Carpenters Recording Chronology

Using Chris May and Mike Cidoni Lennox's Carpenters: The Musical Legacy book as an excellent list for the "base", all the contributions by various A&M Corner Forum members, and many other sources such as album liner notes, I compiled a recording chronology of every piece of studio work by Karen and Richard Carpenter. These dates are placed based on the main tracking of a tune, meaning usually piano, drums, and bass, but not Karen's vocals. 

As a big time Carpenters fan, I've long wanted to do this kind of historical project so that I could create kind of an ultimate anthology for a fresh listening experience. (If you've been reading for awhile, you know I've got tons of articles, rare photos, and album reviews on the blog.)

Here is my list... as of this date. More could pop up in years to come:

Carpenters Chronology

1965

"Caravan" (1965) Summer 1965 per Essential Collection, no specific date given - Richard Carpenter Trio

1966

"The Parting of Our Ways" After May 13, 1966 per Essential Collection, no specific date given in book

"Looking for Love" 1966- After May 13, 1966 per Essential Collection, no specific date given in book

"I'll Be Yours" After May 13, 1966 per Essential Collection, no specific date given in book

“Every Little Thing (Beatles cover)” - no specific date given in book - Richard Carpenter Trio

“Strangers in the Night” June 1966 - no specific date given in book - Richard Carpenter Trio

“I’ve Never Had A Love” June 1966 - no specific date given in book - Richard Carpenter Trio

"Iced Tea" September 1966- Richard Carpenter Trio

“Girl from Ipanema” - no specific date given in book - Richard Carpenter Trio

Unknown: “Why Don’t They Understand?”; “Cinderella Rockafella”

1967

"You'll Love Me (Summerchimes)" May 1967- per Essential Collection, no specific date given in book

“California Dreamin’” 1967- no specific date given in book

“Nowhere Man” 1967- no specific date given in book

“One of the Nicer Things” 1967- no date known

1968

"All I Can Do" (1967–1968) no specific date given in book for either spectrum or carpenters

"Don't Be Afraid" (Demo) 1968- no specific date given in book

"Invocation" Unknown - no specific date given in book; Remix 1968

"Your Wonderful Parade" 1968 - no specific date given in book

Unknown: “And When I Die”; “Can’t Buy Me Love” ; “I Fell in Love With You”(Your Navy Presents)

Lately, I Think Myself a Creature, Something More Than Sorrow (Spectrum Songs Carpenter/Bettis)


1969

"Get Together" (Offering/Ticket to Ride) 1969 – no specific date mentioned in book

“Benediction” no specific date given in book

"Ticket to Ride (original Offering version)" April 29, 1969;

“Eve” May 8, 1969; Remix 1987

"Goodnight" May 9, 1969 (with CSULB) 

"Crescent Noon" May 9, 1969 (with CSULB)

"And When I Die" May 9, 1969 Karen and Wanda Freeman (CSULB)

 “Turn Away” May 20, 1969

“Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing” June 2, 1969

"All of My Life" (1969; remix) June 2, 1969; Remix 1987

“Someday” June 16, 1969

“What’s the Use” June 18, 1969

"Don't Be Afraid" (Offering/Ticket to Ride) June 19, 1969

"Love Is Surrender" November 5, 1969; Remix 1987

“Mr. Guder” November 8, 1969; Remix 1990

“Another Song” November 1969; Remix 1994

“I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” December 8, 1969


1970

“Help” January 8, 1970

"Get Together" (Your Navy Presents) March– no specific date mentioned in book, from Resource

All of Your Navy Presents March 1970:

Get Together (Karen Vocal)

Bacharach Medley

Love is Surrender

Can’t Buy Me Love

Baby It’s You

Flat Baroque

Help

Ticket to Ride

Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing / All I Can Do

All of My Life

Cinderella Rockafella

Mr. Guder

(Sacre Bleau) I Fell in Love with You

“I Kept on Loving You” March 16, 1970

"(They Long to Be) Close to You" March 24, 1970; Remix 1991, 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO

"We've Only Just Begun" June 13, 1970; Remix 1985, 1991, 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO

“Baby It’s You” July 13, 1970; Remix 1987; RPO 2018

“Reason to Believe” July 13, 1970; Remix 1987

“Crescent Noon” July 28, 1970

"Maybe It's You" July 28, 1970; Remix 1987, 1990

"Merry Christmas Darling" November 11, 1970; Remix 1978, 1992, 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO (FAWK also cut same time)

"For All We Know" November 11, 1970; Remix 1990, 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO


1971

"Rainy Days and Mondays" January 25, 1971; Remix 1973, 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO

"Superstar" Prior to April 1971 video- no date given; Remix 1973, 1985, 1990, 1991, 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO

“Saturday” January 27, 1971

“One Love” January 27, 1971; Remix 1994

"Let Me Be the One" 1971 - no specific date given in book; Remix 1990

“(A Place To) Hideaway” 1971- no specific date given in book

“Bacharach Medley”- no specific date given in book

“Sometimes” 1971 - no specific date given in book

“Druscilla Penny” 1971 - no specific date given in book

"Hurting Each Other" October 12, 1971; Remix 1973, 1990, 1991, 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO

"Bless the Beasts and Children" April 16, 1971; Remix 1985, 1991, 2004 SACD

“Make Your Own Kind of Music Medley” During TV series July 20, 1971 to September 7, 1971

“And When He Smiles (Live at BBC)” Sept 25, 1971

“What are You Doing for Love” Unreleased recorded October 11, 1971

“Sebastian” Unreleased recorded October 11, 1971

“Road Ode” December 17, 1971; Remix 1990

“I Won’t Last a Day Without You” December 28, 1971; Remix 1974, 1991, 2004 SACD

Unknown: “Don’t Leave Me”; I Believe in You”;


1972

"A Song for You" February 22, 1972; Remix 1987

"A Song for You (Reprise)" February 22, 1972

"It's Going to Take Some Time" February 24, 1972; Remix 1989, 2004 SACD

“Top of the World (A Song For You version)” March 1, 1972

“Piano Picker” March 22, 1972; Remix 1987

“Crystal Lullaby” March 23, 1972; Remix 1987

“Flat Baroque” March 25, 1972

"Goodbye to Love" March 23, 1972; Remix 1985, 1991, 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO

“Intermission” Unknown- no specific date given in book

"Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" December 28, 1972; Remix 1991

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Single)” 1972; September 1974; Remix and new saxophone July 18, 1984

1973

Oldies Medley (1973)

"Fun, Fun, Fun" January 9, 1973; Remix 1990

"The End of the World" January 9, 1973; Remix 1990

"Da Doo Ron Ron" January 9, 1973; Remix 1990

"Dead Man's Curve" January 10, 1973; Remix 1990

"Johnny Angel" January 10, 1973; Remix 1990

"The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" January 10, 1973; Remix 1990

"Our Day Will Come" January 12, 1973; Remix 1990

"Sing" January 12, 1973; Remix 1994, 2002 SACD

“I Can’t Make Music” February 16, 1973

"One Fine Day" February 18, 1973

"This Masquerade" March 12, 1973; Remix 1990, 1991. 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO

"Yesterday Once More" March 14, 1973; Remix 1985, 1991, 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO

"Yesterday Once More (Reprise)” Probably March 14, 1973; Remix 1990

“Heather” March 17, 1973

Radio Contest Outtakes (1973)

"Ticket to Ride (Singles version)" April 18 1973;

“Top of the World (Singles version)” August 15, 1973; Remix 1991, 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO

Unknown: Canta, KFRC, Mortons 1971 Toronto during Englebert Humperdink tour

1974

“(I’m Caught Between) Goodbye and I Love You” May 3, 1974

“Bacharach Medley Live” May 8-21, 1974

"Morinaga Hi-Crown Chocolate Commercial (From the Heart Comes the Soul)" After Japanese tour end June 12, 1974 per Essential Collection

"Please Mr. Postman" July 22, 1974; Remix 1975, 1991, 2004 SACD, RPO

“Love Me for What I Am” September 10, 1974

“Happy” September 19, 1974

"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" 1974 no specific date given in book

“Carpenters/Como Medley” Late 1974- no specific date given in book

“Sailing on the Tide (#1)- NEVER RELEASED” Late 1974- no specific date given

1975

“Desperado” January 28, 1975; Remix 1994

"Solitaire" January 28, 1975; Single Remix 1975

"Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" January 27, 1975

"Only Yesterday" January 30, 1975; Remix 1991, 2004 SACD

“Aurora” April 8, 1975

“Eventide” April 8, 1975

“I Can Dream, Can’t I” April 10, 1975

“Good Friends are For Keeps” 1975- no specific date given in book (maybe close to end according to From the Top/Essential Collection?)

“Breaking Up is Hard to Do” December 4, 1975

“I Can’t Stay Mad at You” (Skeeter Davis song) December 6, 1975

“Goofus” December 9, 1975

"Sandy" December 9, 1975; Remix 1997

Unknown: "Try and Win a Friend" unreleased recording for Horizon.

Unknown dates Late 1975/ Early 1976: “Come and Be Kind”,

“Real Love” (maybe Kenny/Dolly song? Not Doobie Brothers)

Unknown- 2 more songs for Hush December 1975 un-orchestrated 

Unknown 75 or 76- “Box Office Movie King” written by Palma Pascale.

“Where is Love”; “Hurting”; “I Believe in You”;

1976

"I Need to Be in Love" January 23, 1976; Remix 1985, 1990, 2018 RPO

“You” January 24,1976

“Boat to Sail” January 24, 1976

"Ordinary Fool" January 25, 1976

"There's a Kind of Hush" January 30, 1976; Remix 1985

“I Have You” January 30, 1976

“Can’t Smile Without You” February 14, 1976; Remix 1977, 1997

“One More Time” February 14, 1976

“Medley: Superstar/Rainy Days and Monday” September 25, 1976- per As Time Goes By liner notes

“Close to You” (Spike Jones version) 1976- no specific dates given but before 1st TV special on December 8

“Good Vibrations (with John Denver) 1976- no specific dates given but before 1st TV special on December 8

“Strike Up the Band (drum solo)” 1976- no specific dates given but before 1st TV special on December 8

“These are the Jokes (TV skit)” 1976- no specific dates given but before 1st TV special on December 8

“Hits Medley ‘76” 1976- no specific dates given but before 1st TV special on December 8

"From This Moment On (Studio Version)" 1976- no specific dates given but before 1st TV special on December 8

"From This Moment On (Live Version)" November 27, 1976

Unknown- “Stay Young”- tracked same day as One More Time (per Chris May); “Magic in the Music”;

”Love is Coming Back”; “Sunday Afternoon”


1977

“Man Smart, Woman Smarter” March 29, 1977

“Two Sides” March 30, 1977

"All You Get from Love Is a Love Song" (1977) April 1, 1977

“You’re the One” April 2, 1977

“Sailing on the Tide (#2)” April 2, 1977

“B’wana She No Home” April 13, 1977.

“I Just Fall in Love Again” April 16, 1977; Remix 2018 RPO

"Sweet, Sweet Smile" May 8, 1977

"Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" May 9, 1977; Remix 1978, 1989, 2004 SACD

“On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada/Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” May 24, 1977

“Look to Your Dreams” November 13, 1977

"Suntory Pop – Jingle #1" 1977 – no specific date given in book

"Suntory Pop – Jingle #2" 1977 – no specific date given in book


“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” November 13, 1977

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” December 7, 1977; Remix 1992

“White Christmas (Stand Alone track)” December 7, 1977; Remix 1990

“Winter Wonderland/Silver Bells/White Christmas” probably December 7, 1977 but no date given

“What are You Doing New Years Eve?” December 8, 1977

“Do You Hear What I Hear?” December 8, 1977

“The First Snowfall/Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” December 10, 1977; Remix 1990

“Overture from Christmas Portrait” December 11, 1977; Remix 1992

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” December 11, 1977

“Sleigh Ride” 1977- no specific date given

"Christ Is Born" no specific date given in book; Remix 1990

“It’s Christmas Time/Sleep Well Little Children” no specific date given in book

“Christmas Song (Chestnuts)” no specific date given in book; Remix 1992

Unknown- “Second Thoughts”; “Savin’ It Up for the Minute”; “We Won’t Be Back Tomorrow”; “Come and Be Kind”; “I Can’t Smile”; “I Can’t Stay Mad at You”; “I Finally Got It Right This Time”; “Real Love”; “Runaway”; “Sebastian” “Second Thoughts”;

1978

“Jingle Bells” February 5, 1978; Remix 1992

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Christmas Portrait version)” February 5, 1978; Remix 1992

“(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” February 5, 1978

“Christmas Waltz” February 9, 1978; Remix 1992

"Ave Maria" (1978) February 9, 1978; Remixes 1984, 1990

“Carol of the Bells” February 9, 1978; Remix 1992

“He Came Here For Me” February 12, 1978

“Little Altar Boy” February 13, 1978

“Silent Night” February 14, 1978; Remix 1992

“Man Smart, Woman Smarter (with Suzanne Sommers)” Prior to May 17 on Space Encounters TV Special

“Old Fashioned Way (with John Davidson)” Prior to May 17 on Space Encounters TV Special

“O Come O Come, Emmanuel” 1978- no specific date; Remix 1992

““Christmas Alphabet” October 1978- no specific date

“Play A Simple Melody” – 1978

“Dancing in the Street” April 7-9, 1978- per As Time Goes By liner notes

“Leave Yesterday Behind” May 20, 1978

"I Believe You" May 31, 1978; Remix 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO

“Thank You For The Music (Live on The Tonight Show)” June 27, 1978

“Where Do I Go From Here?” August 11, 1978

“When I Fall in Love” August 12, 1978; Remix 1990

“Honolulu City Lights” August 13, 1978

“Slow Dance” September 21, 1978

"Little Girl Blue" 1978 – no specific date given in book

“Medley Close Encounters/Star Wars” 1978- no specific date given in book

“Medley Superstar/Rainy Days and Mondays” 1978- no specific date given in book

Unknown- “Thank You for the Music” (studio); “Rainbows in Your Eyes”; “Just Fall in Love”; “Love Song”

1979

"Lovelines (Karen solo)” 1979- no specific date given in book

“Remember When Lovin’ Took All Night” 1979- no specific date given in book

“Still Crazy After All These Years” 1979- no specific date given in book; Remix 1990

“My Body Keeps Changing My Mind (Karen solo)” November 8, 1979; Remix 1990

(Karen solo- ““Basket Case” ; “Make Believe It’s Your First Time” “Church Choir (Wild)”; “Don’t Try to Win Me Back Again”; “I Do It for Your Love”; “it’s Really You”; “Jimmy Mack”; “Keep the Lovelight Burning”; “Love Making Love to You”; “Midnight”; “Something Missing”; “Truly You”)

Unknown- “All the Way” (Frank Sinatra?); “Auld Lang Syne”; “Better World”; “Mad”; “I Don’t Need You” (Kenny Rogers); “Yours Sincerely”; “What are You Doing in Love”; “Don’t Leave Me”; “Funny Faces”; “I’ll Be Seeing You”; “Just Somebody” (date unknown); “Last of the Romantics”; “Lately”; “Love Me Like the First Time”; “Mad”; “Rainbow in Your Eyes”; “Yours Sincerely”;

1980

“If I Had You (Karen solo)” January 4, 1980; Remix 1989

“If We Try (Karen solo)” Unknown

"Karen/Ella Medley" March 2, 1980

"This Masquerade"

"My Funny Valentine"

"I'll Be Seeing You"

"Someone to Watch Over Me"

"As Time Goes By"

"Don't Get Around Much Anymore"

"I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart"

1980 Medley – no specific date given in book

"Sing"

"Knowing When to Leave"

"Make It Easy on Yourself"

"Someday"

"We've Only Just Begun"

“Slaughter on 10th Avenue”” 1980- no specific date given in book

“You’ll Never Know” 1980- no specific date given in book

“You’re Just in Love” 1980- no specific date given in book

“Dizzy Fingers” 1980- no specific date given in book

“I Got Rhythm Medley ” 1980- no specific date given in book

“Without A Song (a capella intro version) – May 13, 1980- per As Time Goes By liner notes

“Without A Song (full length version) – May 13, 1980- per As Time Goes By liner notes

"From This Moment On (Studio)" February 1980- no specific date given in book; Remix 1995

“When It’s Gone (It’s Just Gone)” June 12, 1980

“Two Lives” June 12, 1980

"Touch Me When We're Dancing" June 15, 1980; Remix 2004 SACD, 2018 RPO

“Prime Time Love” July 25, 1980

“Kiss Me the Way You Did Last Night” July 27, 1980

“When You’ve Got What It Takes” August 20, 1980

“Somebody’s Been Lyin’” August 26, 1980

"Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song)" August 26, 1980

“The Wedding Prayer” August 31, 1980 (RC singing at KC’s wedding)

“Strength of a Woman” October 20, 1980

“(Want You) Back in My Life Again” October 21, 1980

“Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore” October 22, 1980

“The Uninvited Guest” October 23, 1980

“Make Believe It’s Your First Time (Carpenters version)” October 23, 1980

“The Rainbow Connection” October 24, 1980

“Beechwood 4-5789” November 7, 1980

“Those Good Old Dreams” November 20, 1980; Remix 1981

“At the End of a Song”, November 20, 1980

Unknown- “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress”; “Sweet Talkin’ Guy”; “Peter Pan Moon”; “You Made Me Feel Love”;

“I Don’t Want My Arms Around You”; “Play a Simple Melody”; “Stop Me”; “All the Good Things I Remember”; “Once in a Lifetime”;

1982

“You’re Enough” April 23, 1982

"Now" April 25, 1982

Unknown dates- “Fallin’ for Love”; “Fool Me” (Richard Vocals); “Some Guys Have All the Luck”; “Stop Me”;

“Love You Through and Through”; “For the Minute”

1983

“You’ll Never Know”; “The Lord’s Prayer”; “Love as Old as the Heart (RC Vocal)”;

1984

“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” August 1984- no specific date given in book

“Overture from An Old Fashioned Christmas” August 1984; Remix 1992, – no specific dates given in book

“Medley (Here Comes Santa Claus etc)” August 1984- no specific date given in book

“Selections from The Nutcracker” August 1984- no specific date given in book

“My Favorite Things” August 1984- no specific date given in book

“An Old Fashioned Christmas” August 1984- no specific date given in book

“O Holy Night” August 17, 1984

1985

“I’m Still Not Over You - June 26, 1985

1987

“When Time Was All We Had” – no specific date given

1996

"Karen's Theme" December 13, 1996

“Incidental Music” from Karen Carpenter Story

2018

“Overture from Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” August 2018- no specific date given in book

EVERYTHING UNKNOWN

“You’re No Good” (Linda Ronstadt cover)