave60640
Active Member
I went with "I Need To Be In Love." The music, the lyrics and (of course) the voice just melt my heart and take me to another place every single time I hear it. To me there just seems to be this hard-hitting conviction that pulls you in and makes you, as the listener, an actual part of the song.
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