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]
| A Song for You | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 13, 1972 | |||
| Studio | A&M (Hollywood) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 36:57 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Producer | Jack Daugherty Productions | |||
| The Carpenters chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from A Song for You | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Rolling Stone | (Average)[2] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [3] |
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
edit"Hurting Each Other", a cover of an obscure Ruby & the Romantics tune, was the first single issued from A Song for You in early 1972, and reached number two, becoming the Carpenters' sixth straight gold single.[citation needed] A cover of Carole King's "It's Going to Take Some Time" followed and peaked at number 12, and was followed by the number seven hit "Goodbye to Love", which was refused airplay on some easy listening radio stations because of a fuzz guitar solo by Tony Peluso. The song had a significant impact on the power ballad songs which followed. The album also included the Carpenters' version of the Academy Award-nominated title song from the 1971 film Bless the Beasts and Children, which had already charted at number 67 on the Hot 100 as the flip side of the duo's version of "Superstar".[citation needed]
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 Adult Contemporary chart. The album and its singles were also successful internationally; "Goodbye to Love" and "I Won't Last a Day Without You" made the top ten on the UK Singles Chart as a double A-side, and "Top of the World" made the Oricon singles chart in Japan on three occasions (number 21 in 1972, number 52 in 1973, and number 83 in 1996).[citation needed]
Critical reception
editBillboard noted "here's a super LP which will be another top seller for the Carpenters. Superb Jack Daugherty production and musicianship showcase the fine talent on such tunes as "I Won't Last a Day Without You" (by Paul Williams), "Crystal Lullaby" (both by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis). Includes "Hurting Each Other" and "It's Going to Take Some Time." Also dynamite readings of the title tune and of "Goodbye to Love" (also by Carpenter and Bettis)." [7]
In their review, Cashbox stated that "the new Carpenters - where to begin? The cover, maybe. It's a beautiful deep red - almost hypnotizing. Moving along to the record inside, we have nothing to offer but praise. Opening with Leon Russell's masterwork, "A Song For You," Karen and Richard offer warm and irrefutable proof that in their particular field they have no equals. There's a lot of variety on this album and a nice air of playfulness. Listen to "Flat Barogue" for example. Less surprising but no less welcome are hits like "Hurting Each Other" and "It's Going To Take Some Time." Watch this album rocket into the top ten. " [8]
Bruce Eder of AllMusic called it "the duo's best album," and "the high point of their recording career", The review noted that the album was "brimming with lovely musical ideas even more lovingly executed, laced with good humor, and enough hits of its own to have established any artist's career on its own. And even in between the hits, the album was built on material that could have made a whole career for anyone."[9]
Track listing
editAll 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. | "Bless the Beasts and Children" | 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
edit- 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 – oboe, 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
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (Oricon Charts) | — | 102,000[16] |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[17] | Gold | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[18] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ Eder, Bruce. The Carpenters - A Song for You (1972) album review, credits & releases at 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.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 140. 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
- ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. No. 1 July 1972. p. 50. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. No. 1 July 1972. p. 35. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ "A Song for You - Carpenters | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. 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.
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "great britain's million sellers, 1973-74" (PDF). 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.
