Offering (Ticket To Ride) 1969

[Rick Henry]

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"Offering" was released on October 9, 1969. The album was repackaged, renamed and released in late 1970 as "Ticket to Ride". Shortly following the album finally amde the U.S. charts reaching #150 in February 1971 and stayed on the charts for four months. In the UK the album made #20 in April 1972 and re-entered the UK chart in 1975 to reach #35. In Japan "Offering" reached #88 early in 1971.
The Carpenters debut album includes a brief introduction note by Herb Alpert. Alpert is also credited as playing the shaker on the album. Richard described this album as being ambitious.

1. Invocation (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis): This is the first of two bookend songs which open and close the album. The word "invocation" is described as; the act of calling on God. An a cappella offering, "Invocation" blends a multi-part choir performance in which all the vocals are done by Karen and Richard Carpenter. This is acheived by a process called overdubbing. Overdubbing is a system of recording sounds, instruments, or voices and superimposing or stacking each on top of the other to create a layered effect. Overdubbing became a trademark sound of the Carpenters in the early 70's.

2. Your Wonderful Parade (Carpenter / Bettis): Opens with Richard's circus style announcement and moves into a song powered by snare drum and harpsichord. Released as the A-side of the (unsuccessful) first Carpenters single. A few months later the single was rereleased with "Ticket To Ride" as the A-side and "Parade" as the B-side.
The song ends with an exciting marching band drum solo performed by Karen.

3. Someday (Carpenter / Bettis): Karen was never really satisfied with her vocal performance on this dramatic ballad which is a predecessor of bigger and better things to come.

4. Get Together (Chet Powers): By the time Carpenters recorded "Get Together" it had already been a hit twice; first by We Five in 1965 and then again in 1969 by the Youngbloods who reached the top 5 with the song. Also in 1969 the song was adopted as the theme for the National Council of Christians and Jews.
Headed by Richard's lead vocal which is processed with an echo effect and backed by multi-tracked chrouses.

5. All Of My Life (Richard Carpenter): This is an early indicator of what would become the Carpenters' trademark sound. On this track Karen plays both the drums and bass guitar. many Carpenters fans consider this to be the album's best track. In 1970 the song was used as the B-side to the classic hit "We've Only Just Begun".

6. Turn Away (Carpenter / Bettis): This is one of Richard's best lead vocal performances which is backed by an overdubbed vocal chorus.

7. Ticket To Ride (John Lennon / Paul McCartney): From the very beginning Karen and Richard have claimed to be fans of the Beatles. Before landing their contract with A&M K&R recorded several Beatles songs including "Nowhere Man" and "Can't Buy Me Love". It was only natural a Beatles tune was included on their debut album and "Ticket To Ride" was reborn. Richard took the upbeat Beatles song and turned it into an inspiring ballad.
Carpenters released "Ticket To Ride" as a single with "Your Wonderful Parade" as the b-side on November 5, 1969 and made it's debut on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart on February 14, 1970. By May 9th the song reached #54 and stayed on the chart for 12 weeks.
Although "Ticket To Ride" was only moderatley successful, it garnered enough attention for the Carpenters which lead to many huge hits over the following seven years.

8. Don't Be Afraid (Richard Carpenter): This is one of many songs on the album which dates back to pre-Carpenters days. Originally written in 1968 and recorded in Joe Osborn's garage studio. The lyric "love is a groovy thing" is very much a product of it's late 60's era. The song received extra attention as the B-side to "For All We Know".

9. What's The Use (Carpenter / Bettis): Richard sings lead vocal with Karen doing backup and harmony vocals. The vocal arrangement is especially engaging as you listen to Karen humming in the background blending perfectly with each instrument especially the horns. Once again this is very much a product of it's time.

10. All I Can Do (Carpenters / Bettis): Set to a complex 5/4 time signature this quirky avant-jazz tune sticks out on an album that is full of surprising twists and turns. The song sports a creative beefy bass line along with the intricate and moving drum stylings of Karen Carpenter.

11. Eve (Carpenter / Bettis): Dramatic, dark, rich and soulful. "Eve" is one of the album's highlights. Inspired by an episode of a late 60's television suspense series. On this song Karen displays her musical finesse by playing both the bass guitar and drums.

12. Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing (Neil Young): Written by legendary rock singer/songwriter/guitarist Neil Young and released as the debut single for his band Buffalo Springfield in 1966.
Carpenters took this song and completely reworked it turning it into an ambitious piece of late 60's progressive pop. Richard sings lead with Karen backing him up. The song moves along with a great sense of timing and rhythm and sports and excellent keyboard solo by Richard which fades out to the end.
"Offering (Ticket To Ride)" was an exciting and impressive debut for a group which would go on to become one of the world's most loved and successful entities in the history of popular music.

13. Benediction (Carpenter / Bettis): At 43 seconds long this is the closing bookend companion to "Invocation". The word "benediction" is described as; an invocation of divine blessing especially at the end of a religious service.

[Federico Cruz]

Anthological work!
More, more!
Next wok!

[Ming]

Thank you.

[smoothie2]

;Dthis Invocation start and finish to albums...had this been done very often by other artists that you know of? or did they get this idea from someone else? I just love them...

[Joe Comer]

Hi Rick!!!

Have read all of your reviews starting with the latest (as of Nov. 24th, 2004) and gladly offer my compliments and highest praise for some very fine writings on the Carpenters artistry!!! I've been an R & K fan since the begining and this site has certainly been very informative!!! Found myself saying "I didn't know that!!" several times!!!

Just one correction, if I may: The song "Get Together" was never a hit or even a chart record by We Five, at least in the U.S.. To the best of my knowledge, they never recorded it!! Certainly, it was not included on any of their A&M albums, the first named after their one and only hit in the States-"You Were on My Mind". It was a song written by Sylvia Fricker of then husband and wife folk duo, Ian and Sylvia. The one and only single version of "Get Together" was that one by the Youngbloods that you mentioned. It was actually on the Billboard charts twice-once as a very minor entry in 1967, reaching No. 69. Then along with Woodstock and the resurgence of the "peace, hope and love" era in 1969 it, as you said, hit the big time by reaching No. 5 and forever cementing it's future as a true classic and one of the best folk/rock recordings of all time!!

Well, in any case, thanks again Rick and keep up the good work!!

Sincerely,
Joe Comer

[e-mail]

[Rick Henry]

Hi Joe, thank you tremendously for the kind words. I thoroughly enjoy researching the music of the Carpenters and sharing what I find.

with all due respect Joe, We Five did have a moderate U.S. hit with "Get Together", it was actually titled "Let's Get Together", the song entered Billboard's Top 100 Singles chart on November 13, 1965 and remained on the chart for eight weeks reaching #31. It was on A&M records with a catolog number A&M 784. The b-side is "Cast Your Fate To The Wind".

Here is a biography on We Five ("Let's Get Together" is mentioned in the fifth chapter of their biography).
www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,508015,00.html#bio

[Joe Comer]

Rick,

Thanks for your reply!!! Being a researcher and archivist myself, I can truly appreciate all of the hard work you put forth!!! I attempted to write back but it would seem my message was too long and before I finished and was able to post, was sent back to the home page-my reply erased and my time wasted.

I would, however, appreciate carrying on this conversation as the song "Get Together" and it's apparent AKA of "Let's Get Together"-would be good fuel for a debate on the advantages as well as the flaws with this new, confusing and sometimes rather obvious blending of fact and fiction known as the internet. For example, one particular web page I was directed to had the nerve and blatant stupidity to quote the classic Chet Powers lyrics in connection with an inferior and totally unrelated song with the same name from a mostly forgotten Disney comedy from 1961.

Whether the name of this song we know was recorded by the Youngbloods, the Carpenters, the Kingston Trio, Jefferson Airplane as well as others is called "Get Together" or "Let's Get Together" it's clear that no where in the lyrics of the versions recorded by the Youngbloods and the Carpenters are the words "LET'S Get Together"!! The words to the song are '...everybody Get Together'. It's unclear when the change in title occured, although it more than likely happened with the "...bloods" original recording in 1967. In any case, dropping the "let's" makes more sense to me.

As for the We Five, I am well aware of their recording of a song called "Let's Get Together". I am also aware of the sales statistics of the record, being a collector of several of the Joel Whitburn and Billboard compilation books of the last 35 years or so. Unfortunately, I haven't heard that particular record or seen the composer credit given to this particular recording. Therefore, I am not prepared to say it is the same song simply because of a couple misleading and incorrect links on the world wide web. I will say that due to the obivious connection between John Stewart (the writer of the Monkees' "Daydream Believer", by the way) of the previously mentioned Kingston Trio and of brother Mike, a member of We Five, it does tend to suggest that the two songs are one and the same. If only I had the record in my hand....!!!! The label never lies about info like composer and producer and my ear would definitely recognize the song.

As to the records' hit status , there are some people that only regard those songs that reach the top twenty nationally and definetely no lower than the top thirty as hits at all, moderate or otherwise. Certainly, most satellite and earth grounded oldies services and stations won't even touch (with some exceptions) any record that didn't hit higher than No. 20 or 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. This has unfortunately affected Karen and Richard, as some of their best work is completely ignored and avoided by some of the biggest music broadast outlets in the country. Great recordings such as "Bless the Beasts and the Children","I Need to Be In Love", "All You Get From Love is a Love Song" and of course the innovative and superb "Calling Occupants....." are not heard at all!!! It's a shame, really, that so much is dependent on a number on a chart, but, regrettably, that's the way it is.

Well, I went on much longer than I intended on this second attempt to write back. And, there is still so much more.....!!!! Please feel free to write me at [e-mail], if you would likw to carry on this discussion.

Hope to hear from you,
Joe C.

[Joe Comer]

Rick,

Thanks for your reply!!! Being a researcher and archivist myself, I can truly appreciate all of the hard work you put forth!!! I attempted to write back but it would seem my message was too long and before I finished and was able to post, was sent back to the home page-my reply erased and my time wasted.

I would, however, appreciate carrying on this conversation as the song "Get Together" and it's apparent AKA of "Let's Get Together"-would be good fuel for a debate on the advantages as well as the flaws with this new, confusing and sometimes rather obvious blending of fact and fiction known as the internet. For example, one particular web page I was directed to had the nerve and blatant stupidity to quote the classic Chet Powers lyrics in connection with an inferior and totally unrelated song with the same name from a mostly forgotten Disney comedy from 1961.

Whether the name of this song we know was recorded by the Youngbloods, the Carpenters, the Kingston Trio, Jefferson Airplane as well as others is called "Get Together" or "Let's Get Together" it's clear that no where in the lyrics of the versions recorded by the Youngbloods and the Carpenters are the words "LET'S Get Together"!! The words to the song are '...everybody Get Together'. It's unclear when the change in title occured, although it more than likely happened with the "...bloods" original recording in 1967. In any case, dropping the "let's" makes more sense to me.

As for the We Five, I am well aware of their recording of a song called "Let's Get Together". I am also aware of the sales statistics of the record, being a collector of several of the Joel Whitburn and Billboard compilation books of the last 35 years or so. Unfortunately, I haven't heard that particular record or seen the composer credit given to this particular recording. Therefore, I am not prepared to say it is the same song simply because of a couple misleading and incorrect links on the world wide web. I will say that due to the obivious connection between John Stewart (the writer of the Monkees' "Daydream Believer", by the way) of the previously mentioned Kingston Trio and of brother Mike, a member of We Five, it does tend to suggest that the two songs are one and the same. If only I had the record in my hand....!!!! The label never lies about info like composer and producer and my ear would definitely recognize the song.

As to the records' hit status , there are some people that only regard those songs that reach the top twenty nationally and definetely no lower than the top thirty as hits at all, moderate or otherwise. Certainly, most satellite and earth grounded oldies services and stations won't even touch (with some exceptions) any record that didn't hit higher than No. 20 or 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. This has unfortunately affected Karen and Richard, as some of their best work is completely ignored and avoided by some of the biggest music broadast outlets in the country. Great recordings such as "Bless the Beasts and the Children","I Need to Be In Love", "All You Get From Love is a Love Song" and of course the innovative and superb "Calling Occupants....." are not heard at all!!! It's a shame, really, that so much is dependent on a number on a chart, but, regrettably, that's the way it is.

Well, I went on much longer than I intended on this second attempt to write back. And, there is still so much more.....!!!! Please feel free to write me at [e-mail], if you would like to carry on this discussion.

Hope to hear from you,
Joe C.

[Rick Henry]

Hello Joel, nice to hear from you again. I had to search for it, but I found an old We Five cassette someone gave me years ago. The cardboard insert is gone so I don't have the songwriter credits, but the music is still there. I played "Let's get together" and it is by all means the Chet Powers classic which Carpenters also recorded.

It is a shame that chart position has so much to do with what gets played and what doewn't get played. There are so many great songs that should get more attention. I did though once in 1998 hear "calling Occupants..." on an oldies station - and it was the long version at that. I was totally blown away when it came on.

[pandora]

Regarding the 'Get Together' / 'Let's get Together' discussion

The song GET TOGETHER was a Dino Valenti song (Quicksilver Messenger Service) song that was written in 1963. He signed away rights to it when he was imprisoned for marijuana possession. The name Chet Powers is a pseudonym. Before The Youngbloods released the song in 1967 (which quickly flopped) it had already been recorded by JEFFERSON AIRPLANE in 1966 for the TAKES OFF album. I have the CD in front of me and the song is listed as LET'S GET TOGETHER – CHET POWERS with the identical lyrics as THE YOUNGBLOODS tune which didn't explode on the popular music scene until 1969 when The National Conference of Christians and Jews distributed it to radio and TV stations to support "Brotherhood Week."

“no where in the lyrics of the versions recorded by the Youngbloods and the Carpenters are the words "LET'S Get Together"

And no where in Peaches En Regalia is the lyric ever heard. Neither is the term Barbarian ever heard in Emerson Lake and Palmer's song from their first album. Although it is an instrumental by your logic no song without lyrics would be deserving of a name.

These are the lyrics of THE YOUNGBLOODS tune of 1967/69. (I saw them do this in concert in 1970 and spent my allowance on the single when it was released so I'm a witness that the lyrics are in fact correct)

Love is but a song to sing
Fear's the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Though the bird is on the wing
And you may not know why

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now

Some may come and some may go
We shall surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moment's sunlight
Fading in the grass

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now

If you hear the song I sing
You will understand (listen!)
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at you command

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now

These are the same lyrics as I hear on my JEFFERSON AIRPLANE – TAKES OFF album released in 1966. I have it here and listened to it just now while reading these lyrics and they look to me to be the same. Considering the chord changes and the melody is identical I would have to say it's the same song. Released at least a year before The Youngbloods 1967 version takes off (the first time).

Considering WIKIPEDIA also mentions this song as being written in 1963 by Chet Powers and recorded by many groups over the years including WE FIVE I'd be inclined to suspect that if Rick ever finds his cardboard insert he'll find most of what he found on the net matches his memory pretty well.

[ps11932]

Thanks pandora, for listing the lyrics. I do remember The Youngbloods version of the song, and I've always enjoyed listening to The Carpebters rendition (though it's not one of their masterpieces.) I'm struck by the several (what seem to me) Biblical analogies; particularly the contrast between love and fear; in some senses, those are 2 qualities that can't well exist together.

[pandora]

Hello Ps11932

Yes I loved The Youngbloods version and strangely enough enjoy The Carpenters version as well although in a completely different way. It's probably not possible to remember a song from your youth so vividly and not carry special feelings for it. My appreciation for the version on Offering is more for the way it was presented in the work as a whole.

The “Biblical analogies” seem to me sort of natural considering the theme if the song. After all that's, from what I understand, what Christ's mission was. To bring everyone together to love one another.

Love and fear not existing well together is a great observation. I agree but it's probably impossible to appreciate complete and pure love while here so that would make fear natural and maybe inevitable especially when faced with the final unknown. Just philosophic rambling but maybe that's what makes everyone human... how each of us handles the dynamic of his or her imperfection.

[ps11932]

Very good thought and observations, pandora. Thanks for calling attention in general to the "Offering" work- it is kind of a root foundation of the group, and it gives both joy, and understanding into things Carpenter.

[wisejester7]

Pandora,
Thanks for the lyrics and for clearing up some of the information on the people and history behind this song.