Why Is Postman So Popular?

[Will]

I enjoy Postman but I don't understand why it would sell more single copies than anything else.

Please help me understand this.

Thanks.

[Ming]

I think this song makes people happy.That's why it is so popular.I like this song.

[Rick Henry]

$%

Well Will, there's a few factors to consider here.

I think the most important factor is timing.

Let's go back about a year and a half before "Please Mr. Postman" was released.

In the summer of 1973 the Carpenters were making gigantic strides worldwide with the song "Yesterday Once More". More and more people were catching on to the Carpenters sound. The album "Now & Then" was their biggest album in the world to date.

With the release of "Top Of the World" they continued gaining a worldwide legion of fans. Then the biggest coup came with the release of "The Singles 1969-1973". this album was #1 in so many different countries around the world it's mind boggling. In the UK it stayed on top of the charts for 17 amazing weeks. 1974 was a huge year for the Carpenters because of this album. They released "I Won't Last A Day Without You" as a single - and it was a sizeable hit, but since it's album ("A Song For You") had already been around for a few years it wasn't all that much in demand. "Jambalaya" was also released as a single in several countries (not in the U.S.) and that was a big hit too, but it was also from an album which had been around for a while ("Now & Then").

After all this major success in 1974 and the Carpenters now one of the most popular acts in the world the brand new single (never before on any album) "Please Mr. Postman" was released. It was a huge hit. No matter which "new" song they would have released it was destined to become their biggest selling ever because of the timing. Let's face it people around the world wanted something new by the Carpenters and that's what they (we) got with "Please Mr. Postman". If "Only Yesterday" were to have been released in November 1974 instead of "Postman" then it would have the distinction of being their biggest selling hit worldwide.

And also as Ming stated it's a song that makes people feel happy. People love music that makes them feel good. "Postman" is the epitome of a wonderful simplistic feel good song.

[karen69roland]

I agree with all this, except for the *Only Yesterday* part...

Let's understand that *Please Mr.Postman* was a song that was playing in partys in '74..., people around the world were dancing to this song..., although *Only Yesterday* is a better song..., it wouldn't have been a more powerful hit..., in my opinion. :-)



[glow=red,2,300]I love you, Karen

[/glow][shadow=red,left,300] [/shadow]

[shadow=red,left,300]Roland Chayer[/shadow]
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[enigma]

Also lets not forget that this song was #1 before and had a good showing for almost any act who recorded and released it. It was already a popular song in the past and as Rick said with a red hot act like the Carpenters releasing it its was no surprise that it was their biggest seller. People seem to love and identify with this simple feel good love song and even if it was released today I am certain it would have a decent showing on the charts.
&^ *%

[Christian]

I agree with what Rick says, save perhaps the Only Yesterday bit.
I think that Only Yesterday would have reached US no.1 if released earlier, but worldwide it would not have had the impact as Postman did.

I think the clue with Postman is that it`s a simple and carefree song, that`S also fun and entertaining. It reached people because it was so light and fun, as well as being a "dance song"

My "family in law" are from Germany and they all know Postman. My mother in law heard Carpenters Gold while visiting us here in Norway and loved it. Postman, Top Of The World and Sweet Smile are songs she remembered from the 70`s, and said she danced alot to those songs.
They were hits in a country where the Carpenters did not normally have big hits.
So it must be because of their light mood and carefree feel I think.

[Moe]

This is one of those songs that doesn't hold up over time, to me anyway. I remember it being played all the time in 1975, and I loved it. I played the song over and over as a kid on the Horizon LP. Now as an adult, there are a lot more favorites I would put in front of Postman.

That being said, I agree with Rick's assessment of their music at the time as to being such a hit. Timing is everything!

[Peteruk]

Please Mister Postman is such a well known Motown song ...it had a head start on many others once Carpenters recorded this in late Summer 1974....it was released at just the right time ....plus Carpenters version is the best in terms of vocals & production ....an all round winner ....

Peter

[Will]

To answer my own question:

About 30 years ago (I just did the arithmetic -- about the time this song was released by the C's), before email and cell phones and, at least for me, inexpensive long distance phone calls, I was conversing with a girl friend by postal mail.

I remember how I looked forward to receiving mail from her and how bad it felt to open my mail box and not find a letter from her.

I think a lot of listeners to this song at that time could identify with those feelings.

Plus, of course, the C's did a great job with this song.