Continuing my look at the albums of 1976…
I’ve had a gut feeling for awhile that I’m going to find a Carpenters album that really knocks my socks off.
I have a soft spot for easy listening cheese when it’s done well, and especially when I really connect with the vocals. And Karen Carpenter, whatever else you think of her and her brother Richard, has an amazing voice.
The week of December 9, 1973, saw the Carpenters atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Top of the World.’ This country pop song spent two week at #1 as part of a ten-week stint on the chart.
This was the second of three career #1s for the duo, though they had five #2 hits between this song and their first chart-topper, ‘(They Long to Be) Close to You.’
The third song to reach #1 by two different artists was ‘Please Mr. Postman,’ though arguably the best-known version of the track belongs to a band that didn’t send it up the charts.
‘Please Mr. Postman’ was the 1961 debut single of The Marvelettes, and the first song on the Motown label to reach #1. The all-female quartet was one of Motown’s biggest successes before they were eclipsed by The Supremes a few years later.
Meet Me In Montauk 