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Versions

For almost 4 decades the Carpenters sound has been played on countless stereos, radio stations, malls, and everywhere.
 
Fortunately we have been blessed with several versions of Carpenters songs.

This page pays attention to all the different versions of Carpenters songs. From the Quadraphonic era to the Super Audio era.


UNDER CONSTRUCTION!  COME BACK SOON!

 

 

ALTERNATE VERSIONS  / TV PERFORMANCES / RADIO SHOWS, etc

 

NOWHERE MAN:

There are 2 versions of this track circulating, the first would be the officially released on the "As Time Goes By" album. The second is what is considered the REAL version (which is unreleased and is probably apt to stay that way) - this version is the DEMO version, it only contains the piano and vocal - they are both BEAUTIFUL!

 

ICED TEA:

There is 1 offically released "studio-type" recording of this song that is available on the BOX SET " The Essential Collection" (originally released in 1991 as "From The Top").  The other existing version was a concert recording from the 1966 "Battle of the Bands" (which is "live").

 

 

ALL OF MY LIFE:

There are 2 known existing versions of this song - the album version on "Ticket to Ride" and the Spectrum Demo version (1967) that Richard played on the Japanese TV Special "Carpenters Forever."  It is beautiful, from what we hear.  Perhaps this will be on a future release.

In addition to that, a "live" version was recorded for the Radio Show "Your Navy Presents" in 1970.

 

DANCING IN THE STREET:

There are three versions of this song out there, 1 being the 1977 "mini" version from the "Space Encounter" TV Special (released in 2001 on "As Time Goes By").  The other 2 versions are from the 1968 "Your All American College Show" performances.  One from their first appearance and the other from the semi-finals.

 

GOODNIGHT:

There are 2 versions of this song as well.  One was released on the box set "From The Top"  (but wasn't released on "The Essential Collection").  That version was a re-edited version that Richard fixed, the other version is the unedited version where Karen forgets the correct lyrics.

 

CRESCENT NOON:

There are 2 versions of this song as well.  The first being from the CSLUB Choir Sessions and the other on their "Close To You" LP.

 

 

TICKET TO RIDE:

Almost every fanatic knows that there are 3 versions of the Carpenters classic "Ticket To Ride" - first from the album "Ticket To Ride" (aka "Offering") and the new "remixed with new lead vocals" that was released on the "The Singles 1969-1973" album.  The former is the hardest to find, but is available on the REMASTERED CLASSIC of "Ticket to Ride."   There was also a recorded LIVE VERSIOn from the "Your Navy Presents" Radio Show.

 

There was also a SINGLE EDIT version of this song that was released to the radio on MONO.  It is completely different in sound.

 

INVOCATION:

There are 2 versions of this song that are released, the first being the ALBUM VERSION (on Ticket to Ride ) and the SECOND beinf the DEMO VERSION which was released on "From The Top" and "The Essential Collection."

 

YOUR WONDERFUL PARADE:

There are 3 versions of this song out there.  The ALBUM VERSION (on Ticket to Ride) and the DEMO VERSION which was released on From The Top and The Essential Collection.

 

There was also a MONO VERSION released to RADIOS as well, which is different in sound.

 

GET TOGETHER:


There are 2 versions of this song as well, the ALBUM VERSION from Ticket To Ride and a live version  on the 1970 Radio Show "Your Navy Presents".

 

NOWADAYS CLANCY CAN'T EVEN SING:

There are 2 versions of this song as well, the ALBUM VERSION from Ticket To Ride and a live version  on the 1970 Radio Show "Your Navy Presents".

 

ALL I CAN DO:

There are 2 versions of this song as well, the ALBUM VERSION from Ticket To Ride and a live version  on the 1970 Radio Show "Your Navy Presents".

 

MR GUDER:

There are 2 versions of this song as well, the ALBUM VERSION from Close To You and a "unsweetend" version that was used before the recording sessions of the album on the 1970 Radio Show "Your Navy Presents"

 

BABY IT'S YOU:


There are 2 versions of this song as well, the ALBUM VERSION from Close To You and a "unsweetend" version that was used before the recording sessions of the album on the 1970 Radio Show "Your Navy Presents".

 

BACHARACH / DAVID MEDLEY:


There are 2 versions of this song as well, the ALBUM VERSION from Close To You and a live version on the 1970 Radio Show "Your Navy Presents".

 

LOVE IS SURRENDER:

There are 2 versions of this song as well, the ALBUM VERSION from Close To You and a live version on the 1970 Radio Show "Your Navy Presents".

 

FLAT BAROQUE:

There are 2 versions of this song as well, the ALBUM VERSION from A Song For You and a live version on the 1970 Radio Show "Your Navy Presents".

 

HELP!:

There are 2 versions of this song as well, the ALBUM VERSION from "A Song For You" and a live version on the 1970 Radio Show "Your Navy Presents".

 

(THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU:

There are 3 songs, there is an INTRODUCTION that is linked to the song "We've Only Just Begun" on the "The Singles 1969 - 1973" album, and the ALBUM VERSION on the "Close To You" album (with an extended outro) as opposed to the SINGLE VERSION which is available on every Carpenters compilation with the song on it.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS, DARLING:

There are 3 unique versions of this song.  First being the single version released in 1970, the second version with the re-recorded lead vocals that was released on the 1978 "Christmas Portrait" album, and in the early 1990's Richard remixed the holiday track with a unique remix that was released on the Time Life 2-CD set "Christmas with the Carpenters."

 

MORTON'S POTATO CHIPS COMMERCIALS:

There are 2 version of the song, both on the commercials on the DVD "Close To You: Remembering the Carpenters".

 

BLESS THE BEASTS AND CHILDREN:

There are 2 version of this song, the album version on the "A Song For You" album and the SINGLE VERSION which was released on the LP soundtrack of the movie "Bless The Beasts and Children".  The soundtrack versions has a keyboard in the place of the oboe in the song.  The SOUNDTRACK version finally made its' CD debut on the Japanese Singles Box in 2006.

 

ONE LOVE:

There are 2 versions of this song, 1 from the "Carpenters" album (which is the ALBUM VERSION) and the other is from the "Make Your Own Kind of Music" 1971 TV Special - the difference is that Richard has the Keyboards LIVE with the prerecorded music.

 

SOMETIMES:

There is 2 versions of this song, the album version from "Carpenters" and the LIVE version from the TV show "Robert Young with the Young."

 

TOP OF THE WORLD:

There are 3 versions of this song, the album version on "A Song For You", the single version on "The Singles 1969-1973", and the Quad version which mixes the lead vocals from the album to the instrumental of the single on one track.

 

SING:

There are many recordings of this song, the album version from "Now & Then", the SPANISH version that was released on the box set "From The Top" (which is now out of print).  In addition to this, there is a UNSWEETENED version out there and the QUADRAPHONIC mix out there as well.

 

YESTERDAY ONCE MORE:

There are many recordings (6 to my knowledge) of this song as well, the ALBUM VERSION from the "Now and Then" album, the SINGLE version on " The Singles 1969 -1973" ,The SHORT VERSION which was released on "Now and Then" cassettes, the REPRISE on the "Now and Then" album, the Quadraphonic mix, and an unreleased UNSWEETEND version.

 

PLEASE MR. POSTMAN:

Before the Horizon release the SINGLE version of this song was released in 1974.  The single version contains 'dryer' vocals compared to the ALBUM version released on Horizon. The single version made it's CD debut in 2006 on the Japanese Singles Box.

 

SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN:

There are 3 versions for this Christmas classic. The first was released in 1974 as a single.  This version is a slower, sexier version as compared to the 1978 version released on the "Christmas Portrait" which is a peppier version.  The song was also released with a different sax solo on the "An Old-Fashioned Christmas" album in 1984.

 


PERRY COMO MEDLEY:

In 1974 Karen and Richard appeared on THE PERRY COMO SHOW.  There are 2 versions of this medley out there.  First being the original broadcast version, the 2nd being a longer, extended medley that was released on the 2001 "As Time Goes By" album.

 

ONLY YESTERDAY:

There are 3-note worthy versions of the 1975 song "Only Yesterday."  First being the single version, which is simply an edit of the album version, as well as the Quadraphonic version.

 

FROM THIS MOMENT ON:

Karen and Richard added the song "From This Moment On" to their 1976 tour.  There are 2 released versions of this song, the first being released on the 1976 "Live At The Palladium" album and the second was originally recorded in 1980 to be a part of their last TV special MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC!.  The song was cut from the special but was put on their 1995 compilation INTERPRETATIONS: A 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

 


CAN'T SMILE WITHOUT YOU:

There are 2 versions of this song.  The album version from the "A Kind of Hush" LP and the single version which was the B-side to the "Calling Occupants" single.  The major difference is the opening, there are completely alternate lyrics to the single version saying "I can't laugh and I can't sleep, I don't even talk to people I meet" as opposed to "I can't laugh, and I can't walk...I'm finding it hard even to talk."

 

CALLING OCCUPANTS OF INTERPLANETARY CRAFT:

There are 2-known versions of this song.  The album version which is housed on "Passage" and the single edit version. The single edit which lasts 4 minutes and 8 seconds as compared to the album version which durates 7 minutes and 9 seconds.   Besides from the edit, the final line of the edit "you close your eyes and concentrate, together that's the way..." is not dubbed or given special effects.

 

DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA:

There are 2 'edits' to this song out there:  the first being the version that appears on the Passage album, which (like the musical) is opened with "On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada) and then segues into the song.  The other version is the 'edited version', which excludes the opening.

 

MAN SMART, WOMAN SMARTER:

2 versions of this cover song were recorded, the album version as well as a 'duet' version with Suzanne Somers which appeared on the 1977 TV Special "Space Encounters."

 

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN:

Karen and Richard recorded 3 different versions of this Christmas song.

The first being a lively version which they housed on Christmas Portrait.  The 2nd was a single originally released in 1974, this version is a sultry version of the track, unlike anyone else has ever done.  The third is the same song, except with an alternate saxaphone solo in the middle of the song.  The 3rd version was released on the An Old-Fasioned Christmas album. The 'original single version' was released for the first time on compact disc in late 2006 on the Japanese-only release Japanese Singles Box.

 

AVE MARIA:

For the Christmas Portrait release Richard recorded "Ave Maria" once with the same vocals.  A 2nd version (the same as the first, but with the added choir) was finally released in 1984.  The 'older' version is now considered a 'rare' song, as it was only released briefly on compact disc in the 1990's on an 'accidental' German release of the Christmas Portrait album.

 

Winter Wonderland / Silver Bells / White Christmas:

This song is presented 2 ways, the original version (as released on the Christmas Portrait album) and an 'edit' version of just the "White Christmas" track was released on the Time Life set "Christmas with the Carpenters" and all Reader's Digest compilations

 

THOSE GOOD OLD DREAMS:

2 versions of this song exists:  the single version (which includes more synthesizer) and the album version that appears on the Made In America album. The single version made it's CD debut on the 2006 Japanese Singles Box.

 

(WANT YOU) BACK IN MY LIFE AGAIN:

This song is presented in 2 ways:  a)  The album version from Made In America  and b) the Single edit which edits the transition from "When You've Got What It Takes."  The edit was first released on the 2006 Netherlands compilation The Ultimate Collection and later on the Japanese Singles Box.

 

WHEN YOU'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES:

Just like the song above, the 2 edits exist.

 

MAKE BELIEVE IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME:

This unique song was recorded twice:  one for Karen's solo album in 1979 and in 1981 for a Carpenters album (which ultimately became Made In America.) The solo piano version was released in 1996 on Karen Carpenter and the orchestral version (with an added bridge) was completed after Karen's death and included on the Voice of the Heart album in 1983.  And 'edited' version of the track was released as the lead single for the album which excludes Karen saying 'uhh...I gotta get into a serious mood here.'

 

LOOK TO YOUR DREAMS:

This track from Voice of the Heart is presented as the album version, and also a single edit was released which excludes the piano solo at the end of the song.

 

HONOLULU CITY LIGHTS:

2 versions of this track exist:  the demo version and the album version.

 

QUADRAPHONIC MIXES:

Quadraphonic mixes were recorded for the following albums:

Carpenters

A Song For You

Now & Then

The Singles 1969-1973
Horizon


SOLO WORKS:

COMING SOON

In addition to these versions, Richard has issued many remixes on various compilations all over the world.  I plan to document these in the Summer of 2008

Aurora