21: Carpenters

Support the Official Release

You can listen to Carpenters’ self-titled 1971 release on:

• Apple Music
• Spotify

Or purchase the LP on:

• Amazon Music

Notes

• Carpenters’ discography up to their self-titled:
  • 1969’s Ticket to Ride
  • 1970’s Close to You
• Carpenters’ Christmas Portrait, which we discussed at length in Episode 18.
• Eagles’ Desperado, which Michael wrote on at length here.
• The Beatles’ self-titled, most commonly referred to as simply The White Album. Marc mused off-hand that Carpenters’ strikingly simple album art reminded him of The White Album’s cover art.

• Craig Braun—credited for the design of Carpenters’ iconic typographic logo—is most well known for his work on the The Rolling Stones’ “Tongue and Lips” logo.

  

• Michael mused that Carpenters’ logo reminded him of Lucasfilm’s logo, which similarly showcases typographic symmetry.

  

• Richard’s ridiculous shirt in the LP’s gatefold.

  

• Despite his love of the record, Michael said Lord Huron’s Strange Trails sometimes drags (mentioned when noting how brisk and easy Carpenters is for any given listen). Listen to Episode 2 for a full deep-dive.
• John Bettis, who shares in songwriting credit with Richard throughout the album.
• Gerry Rafferdy, Randy Newman, and Devendra Banhart to Marc’s ears all had similar inflections or delivery to Richard.
• Paul Williams and his original performance of “Rainy Days and Mondays”, which caught Michael’s ire since to his ears Paul’s delivery had an unusual cadence and timing that failed to properly match the backing instrumental.
• The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine”. Fun song, terrible anchor for a Jimmy Buffett concert.
• Lord Huron’s Vide Noir & Tame Impala’s Lonerism Michael felt both rode the fine line of being almost too over-baked, but were able to stick the landing and make it work.
• “Groupie (Superstar)” by Delaney & Bonnie, which while performed adequately, Marc & Michael both felt didn’t capture the track’s core essence like Carpenters did.
• “Superstar”’s backing instrumentals were performed by none other than the Wrecking Crew, famous collection of studio musicians who performed for the likes of Sonny & Cher, The Mamas & The Papas, and of course the Beach Boys on Pet Sounds.
• Don’t lie, you love that scene from Tommy Boy, too.
• Abbey Road’s Side 2 Medley, arguably the most well known rock medley in history.
• Lonesome Dove, the miniseries Michael mentioned on the show and has been trying to get me to watch for years.
• The Zombies’ Odessey and Oracle, which Marc felt “Druscilla Penny” could slip right into.
• Henry Menchini, highly regarded as one of the greatest film composers in history.

• Go home, Apple Music, you’re drunk.

  

• 1970’s Lovers and Other Strangers, featuring the original recording of “For All We Know” by Robb Royer and Jimmy Griffin.
• Michael found Fighting Shadows by Jefferson Bethke and Jon Tyson to share similar themes in its use of “shadows” as Randy Sparks’ use in “(A Place To) Hide Away”.
• In “For All We Know”, Michael found it shared some lyrical connections with Fleet Foxes’ “Montezuma”.
• Lord Huron’s Lonesome Dreams, a record Michael similarly finds to be extremely familiar, comforting, and extremely easy to listen to start to finish.

References

• Karen’s performance on “Superstar” was recorded in a single take: the first one.
• The Wrecking Crew getting their name from the grey hairs at the company that felt “Rock ‘n Roll” would ruin the industry.
• Carpenters were indeed the first to record Sometimes. The instrumental recording Michael referenced was released in 1972, a year after Carpenters’ performance on their self-titled.
• “Sunday Firesides: Be Someone’s Atmospheric Getaway” on Dying Breed, which Michael said exactly described the way Carpenters makes him feel; Carpenters is an emotionally warm sonic getaway.

“What are you telling your partner? Well as far as I can tell if you live with someone [prior to the commitment of marriage] here’s what you’re saying to each other: ‘you’re the best I can manage at the moment’.”
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson in “Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Live With Your Significant Other Before Marriage”

Art

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