18- Sweet Sweet Smile, 1978
The third and last single from Passage. This was everything Those Good Old Dreams was not: snappy, a bit twangy, and totally fun. Honest to goodness banjo and fiddle highlight this strong Juice Newton / Otha Young number. Karen's vocals are bold, alive, and engaging. Always brings a smile to my face as I sing a long.
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17- Top of the World, 1973
Right song at the end of the right time. Fan reaction made Richard take another look at a song Lynn Anderson brought to the top of the country charts. He wrote it but couldn't recognize the hit potential, a problem that got much worse in years to come. When the cast of television's Friends sings it, you know the song is iconic for a reason. A Number One worldwide smash.
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16- Yesterday Once More, 1973
Another beloved Richard Carpenter / John Bettis composition for good reason. Wistful, dreamy, nostalgic. Often mentioned among their most powerful records, but honestly, it can be rather hit or miss. I have to be in the right mood for it. Karen hits the money notes right where you'd expect. The harmonies are lush, the words evoke better times from the past, and it all comes together so well. But there's something missing I can't put my finger on. Maybe it is just forever tied to the Now & Then album's Oldies Medley in my mind, so I can't separate it out and give it a fair evaluation. The timing of its release was just perfect, however, as the U.S. was at the beginning of its love affair with the oldies.
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15- All You Get From Love Is A Love Song, 1977
The hit single that got away for being two years too late. It's chances for a smash (or at least a Top Ten Pop hit) were destroyed by the career busting prior single Goofus. This song has absolutely everything going for it- joyful Karen vocal, punchy rhythm track (a solid beat!), horns o plenty, top notch vocal stacks, all with an outstanding sax solo by the great Tom Scott. What was missing? Open minded radio personnel, music fans, and better promotion from A&M.
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14- Touch Me When We're Dancing, 1981
The best and only song with hit potential on Made in America. They'd been absent too long by this point in time, and radio couldn't make up its mind on what to do with it. Everyone seemed to be watching everyone else. Say what you will about Richard's missteps on this album, but Touch Me When We're Dancing was perfectly arranged, produced, and recorded. Does it hold up to their greatest? No, of course not. Should it have been a bigger hit? Yes. Is it memorable? Definitely.
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13- Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore, 1984
Of the almost 30 tracks recorded for their comeback album, in a perfect world, this one would have replaced the one I ranked at the bottom of this list. Another Ruby & The Romantics remake, Richard hit the jackpot by remaking Hurting Each Other, so why not do it again. Instead, Your Baby was released on the first posthumous album in 1983. It's intimate, dramatic, and just so good. With a world weary maturity in her voice, Karen pulls off this number effortlessly, and Richard's backing vocals are just perfect. Really. An exceptional record by any measure.
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12- Please Mr. Postman, 1974
Getting closer to the Top Ten on this list comes the duo's last Number One in the States. Fans and critics alike love to slam this one, but on The Nation's Favourite Carpenters Songs, a U.K. only release, British fans ranked this as their top choice. It's just so much fun! The song's been recorded almost too many times to count, but Karen and Richard own this one.
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11- For All We Know, 1970
Admittedly, in years past, I've often overlooked this one. But recently, I have been won over by its gentle innocence and lack of pretension. Simple, unassuming and heartfelt in performance and production. Sheer class.
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Now for the Ten Best of all the Carpenters singles...
10- There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World), 1976
Karen and Richard trade Motown for this late 60's British Invasion hit. While most all of the Carpenters recordings were about love and relationships, very few were actually charming and romantic. This Herman's Hermits number from 1967 is my absolute favorite of the three obvious oldies remakes. Beechwood is a bust, and Postman is certainly the biggest hit, but for my money, Hush is the best of them all, and my personal choice as a "guilty pleasure". It's heavenly ear candy from start to finish. I knew the original and enjoyed it. Yet the first time I heard Karen caress the opening lyrics, I knew I'd be in for something good.
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9- Solitaire, 1975
A serious Neil Sedaka song and Karen Carpenter make an incredible combination thanks to Richard unlocking the key to what was far from perfect in less gifted hands. The list of previous attempts at getting this right was even longer than those who attempted They Long To Be Close to You. With so many choices to pull from, we could have been overtaken by a tangle of lyrics and less than perfect arrangements. But Richard's genius is in full display here. The end result is powerfully moody. Atmospheric. Storytelling at its best... and oh, those basement notes by Karen! Proving her rightful place at the top of all female vocalists past or present. With so many glorious songs on the duo's Horizon album, its hard to call this one the best of the lot, but a strong case could be made for it once you hear the last minute or so of this incredible recording.
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8- Superstar, 1971
Perhaps the Carpenters song critics most appreciate. The minute Leon Russell's mis-titled "Groupie" became a standard. The opening harp and oboe musical intro followed by Karen's deep, resonate vocals made everyone take notice at a new level. She had arrived. Richard believed this was the one that would make them be taken seriously as artists. In later remixes, he'd toy with his consummate arrangement, but the original recording remains the gold standard.
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7- I Need To Be In Love, 1976
In some ways a lesser record, but its power lies in how personal a recording. John Bettis wrote lyrics so deeply reflective of Karen's life at the time, she couldn't deny it. And she sings it with true heartbreak that soaks through Richard's beautiful melody. Understated piano accentuates the moment. I can even (mostly) forgive that OK Chorale interrupting his sister's prayer.
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6- Rainy Days and Mondays, 1970
I'll admit up front that I much prefer this to Superstar. It's just more realistic, more everyman. Perfectly arranged. Can you imagine any other instrument to replace that harmonica? No. Karen kills the lyrics and makes you believe every word. Again. An all time classic.
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5- Goodbye to Love, 1972
The bridge between eras. The searing guitar of a new sound slams against the wave of choir from early days. Desperate vocal resignation meets an unexpected but triumphant end. Redemption awaits as Hell is behind, and Heaven's ahead. Radio jocks were dumbstruck and fans even more. Their second masterpiece. Another landmark song of their career, following the magic Richard and Karen pulled off with their breakthrough hit. Sometimes, it is good to be shocked.
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4- (They Long To Be) Close To You, 1970
The taste of these too sugary, cringey lyrics could not erase the unique beauty of this Burt Bacharach number. When the boss says "Record this", you do it, and you find the hit that was hidden within. Mission accomplished. Richard creates the mood, and Karen coos the lyrics. Sometimes it's just that simple, although creating the masterpiece was not.
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3- Only Yesterday, 1975
"Modern" Carpenters. New logo and a new look. One note and you know who it is. One of my favorite openings ever. The anticipation to something great builds, and its fulfilled. Karen never sounded better than on this album. Richard's wall of sound and all those vocals stacks could go on forever- and I wish they would have. What a record!
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2- Hurting Each Other, 1971
"No one in the world ever had a love as sweet as my love." A cold opening matched with the warmest of lyrics sung in the tenderest of ways. The contrast draws the listener in as the singer moves toward the chorus. A&M Records delivered this new Carpenters song to radio just two days before Christmas. This new single from their upcoming 4th album wowed everyone with its drama, intimacy, and unexpected lyrical twist. Karen and Richard were so hot that their two previous albums were still on the charts. Hitting the Top Twenty in just 3 weeks time, Hurting Each Other was the whole package. This is the one to play if you want to fall in love with Karen's voice all over again.
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1- We've Only Just Begun, 1970
It's the Carpenters signature song for a reason. Simple piano and Karen's engaging vocals shine, setting up what is to come. Gone are the overly sweet lyrics of their earlier hit. In its place are real, honest, words. But there's more that make this record the top of them all. I want to point out that the power of the duo comes into play here- beyond Richard's skills as arranger and real producer. It his vocals on "We've only begun" then later on, "And yes, we've just begun" which set up the chorus so wonderfully. Karen is just magnificent, capturing a moment in time both innocent and alluring. This is not a solo number. You can hear Richard confidently play his vocal part, and the record is better for it. Musically, his tasteful arrangement allows space for the impact of each lyric, each instrument. It's uncluttered yet full and rich. The perfect signature tune to be remembered by in 3 minutes time.
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A career built, a legacy established, a life cut short way too soon. I've been considering what I'll leave behind. It's never too early to think about it or too late to change.
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear
a second time, not to deal with sin
but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:27-28
(Disclaimer: The image used at the top of this article is an AI generated image that came from a real photo session. Love it or hate it, yes, AI is getting that good.)
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