Post by Rick Henry on May 1, 2005 22:27:57 GMT -5
Written by Rick Henry and Cameron LongoIt's June 11, 1976 and the Carpenters' seventh studio album "A Kind Of Hush" has just been released. Being an avid fan of the Carpenters I went out and bought the record that very day. The twelve inch record album came wrapped in a shiny cellophane. The album cover was a beauty with Karen and Richard staring out to the world through a frosted window pane which gives a somewhat artsy down home feel. The backside of the cover shows the famous Carpenters logo backwards with the planet earth upon the red night sky. Which lends itself to the title song "There's a Kind Of Hush (All Over The World)". Once the cellophane is removed and you open the album you can't help but notice the inside lining of the album jacket. It's an autumny orange-brown color with several rows of the Carpenters logo. You just know A&M put a good amount of money into producing and packaging this record. Once you pull the record out it's housed in a nice inner sleeve with lyrics and a beautiful but pensive pose of Karen and Richard. Out comes the record itself. The label has the same picture as the backside of the album cover. This is real class.
In the U.S. the album went on to be certified Gold (which means sales of over 500,000) and reached # 33. At this point in time Carpenters were slowly losing some of their stride with the American public but not so with other countries. This album hit # 3 in England and # 5 in Japan. As it would go on to show the record buying public throughout the world continued to love the Carpenters. Enormous record sales in the next several decades solidifies this fact.
THERE'S A KIND OF HUSH
(Les Reed / Geoff Stephens)
The first single from the album was released on February 12, 1976 and reached U.S. #12, UK #22 and Canada #11. Originally a huge hit in 1967 for Herman's Hermits. The song was recorded originally in a 20's sounding style by the New Vaudeville Band who is best remembered for their 1966 #1 hit "Winchester Cathedral". One of the song's co-writer's Geoff Stephens was the leader and founder of the New Vaudeville Band.
YOU
(Randy Edelman)
A simplistic yet soulful song is one of the album's strongest tracks. Many fans felt this should have been released as a single. The song was written by Randy Edelman. Edelman first recorded the song for his 1975 album "Farewell Fairbanks" which also included the Edelman classic (and later recorded by Barry Manilow) "Weekend In New England". edelman also wrote "Piano Picker" and "I Can't Make Music" both recorded by Carpenters.
SANDY
(Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)
Wind instruments drive this wistfully dramatic tune. It features a combo of flutes played by Bob Messenger and renowned pop-jazz session man Tom Scott. Tom Scott also plays the clarinet on the song. The lyric was based on Richard Carpenter's girlfriend at the time, Sandy Holland, who was also Karen's hairdresser and assistant."Sandy" was released as the b-side to "I Need To Be In Love". Richard Carpenter featured an instrumental recording of this song on his “Pianist Arranger Composer Conductor” album, and you can hear the gorgeous background vocals of the Carpenters, of which Karen received credit on that album in 1998.
GOOFUS
(Wayne King / William Harold, Lyrics by Gus Kahn)
When "A Kind Of Hush" was released "Goofus" received quite a bit of positive response from fans and also a fair amount of radio airplay. Due to fan and public demand "Goofus" was released as a single. It was released on August 11, 1976 and reached U.S. #56. Before the Carpenters recorded the song it was already a well known song having reached the top 20 four times by four different artists in 1932 as an instrumental. In 1957 lyrics were added and the song was a hit again for country singer Phil Harris. "Goofus" is also known as a popular clown theme played in circus' and carnivals throughout the U.S.
I NEED TO BE IN LOVE
(Richard Carpenter / John Bettis / Albert Hammond)
Most Carpenters fans consider this to be the album's strongest entry. The song originated as a snippet on a rehearsal cassette belonging to veteran singer/songwriter Albert Hammond (It Never Rains In California). John Bettis took this snippet and wrote an entire lyric which was fine tuned by Richard Carpenter. John Bettis has stated this is the Carpenters' most autobiographical song and his favorite lyric he ever wrote for Karen.
The song features one of Karen's most soulful and yearning vocals and was Karen's favorite recording at the time. Her voice is like a beautiful rose in full bloom. She was a true American Beauty.
"I Need To Be In Love" was released as a single on May 21, 1976 and reached U.S. # 25, UK # 36 and Canada # 31. "I Need To Be In Love" was rereleased as a single in Japan due to it's being featured in a popular Japanese drama. The song recharted and was certified quadruple platinum. It's easy to say with a major hit like this the Carpenters have remained hugely popular in Japan.
ONE MORE TIME
(Lewis Anderson)
This is another big fan favorite. Many sighting this as their second favorite if not favorite cut on the album. The musical arrangement is simple, uncluttered and dramatic which brings Karen's vocal to the forefront. Her vocal reading of this song is brilliant as she conveys the emotions of despair and loneliness yet retaining a feeling of warmth and familiarity.
BOAT TO SAIL
(Jackie DeShannon)
This is another standout track on the album. This is the epitome of the laid back easy going Southern California sound. You can almost feel the gentle waves of the ocean as you listen to this song.
"Boat to Sail" is easily one of Richard's most outstanding and creative musical arrangements. The song includes layers of sound including the electric vibes which gives the song the sound of echoing chimes. Tony Peluso's guitar also adds to the overall ambiance of the song. The song's most prominent feature is the multi-layered reverb effect on the vocals giving the song an out of this world sound.
Written by Jackie DeShannon who is best known for her hits "What The World Needs Now Is Love" and "Put A Little Love In Your Heart". DeShannon is also the co-writer of Kim Carnes' 1981 super-hit "Bette Davis Eyes". Toward the end of the song as it fades away Karen sings, “DeShannon is back” which mirrors another A&M act, the Captain and Tennille, with their chart topper "Love Will Keep Us Together" where they end with, “Sedaka is back.”
I HAVE YOU
(Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)
This quaint song features a fabulous double tracking of Karen's voice on the chorus which gives the song a heightened sense of emotion. She harmonizes with her own lead vocal showcasing the versatility and range of her voice as she uses it to her full advantage. Karen sings this lyric of love and hope with a soothing sentiment.
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
(Neil Sedaka / Howard Greenfield)
The previous year (1975), Neil Sedaka was the opening act for Carpenters on tour. Though through unfortunate incidents Sedaka was terminated from the job. In turn the Carpenters received negative publicity. Carpenters decided to record "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" which showed a sense wanting to bridge the gap and let bygones be bygones. The title of this song is ironic and almost tongue in cheek seeing the course of events prior to it's release.
As you listen to this song you can hear the Carpenters and their band in the background laughing and talking and someone saying, “Hey Karen!". You really get the feeling that Karen, Richard and the band were having a great time recording this upbeat yet simple song.
Karen's voice is so intimate and personal and after listening to each song on this album you are once again left with the feeling that Karen is a personal friend of yours and that she's singing these songs just for you and you alone.
