Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft
Encyclopedia
"Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day)" is a song by Klaatu, originally released in 1976 on their first album 3:47 EST
. The following year, The Carpenters
covered the song, using a crew of 160 musicians. Both versions of the single had the entire name of the song on the label (the picture sleeve of the Carpenters' single had the subtitle in small print); reissued singles of the Klaatu version had the title shortened to "Calling Occupants."
While this is probably the most recognized recording by Klaatu, the band went on to release five studio albums of progressive pop music.
's film Close Encounters of the Third Kind
--in fact, the Carpenters' version predates the release of that film by about three months (the song was released in September of 1977, while Close Encounters was released the following November). The success of their version led to the duo receiving many letters from people asking when World Contact Day would be held. It also led to a Carpenters television special, "The Carpenters...Space Encounters".
While Klaatu's original opens with various sounds of living species, the Carpenters' version opens with a radio DJ
on a request show. The DJ identifies his caller as "Mike Ledgerwood." As the DJ asks the caller what song he wants to hear, an alien voice converses with the DJ. The DJ is voiced by longstanding Carpenters' guitarist Tony Peluso
, who can be seen in that role at the start of the video for this track.
The Carpenters' arrangement of the song was later copied on a sound-alike cover released on the 1977 album Top of the Pops, Volume 62.
The cover art was painted by Star Trek
designer Andrew Probert
.
In April 2011, the song was featured in the BBC series Wonders of the Solar System hosted by Dr. Brian Cox
.
The song was also covered by the children of the The Langley Schools Music Project
. Another version can be found on the Carpenters tribute album If I Were A Carpenter performed by the band Babes in Toyland
.
3:47 EST
The album ends with a mouse squeak.-Origin of the title:In the 1951 science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still, the alien emissary Klaatu arrives in Washington, D.C. at 3:47 in the afternoon Eastern Standard Time...
. The following year, 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...
covered the song, using a crew of 160 musicians. Both versions of the single had the entire name of the song on the label (the picture sleeve of the Carpenters' single had the subtitle in small print); reissued singles of the Klaatu version had the title shortened to "Calling Occupants."
Origin
John Woloschuk, a member of Klaatu and one of the song's composers, has said:- The idea for this track was suggested by an actual event that is described in The Flying Saucer Reader, a book by Jay David published in 1967. In March 1953 an organization known as the "International Flying Saucer Bureau" sent a bulletin to all its members urging them to participate in an experiment termed "World Contact Day" whereby, at a predetermined date and time, they would attempt to collectively send out a telepathicTelepathyTelepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
message to visitors from outer space. The message began with the words..."Calling occupants of interplanetary craft!"
While this is probably the most recognized recording by Klaatu, the band went on to release five studio albums of progressive pop music.
Chart
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 62 |
| Canada RPM 100 Singles | 45 |
The Carpenters' version
The Carpenters' version is probably even better known, as it was indeed the bigger hit, charting worldwide and appearing on several of their (mostly hits collections) albums. This version has a subject matter similar to Steven SpielbergSteven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's film Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 science fiction film written and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, and Cary Guffey...
--in fact, the Carpenters' version predates the release of that film by about three months (the song was released in September of 1977, while Close Encounters was released the following November). The success of their version led to the duo receiving many letters from people asking when World Contact Day would be held. It also led to a Carpenters television special, "The Carpenters...Space Encounters".
While Klaatu's original opens with various sounds of living species, the Carpenters' version opens with a radio DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
on a request show. The DJ identifies his caller as "Mike Ledgerwood." As the DJ asks the caller what song he wants to hear, an alien voice converses with the DJ. The DJ is voiced by longstanding Carpenters' guitarist 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....
, who can be seen in that role at the start of the video for this track.
The Carpenters' arrangement of the song was later copied on a sound-alike cover released on the 1977 album Top of the Pops, Volume 62.
The cover art was painted by Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
designer Andrew Probert
Andrew Probert
Andrew Probert is an artist who is best known for designing the USS Enterprise for Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the Enterprise-D for Star Trek: The Next Generation....
.
In April 2011, the song was featured in the BBC series Wonders of the Solar System hosted by Dr. Brian Cox
Brian Cox (physicist)
Brian Edward Cox, OBE , is a British particle physicist, a Royal Society University Research Fellow and a professor at the University of Manchester. He is a member of the High Energy Physics group at the University of Manchester, and works on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at...
.
The song was also covered by the children of the The Langley Schools Music Project
The Langley Schools Music Project
The Langley Schools Music Project is a collection of recordings of children's choruses singing pop hits by the likes of The Beach Boys, David Bowie, and Paul McCartney...
. Another version can be found on the Carpenters tribute album If I Were A Carpenter performed by the band Babes in Toyland
Babes in Toyland (band)
Babes in Toyland was an American alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1987. The band was formed by Oregon native Kat Bjelland , with Lori Barbero and Michelle Leon , who was later replaced by Maureen Herman in 1992...
.
Chart
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 32 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 18 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 9 |
| UK Singles Chart | 9 |
| Republic of Ireland Singles Chart | 1 |
Music videos
The Carpenters had two music videos for "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft."- "StarparadeStarparadeStarparade was a West German music chart television programme, which aired on ZDF from March 14, 1968 to June 5, 1980, and was hosted by Rainer Holbe. The show aired 90 minute episodes once a week...
" - German TV, 1977. Available on their DVD "Gold: Greatest Hits" - "Space EncountersSpace EncountersThe Carpenters...Space Encounters is a television special featuring the American pop duo The Carpenters. It was first shown on ABC on May 17, 1978.-Synopsis:...
" - Carpenters' TV Special, 1978. Available on their DVD "Interpretations"