Superstar (Delaney and Bonnie song)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2018) |
"Superstar" | |
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Single by Delaney & Bonnie | |
A-side | "Comin' Home" |
Released | 1969 |
Genre | |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) |
"Superstar" is a 1969 song written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell, that has been a hit for many artists in different genres in the years since. The best-known versions are by the Carpenters in 1971, Luther Vandross in 1983, and Sonic Youth in 1994.
Original Delaney and Bonnie version
In its first recorded incarnation, the song was called "Groupie (Superstar)", and was released in December 1969 as the B-side of the Delaney & Bonnie single "Comin' Home". Released by Atco Records in the United States and Atlantic Records in the rest of the world, the full credit on the single was "Delaney & Bonnie and Friends featuring Eric Clapton".
"Comin' Home" reached number 84 on the
The original version of "Superstar" finally surfaced in 1972, when the album D&B Together was released, shortly before Delaney and Bonnie's marriage and collaboration ended. That version was also included as a bonus track on a 2006 reissue of the 1970 album, Eric Clapton.
Bonnie Bramlett later rerecorded the song on her 2002 solo album, I'm Still the Same. Using just the "Superstar" title, she rendered it as a very slow, piano-based torch song.
Personnel
(Taken from the liner notes of the 2006 Deluxe Edition of the Eric Clapton album):
- Delaney Bramlett - rhythm guitar & vocals
- Bonnie Bramlett - vocals
- Eric Clapton - lead guitar
- Dave Mason - guitar
- Bobby Whitlock - organ
- Carl Radle - bass
- Jim Gordon - drums
- Jim Price - trumpet
- Bobby Keys - tenor sax
- Tex Johnson - percussion
- Rita Coolidge - vocals
Produced by Delaney Bramlett, recorded at A&M Studios, Los Angeles, September 27 – October 10, 1969.
Carpenters version
"Superstar" | ||||
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Single by Carpenters | ||||
from the album Carpenters | ||||
B-side | "Bless the Beasts and Children" | |||
Released | August 12, 1971 | |||
Recorded | February 1971 | |||
Genre | Pop[2] | |||
Length | 3:46 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Jack Daugherty | |||
Carpenters singles chronology | ||||
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"Superstar" became most popular after its treatment by
Produced by Richard Carpenter with Jack Daugherty, it was recorded using members of the Wrecking Crew, a famed collection of Los Angeles-area session musicians. Because the original subject matter of the song was more risqué than was typical for the Carpenters, Richard changed a lyric in the second verse from "And I can hardly wait/To sleep with you again" to the less suggestive "And I can hardly wait/To be with you again."[3] The track was finished in one take.[4]
Karen Carpenter's vocal was praised for its intensity and emotional nature. David Hepworth commented: "Even with only half her mind on the job, she delivered a perfect performance. The guide vocal never needed to be replaced."[5]
The duo's rendition was included on the May 1971 album
Richard was nominated for a
Personnel
- Karen Carpenter – lead & backing vocals
- Wurlitzer electric piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, orchestration
- Joe Osborn – bass guitar
- Hal Blaine – drums
- Earle Dumler – oboe
Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Luther Vandross version
"Superstar" | ||||
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Single by Luther Vandross | ||||
from the album Busy Body | ||||
Released | 1983 | (US, Canada)|||
Genre | ||||
Length | 5:32 (single edit version) | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Luther Vandross singles chronology | ||||
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In the early 1980s, American R&B/soul singer-songwriter
Vandross then recorded "Superstar" in 1983 in a slower, more soulful fashion, as part of a medley with Stevie Wonder's "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" on his album Busy Body. Released as a single the following year, it became an R&B hit, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Top R&B Singles chart.[15] It did not have much pop crossover effect, however, only reaching number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Charts
Chart (1984) | Peak position[16] |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot 100 | 87 |
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles | 5 |
Sonic Youth version
While the band had always found inspiration from the Carpenters,
Other notable versions
- The Mad Dogs and Englishmen includes Rita Coolidge performing "Superstar." Released in August 1970, Mad Dogs features performances recorded in March and June of that year. The double album became a hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard pop albums chart and No. 23 on the magazine's Black Albums chart.[citation needed]
- Cher recorded the song in October 1970, in a session produced by Stan Vincent. The following month, Atlantic issued a one-sided white label promotional single to radio stations. Despite favorable notices in Variety and Billboard, the song vanished without a trace. It appears as a bonus track on a 2001 CD reissue of Cher's 1969 album 3614 Jackson Highway.[citation needed]
- Tor James Faulkner included the song on his album "The Reflection" which reached #4 on iTunes UK. This is the version of the song Jennifer Lopez samples on her song "To Be Yours".[19][20] [21]
- Usher recorded the song for the 2005 album So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross; his version earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.[citation needed]
- Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Superstar", but he lost to his own idol, Vandross, who won for "Dance with My Father". Studdard's treatment was also included on his December 2003 debut album, Soulful.
See also
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1971 (U.S.)
References
- ^ OCLC 922168849. Archived from the originalon 2022-01-01.
- ^ Bolger, Keely (2015). "The Carpenters - "Superstar". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p. 297.
- ^ Black, Johnny (October 2002). "The Greatest Songs Ever! Superstar". Blender. Archived from the original on October 18, 2004. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
- ISBN 087930653X. Archivedfrom the original on February 18, 2011.
- ^ Hepworth 2016, p. 37.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 47.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - October 23, 1971" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top AC Singles - October 30, 1971" (PDF).
- ^ "Top 100 1971-10-16". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-03-05.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1971/Top 100 Songs of 1971". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
- ^ Billboard, December 25, 1971.
- ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1971". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
- ^ Harvey, Eric (May 19, 2012). "The Quiet Storm". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 597.
- ^ Luther Vandross - Singles Chart history.Billboard.com
- The Blade. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ Gross, Terry; Carpenter, Richard (November 25, 2009). "'40/40' Celebrates The Carpenters' 1969 Debut". Fresh Air. NPR. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "The Reflection". Spotify.
- ^ "Tor James Faulkner - Other works". IMDb.
- ^ "T.J. Faulkner Wiki/Bio, Age, Family, Success, Net Worth, Career, Photos". 30 November 2022.
Sources
- October 2002 Blender magazine article by Johnny Black
- Allmusic discussion of song's origins
- Randy L. Schmidt, Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter, ISBN 1-55652-976-7, pp. 77–78.
- IMDB listing of Bette Midler television appearances
- Australian PopArchives entry
- Australian Countdown entry
External links
- Carpenters - Superstar on YouTube