⭐ Official Review [Single]: 27. "TOUCH ME WHEN WE'RE DANCING"/"BECAUSE WE ARE IN LOVE" (2344-S)

[newvillefan]

Years ago, I had heard an interview with an artist that recorded another author's song and put a song that they wrote on the B side. I do not remember the artist's name but the gist of the conversation was that the artist was told that a song by them on the B side would give them more in royalties from the sale of the single.

As far as I'm aware, back in the days of vinyl 45s, it was a 50/50 split in royalties to the writers of the A and B side. It cause quite a row between the members of Queen when Roger Taylor's 'I'm In Love With My Car' was picked as the B-side of 'Bohemian Rhapsody', because he got a great free ride and a big fat royalty cheque on the back of that single's chart success.

 

[Harry]

It would have been better with a track like 'When It's Gone' or 'When You've Got What It Takes' as the B-side.

It's possible those two were still in consideration for being future A-sides on their own.

 

[CraigGA]

They are both great album sings and as much as I refer to when you’ve got what it takes, it’s still just a good album song

 

[Portlander]

Would it be safe to say that "Top of the World" is Richard's (and John's) most profitable song overall due to it having a writing credit by him? In addition to reaching #1 as a Carpenters release, it also reached #2 on the country charts thanks to Lynn Anderson and has been featured in commercials and a few movies over the years. I'm also guessing that "Yesterday Once More" (Carpenter/Bettis) would be the second most successful song financially given its mass appeal in Asia.

 

[Bartog739]

Yesterday Once More is Carpenters' biggest seller worldwide according to Little Girl Blue and other sources I've come accross over the years. I don't know if that would overwhelm the profitability of Top of the World having appeared in several films or not, as well as it's own strong sales...

 

[newvillefan]

Yesterday Once More is Carpenters' biggest seller worldwide according to Little Girl Blue and other sources I've come accross over the years.

I can't see that somehow - it didn't have the same level of commercial success or sales figures that 'Top Of The World' or 'Please Mr Postman' did or have anywhere near the level of longevity or legacy impact as 'Top Of The World'.

I'm sure I read that Richard was actually miffed 'Yesterday Once More' wasn't their biggest seller because it's the one he's most proud of.

 

[Sara]

Tmwwd. But neither are favourites of mine.

 

[Bartog739]

I can't see that somehow - it didn't have the same level of commercial success or sales figures that 'Top Of The World' or 'Please Mr Postman' did or have anywhere near the level of longevity or legacy impact as 'Top Of The World'.

I'm sure I read that Richard was actually miffed 'Yesterday Once More' wasn't their biggest seller because it's the one he's most proud of.

For what it's worth on the Carpenters official website Richard himself is quoted as saying it was their biggest worldwide hit.

https://www.richardandkarencarpenter.com/Album_NowAndThen.htm

 

[newvillefan]

For what it's worth on the Carpenters official website Richard himself is quoted as saying it was their biggest worldwide hit.

https://www.richardandkarencarpenter.com/SN_YesterdayOnceMore.htm

He then goes on to say "The resulting 'Yesterday Once More' became our eighth domestic gold single, and one of our biggest hits worldwide".

 

[A&M Retro]

Yesterday Once More is Carpenters' biggest seller worldwide according to Little Girl Blue and other sources I've come accross over the years. I don't know if that would overwhelm the profitability of Top of the World having appeared in several films or not, as well as it's own strong sales...

I've heard Richard say that 'Please Mr. Postman' was their biggest single worldwide (and he wasn't very thrilled about that point).

 

[Sing]

I voted for Touch Me When We're Dancing. I don't really care for the B-side of this single. My 2006 Toyota has a 6 CD changer in it. I like to burn 80 minute CDs containing my favorite songs and rotate these CDs into my 6 CD changer so I can enjoy my favorite music while I drive. Two years ago, in late 2022, after I "discovered" the Carpenters at the advanced age of 56, I decided to create a 22 song Carpenters compilation CD, because I could only fit 22 of my favs onto an 80 minute CD.

What song did I choose to open this Carpenters compilation CD of mine? Touch Me When We're Dancing, followed by Please Mr. Postman. I'm not saying that those are my 2 favorite Carpenters songs. But they are very high on my list.

My wife has occasionally said she doesn't like Carpenters songs that have sad lyrics. You know. Rainy Days and Mondays. Goodbye to Love. But I played Touch Me When We're Dancing, and she reacted with a big smile. It's a good one.

 

[newvillefan]

I've heard Richard say that 'Please Mr. Postman' was their biggest single worldwide (and he wasn't very thrilled about that point).

He said it at the time of the UK documentary "The Nation's Favourite Carpenters Song" which had the tie in album. "Postman" came in at #1 on that poll as well.

 

[newvillefan]

I played Touch Me When We're Dancing, and she reacted with a big smile. It's a good one.

My mam loves it, always has.

 

[JohnFB]

I've heard Richard say that 'Please Mr. Postman' was their biggest single worldwide (and he wasn't very thrilled about that point).

That's entirely understandable - after he and Karen had produced a spectacular series of pop masterpieces such as "We've Only Just Begun", Close to You", Rainy Days and Mondays", "Superstar", etc. the fact that they even recorded a 3rd rate piece of teenybopper drivel such as "Postman", let alone the fact that it was their biggest hit worldwide, is inexplicable, and says so much about the low level of musical taste rampant at the time - and Richard's pandering to it just to get another hit single. It's even hard to tell who the lead singer is since her voice is so heavily disguised with technical "enhancements and overlays". The credits say it was Karen, but I'll have to take their word for it...

 

[newvillefan]

^^^ Have to say, although it was a worldwide smash, I was never a fan of the vocal treatment on this song. Far too over-processed. The original single mix is far better than the album version and the 1991 remix Richard did.