Shoulda-been Singles - "Ticket To Ride"

[cinscorp]

Maybe this has been done before, but I didn't see it. Anyway, it never hurts to get updated thoughts on different topics as favorites sometimes change.

I'm going to go album by album and list the songs that weren't singles that people think "shoulda been". I'm including the b-sides in case there are any that anyone thinks shouldn't have been b-sides and been singles themselves.

Starting at the beginning with "Ticket To Ride". "Official" single was "Ticket To Ride".

Vote for a song if you think a "single was missed" and share thoughts below. Would your single pick replace or be in addition to the "official" single(s)?

[Rick Henry]

There is only one song on "Offering" which I feel (other than "Ticket To Ride") is commercial enough to be a hit single... but before we get into that I want to touch on some of the ones that did not get my vote.

Many may choose "Eve" and it truly is a fantastic song (and is one of my favorites from the album) but I don't think it's hit single material. It's just too dark and dramatic in a sort of album rock sort of way. this is one of those songs that AM radio would not have touched... but the college radio and maybe album oriented radio stations may have liked this one better... just a bit too heavy to be a single.

"Someday" is one I think some will choose, but again I just don't think it is commercial enough. It's a tad bit long and would most likely lose people before it ends.

I did not choose my two favorite songs from the album simply because they are more album gems as opposed to commercial radio hits. My two favorite songs are "All I Can Do" and "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing". Musically and creatively these two songs are outstanding and amongst my favorite Carpenters tunes.

I do want to add that just because a song is a single or has hit potential to be a single does not make it the best song on the album. It does however mean it has the commercial appeal to attract a cross section of different sorts of music listeners.

That said, my choice for missed single is the obvious "All Of My Life". This song would have played extremely well on AM radio back in 1969 to early 1970. I think it would have made a better single than "Ticket To Ride", although it was essential for Carpenters to release TTR as it was a known song and the novelty of an upbeat Beatles tune being turned into a ballad did attract a good amount of attention and got the Carpenters into the public eye.

FYI... little known fact: "Your Wonderful Parade" was actually released as single in late 1969. It was the Carpenters' very first single release, but it went nowhere very fast and was pulled before anyone had the chance to buy it. Now if anyone can find a copy of that single it would be worth a mint. so far I have never seen it anywhere.

[cinscorp]

Rick, was "Your Wonderful Parade" actually released to the public or possibly as a double-A side to radio and given a catalog number then never released to buy? I know RCA Records did that with singer Karen Lawrence's band L.A. Jets and their original "Prisoner", which was covered by Barbra Streisand. In fact, the L.A. Jets' version even hit the Top 100 even though it was never made available to the public. Karen Lawrence actually relayed that story to her myspace manager, Judy, who then passed it along to me.

I like your reasons for single choice. Would you have chosen "All of My Life" instead of "TTR", or before or after it?

[Rick Henry]

May 16, 2009 18:25:42 GMT -5 cinscorp said:

Rick, was "Your Wonderful Parade" actually released to the public or possibly as a double-A side to radio and given a catalog number then never released to buy? I know RCA Records did that with singer Karen Lawrence's band L.A. Jets and their original "Prisoner", which was covered by Barbra Streisand. In fact, the L.A. Jets' version even hit the Top 100 even though it was never made available to the public. Karen Lawrence actually relayed that story to her myspace manager, Judy, who then passed it along to me.

I like your reasons for single choice. Would you have chosen "All of My Life" instead of "TTR", or before or after it?

I don't think it was a double A-Side, I would remember reading that. I don't remember where I read about "Parade" having been released as the first single, but I do know it was in an official Carpenters document. I think it was in one of the many compilations that I own. I will have to go back and take a look at some of those. It could be something that was released to radio only... which if that's the case there would still be a single out there with a plain lable... that could be worth some money.

There were a few radio only releases of Carpenters after Karen's passing. In 1984 there was a promo single of "Little Altar Boy/Do You Hear What I Hear" and 1990 "You're The One". Promo copies of these exist and are very rare. They were never released to the public.

As for releasing singles from "Offering", I would have started with "Ticket To Ride" as it was a known song and would gain attention and airplay from the curious. Plus it would get some automatic sales from Lennon/McCartney fans who have to have absolutely everything that has their name on it... including a cover version of one of their songs. Second I would have released "All Of My Life" as this song I feel would be the bigger hit, but would need TTR to get Carpenters on the map first.

[cinscorp]

While "All of My Life" has gotten most of the attention here, I didn't vote for any. I think they made the right choice to move on to new material. Personally, I think there are several great songs that could've been considered, but there aren't really any that I think were great single choices.

[Rick Henry]

May 24, 2009 18:15:47 GMT -5 cinscorp said:

While "All of My Life" has gotten most of the attention here, I didn't vote for any. I think they made the right choice to move on to new material. Personally, I think there are several great songs that could've been considered, but there aren't really any that I think were great single choices.

Cinscorp... very interesting. You surprised me by not picking any songs here. I thought for sure you'd choose at least one.

I agree that Carpenters (or maybe it was A&M) decided to move forward... as we know it proved to be the right thing to do.

Anybody else on the forum have any input on this?

[cinscorp]

I thought all week about which, if any, I'd choose. I almost jumped on "All of My Life" but reconsidered because of the lyrics, mainly. The song is very well-done and has a great flow, but the words just sound so...starry-eyed teen love/crush to me. "Ticket" was Beatles and they moved on to cover tunes by some established and respected writers. "All I Can Do" is a favorite, but it's not single type song and "Eve" is too sad and dark for Top 40 I think.

[Rick Henry]

Hi Cinscorp... I kind of thought that starry eyed teen crush thing was in vogue in the 60's. Anyhow, Karen's vocal performance of "All Of My Life" was anything but starry eyed. For the young age of 19 her voice was well developed.

I agree on "Eve"... great song and it's one of my favorites... but just not a single.

It would be great to get the rest of the gang's input on this topic and the "Close To You" album...

[cinscorp]

Rick, not the performance at all, the words. Could've been in vogue in '69 but that was before my time to really have a perspective, so I'm just looking from outside in, I guess.

[Rick Henry]

May 26, 2009 19:01:53 GMT -5 cinscorp said:

Rick, not the performance at all, the words. Could've been in vogue in '69 but that was before my time to really have a perspective, so I'm just looking from outside in, I guess.

Good perspective cinscorp... you may be on to something. The starry eyed teen crush thing seemed to be simmering down in 1969. Artists such as Leslie Gore, Lulu and others just weren't making hits anymore.

[enigma]

Hope I am not interupting here but I did choose All Of My Life as a single release as well as Eve. All Of My Life I felt was a stronger song on this record I did like some others better but as a single this song was a good bet im my books. As for Eve yes it may be dark but it kind of has a Rainy Days feel to it (karens vocasl is not as mature but the signs were there) and could also be released as a single. Offering was not a comercial record overall it was something Richard said he had to release even if it was not where he was musically speaking I don't think Richard expected a hit from this record other than Ticket to Ride (probably thinking along the lines of what Rick said). I loved the record but I am hard pressed to find a song that would be a major hit as a single off of it.

[Rick Henry]

May 27, 2009 18:26:02 GMT -5 enigma said:

Hope I am not interupting here but I did choose All Of My Life as a single release as well as Eve. All Of My Life I felt was a stronger song on this record I did like some others better but as a single this song was a good bet im my books. As for Eve yes it may be dark but it kind of has a Rainy Days feel to it (karens vocasl is not as mature but the signs were there) and could also be released as a single. Offering was not a comercial record overall it was something Richard said he had to release even if it was not where he was musically speaking I don't think Richard expected a hit from this record other than Ticket to Ride (probably thinking along the lines of what Rick said). I loved the record but I am hard pressed to find a song that would be a major hit as a single off of it.

I'm with you E... I love "offering", I think it's a fantastic album, but do not really see much in the way of hit singles. My favorite songs from the album are the furthest from being hit single material... but generally speaking the best songs by the better groups are the album tracks and not the hit singles. Although Carpenters have released some awesome hit singles for the most part my favorite songs from each studio album are album tracks... such as:

Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing", "Eve" and "All I Can Do" from "Offering".

"Another Song" and "Crescent Noon" from "Close To You"

""A Song For You", "Road Ode" and "Goodbye To Love" from "A Song For You".

"This Masquerade" and "I Can't Make Music" from "Now And Then".

"Happy", "Desperado" and "Only Yesterday" from "Horizon".

"ONe More Time" and "Boat To Sail" from "A Kind Of Hush"

"B'wana She No Home" and "Two Sides" from "Passage".

I did not list "Carpenters" as my favorites from the album were hit singles..."Rainy Days..." and "Superstar"... and "Let Me Be The One".

[Rick Henry]

May 27, 2009 18:26:02 GMT -5 enigma said:

Hope I am not interupting here but I did choose All Of My Life as a single release as well as Eve. All Of My Life I felt was a stronger song on this record I did like some others better but as a single this song was a good bet im my books. As for Eve yes it may be dark but it kind of has a Rainy Days feel to it (karens vocasl is not as mature but the signs were there) and could also be released as a single. Offering was not a comercial record overall it was something Richard said he had to release even if it was not where he was musically speaking I don't think Richard expected a hit from this record other than Ticket to Ride (probably thinking along the lines of what Rick said). I loved the record but I am hard pressed to find a song that would be a major hit as a single off of it.

Hi E... just had to comment on your comment again...

As for interrupting... you are not interrupting anywhere... all conversations on this board are open for anyone to participate and add their viewpoints and interpretations. I am glad you stepped into this conversation with us.

This talk on "Offering" has made me pull the disc out and give it a listen.

Of course as expected I was very pleased. I did skip over "Get Together", "What's The Use" and "Turn Away", but listened to all the rest of the songs on the album.

In my listening of the album I came to change my opinion on the song "Someday". For a while I have been saying that I don't really care for the song... but after listening to it again today I have come around to loving the tune. Karen's vocal performance, despite a few flaws, is excellent and the arrangement is incredible.

I also came to the conclusion (once again) that although I have a great respect for Hal Blaine's drumming technique, I far more love Karen's drumwork. Blaine is strong on technique, while Karen was strong on style and originality. She added little extras in her drumwork which is highly evident as you listen to her work on "Clancy".