A Song for You (The Carpenters album)
A Song for You | ||||
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A&M (Hollywood) | ||||
Genre | ||||
Length | 36:57 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Producer | Jack Daugherty Productions | |||
The Carpenters chronology | ||||
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Singles from A Song for You | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Rolling Stone | (Average)[2] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [3] |
A Song for You is the fourth studio album by the American music duo the Carpenters, released on June 22, 1972. According to Richard Carpenter, A Song for You was intended to be a concept album (of sorts) with the title tune opening and closing the set and the bookended selections comprising the 'song'. "A Song for You" was written by songwriter Leon Russell.[4][5]
In Cash Box's Top 100 Albums of 1972, A Song for You was ranked number 26.[6]
Six songs were released as A-side singles internationally: "Hurting Each Other", "It's Going to Take Some Time", "Goodbye to Love", "Top of the World", "I Won't Last a Day Without You", and "Bless the Beasts and Children".
Singles
"
The album's biggest hit single, the number one song "Top of the World", was not issued until over a year after the album's release.[citation needed] According to Richard Carpenter, who co-wrote the song with John Bettis, the reason for the song's late release in the US was that he had misjudged the song's commercial appeal, but was proven wrong when the Carpenters' "Top of the World" became a hit in Japan in 1972 and Lynn Anderson's cover reached number 2 on the US country charts in 1973. The song went through a few minor revisions, including a slight remix, before it was finally released as a single in the US. The Carpenters' treatment of the much-covered Paul Williams/Roger Nichols composition "I Won't Last a Day Without You" also got a belated single release in 1974, and peaked at number eleven on the Hot 100.[citation needed]
With the exception of "Bless the Beasts and Children", which peaked at number 26 on the AC chart, all of the album's charted singles made either number one ("Hurting Each Other", "I Won't Last a Day Without You") or number two on the
Track listing
All lead vocals by Karen Carpenter, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "A Song for You" | Leon Russell | 4:42 |
2. | "Top of the World" | 2:56 | |
3. | "Hurting Each Other" |
| 2:46 |
4. | "It's Going to Take Some Time" |
| 2:55 |
5. | "Goodbye to Love" |
| 3:50 |
6. | "Intermission" (lead vocals: K. and R. Carpenter) | R. Carpenter | 0:22 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
7. | " Barry DeVorzon | 3:07 | |
8. | "Flat Baroque" (instrumental) | R. Carpenter | 1:45 |
9. | "Piano Picker" (lead vocals: R. Carpenter) | Randy Edelman | 1:59 |
10. | "I Won't Last a Day Without You" | 3:47 | |
11. | "Crystal Lullaby" (lead vocals by K. and R. Carpenter) |
| 3:53 |
12. | "Road Ode" |
| 3:50 |
13. | "A Song for You" (Reprise) | Russell | 0:53 |
Personnel
- Karen Carpenter – lead and backing vocals, drums
- Richard Carpenter – lead and backing vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electronic piano, Hammond organ, celesta, orchestration
- Tony Peluso – lead guitar
- Louie Shelton– guitar
- Red Rhodes – steel guitar
- Buddy Emmons – pedal steel guitar on "Top of the World"
- Joe Osborn – bass guitar
- Hal Blaine – drums
- Earl Dumler – English horn
- Bob Messenger – tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute
- Tim Weisberg – bass flute on "It's Going to Take Some Time"
- Norm Herzberg – bassoon
- Gary Coleman – percussion on "Hurting Each Other"
- Bernie Grundman, Richard Carpenter – remastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Japan (Oricon Charts) | — | 102,000[13] |
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[15] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
- ^ Stephen, Holden (1972-12-12). "Carpenters: A Song for You: Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
- ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
rolling stone carpenters album guide.
- ^ A Song for You CD insert
- ^ "Leon Russell - Best Of Leon (Vinyl, LP, Compilation) | Discogs". Discogs. February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
- ^ Cash Box YE Pop Albums – 1972
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4183". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ "– Yamachan Land (Archives of the Japanese record charts) – Albums Chart Daijiten – Carpenters". a-カーペンターズ (in Japanese). 2007-12-30. Retrieved 2012-02-21.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ "Carpenters Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ "Top Pop Albums of 1972". billboard.biz. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- Cash Box. July 6, 1974. p. 8, Part II. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ "American album certifications – Carpenters – A Song for You". Recording Industry Association of America.