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The Essential Carpenters: Ranking Their Top 20 Songs

Karen Carpenter was the purest singer in pop music history, tied with Olivia Newton-John (here's Olivia's top 66 songs), and that purity was always tinged with sadness and vulnerability. But there was a strength, as well, that would shine through, and if she hadn't tragically been taken from us far too soon, it would have been fascinating to see where she took the latter part of her career.

Today would have been her 65th birthday, so let's take a look back back at some of the greatest hits from Karen and Richard. This is a good place to start The Essential Carpenters Collection.

19. PLEASE MR. POSTMAN

YEAR: 1975

HOT 100: #1

UK: #2

Fourteen years after The Marvelettes hit #1, The Carpenters' cover version also hit the top of the charts, becoming their third and final #1 hit on the Hot 100.

19. CALLING OCCUPANTS OF INTERPLANETARY CRAFT

YEAR: 1977

HOT 100: #32

UK: #9

Originally recorded by Klaatu for "World Contact Day," it marked one of the more unusual outings for Richard and Karen.

18. MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING

YEAR: 1983

HOT 100: N/A

UK: #45

Was there ever a better voice tailor made for holiday songs? Richard co-wrote this classic.

17. MAKE BELIEVE IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME

YEAR: 1983

HOT 100: (bubbled under at #101)

UK: #60

From the posthumous album Voice Of The Heart, it was originally recorded for Karen's ill-fated solo album in 1979 (which was shelved until 1996), and was re-recorded by Richard with Karen's vocals and a new production.

16. GOODBYE TO LOVE

YEAR: 1972

HOT 100: #7

UK: #9

Majestic full throttle power ballad with a great guitar solo and stellar vocal.

15. ONLY YESTERDAY

YEAR: 1975

HOT 100: #4

UK: #7

The Carpenters ticket to ride to the top came to an end here, as "Only Yesterday" was their final top hit on the Hot 100.

14. SOLITAIRE

YEAR: 1975

HOT 100: #17

UK: #32

The Carpenters had the biggest hit version of this Neil Sedaka classic (even though it didn't climb to the top like their previous hits), and Richard has said that Karen was never happy with how the song turned out.

13. THERE'S A KIND OF HUSH (ALL OVER THE WORLD)

YEAR: 1976

HOT 100: #12

UK: #22

A top five hit for Herman's Hermits in the 60's, The Carpenters' remake narrowly missed the top ten, and was their final top 20 hit of the decade.

12. YESTERDAY ONCE MORE

YEAR: 1973

HOT 100: #2

UK: #2

Their fifth song to peak at #2, it was their biggest hit in the UK.

11. SING

YEAR: 1973

HOT 100: #3

UK: N/A

Written for Sesame Street, Barbra Streisand was the first to record it, but The Carpenters had the hit version

10. BLESS THE BEASTS AND THE CHILDREN

YEAR: 1971

HOT 100: #67

UK: N/A

The B side to "Superstar," it was an Oscar nominee for Original Song for the film of the same name.

9. HURTING EACH OTHER

YEAR: 1972

HOT 100: #2

UK: N/A

One of Karen's most soaring vocal performances.

8. TOP OF THE WORLD

YEAR: 1973

HOT 100: #1

UK: #5

Originally recorded in 1972 and not intended to be a single, Karen re-recorded it after country singer Lynn Anderson had a huge country hit with her cover version. The result was the second #1 smash for The Carpenters.

7. CLOSE TO YOU

YEAR: 1970

HOT 100: #1

UK: #6

The song that started their chart dominance, it was first recorded by Richard Chamberlain! and Dionne Warwick, but The Carpenters took it to the top, and gave us one the greatest easy listening songs of all time. And don't forget ... it's Marge and Homer's love song.

6. TOUCH ME WHEN WE'RE DANCING

YEAR: 1981

HOT 100: #16

UK: N/A

Their only top 40 hit of the 80's, it showed a more modern sound, and Karen was still in fine voice even with her personal troubles.

5. WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN

YEAR: 1971

HOT 100: #2

UK: #28

"And when the evening comes, we smile. So much of life ahead." I can't even ...

4. RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS

YEAR: 1971

HOT 100: #2

UK: N/A

"Nothing is really wrong, feeling like I don't belong." So many of the lyrics in The Carpenters songs are even more heartbreaking in hindsight, and that's certainly the case with this AM Gold classic.

3. FOR ALL WE KNOW

YEAR: 1971

HOT 100: #3

UK: #18 (double a side with "Superstar")

The Oscar winning song from "Lovers And Other Strangers" has one of Karen's most gorgeous vocals.

2. A SONG FOR YOU

YEAR: 1971

HOT 100: N/A

UK: N/A

This Leon Russell song has been covered by everyone from Andy Williams to Christina Aguilera, but this version always ... always ... makes me emotional. "And when my life is over ..."

1. SUPERSTAR

YEAR: 1971

HOT 100: #2

UK: #18

After hearing Bette Midler perform "Superstar" in one of her earliest Tonight Show appearances in 1970, Richard convinced Karen to record it (after it had already been recorded by such stars as Rita Coolidge and Cher), and the result was, in my opinion, the greatest example of the sadness, vulnerability and strength of Karen Carpenter's voice. "Superstar" has been recorded numerous times since (Luther Vandross had a notable cover in the 80's), but this will always be the definitive version, and for me, the definitive Carpenters.

Bubbling under the Top 20: "I Won't Last a Day Without You," "Ticket To Ride," "It's Going To Take Some Time"

Okay, your turn! What's in your Essential Carpenters Collection?

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