The Carpenters discography

Carpenters discography

Richard and Karen Carpenter at The White House on August 1, 1972
Studio albums 14
Live albums 2
Compilation albums 13
Video albums 3
Singles 46
B-sides 15
Soundtrack albums 3
Tribute albums 1

The discography of the American pop group The Carpenters consists of twelve studio albums, two Christmas albums, two live albums, forty-six singles, and numerous compilation albums. The duo was made up of siblings Karen (lead vocals and drums) and Richard Carpenter (keyboards and vocals).

The siblings started their musical career together in the latter half of the 1960s. In October 1969, a half year after they signed a contract with A&M Records, the Carpenters released their debut album Offering (its title was later changed to Ticket to Ride). Within a year, they rose to prominence with the chart-topping single "(They Long to Be) Close to You", a cover version of Bacharach/David composition.

The Carpenters garnered worldwide commercial success, scoring big hits mainly in the first half of the 1970s. RIAA-certified sales of their records (albums, singles and videos) have been estimated at around 34.6 million units.[1] In the United Kingdom, they are ranked at the seventh top-selling albums artist on the official record chart of the 1970s.[2] They have also been the third-best-selling international music act in the Japanese market, only behind Mariah Carey and The Beatles.[3][4][5] To date, they have reportedly sold more than 100 million copies of records worldwide.[6]

Albums

Studio albums

Throughout their career, the Carpenters released twelve original albums. Most recently they released As Time Goes By in 2001 in Japan, and 2004 internationally. This includes two Christmas albums released by the group.

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US
[7]
AUS
[8]
CAN
[9]
JAP
[10]
UK
[11]
1969 Ticket to Ride (First released under the title Offering) 150 19 88 20
1970 Close to You
  • Released: August 19, 1970
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download
2 16 1 53 23
  • US: 2× Platinum[12]
1971 Carpenters
  • Released: May 14, 1971
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download
2 16 6 47 12
1972 A Song for You
  • Released: June 13, 1972
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download
4 6 5 5 13
  • US: 3× Platinum[12]
1973 Now & Then
  • Released: May 9, 1973
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download
2 3 2 1 2
1975 Horizon
  • Released: June 6, 1975
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download
13 21 4 1 1
1976 A Kind of Hush
  • Released: June 11, 1976
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download
33 57 22 5 3
1977 Passage
  • Released: September 23, 1977
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, 8-track CD, digital download
49 48 57 7 12
1978 Christmas Portrait
  • Released: October 13, 1978
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
93 104
1981 Made in America
  • Released: June 16, 1981
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
52 50 44 12
1983 Voice of the Heart
  • Released: October 18, 1983
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
46 54 41 6
1984 An Old-Fashioned Christmas
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
190
1989 Lovelines
  • Released: October 31, 1989
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
73
2001 As Time Goes By
  • Released: August 1, 2001
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
18
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

There are two live albums that the Carpenters have released officially, though neither of them were issued in their homeland.

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
JAP
[10]
UK
[11]
1975 Live in Japan 8
1977 Live at the Palladium
  • Recorded: November 1976
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Released January 1, 1977
  • Formats: LP, cassette,[10] CD[17]
24 28

Solo albums

Year Title Notes
1987 Time
1996 Karen Carpenter
  • Released on October 8, 1996
  • Karen's first and only solo album, released posthumously
  • Produced from recording sessions with Phil Ramone in New York City in 1979–1980
  • Out of print in the United States
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download
1998 Pianist • Arranger •
Composer • Conductor
  • Released on January 27, 1998
  • Richard's second and latest solo album
  • Includes instrumentals of popular Carpenters songs
  • Dedicated to Richard's deceased mother, Agnes Carpenter[18]
  • Out of print
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download

Compilations

Following materials are "greatest-hits" albums of the Carpenters released in the United States and/or the United Kingdom.

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US
[7]
JAP
[10][19]
UK
[11]
1973 The Singles: 1969–1973 1 1
1984 Yesterday Once More
  • Released: October 1984
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
144 35 10
1995 Interpretations
  • Released: February 7, 1995
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download
29
1997 Love Songs
  • Released: 1997
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download
106 47
1998 Reflections
  • Released: June 30, 1998
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download[I]
2000 The Singles: 1969–1981
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download
45 73 65
2003 Carpenters Perform Carpenter
  • Released: July 29, 2003
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download
2004 Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition
  • Expanded version of the European compilation released in 2000
  • Released: February 10, 2004
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
101 79 4
2006 The Ultimate Collection
  • Released: November 26, 2006
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2009 40/40
  • Released: April 22, 2009
  • Label: A&M / Universal
  • Formats: CD, digital download
3 21
2014 Icon
  • Released: December 24, 2014
  • Label: A&M Records / UMe
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2015 The Complete Singles
  • Released: November 2015
  • Label: A&M Records / TJL Productions / UMe
  • Format: CD (3 disc set)- available by PBS donation only
2016 The Nation's Favourite Songs
  • Released: September 2016
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Format: CD, digital download
2

^ I Album only downloadable in the UK.
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Box sets

Year Album details
1991

From the Top

  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2002

The Essential Collection: 1965–1997

  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Limited releases













Singles

Year Single Chart position B-side Certifications Album
US
[24]
US AC
[24]
AUS
[8]
CAN
[25]
GER
[26]
IRE
[27]
JAP
[10]
NL
[28]
NZ
[29]
UK
[11]
1966 "Looking for Love" (Karen Carpenter) "I'll Be Yours" From the Top – The Essential Collection
1969 "Ticket to Ride" 54 19 "Your Wonderful Parade" Offering
1970 "(They Long to Be) Close to You" 1 1 1 1 6 71 30 6 "I Kept on Loving You" Close to You
"We've Only Just Begun" 2 1 6 1 71 28 "All of My Life"
"Merry Christmas, Darling" 50 45 "Mr. Guder" Christmas Portrait
1971 "For All We Know" 3 1 10 7 18 "Don't Be Afraid" Carpenters
"Rainy Days and Mondays" 2 1 35 3 72 "Saturday"
"Superstar" 2 1 35 3 7 19 18 "Bless the Beasts and Children"
"Bless the Beasts and Children" 67 26 85 B-side of "Superstar" A Song for You
1972 "Hurting Each Other" 2 1 4 2 56 "Maybe It's You"
"It's Going to Take Some Time" 12 2 24 13 48 "Flat Baroque"
"Goodbye to Love" 7 2 25 4 12 55 9 "Crystal Lullaby"
1973 "Sing" 3 1 24 4 18 "Druscilla Penny" Now & Then
"Yesterday Once More" 2 1 9 1 21 8 5 5 2 "Road Ode"
"Top of the World" 1 2 1 1 38 3 21 12 5 "Heather" A Song for You
1974 "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" 95 50 12 28 3 12 "Mr. Guder" Now & Then
"I Won't Last a Day Without You" 11 1 63 7 40 32 "One Love" A Song for You
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" 37 "Merry Christmas, Darling" An Old Fashioned Christmas
"Please Mr. Postman" 1 1 1 1 10 2 11 29 4 2 "This Masquerade" Horizon
1975 "Only Yesterday" 4 1 16 2 43 5 12 10 7 "Happy"
"Solitaire" 17 1 61 12 44 6 32 "Love Me for What I Am"
1976 "There's a Kind of Hush" 12 1 33 11 7 27 5 22 "(I'm Caught Between) Goodbye and I Love You" A Kind of Hush
"I Need to Be in Love" 25 1 47 31 14 62 36 "Sandy"
"Goofus" 56 4 82 "Boat to Sail"
"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" 71 "I Have You"
1977 "All You Get from Love Is a Love Song" 35 4 89 38 68 "I Have You" Passage
"Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day)" 32 18 13 9 1 19 9 "Can't Smile Without You"
1978 "Sweet, Sweet Smile" 44 7 100 33 22 59 22 40 "I Have You"
"I Believe You" 68 9 81 "B'wana, She No Home" Made in America
1981 "Touch Me When We're Dancing" 16 1 78 22 "Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song)"
"(Want You) Back in My Life Again" 72 14 "Somebody's Been Lyin'"
"Those Good Old Dreams" 63 21 "When It's Gone (It's Just Gone)"
1982 "Beechwood 4-5789" 74 18 10 "Two Sides"
1983 "Make Believe It's Your First Time" 101 7 80 20 60 "Look to Your Dreams" Voice of the Heart
1984 "Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore" 12 "Sailing on the Tide"
"Now" "Look to Your Dreams"
"Little Altar Boy" "Do You Hear What I Hear?" An Old Fashioned Christmas
1986 "Honolulu City Lights" "I Just Fall in Love Again" Lovelines
1987 "Something in Your Eyes"
(Richard Carpenter featuring Dusty Springfield)
12 "Time" Time
1989 "If I Had You" (Karen Carpenter) 18 "The Uninvited Guest" Lovelines
1990 "Merry Christmas, Darling" (re-issue) 18 25 "(They Long to Be) Close to You" Christmas Portrait
1993 "Rainy Days and Mondays" (re-issue) 63 "Goodbye to Love" From the Top
1994 "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" 44 "Sing" Interpretations
1995 "I Need to Be in Love" (Japan re-issue) 5 "Top of the World" 22 Hits of the Carpenters
1996 "Make Believe It's Your First Time"(Karen Carpenter) "If We Try" Karen Carpenter
"Ave Maria" "Merry Christmas, Darling" Christmas Portrait
1998 "Karen's Theme" (Richard Carpenter) No B-side Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor
2001 "The Rainbow Connection" 47 "Leave Yesterday Behind", "Medley" As Time Goes By
2003 "Top of the World" (Japan re-issue) 83 "Top of the World", "Sing" (karaoke) Gold

Notes

Videos

Title Notes Certifications
Gold: Greatest Hits
  • Released originally in 1985 on VHS only under the name Yesterday Once More
  • Repackaged in 2002 on DVD under the name Gold: Greatest Hits
  • Carpenters' first video compilation
  • Label: A&M Video
  • Formats: Betamax, video cassette, laserdisc, DVD
Interpretations
  • Released on May 9, 1995
  • Carpenters' second video compilation
  • Label: A&M Video
  • Formats: Video cassette, laserdisc, DVD
Close to You:
Remembering the Carpenters
  • Released on March 1, 1998
  • Carpenters' first DVD documentary
  • Label: MPI Home Video
  • Formats: Video cassette, laserdisc, DVD

Soundtracks

Year Song Notes Album
1971 "Bless the Beasts and Children"
  • Original performers of the song in the summer of 1971.
Bless the Beasts and Children (soundtrack version)
A Song for You (album version)

References

  1. 1 2 3 "American certifications – Carpenters_ The". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  2. ChartsPlus172 "22/22 Jonathan's Top Twenty Commentary - History Corner - The Top20 Best-Selling Albums Artists of the 1970s" Check |url= value (help) (PDF). ukchartsplus.co.uk. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  3. "SONGS|これまでの放送|第88回 カーペンターズ". Japan Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  4. Okamoto, Satoshi (2006). Oricon Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 4-87131-076-0.
  5. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  6. Carpenter, Richard (2005). "Carpenters Biography 2005". The Carpenters official website. pp. 1–10. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  7. 1 2 "Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on 2008-01-24. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  8. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: This reference gives Australian albums and singles information. It is used for chart peak positions as the early albums were released before ARIA began regulating the Australian charts itself in 1989.
  9. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". RPM. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 a-カーペンターズ "Yamachan Land (Japanese Chart Archives) - Albums Chart Daijiten - Carpenters" Check |url= value (help) (in Japanese). Original Confidence. 2007-12-30. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "UK Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "American album certifications – Carpenters_ The". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2011-08-17. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "British album certifications – Carpenters". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2010-08-19. Enter Carpenters in the field Search. Select Artist in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Search
  14. 1 2 3 "Gold and Platinum Search". Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  15. "The Record > October 2001 > Gold and Platinum (August 2001)" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  16. "music.goo.ne.jp CD information Carpenters - Live in Japan". Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  17. "music.goo.ne.jp CD information Carpenters - Live at the Palladium". Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  18. Carpenter, Richard. "Richard and Karen Carpenter - Official website". Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  19. カーペンターズのCDアルバムランキング " CD Album sales ranking of the Carpenters" Check |url= value (help). oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Original Confidence. Retrieved 2011-08-08.Note: Reference indicates chart positions from 1988 onwards, and part of the information currently unavailable
  20. NVPI "de branchevereniging van de entertainmentindustrie" Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2011-08-17.Note: User needs to enter "Carpenters" in the "Artiest" field and click below "zoek" button.
  21. 財団法人 日本レコード協会 > 各種統計 > ゴールド等認定 > 2009年6月 "(RIAJ - Statistics - Certification Awards - June 2009)" Check |url= value (help). riaj.or.jp (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
  22. Platinum Awards Content
  23. "dutchcharts.nl - Carpenters -Yesterday Once More - De Nederlandse Singles Collectie". Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  24. 1 2 "The Carpenters US Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
  25. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". RPM. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  26. "German Chart" (in German). Charts.de GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
  27. "Irish Charts". Irish Charts. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
  28. "Dutch Chart". Dutch Top 100. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
  29. "New Zealand Chart". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "riaa.com Certifications". Recording Industry Association of America.
  31. 1 2 3 "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 21 September 2014. Note: User needs to enter "Carpenters" in the "Search" field, "Artist" in the "Search by" field and click the "Go" button. Select "More info" next to the relevant entry to see full certification history.
  32. "Canada Certifications". Music Canada.

See also

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