The Carpenters discography

The Carpenters discography
Karen and Richard Carpenter at the White House on August 1, 1972
Studio albums14
Live albums2
Compilation albums16
Video albums3
Singles49
B-sides15
Soundtrack albums3
Tribute albums1

The discography of the American pop group the Carpenters consists of 14 studio albums, two Christmas albums, two live albums, 49 singles, and numerous compilation albums. The duo was made up of siblings Karen (lead vocals and drums) and Richard Carpenter (keyboards and vocals).

The siblings started their musical career together in the latter half of the 1960s. In October 1969, six months after they signed a contract with A&M Records, the Carpenters released their debut album Offering (its title was later changed to Ticket to Ride). Within a year, they rose to prominence with their chart-topping single "(They Long to Be) Close to You", a Burt Bacharach and Hal David composition that had not been commercially successful when it was recorded by television star Richard Chamberlain in 1963.

The Carpenters garnered worldwide commercial success, scoring big hits mainly in the first half of the 1970s. RIAA-certified sales of their records (albums, singles and videos) have been estimated at around 34.6 million units. In the United Kingdom, they are ranked as the seventh top-selling albums artist on the official record chart of the 1970s. During their career, the duo scored 1 number one album and another 4 Top 10 albums on Billboard 200, 3 number ones singles, 12 top 10 singles and 20 top 40 hits on Billboard Hot 100. They have also been the third-best-selling international music act in the Japanese market, only behind Mariah Carey and the Beatles. By 2005, they had reportedly sold more than 100 million copies of records worldwide.

Albums

Studio albums

Throughout their career, the Carpenters released 14 original albums, including two Christmas offerings. Most recently they released As Time Goes By in 2001 in Japan, and 2004 internationally.

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US
AUS
CAN
JPN
UK
1969 Ticket to Ride (First released under the title Offering) 150 19 88 20
1970 Close to You
  • Released: August 19, 1970
  • Label: A&M/Polydor
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download
2 16 1 53 23
1971 Carpenters
  • Released: May 14, 1971
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download
2 16 6 47 12
  • RIAA: 4× Platinum
  • BPI: Gold
1972 A Song for You
  • Released: June 22, 1972
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download
4 6 5 5 13
  • RIAA: 3× Platinum
1973 Now & Then
  • Released: May 1, 1973
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download
2 3 2 1 2
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum
  • BPI: Gold
1975 Horizon
  • Released: June 6, 1975
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download
13 21 4 1 1
  • RIAA: Platinum
  • BPI: Gold
  • MC: Gold
1976 A Kind of Hush
  • Released: June 11, 1976
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download
33 57 22 5 3
  • RIAA: Gold
  • BPI: Gold
1977 Passage
  • Released: September 23, 1977
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, tape, cassette, 8-track CD, digital download
49 48 57 7 12
  • BPI: Gold
1978 Christmas Portrait
  • Released: October 13, 1978
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
56 104
  • RIAA: Platinum
  • MC: Gold
1981 Made in America
  • Released: June 16, 1981
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
52 50 44 12
  • BPI: Silver
1983 Voice of the Heart
  • Released: October 18, 1983
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
46 54 41 6
  • RIAA: Gold
  • BPI: Gold
1984 An Old-Fashioned Christmas
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
190
  • RIAA: Gold
1989 Lovelines
  • Released: October 31, 1989
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
73
2001 As Time Goes By
  • Released: August 1, 2001
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: CD, digital download
18
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

There are two live albums that the Carpenters have released officially, though neither of them were issued in their homeland.

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
JPN
UK
1975 Live in Japan
  • Released: March 7, 1975
  • Recorded: June 1974
  • Label: A&M/King
  • Released in Japan only
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD
8
1976 Live at the Palladium
  • Released: December 1976
  • Recorded: November 1976
  • Label: A&M
  • Not released in the U.S.
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD
24 28
  • BPI: Gold

Solo albums

Year Title Notes
1987 Time
1996 Karen Carpenter
  • Released: October 8, 1996
  • Karen's first and only solo album, released posthumously
  • Produced from recording sessions with Phil Ramone in New York City in 1979–1980
  • Out of print in the United States
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download
1998 Pianist • Arranger •
Composer • Conductor
  • Released: January 27, 1998
  • Richard's second and latest solo album
  • Includes instrumentals of popular Carpenters songs
  • Dedicated to Richard's deceased mother, Agnes Carpenter
  • Out of print
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download

Compilations

Following releases are "greatest-hits" albums of the Carpenters released in the United States, Canada, and/or the United Kingdom.

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US
AUS
JPN
UK
CAN
1973 The Singles: 1969–1973 1 1 1
  • RIAA: 7× Platinum
  • BPI: Platinum
  • MC: Platinum
1978 The Singles: 1974–1978
  • Released: November 1978
  • Label: A&M
  • Not released in the U.S.
  • Formats: LP, cassette
2
1984 Yesterday Once More
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
144 35 10
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum
  • BPI: Platinum
1990 Only Yesterday
  • Released: March 1990
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
9 1
  • ARIA: Platinum
  • BPI: 5× Platinum
1995 Interpretations
  • Released: February 7, 1995
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download
29
  • BPI: Gold+Silver
1997 Love Songs
  • Released: 1997
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download
106 47
  • RIAA: Gold
  • BPI: Gold
1998 Reflections
  • Released: June 30, 1998
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download[I]
  • BPI: Silver
2000 The Singles: 1969–1981
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download
45 19 73 65
2003 Carpenters Perform Carpenter
  • Released: July 29, 2003
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download
2004 Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition
  • Expanded version of the European compilation released in 2000
  • Released: February 10, 2004
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: CD, digital download
101 79 4
  • RIAA: Gold
  • BPI: 4× Platinum
2006 The Ultimate Collection
  • Released: November 26, 2006
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: CD, digital download
41
  • BPI: Gold
2009 40/40
  • Released: April 22, 2009
  • Label: A&M / Universal
  • Formats: CD, digital download
3 21
  • BPI: Gold
  • RIAJ: Gold
2014 Icon
  • Released: December 24, 2014
  • Label: A&M / UMe
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2015 The Complete Singles
  • Released: November 2015
  • Label: A&M / TJL Productions / UMe
  • Format: CD (3 disc set)- available by PBS donation only
2016 The Nation's Favourite Songs
  • Released: September 2016
  • Label: A&M
  • Format: CD, digital download
2
  • BPI: Silver
2018 Carpenters with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 29 25 8
  • BPI: Gold

^ I Album only downloadable in the UK.
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Box sets

Year Album details
1991

From the Top

  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2002

The Essential Collection: 1965–1997

  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Limited releases

  • Golden Prize (Japan only)
    • Released: September 10, 1971
    • Label: A&M/King
    • Format: LP, cassette
    • Chart position(s): #3 (JPN)

  • Golden Double Deluxe (Japan only)
    • Released: February 10, 1972
    • Label: A&M/King
    • Format: LP
    • Chart position(s): #10 (JPN)

  • Great Hits of the Carpenters (Australia)
    • Released: 1972
    • Label: A&M/King
    • Format: LP
    • Chart position(s): #3 (AUS)

  • GEM I (Japan only)
    • Released: October 10, 1972
    • Label: A&M/King
    • Format: LP
    • Chart position(s): #13 (JPN)

  • MAX 20 (Japan only)
    • Released: March 10, 1973
    • Label: A&M/King
    • Format: LP
    • Chart position(s): #26 (JPN)

  • GEM II (Japan only)
    • Released: October 25, 1973
    • Label: A&M/King
    • Format(s): LP
    • Chart position(s): #3 (JPN)

  • Great Hits of the Carpenters Volume 2 (Australia)
    • Released: 1972
    • Label: A&M/King
    • Format: LP
    • Chart position(s): #24 (AUS)

  • Golden Prize Volume II (Japan only)
    • Released: April 10, 1974
    • Label: A&M/King
    • Format(s): LP, cassette
    • Chart position(s): #1 (JPN)

  • Big Star (Japan only)
    • Released: June 1, 1974
    • Label: A&M/King
    • Format(s): Cassette
    • Chart position(s): #20 (JPN)

  • Special Series (Japan only)
    • Released: November 1, 1976
    • Label: A&M/King
    • Format(s): Cassette
    • Chart position(s): #36 (JPN)

  • Ketteiban (The Definitive) (Japan only)
    • Released: June 21, 1982
    • Label: A&M/Alfa
    • Format(s): Cassette
    • Chart position(s): #61 (JPN)


  • Only Yesterday (a.k.a. Their Greatest Hits)
    • Released: March 1990
    • Label: A&M
    • Format(s): LP, cassette, CD, digital download
    • Chart position(s): #1 (UK), #8 (NOR), #9 (AUS), #25 (JPN), #25 (NZ)
    • Certification(s): 5× Platinum (BPI), Platinum (RIAJ), Platinum (ARIA)

  • Seishun no Kagayaki: The Best of (22 Hits of the Carpenters) (Japan only)
    • Released: November 10, 1995
    • Label: A&M / Polydor Japan
    • Format(s): CD, MD, cassette
    • Chart position(s): #3 (JPN)
    • Certification(s): 12× Platinum (RIAJ)

  • Yesterday Once More: De Nederlandse Singles Collectie (Netherlands only)
    • Released: 2001
    • Label: A&M / Universal
    • Format(s): CD
    • Chart position(s): #22 (NVPI)

Singles

Year Single Chart position B-side Certifications Album
US
US AC
AUS
CAN
CAN AC
GER
IRE
JPN
NL
NZ
UK
1966 "Looking for Love" (credited solely to Karen Carpenter) "I'll Be Yours" From the Top – The Essential Collection
1969 "Ticket to Ride" 54 19 24 "Your Wonderful Parade" Offering
1970 "(They Long to Be) Close to You" 1 1 1 1 6 71 30 9 6 "I Kept on Loving You"
  • RIAA: Gold
Close to You
"We've Only Just Begun" 2 1 6 1 1 71 28 "All of My Life"
  • RIAA: Gold
"Merry Christmas, Darling" 50 45 "Mr. Guder" Christmas Portrait
1971 "For All We Know" 3 1 10 5 1 6 18 "Don't Be Afraid"
  • RIAA: Gold
Carpenters
"Rainy Days and Mondays" 2 1 35 3 1 72 53 "Saturday"
  • RIAA: Gold
"Superstar" 2 1 35 3 1 7 19 9 18 "Bless the Beasts and Children"
  • RIAA: Gold
"Bless the Beasts and Children" 16 & 67 26 25 85 B-side of "Superstar" A Song for You
1972 "Hurting Each Other" 2 1 4 2 3 56 7 "Maybe It's You"
  • RIAA: Gold
"It's Going to Take Some Time" 12 2 24 14 1 48 "Flat Baroque"
"Goodbye to Love" 7 2 25 4 1 12 55 5 9 "Crystal Lullaby"
1973 "Sing" 3 1 24 4 5 18 7 55 "Druscilla Penny"
  • RIAA: Gold
Now & Then
"Yesterday Once More" 2 1 9 1 1 21 8 5 5 2 "Road Ode"
  • RIAA: Gold
  • BPI: Silver
"Top of the World" 1 2 1 1 2 38 3 21 12 14 5 "Heather"
  • RIAA: Gold
  • BPI: Silver
A Song for You
1974 "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" 95 50 12 28 3 13 12 "Mr. Guder" Now & Then
"I Won't Last a Day Without You" 11 1 63 7 1 40 32 "One Love" A Song for You
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" 37 "Merry Christmas, Darling" An Old Fashioned Christmas
"Please Mr. Postman" 1 1 1 1 1 10 2 11 29 4 2 "This Masquerade"
  • RIAA: Gold
  • BPI: Silver
  • MC: Gold
Horizon
1975 "Only Yesterday" 4 1 16 2 2 43 5 12 10 7 "Happy"
"Solitaire" 17 1 61 12 3 44 6 32 "Love Me for What I Am"
1976 "There's a Kind of Hush" 12 1 33 8 1 7 27 5 22 "(I'm Caught Between) Goodbye and I Love You" A Kind of Hush
"I Need to Be in Love" 25 1 47 24 1 14 62 36 "Sandy"
"Goofus" 56 4 82 6 "Boat to Sail"
"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" 71 "I Have You"
1977 "All You Get from Love Is a Love Song" 35 4 89 38 5 68 54 "I Have You" Passage
"Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" 32 18 13 18 10 1 19 9 "Can't Smile Without You"
1978 "Sweet, Sweet Smile" 44 7 100 43 7 22 59 22 40 "I Have You"
"I Believe You" 68 9 81 22 "B'wana, She No Home" Made in America
1981 "Touch Me When We're Dancing" 16 1 78 4 22 "Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song)"
"(Want You) Back in My Life Again" 72 14 "Somebody's Been Lyin'"
"Those Good Old Dreams" 63 21 9 "When It's Gone (It's Just Gone)"
1982 "Beechwood 4-5789" 74 18 9 "Two Sides"
1983 "Make Believe It's Your First Time" 101 7 80 2 20 60 "Look to Your Dreams" Voice of the Heart
1984 "Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore" 12 21 "Sailing on the Tide"
"Now" "Look to Your Dreams"
"Little Altar Boy" "Do You Hear What I Hear?" An Old Fashioned Christmas
1986 "Honolulu City Lights" "I Just Fall in Love Again" Lovelines
1987 "Something in Your Eyes"
(Richard Carpenter featuring Dusty Springfield)
12 "Time" Time
1989 "If I Had You" (Karen Carpenter) 18 "The Uninvited Guest" Lovelines
1990 "Merry Christmas, Darling" (re-issue) 18 25 "(They Long to Be) Close to You" Christmas Portrait
1991 "Let Me Be the One" (promotional single) From the Top
1993 "Rainy Days and Mondays" (re-issue) 63 "Goodbye to Love"
1994 "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" 44 "Sing" Interpretations
1995 "I Need to Be in Love" (Japan re-issue) 5 "Top of the World" 22 Hits of the Carpenters
1996 "Make Believe It's Your First Time" (Karen Carpenter) "If We Try" Karen Carpenter
"Ave Maria" "Merry Christmas, Darling" Christmas Portrait
1998 "Karen's Theme" (Richard Carpenter) No B-side Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor
2001 "The Rainbow Connection" 47 "Leave Yesterday Behind", "Medley" As Time Goes By
2003 "Top of the World" (Japan re-issue) 83 "Top of the World", "Sing" (karaoke) Gold

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
  • "Top of the World" charted four times in Japan, at #21 in 1972 and again in 1973 (to coincide with the song's US success), when it peaked at #52. In 1995 it was the B-side of the reissue of "I Need to Be in Love", and subsequently it charted a fourth time (as an A-side) at #83.
  • "Bless The Beasts and Children" received enough of its own airplay that Billboard Hot 100 listed the single as "Superstar"/"Bless The Beasts and Children", charting first at #16 on 11/20/71, and then #21 on 11/27/71.
  • "Bless The Beasts and Children peaked at #67 on 1/15/71 as an A-side, following 13 weeks listed as the B-side of "Superstar".
  • "Sweet, Sweet Smile" peaked at #8 on Billboard's Country singles chart.
  • "Superstar" and "For All We Know" were released as a double A-side in the UK.
  • "I Won't Last a Day Without You" was originally released as an A-side in the UK in 1972 with "Goodbye to Love" as the B-side. However, the sides were switched shortly after the record's release. The former was later released as an A-side in the UK in 1974 to coincide with its first US release as an A-side.
  • "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" reached #1 in the Republic of Ireland, becoming the duo's biggest hit there.
  • The UK re-issue of "Merry Christmas, Darling" in 1990 features the second recorded version of the song from their 1978 Christmas Portrait album as opposed to the original 1970 version.

Music videos

Holiday 100 chart entries

Since many radio stations in the US adopt a format change to Christmas music each December, many holiday hits have an annual spike in popularity during the last few weeks of the year and are retired once the season is over. In December 2011, Billboard began a Holiday Songs chart with 50 positions that monitors the last five weeks of each year to "rank the top holiday hits of all eras using the same methodology as the Hot 100, blending streaming, airplay, and sales data", and in 2013 the number of positions on the chart was doubled, resulting in the Holiday 100. A handful of Carpenters recordings have made appearances on the Holiday 100 and are noted below according to the holiday season in which they charted there.

Title Holiday season peak chart positions Album
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" 32 47 55 82 81 64 74 Christmas Portrait
"Merry Christmas Darling" 35 24 38 53 63 25 57 38 40 81 73 73 85
"Home for the Holidays" 41 45 65 57 36 92 82 88 97 An Old-Fashioned Christmas
"Sleigh Ride" 78 99 95 Christmas Portrait
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" 72

Videos

Title Notes Certifications
Gold: Greatest Hits
  • Released originally in 1985 on VHS only under the name Yesterday Once More
  • Repackaged in 2002 on DVD under the name Gold: Greatest Hits
  • Carpenters' first video compilation
  • Label: A&M Video
  • Formats: Betamax, video cassette, laserdisc, DVD
  • RIAA: Gold
  • ARIA: Gold
  • BPI: Gold
Interpretations
  • Released on May 9, 1995
  • Carpenters' second video compilation
  • Label: A&M Video
  • Formats: Video cassette, laserdisc, DVD
  • BPI: Gold
Close to You:
Remembering the Carpenters
  • Released on March 1, 1998
  • Carpenters' first DVD documentary
  • Label: MPI Home Video
  • Formats: Video cassette, laserdisc, DVD
  • RIAA: Gold
Carpenters: Christmas Memories
  • Released on 2016
  • Available with PBS donation only
  • Carpenters collection of Christmas videos
  • Label: A&M Video
  • Formats: DVD

Soundtracks

Year Song Notes Album
1971 "Bless the Beasts and Children"
  • Original performers of the song in the summer of 1971.
Bless the Beasts and Children (soundtrack version)
A Song for You (album version)

See also


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