A Song for You is the fourth album released by the Carpenters

The Carpenters

Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...

, released on June 13, 1972. According to Richard Carpenter, "A Song for You was intended to be a concept album

Concept album

In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...

 (of sorts) with the title tune opening and closing the set and the bookended selections comprising the 'song'."

In Cash Box's Top 100 Albums of 1972, A Song for You was ranked #26. A special gold-plated disc CD of A Song for You was later sold to the general public.

Six songs were released as A-side singles internationally: "Hurting Each Other

Hurting Each Other

"Hurting Each Other" is a song popularized by the Carpenters in 1972. It was originally written by Gary Geld and Peter Udell in 1965, and was recorded multiple times by artists from Ruby and the Romantics to Rosemary Clooney.-Previous versions:...

," "It's Going to Take Some Time

It's Going to Take Some Time

"It's Going to Take Some Time" is a song written by Carole King and Toni Stern for her 1971 album, Music. It was redone by the Carpenters in 1972 for their fourth album, A Song for You. According to Richard Carpenter, he had to choose which songs he wanted to remake, and there was a big pile of 7"...

," "Goodbye to Love

Goodbye to Love

"Goodbye to Love" is a song composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. It was released by the Carpenters in 1972. On the "Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters" documentary, Tony Peluso stated that this was one of the first, if not the first, love ballads to have a fuzz guitar solo.Upon...

," "Top of the World

Top of the World (The Carpenters song)

"Top of the World" is the name of a 1972 song by The Carpenters. Originally recorded for and released on the duo's 1972 studio album A Song for You, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in late 1973, becoming the duo's second U.S. number-one single...

," "I Won't Last a Day Without You

I Won't Last a Day Without You

"I Won't Last a Day Without You" is a song composed by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols. Williams released his version as a single in 1973, but garnered only minor success. Maureen McGovern recorded the song and also released it as a single in 1973 , with results similar to those of Williams...

," and "Bless the Beasts and Children

Bless the Beasts and Children (song)

The theme song to the 1971 film Bless the Beasts and Children was performed by The Carpenters, and was featured on the B-side to their then-recent hit, "Superstar". The B-side charted on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually topping out at #67. In order to promote it, The Carpenters performed it on...

."

LP

Cassette

Side 1

1. "A Song for You
   A Song for You
   "A Song for You" is a soulful love song written and originally recorded by rock singer-songwriter and pianist Leon Russell for his first solo album 'Leon Russell', which was released in 1970 on Shelter Records. A slow, pained plea for forgiveness and understanding from an estranged lover, the tune...
   
   "
2. "Top of the World
   Top of the World (The Carpenters song)
   "Top of the World" is the name of a 1972 song by The Carpenters. Originally recorded for and released on the duo's 1972 studio album A Song for You, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in late 1973, becoming the duo's second U.S. number-one single...
   
   "
3. "Piano Picker"
4. "Flat Baroque"
5. "I Won't Last a Day Without You
   I Won't Last a Day Without You
   "I Won't Last a Day Without You" is a song composed by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols. Williams released his version as a single in 1973, but garnered only minor success. Maureen McGovern recorded the song and also released it as a single in 1973 , with results similar to those of Williams...
   
   "
6. "Goodbye to Love
   Goodbye to Love
   "Goodbye to Love" is a song composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. It was released by the Carpenters in 1972. On the "Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters" documentary, Tony Peluso stated that this was one of the first, if not the first, love ballads to have a fuzz guitar solo.Upon...
   
   "
7. "Intermission"

Side 2

1. "Hurting Each Other
   Hurting Each Other
   "Hurting Each Other" is a song popularized by the Carpenters in 1972. It was originally written by Gary Geld and Peter Udell in 1965, and was recorded multiple times by artists from Ruby and the Romantics to Rosemary Clooney.-Previous versions:...
   
   "
2. "Crystal Lullaby"
3. "It's Going to Take Some Time
   It's Going to Take Some Time
   "It's Going to Take Some Time" is a song written by Carole King and Toni Stern for her 1971 album, Music. It was redone by the Carpenters in 1972 for their fourth album, A Song for You. According to Richard Carpenter, he had to choose which songs he wanted to remake, and there was a big pile of 7"...
   
   "
4. "Bless the Beasts and Children
   Bless the Beasts and Children (song)
   The theme song to the 1971 film Bless the Beasts and Children was performed by The Carpenters, and was featured on the B-side to their then-recent hit, "Superstar". The B-side charted on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually topping out at #67. In order to promote it, The Carpenters performed it on...
   
   " (Soundtrack version)
5. "Flat Baroque
   Flat Baroque
   Flat Baroque is a song composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis in 1966, during their career at Disneyland. It lay dormant until 1970, when Carpenter and his sister, Karen Carpenter, appeared on a syndicated radio show, called "Your Navy Presents." They performed a slow, jazzy version of the...
   
   "
6. "Road Ode"
7. "A Song for You (Reprise)"
8. "Intermission" (same version as side one)

Reel to reel

Side 1

1. A Song For You
2. Top Of The World
3. Hurting Each Other
4. Flat Baroque
5. It's Going To Take Some Time
6. Goodbye To Love
7. Intermission

Side 2

1. Bless The Beasts And Children
2. Piano Picker
3. I Won't Last A Day Without You
4. Crystal Lullaby
5. Road Ode
6. A Song For You (Reprise)
7. Intermission

Singles

• Hurting Each Other

US 7" single (1971) A&M 1322

1. Hurting Each Other
2. Maybe It's You

• Bless The Beasts And Children

JP 7" single (1972) AM-114

1. Bless The Beasts And Children
2. Help

• It's Going To Take Some Time

US 7" single (1972) A&M 1351

1. It's Going To Take Some Time
2. Flat Baroque

• Goodbye To Love

US 7" single (1972) A&M 1367

1. Goodbye To Love
2. Crystal Lullaby

• Top Of The World

US 7" single (1973) A&M 1468

1. Top Of The World
2. Heather

• I Won't Last A Day Without You

US 7" single (1974) A&M 1521

1. I Won't Last A Day Without You
2. One Love

Information on the Songs

"Hurting Each Other," a cover of an obscure Ruby & the Romantics

Ruby & the Romantics

Ruby & the Romantics was an American R&B group in the 1960s. They had several pop and R&B hit records, but are sometimes considered as a one-hit wonder for topping the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1963 with their first recording, "Our Day Will Come", written by Mort Garson and Bob Hilliard...

 tune, was the first single issued from A Song for You in early 1972, and reached number two, becoming the Carpenters' sixth straight gold single. A cover of Carole King

Carole King

Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...

's "It's Going to Take Some Time" followed and peaked at number 12, and was followed by the number seven hit "Goodbye to Love," which was refused airplay on some easy listening

Easy listening

Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...

 radio stations because of a fuzz-guitar solo by Tony Peluso

Tony Peluso

Tony Peluso was an American guitarist and record producer. He was lead guitarist for pop duo Carpenters from 1972 to 1983....

. The song had a significant impact on the power ballad songs which followed. The album also included the Carpenters' version of the Academy Award nominated title song from the 1971 film Bless the Beasts and Children

Bless the Beasts and Children (film)

Bless the Beasts and Children is a 1971 film adaptation of the novel of the same name, by Glendon Swarthout, that was directed by Stanley Kramer, featuring Bill Mumy and Barry Robins.-Plot:...

, which had already charted at number 67 on the Hot 100 as the flip side of the duo's version of "Superstar

Superstar (Delaney and Bonnie song)

"Superstar" is a 1969 song written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell that has been a hit for many artists in different genres and interpretations in the years since; the best known version is by the Carpenters in 1971.-Original Delaney and Bonnie version:Accounts of the song's origin vary...

."

The album's biggest hit single, the number one smash "Top of the World

Top of the World (The Carpenters song)

"Top of the World" is the name of a 1972 song by The Carpenters. Originally recorded for and released on the duo's 1972 studio album A Song for You, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in late 1973, becoming the duo's second U.S. number-one single...

," was not issued until over a year after the album's release. According to Richard Carpenter, who co-wrote the song with John Bettis

John Bettis

John Bettis is an American lyricist who has co-written many famous popular songs over the years. In 2011, John was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame....

, the reason for the song's late release in the U.S. was that he had misjudged the song's commercial appeal, but was proven wrong when the Carpenters' "Top of the World" became a hit in Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 in 1972 and Lynn Anderson

Lynn Anderson

Lynn Rene Anderson is an American country music singer and equestrian known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, " Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most...

's cover reached #2 on the U.S. country charts in 1973. The song went through a few minor revisions, including a slight remix, before it was finally released as a single in the U.S. The Carpenters' treatment of the much-covered Paul Williams

Paul Williams (songwriter)

Paul Hamilton Williams, Jr. is an Academy Award-winning American composer, musician, songwriter, and actor. He is perhaps best known for popular songs performed by a number of acts in the 1970s including Three Dog Night's "An Old Fashioned Love Song", Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World",...

/Roger Nichols

Roger Nichols (songwriter)

Roger Nichols Roger Nichols Roger Nichols (born in Missoula, Montana, is an American composer and songwriter. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays violin, guitar, bass, and piano.-Biography:...

 composition "I Won't Last a Day Without You" also got a belated single release in 1974, and peaked at number eleven on the Hot 100.

With the exception of "Bless the Beasts..." which peaked at number 26 on the AC chart, all of the album's charted singles made either number one ("Hurting Each Other," "I Won't Last a Day Without You") or number two on the Adult Contemporary chart. The album and its singles were also successful internationally; "Goodbye to Love" and "I Won't Last a Day..." made the top ten on the UK singles chart

UK Singles Chart

The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

 as a double A-side, and "Top of the World" made the Oricon

Oricon

, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...

singles chart in Japan on three separate occasions (#21 in 1972, #52 in 1973, and #83 in 1996).