⭐ Official Review [Album]: "A SONG FOR YOU" (SP-3511)
- Thread starter Chris May
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I was hoping for something similar for the 50th anniversaries of CTY and Carpenters, but it didn't happen. For ASFY's 50th anniversary I prepared a playlist with the A&M 393511-2 cd (I couldn't get the Remastered Classics version) and remixes of different compilations I could get. Recently someone shared the single version of Piano Picker Flat Baroque in wav format, much appreciated.
So, this is the playlist I listened to on the 13th of this month:
So, this is the playlist I listened to on the 13th of this month:
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masqueraded
Well-Known Member
newvillefan
I Know My First Name Is Stephen
In the credit list for this album, it says “Intermission inspired by Crucifixus - Antonio Lotti ca. 1667-1740”.
For many years I’ve been meaning to look that track up and I did today. The first 60 seconds of this gave me goosebumps. There are echoes of Carpenters throughout and it’s like Karen is in the choir, singing in her head voice that she uses so well to emulate this sound.
For many years I’ve been meaning to look that track up and I did today. The first 60 seconds of this gave me goosebumps. There are echoes of Carpenters throughout and it’s like Karen is in the choir, singing in her head voice that she uses so well to emulate this sound.
John Tkacik
Well-Known Member
I have a question for either Chris or Mike. In the research for the Musical Legacy book, do you have any dates for the release of the revised album covers? Would it be wrong to assume that the "Enlarged Heart" version sold less copies than the original version due to it coming out 2nd and limited time of release before it reverted back to the original artwork for the 3rd version (square sticker hyping songs instead of locket).
Unfortunately much of the documentation A&M had prior to the acquisition by Universal Music was lost or destroyed.
Ugh that SUCKS.
Jack A.
Well-Known Member
I'll revive this thread to offer my opinion...
Easily my favorite C's album. It came out when K&R were still in their heyday and it sounds like a very polished record. Also has by far the most hits off of any one C's album, so there's a lot to choose from here. As I've stated elsewhere before, ASFY is the only album of theirs that I would listen to straight through and not skip any song.
It also seems worth mentioning: Something interesting I've noticed about this album is that on every other song, Richard's piano is mixed in the center, but on "Goodbye to Love," it's panned way to the left. Seems like it was changed for every release after "The Singles."
Easily my favorite C's album. It came out when K&R were still in their heyday and it sounds like a very polished record. Also has by far the most hits off of any one C's album, so there's a lot to choose from here. As I've stated elsewhere before, ASFY is the only album of theirs that I would listen to straight through and not skip any song.
It also seems worth mentioning: Something interesting I've noticed about this album is that on every other song, Richard's piano is mixed in the center, but on "Goodbye to Love," it's panned way to the left. Seems like it was changed for every release after "The Singles."
rockdoctor
Well-Known Member
This is a very good album. Even though it did not hit the sales of the "Carpenters" album, it is not far behind. I pick Goodbye to Love and Bless the Beasts and the Children as my favorite selections. The cover is a bit much as it seems that it makes it look like a Valentine's Day album.
newvillefan
I Know My First Name Is Stephen
How A Song For You only got to #13 in the UK is beyond me. I’m amazed that it took until the release of Horizon for them to have a number one album in the UK as well.
I think I’ve mentioned this before but if you put the US and UK charts side by side, there was an almost mirror-image reversal in chart performance during their peak. The midway point was Now and Then, where they matched exactly (which always satisfies my OCD greatly
)
I think I’ve mentioned this before but if you put the US and UK charts side by side, there was an almost mirror-image reversal in chart performance during their peak. The midway point was Now and Then, where they matched exactly (which always satisfies my OCD greatly
)| Album | US Peak | UK Peak |
| Close To You | 2 | 23 |
| Carpenters | 2 | 12 |
| A Song For You | 4 | 13 |
| Now & Then | 2 | 2 |
| Horizon | 13 | 1 |
| A Kind Of Hush | 33 | 3 |
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Portlander
Well-Known Member
Interesting that "Yesterday Once More" (the single) peaked at #2 in the US and UK in 1973. And what was up with the UK and Ireland's affection for "Calling Occupants" where it went #9 in your country and #1 in Ireland? It barely received any airplay in the US. "Please Mr Postman" was also a favorite of yours (#2) along with Australia, Canada and the US where it topped the charts. And the Carpenters last hit "Touch Me When We're Dancing" failed to even chart in the UK which was a surprise.
newvillefan
I Know My First Name Is Stephen
I think there are three reasons why this song was a hit in the UK and Ireland:
1) Carpenters had toured here recently, up and down the UK in particular;
2) We Brits just love a great novelty record! Many weird and wonderful ones have been Christmas #1 over the years.
3) We didn't have the sheer number of radio stations to choose from in the UK in the 1970s. Most Carpenters fans at the time tuned in to BBC Radio 2, which was home to a number of DJs like Terry Wogan and Tony Blackburn who loved Richard and Karen and played their records a lot. I can also imagine zany DJs like Kenny Everett playing 'Occupants' a lot on his show.
I think that was largely down to the fact the only appearances they did in the UK were months after its release If they’d appeared in June or July on a prime time TV show like Wogan and performed the song, it could have been a whole different story.
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CraigGA
Well-Known Member
Bless the Beasts and the Children is one of my all-time favorites. Certainly a Carpenter's classic. I do not recall anyone else doing it other than Muzak versions.
newvillefan
I Know My First Name Is Stephen
My favourite of all their albums released during their career as a duo.
Mark-T
Well-Known Member
A GREAT album!
Just for fun: Carpenters Revisited: A Fresh Look at A Song For You
Just for fun: Carpenters Revisited: A Fresh Look at A Song For You
newvillefan
I Know My First Name Is Stephen
Great read Mark! Seeing the inner sleeves even now, all these years later, is so nostalgic for me. It takes me right back to hearing tracks like 'Crystal Lullaby' and 'Road Ode' for the first time and staring at the drawings, particularly the car driving past the road sign and the unhappy couple. The whole thing, from the artwork to the songs, arrangements and the album sequencing, is just perfect.
newvillefan
I Know My First Name Is Stephen
CarpentersToYou
Somehow you brought the gambler out in me...
Vinylalbumcovers
Ah am so steel een luv weeth yoo
The marketing department should have all been fired or kept far away from Carpenters. They had no clue what to do with them. Just gruesomely bad stuff here. They look like boyfriend/girlfriend and just incredibly wimpy.
Ed
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