Carpenters » Tracks » Superstar

Carpenters – Superstar (3:46)

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About This Track

“Superstar” became its biggest hit version for the Carpenters. Richard Carpenter was unaware of the Bramlett or Mad Dogs originals, but as he later wrote in a compilation album’s liner notes: “I came home from the studio one night and heard a then relatively unknown Bette Midler performing this song on the Tonight Show. I could barely wait to arrange and record it. (It remains one of my favorites).”

Carpenter’s arrangement featured an oboe line at the start, followed by Karen Carpenter’s clear contralto voice set against a quiet bass line in the verses, which then built up to up-tempo choruses with a quasi-orchestral use of horns and strings. Produced by Richard with Jack Daugherty, it was recorded with members of the famed Los Angeles session musicians The Wrecking Crew. It is said that Karen Carpenter recorded her vocal in just one take, using lyrics scribbled on a napkin. Since the song’s subject was more risqué than usual for the clean-cut image of the Carpenters, Richard changed a lyric in the second verse[2] from:

And I can hardly wait
To sleep with you again

To the somewhat less suggestive:

And I can hardly wait
To be with you again.

The duo’s rendition was included on the May 1971 album Carpenters, and then released as a single in September 1971. It rose to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart that autumn and earned gold record status. It also reached number 18 on the UK pop singles chart and did well in Australia and New Zealand as well.
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Albums featuring this track

  • Carpenters Gold
    Carpenters Play
    Buy
  • Carpenters
    Carpenters Play
    Buy
  • The Essential Collection (1965-1997)
    Carpenters Play
    Buy
  • Carpenters
    The Carpenters Play
    Buy
See all 22 albums

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  • Jane191

    Beautiful voice & song.....Sonic Youth does an excellent cover of this, just saying

    Monday afternoon

  • licoricepizza

    her voice. my god, her voice.

    17 days ago

  • robmc65

    had and still does

    21 days ago

  • Bandit17C

    Karen Carpenter had one of the most beautiful voices in the history of pop music.

    last month

  • iloveyoucher

    I love this song,I love Carpenters ;P

    March 2012

  • AminorGoof

    exhilarating

    December 2011

  • lemonlizz

    The very first couple of seconds gives me chills..

    December 2011

  • ldpazos

    These guys are fantastic. Marvellous music for my ears.

    November 2011

  • juanpagan

    como los echo de menos....mis carpenters....que dias aquellos tan maravillosos cada vez que escuchabas una cancion de los carpenters en la radio....era como cuando sale el arcoiris despues de una tarde de lluvia...que ricos y refrescantes eran sus canciones....AHHHHHHHH

    November 2011

  • LadyEhab

    Hauntingly Euphoric

    October 2011

  • blueskyfrank

    Lovely classic...

    October 2011

  • davidmills71

    Perfect..

    September 2011

  • ravenclaw94

    Chilling.

    September 2011

  • Ana_Nimos

    long ago and so far away, i fell in love with you before the second show,,ugh!!! sound so sweet and clear..love this sad beautiful song.

    August 2011

  • YukinoKary

    Beautiful song! =')

    August 2011

  • yellowcloud

    sik1

    July 2011

  • chatterbabe

    A GREAT SONG FOR SURE

    April 2011

  • corky64

    Great track....<3

    April 2011

  • AAAnimal

    Beautiful voice, and she played drums too.

    April 2011

  • FICTON1

    wonderful ..... *,*

    April 2011
See all 173 shouts

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