If I Were A Carpenter by Various Artists - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

Not exactly a tribute album, If I Were A Carpenter (1994) is more like a psycho-aesthetic exploration of Karen and Richard Carpenter’s musical legacy. Most of the artists contributing to this project seem to be fascinated with the sibling duo’s often-haunting brand of ‘70s-era pop. But their interpretations vary radically, veering from the coyly sentimental to the coolly ironic. The Cranberries’ cover of “(They Long To Be) Close To You” and Matthew Sweet’s version of “Let Me Be The One” stick close to the originals. At the other extreme, Sonic Youth picks up on the depressive side of the Carpenters’ work and turns “Superstar” into a suicidal dirge. Several bands — including Redd Kross and Shonen Knife — don’t bother with such analysis and simply romp through their tunes with reckless abandon. And then there are tracks (such as Cracker’s “Rainy Days And Mondays”) where the mood teeters between parody and homage. Taken as a whole, If I Were A Carpenter succeeds wonderfully in finding new (and often weird) resonance in one of the most familiar catalogues in pop history. You’ll never hear Karen and Richard the same way again.

1. Goodbye To Love

by American Music Club

Primary Artist: American Music Club; Main Performer
Composer: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Composer
Producer: Matt Wallace
Joe Chiccarelli
David Konjoyan; Production
Composer Lyricist: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Other

2. Top Of The World

by Shonen Knife

Primary Artist: Shonen Knife; Main Performer
Composer: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Composer
Producer: Matt Wallace
David Konjoyan
Page Porrazzo; Production
Composer Lyricist: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Other

3. Superstar

Producer: Matt Wallace
Sonic Youth
David Konjoyan; Production
Primary Artist: Sonic Youth; Main Performer
Composer: Bonnie Bramlett
Leon Russell; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Bonnie Bramlett
Leon Russell; Other

4. (They Long To Be) Close To You

by The Cranberries

Primary Artist: The Cranberries; Main Performer
Composer: Burt Bacharach
Hal David; Composer
Producer: Matt Wallace
Stephen Street
David Konjoyan; Production
Composer Lyricist: Burt Bacharach
Hal David; Other

5. For All We Know

by Bettie Serveert

Producer: Matt Wallace
Frans Hagenaars
David Konjoyan; Production
Primary Artist: Bettie Serveert; Main Performer
Composer: Fred Karlin
James Arthur Griffin
Robb Wilson; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Fred Karlin
James Arthur Griffin
Robb Wilson; Other

6. It's Going To Take Some Time

Primary Artist: Dishwalla; Main Performer
Composer: Carole King
Toni Stern; Composer
Mixing: Phil Nicolo
Dishwalla
Mark Mazzetti; Production
Producer: Matt Wallace
David Konjoyan; Production
Studio Personnel: Phil Nicolo
Dishwalla
Mark Mazzetti; Production
Composer Lyricist: Toni Stern
Carole King; Other

7. Solitaire

Primary Artist: Sheryl Crow; Main Performer
Composer: Neil Sedaka
Phil Cody; Composer
Producer: Matt Wallace
David Konjoyan; Production
Composer Lyricist: Neil Sedaka
Phil Cody; Other

8. Hurting Each Other

by Marc Moreland

Primary Artist: Johnette Napolitano
Marc Moreland; Main Performer
Composer: Gary Geld
Peter Udell; Composer
Producer: Matt Wallace
David Konjoyan
Chichinitza Kahlo-rivera; Production
Composer Lyricist: Gary Geld
Peter Udell; Other

9. Yesterday Once More

Primary Artist: Redd Kross; Main Performer
Composer: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Composer
Producer: Matt Wallace
David Konjoyan; Production
Composer Lyricist: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Other

10. Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft

by Babes In Toyland

Primary Artist: Babes In Toyland; Main Performer
Composer: John William Woloschuk
Terry Edward Draper; Composer
Producer: Matt Wallace
Tim Mac
David Konjoyan; Production
Composer Lyricist: John William Woloschuk
Terry Edward Draper; Other

11. Rainy Days And Mondays

Producer: David Lowery
Matt Wallace
David Konjoyan; Production
Primary Artist: Cracker; Main Performer
Composer: Paul Williams
Roger Nichols; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Roger Nichols
Paul Williams; Other

12. Let Me Be The One

by Matthew Sweet

Producer: Matt Wallace
David Konjoyan; Production
Primary Artist: Matthew Sweet; Main Performer
Composer: Paul Williams
Roger Nichols; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Roger Nichols
Paul Williams; Other

13. Bless The Beasts And Children

by 4 Non Blondes

Producer: Matt Wallace
David Konjoyan; Production
Primary Artist: 4 Non Blondes; Main Performer
Composer: Barry Devorzon
Perry Botkin Jr.; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Perry Botkin Jr.
Barry De Vorzon; Other

14. We've Only Just Begun

by Grant Lee Buffalo

Producer: Matt Wallace
Paul Kimble
David Konjoyan; Production
Primary Artist: Grant Lee Buffalo; Main Performer
Composer: Paul Williams
Roger Nichols; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Roger Nichols
Paul Williams; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

14 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

54 minutes and 6 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1442x1442 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

13/14 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

8/14 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock

Label

A&M

Music Distribution Service

Unknown

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Dec 31, 1993

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

73145402582