Goofus vs BEechwood 4-5789/Worst single release

[JayJayVA]

Randy Schmidt in "Little Girl Blue" (page 237) writes of "Beechwood 4-5789". Karen played the Carpenters' recording of it over the phone to Mike Curb. She asked what did he think of it as a single, and he didn't want to tell her it "lacked top 40 potential". It became The Carpenters' lowest charting single #74.

 

[newvillefan]

I think they should have cut a version of If We Try! I think it would have fared well in 81-82.

I don't think Richard could have improved on it, the song is great as it stands and includes terrific jazzy background harmonies from Karen, some of which feature the most bizarre chords.

 

[Simon KC1950]

I don't even think BeechWood 4-5789 is even a bad song. I love it! It's such a fun and upbeat song. Hey it reached #10 on the charts in New Zealand.