Post by Cagey on Jul 10, 2023 7:29:31 GMT -5
Its no secret I have been a fan of the voice and music of Karen Carpenter since the 1970's. Her voice is magical is all I can say. Its not the music. Its her voice. The qualities of her voice were exceptional. One of a kind.
And so every once in a while I watch an old Carpenters' video and one video I am extremely curious about I can't find much information about it at all.
I'd like to find out the list of musicians playing on this particular version, namely the drummer.
I can't be sure the drummer on this video is the same drummer listed in the credits for this 1970 album this song comes from.
When the Carpenters got started, it was just Karen and Richard as a duo, and Karen Carpenter played the drums. But for a primary front singer deserving all the attention, everyone wanted Karen out from behind the drums. Give full attention to her voice. Playing drums at the same time causes Karen to back off her voice some. She sings differently when not playing the drums and this is what everyone wanted of her. Maybe not her, but she obviously agreed and went along with it.
But Karen Carpenter was not like today's in-your-face actors who can also sing. Karen simply sang and play acting was not her thing. Becoming a stripper was not her thing. Twerking in the worlds' faces was not her thing. Swinging from a pole not her thing. Looking like a prostitute walking the streets was not her thing.
Karen Carpenter was like Ronnie Van Zant in that it was their voices that were their weapons. All else took a backseat to that. We did not get any "act" out of Ronnie, and we never got an "act" out of Karen Carpenter. She appears almost uncomfortable just standing there doing nothing but singing. But, this was done to free her up from those drums.
And that is what I want to take a look at. Those drums.
When I watch this video of the Carpenters from around 1970, I believe the musicians that you are seeing and hearing in this video are session players. Recording musicians. Top rated musicians at the top of their game being called upon to back a brother and sister duo.
We are looking basically at the same band that recorded this song for the album is the same band seen on stage in this video.
The song is "We've Only Just Begun" by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols, and originally recorded by a Freddie Allen:
The Carpenters heard this version above and decided to record it themselves and it was what Richard Carpenter did to this short arrangement that sent this song into orbit because Richard, knowing his sister as well as he did knew precisely how to use her voice and extend certain places within the original version with Karen's voice to capitalize on the song's unrealized potential completely missed by the original artist who provided the framework basics of this song from which Richard and Karen Carpenter created a masterpiece with it. And the key to this song is clearly Karen's unique voice qualities and how Richard's arrangement gave her the additional room for that voice to take wing.
If you compare the versions you can hear where the original version simply failed to capitalize and let the song flounder on the ground uselessly, while Richard's tweak in certain areas to accommodate Karen's richly powerful angelic voice provided Karen Carpenter and her voice all the space and range she needed to spread her wings and fly on this one.
Sometimes other artists CAN make a song better. And this is one of those...
"The duo struggled on an early recording attempt, and for the second session, Alpert suggested that seasoned session player Hal Blaine play drums instead of Karen, although Blaine stated that Karen approved of his involvement.[51] Larry Knechtel was tried out as a session pianist, but was replaced by Richard for the final take.[52] The Carpenters' version was released as a single in March 1970.[53] It entered the charts at No. 56, the highest debut of the week ending June 20.[54] It reached No. 1 on July 25 and stayed there for the next four weeks."
Musicians
Karen Carpenter – vocals, drums
Hal Blaine – drums
Richard Carpenter – vocals, keyboards, arrangements and orchestration
Joe Osborn – bass
Danny Woodhams – bass
Jim Horn – woodwinds
Bob Messenger – woodwinds
Doug Strawn – woodwinds
Karen Carpenter – vocals, drums
Hal Blaine – drums
Richard Carpenter – vocals, keyboards, arrangements and orchestration
Joe Osborn – bass
Danny Woodhams – bass
Jim Horn – woodwinds
Bob Messenger – woodwinds
Doug Strawn – woodwinds
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Now we know the band basically. And why the change, especially for recording albums and touring and live filmed performances... and the drummer of choice is Hal Blaine. But, is he the drummer in the video? I am leaning towards yes and the tom tom's seen on his drum set in the video are why.
So let's take a detour to Hal Blaine. Who is he?
Hal Blaine (born Harold Simon Belsky; February 5, 1929 – March 11, 2019) was an American drummer and session musician,[1] thought to be among the most recorded studio drummers in the music industry, claiming over 35,000 sessions[1] and 6,000 singles. His drumming is featured on 150 US top 10 hits, 40 of which went to number one.
Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Blaine moved with his family to California in 1943 and began playing jazz and big band music before taking up rock and roll session work. He became one of the regulars in Phil Spector's de facto house band, which Blaine nicknamed "the Wrecking Crew". Some of the records Blaine played on include the Ronettes' single "Be My Baby" (1963), which contained a drum beat that became widely imitated, as well as works by popular artists such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, Neil Diamond, and the Byrds.[2]
Blaine's workload declined in the 1980s as recording and musical practices changed. In 2000, he was among the inaugural "sidemen" inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2007 he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum as a member of the Wrecking Crew and in 2018 he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Blaine moved with his family to California in 1943 and began playing jazz and big band music before taking up rock and roll session work. He became one of the regulars in Phil Spector's de facto house band, which Blaine nicknamed "the Wrecking Crew". Some of the records Blaine played on include the Ronettes' single "Be My Baby" (1963), which contained a drum beat that became widely imitated, as well as works by popular artists such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, Neil Diamond, and the Byrds.[2]
Blaine's workload declined in the 1980s as recording and musical practices changed. In 2000, he was among the inaugural "sidemen" inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2007 he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum as a member of the Wrecking Crew and in 2018 he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Did you catch that?
Hal Blaine has played on more than 35,000 recorded songs. More than 6,000 recorded singles.
This is pure session drumming right here! This tells me and all of us we are dealing with an exceptional drummer. So let's take a look at some of the songs he played on because I bet none of you know or even realize that more than likely each of you will listen to at least one, maybe more than one song each day of your life that Hal Blaine played drums on.
This entire thread comes from this. The power of this. A body of music almost unknown to the world. Hundreds, if not thousands of our favorite songs recorded by many artists all share on thing in common- the drumming of Hal Blaine.
And this is why the Carpenters also called upon Hal Blaine. He is the only man who ever replaced Karen Carpenter!
So he may have recorded tens of thousands of songs, but he is the only man to have ever replaced Karen Carpenter. And this video I am about to post is the one he did it on in 1970. In this video I believe it is Hal Blaine who is backing the Carpenters and is seen on camera here beside Karen Carpenter carefully playing for her and around her like a mink coat gracefully lifting her voice to the heavens. All carried upon the rhythms of Hal Blaine. He is the silver platter for Karen Carpenter's voice!
I'm gonna have to say the real reason Karen Carpenter was removed from drums was not just to give wings to her voice. The real reason you see recording executives and engineers and producers pull Karen Carpenter off those drums was because honestly, Karen Carpenter sucked as a drummer. Her drumming ALWAYS played around her voice. She had difficulty performing at her peak best when trying to do both. And since it was her voice that held the goldmine of wealth and value, and her drumming needed hiding, it was only natural that as the Carpenters were introduced to the world in 1970 that Karen and Richard be delivered to that world upon the rhythms of a master. A world class master drummer. And that was Hal Blaine.
When you watch old videos of Karen Carpenter trying to sing and play drums, notice her drum set is as basic as it gets.
But take a look at what Hal Blaine brought into the Carpenters. Hal Blaine liked using a progressive upper tom section with 7 drums. This was his signature set he developed in the late 1960's and brought into the Carpenters and that is what appears to be on stage behind Karen as well. The upper tom section appears to show his signature even though I am not able to identify the man playing those drums by looks since no photos of Hal Blaine exist looking like he does in this video with Carpenters. But the drum set shows me the signature of Hal Blaine.
Just call it the Hal Blaine 7:
One thing that amazes me about this video of Hal Blaine playing drums behind Karen Carpenter is what he is wearing. Unreal! I would not be caught dead looking like that! And he had the balls to do it on camera right behind Karen Carpenter!
If any of you watch this video of the Carpenters, watch Hal Blaine closely. Watch his playing hands. Watch how he uses those 7 toms in ways far beyond what Karen Carpenter ever did or was capable of. Hal Blaine came into the Carpenters and listened and the man fit in.
Each of Hal Blaine's hits on those toms is so carefully crafted and perfectly timed and placed at just the right level is beyond amazing what was being created here and happening between Karen Carpenter and Hal Blaine.
If any of you ever wondered about what made the Carpenters so popular and so successful, the key ingredient to that recipe is right here in this thread.
Richard Carpenter merely shaped songs. He gave them shape around his sister's voice like wet clay being worked into a shape. Richard just shaped and filled up spots. He held the trowel.
But Hal Blaine was the foundation. The cornerstone.
Everything revolved around him, even Karen's voice. Listen and watch how Karen and Hal are trading off back and forth and how Hal Blaine carefully fits in between as well.
This may sound like simple music. But, few can match what Hal Blaine does here and none can match what Karen Carpenter does here... this is pure magic. Hal Blaine here folks is in a world all his own. How maniac drummers can fit their insanity into music is just jaw dropping. How can Hal Blaine just blow away on his own like this while fitting it all in and around Karen's voice. Adding Hal Blaine was a decision of genius on this one.
Here is the original first official video release of this classic hit song... Notice who you hear but who you do not see? Only Hal Blaine is missing here. I think they made the other video to quickly fix this mistake or present the Carpenters in a more complete light. Both of these videos are official from the record company. The first one left Hal Blaine out but the second one made up for it. The world needs a filmed version of this interplay between between Karen and Hal Blaine.
This is the Carpenters secret to their sound revealed right here! Everyone else was just trying to fit in as well and keep up with these two. Richard did a great job with the music too. These are carefully crafted hit songs!
I wish I could reach out and take Karen by the hand and take her away to Florida! She died way too soon. I wish I could have met Karen! This song is all Karen and all Hal Blaine 7 ! Now we can see the magic!
Keep in mind the impact of the Carpenters music upon the world depended solely upon the drumming of Hal Blaine and voice of Karen Carpenter. Her legend is greater today because of him and his. Thank you Hal Blaine! And Karen and Richard Carpenter! Amazing!
As you take in the incredible drumming of Hal Blaine, take a look at how successfully he did the same thing for other artists in this partial list of songs he played on:
A
"All I Have to Do Is Dream" (Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell)
"All I Know" (Art Garfunkel)[1]
"All I Wanna Do" (The Beach Boys)[2]
"Along Comes Mary" (The Association)[3]
"America" (Simon & Garfunkel)
"Andmoreagain" (Love)[4]
"Annie's Song" (John Denver)[5][1]
"Another Saturday Night" (Sam Cooke)[6][7]
"Any World (That I'm Welcome To)" (Steely Dan)
"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (The 5th Dimension)[notes 1][8][6][5][9]
"At the Zoo" (Simon & Garfunkel)
B
"Baby I Need Your Loving" (Johnny Rivers)[10]
"Baby Talk" (Jan and Dean)[7]
"Back Home Again" (John Denver)[11]
"Barbara Ann" (The Beach Boys)[3]
"Batman Theme" (The Marketts) [12][13]
"Be My Baby" (The Ronettes)[8][6][14][7]
"Be True to Your School" (The Beach Boys)[7]
"(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" (The Ronettes)
"Bless the Beasts and the Children" (The Carpenters)[15]
"Bossa Nova Baby" (Elvis Presley)
"The Boxer" (Simon & Garfunkel)[16]
"Bridge over Troubled Water" (Simon & Garfunkel)[notes 2][6][5][16][9]
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" (Tony Mann)[17]
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" (Johnny Rivers)[18]
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" (Glen Campbell)[19]
C
"California Dreamin'" (The Mamas and the Papas)[20][13][3]
"California Girls" (The Beach Boys)[12][3]
"Calypso" (John Denver)[1]
"Can't Help Falling in Love" (Elvis Presley)[7]
"Can't You Hear the Song?" (Wayne Newton)
"Cara Mia" (Jay and the Americans)[3]
"Caroline, No" (Brian Wilson)
"Cecilia" (Simon & Garfunkel)[9]
"Cherish" (David Cassidy)[9]
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (Darlene Love)
"Come a Little Bit Closer" (Jay and the Americans)[3]
"Come and Knock on Our Door" (theme from the television series Three's Company)[21]
"Come Back When You Grow Up" (Bobby Vee)[10]
"Come Saturday Morning" (The Sandpipers)
Congratulations (Paul Simon), track 11 on 1972 album Paul Simon
"Cotton Fields" (The Beach Boys)
"Count Me In" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)[3]
"Could It Be Forever" (David Cassidy)[citation needed]
"Cracklin' Rosie" (Neil Diamond)[5][12][9]
"Creeque Alley" (The Mamas and the Papas)[10]
D
"Da Doo Ron Ron" (The Crystals)[7]
"Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast" (Wayne Newton)[1]
"The Daily Planet" (Love)
"Dance, Dance, Dance" (The Beach Boys)[3]
"Darlin'" (The Beach Boys)[22]
"Dead Man's Curve" (Jan and Dean)[3]
"Death of a Ladies' Man" (Leonard Cohen)
"Dedicated to the One I Love" (The Mamas and the Papas)[10]
"Didn't We" (Richard Harris)
"Dizzy" (Tommy Roe)[5][9]
"Do You Know Where You're Going To" (theme from the film Mahogany) (Diana Ross)[5][1]
"Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted" (The Partridge Family)[9]
"Don't Pull Your Love" (Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds)[9]
"The Door Is Still Open to My Heart" (Dean Martin)[3]
"Drag City" (Jan and Dean)[7]
"Dream a Little Dream of Me" (The Mamas and the Papas)[23]
E
"18 Yellow Roses" (Bobby Darin)[7]
"El Condor Pasa" (Simon & Garfunkel)
"Elusive Butterfly" (Bob Lind)[3]
"Evangeline" (Emmylou Harris)
"Eve of Destruction" (Barry McGuire)[5][24][25]
"Everybody Loves a Clown" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)[3]
"Everybody Loves Somebody" (Dean Martin)[5][26][3]
"Everything That Touches You" (The Association)[9]
F
"Fakin' It" (Simon & Garfunkel)
"For All We Know" (The Carpenters)[27]
"Fun, Fun, Fun" (The Beach Boys)[28][3]
G
"Galveston" (Glen Campbell)[9]
"Go Where You Wanna Go" (The Mamas and the Papas)
"Go Where You Wanna Go" (The Fifth Dimension)
"God Only Knows" (The Beach Boys)[29][12]
"Good Vibrations" (The Beach Boys)[8][6][5][29][30]
"Goodbye to Love" (The Carpenters)[31]
"Guantanamera" (The Sandpipers)[10]
"Guess I'm Dumb" (Glen Campbell)
H
"Half-Breed" (Cher)[5][32]
"Hurt So Bad"(Nelson Riddle)[33]
"The Happening" (The Supremes)[5][10]
"A Hazy Shade of Winter" (Simon & Garfunkel)[8][6]
"He's a Rebel" (The Crystals) [6][34][7]
"Help Me, Rhonda" (The Beach Boys)[5][35][3]
"Hey Little Cobra" (The Rip Chords)[36][3]
"Hey Jude" (Bing Crosby)[37]
"Him or Me – What's It Gonna Be?" (Paul Revere & the Raiders)[10]
"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" (Mel Carter)[3]
"Holly Holy" (Neil Diamond)[9]
"Homeward Bound" (Simon & Garfunkel)[13][10]
"Houston" (Dean Martin)[38]
"How Does That Grab You?" (Nancy Sinatra)[10]
"Hungry" (Paul Revere & the Raiders)
"Hurting Each Other" (The Carpenters)[1]
I
"I Am... I Said" (Neil Diamond)[9]
"I Believe You" (The Carpenters)[15]
I Can't Go On (Chris and Craig)[39]
"I Couldn't Live Without Your Love" (Petula Clark)[10]
"I Get Around" (The Beach Boys)[5][3]
"I Got You Babe" (Sonny & Cher)[5][3]
"I Need You" (America)[1]
I Need You (Chris and Craig)[40]
"I Saw Her Again" (The Mamas and the Papas)[10]
"I Think I Love You" (The Partridge Family)[5][9]
"If I Can Dream" (Elvis Presley) [41]
"If I Were a Carpenter" (Bobby Darin)[10]
"I'll Meet You Halfway" (The Partridge Family)[9]
'I'm Not Gonna Miss You" (Glen Campbell)
"I'm Sorry" (John Denver)[6][1]
"In My Room" (The Beach Boys)[7]
"Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" (Paul Revere & the Raiders)[5][1]
"It Never Rains in Southern California" (Albert Hammond)[1]
"It's Getting Better" (Cass Elliot)
"It's Over" (Roy Orbison)[13][3]
"I Won't Last a Day Without You" (The Carpenters)[15]
J
"Jam Up and Jelly Tight" (Tommy Roe)[9]
"Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" (The Carpenters)[15]
"Johnny Angel" (Shelley Fabares)[5]
"José Cuervo" (Shelly West)[6][1]
"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" (The First Edition)[42][43][9]
K
"Kicks" (Paul Revere & the Raiders)[13]
L
"(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All" (The 5th Dimension)[1]
"Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" (Helen Reddy)[1]
"Let Him Run Wild" (The Beach Boys)
"Let's Live for Today" (The Grass Roots)[10]
"Like a Sad Song" (John Denver)
"Like to Get to Know You" (Spanky and Our Gang)
"A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You" (The Monkees)[10]
"Little Deuce Coupe" (The Beach Boys)[7]
"The Little Girl I Once Knew" (The Beach Boys)
"A Little Less Conversation" (Elvis Presley)[44][45]
"The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)" (Jan and Dean)[46][3]
"Lizzie and the Rainman" (Tanya Tucker)[6][1]
"The Lonely Bull" (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass)[7]
"Looking Through the Eyes of Love" (The Partridge Family)
"Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" (Henry Mancini)[5][9]
"Love Will Keep Us Together" (Captain & Tennille)[notes 3][5][47][1]
M
"MacArthur Park" (Richard Harris)[48][49]
"Make Your Own Kind of Music" (Cass Elliot)
"Mamma" (Connie Francis)[7]
"Mary, Mary" (The Monkees)[6]
"Midnight Confessions" (The Grass Roots)
"Mona Lisa" (Nat King Cole) (remaster)[50]
"Monday, Monday" (The Mamas and the Papas)[5][13][10]
"Mother and Child Reunion" (Paul Simon)[1]
"Mountain of Love" (Johnny Rivers)[3]
"Mr. Tambourine Man" (The Byrds)[6][5][51][3]
"Mrs. Robinson" (Simon & Garfunkel)[notes 4][6][5][52][9]
"Muskrat Love" (Captain & Tennille)[1]
"My Love" (Petula Clark)[5][10]
"My Special Angel" (The Vogues)[9]
N
"Never My Love" (The Association)[10]
"New Shabbos Waltz" (David Grisman and Andy Statman)
"The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" (Bobby Vee)[7]
"No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)" (The T-Bones)[10]
O
"(Oly Oxen Free Free Free) Hide Go Seek" (The Honeys)[53]
"One Less Bell to Answer" (The 5th Dimension)[9]
"The Only Living Boy in New York" (Simon & Garfunkel)
"Our Sweet Love" (The Beach Boys)[2]
"Out of Limits" (The Marketts)[3]
P
"Paranoia Blues" (Paul Simon), track 10 on 1972 album Paul Simon
"Poor Side of Town" (Johnny Rivers)[6][5][10]
R
"Rainy Days and Mondays" (The Carpenters)[31]
"Red Roses for a Blue Lady" (Vic Dana)[3]
"Return to Sender" (Elvis Presley)[7]
"Rhythm of the Rain" (The Cascades)
"Ringo" (Lorne Greene)[5][3]
"Rock-A-Hula Baby" (Elvis Presley)
"The Rocky Horror Show" (original Roxy Theatre cast recording)[12][13]
"Run That Body Down" (Paul Simon), track 4 on 1972 album Paul Simon
S
"San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" (Scott McKenzie)[54]
"Save Your Heart for Me" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)[3]
"She's a Fool" (Lesley Gore)[7]
"She's Just My Style" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)[55]
"The Seventh Son" (Johnny Rivers)[3]
"Sleigh Ride" (The Ronettes)
"Sloop John B" (The Beach Boys)[10]
"The Snake" (Al Wilson)[56]
"So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" (Simon & Garfunkel)
"Softly, as I Leave You" (Frank Sinatra)[57][58]
"Somethin' Stupid" (Frank and Nancy Sinatra)[6][5][59]
"Song Sung Blue" (Neil Diamond)[5][1]
"Sooner or Later" (The Grass Roots)[1]
"Stoned Soul Picnic" (The 5th Dimension)[9]
"Stoney End" (Barbra Streisand)
"Strangers in the Night" (Frank Sinatra)[notes 5][42][5][60][59]
"Sugar Town" (Nancy Sinatra)[10]
"Sunshower" (Thelma Houston, prod: Jimmy Webb)
"Superstar" (The Carpenters)[31]
"Sure Gonna Miss Her" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)[10]
"Surf City" (Jan and Dean)[5][7]
"Surfer Girl" (The Beach Boys)[7]
T
"A Taste of Honey" (Herb Alpert)[notes 6][6][61][62]
"Tears in the Morning" (The Beach Boys)[2]
"A Texas State of Mind" (David Frizzell and Shelly West)[1]
"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" (John Denver)[6][5][1]
"That's Life" (Frank Sinatra)[59]
"Then He Kissed Me" (The Crystals)[7]
"(They Long to Be) Close to You" (The Carpenters)[5][63][27]
"This Diamond Ring" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)[5][64]
"This Girl Is a Woman Now" (Gary Puckett & the Union Gap)[9]
"This Is My Song" (Petula Clark)[10]
"Top of the World" (The Carpenters)[5][31]
"The Tracks of My Tears" (Johnny Rivers)[10]
"Turn Around, Look at Me" (The Vogues)[9]
U
"Up, Up and Away" (The 5th Dimension)[notes 7][42][65][66]
V
"Ventura Highway" (America)[8][67][1]
W
"Wedding Bell Blues" (The 5th Dimension)[5][9]
"(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story" (Andy Williams)[1]
"Where the Boys Are" (Connie Francis)[7]
"We've Only Just Begun" (The Carpenters)[68]
"Windy" (The Association)[5][10]
"Woman, Woman" (Gary Puckett & The Union Gap)
"Words of Love" (The Mamas and the Papas)[9]
"Workin' On a Groovy Thing" (The 5th Dimension)
"Wouldn't It Be Nice" (The Beach Boys)[69][12][10]
Y
"The Yard Went on Forever" (Richard Harris)
"Yesterday Once More" (The Carpenters)[31]
"Young Girl" (Gary Puckett & The Union Gap)[9]
"(You're the) Devil in Disguise" (Elvis Presley)[3]
"You're the One" (The Vogues)[3]
"You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" (David Frizzell and Shelly West)[1]
"You've Never Done It Like That" (Captain & Tennille)[1]
Z
"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" (Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans)[70][3]
"All I Have to Do Is Dream" (Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell)
"All I Know" (Art Garfunkel)[1]
"All I Wanna Do" (The Beach Boys)[2]
"Along Comes Mary" (The Association)[3]
"America" (Simon & Garfunkel)
"Andmoreagain" (Love)[4]
"Annie's Song" (John Denver)[5][1]
"Another Saturday Night" (Sam Cooke)[6][7]
"Any World (That I'm Welcome To)" (Steely Dan)
"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (The 5th Dimension)[notes 1][8][6][5][9]
"At the Zoo" (Simon & Garfunkel)
B
"Baby I Need Your Loving" (Johnny Rivers)[10]
"Baby Talk" (Jan and Dean)[7]
"Back Home Again" (John Denver)[11]
"Barbara Ann" (The Beach Boys)[3]
"Batman Theme" (The Marketts) [12][13]
"Be My Baby" (The Ronettes)[8][6][14][7]
"Be True to Your School" (The Beach Boys)[7]
"(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" (The Ronettes)
"Bless the Beasts and the Children" (The Carpenters)[15]
"Bossa Nova Baby" (Elvis Presley)
"The Boxer" (Simon & Garfunkel)[16]
"Bridge over Troubled Water" (Simon & Garfunkel)[notes 2][6][5][16][9]
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" (Tony Mann)[17]
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" (Johnny Rivers)[18]
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" (Glen Campbell)[19]
C
"California Dreamin'" (The Mamas and the Papas)[20][13][3]
"California Girls" (The Beach Boys)[12][3]
"Calypso" (John Denver)[1]
"Can't Help Falling in Love" (Elvis Presley)[7]
"Can't You Hear the Song?" (Wayne Newton)
"Cara Mia" (Jay and the Americans)[3]
"Caroline, No" (Brian Wilson)
"Cecilia" (Simon & Garfunkel)[9]
"Cherish" (David Cassidy)[9]
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (Darlene Love)
"Come a Little Bit Closer" (Jay and the Americans)[3]
"Come and Knock on Our Door" (theme from the television series Three's Company)[21]
"Come Back When You Grow Up" (Bobby Vee)[10]
"Come Saturday Morning" (The Sandpipers)
Congratulations (Paul Simon), track 11 on 1972 album Paul Simon
"Cotton Fields" (The Beach Boys)
"Count Me In" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)[3]
"Could It Be Forever" (David Cassidy)[citation needed]
"Cracklin' Rosie" (Neil Diamond)[5][12][9]
"Creeque Alley" (The Mamas and the Papas)[10]
D
"Da Doo Ron Ron" (The Crystals)[7]
"Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast" (Wayne Newton)[1]
"The Daily Planet" (Love)
"Dance, Dance, Dance" (The Beach Boys)[3]
"Darlin'" (The Beach Boys)[22]
"Dead Man's Curve" (Jan and Dean)[3]
"Death of a Ladies' Man" (Leonard Cohen)
"Dedicated to the One I Love" (The Mamas and the Papas)[10]
"Didn't We" (Richard Harris)
"Dizzy" (Tommy Roe)[5][9]
"Do You Know Where You're Going To" (theme from the film Mahogany) (Diana Ross)[5][1]
"Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted" (The Partridge Family)[9]
"Don't Pull Your Love" (Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds)[9]
"The Door Is Still Open to My Heart" (Dean Martin)[3]
"Drag City" (Jan and Dean)[7]
"Dream a Little Dream of Me" (The Mamas and the Papas)[23]
E
"18 Yellow Roses" (Bobby Darin)[7]
"El Condor Pasa" (Simon & Garfunkel)
"Elusive Butterfly" (Bob Lind)[3]
"Evangeline" (Emmylou Harris)
"Eve of Destruction" (Barry McGuire)[5][24][25]
"Everybody Loves a Clown" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)[3]
"Everybody Loves Somebody" (Dean Martin)[5][26][3]
"Everything That Touches You" (The Association)[9]
F
"Fakin' It" (Simon & Garfunkel)
"For All We Know" (The Carpenters)[27]
"Fun, Fun, Fun" (The Beach Boys)[28][3]
G
"Galveston" (Glen Campbell)[9]
"Go Where You Wanna Go" (The Mamas and the Papas)
"Go Where You Wanna Go" (The Fifth Dimension)
"God Only Knows" (The Beach Boys)[29][12]
"Good Vibrations" (The Beach Boys)[8][6][5][29][30]
"Goodbye to Love" (The Carpenters)[31]
"Guantanamera" (The Sandpipers)[10]
"Guess I'm Dumb" (Glen Campbell)
H
"Half-Breed" (Cher)[5][32]
"Hurt So Bad"(Nelson Riddle)[33]
"The Happening" (The Supremes)[5][10]
"A Hazy Shade of Winter" (Simon & Garfunkel)[8][6]
"He's a Rebel" (The Crystals) [6][34][7]
"Help Me, Rhonda" (The Beach Boys)[5][35][3]
"Hey Little Cobra" (The Rip Chords)[36][3]
"Hey Jude" (Bing Crosby)[37]
"Him or Me – What's It Gonna Be?" (Paul Revere & the Raiders)[10]
"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" (Mel Carter)[3]
"Holly Holy" (Neil Diamond)[9]
"Homeward Bound" (Simon & Garfunkel)[13][10]
"Houston" (Dean Martin)[38]
"How Does That Grab You?" (Nancy Sinatra)[10]
"Hungry" (Paul Revere & the Raiders)
"Hurting Each Other" (The Carpenters)[1]
I
"I Am... I Said" (Neil Diamond)[9]
"I Believe You" (The Carpenters)[15]
I Can't Go On (Chris and Craig)[39]
"I Couldn't Live Without Your Love" (Petula Clark)[10]
"I Get Around" (The Beach Boys)[5][3]
"I Got You Babe" (Sonny & Cher)[5][3]
"I Need You" (America)[1]
I Need You (Chris and Craig)[40]
"I Saw Her Again" (The Mamas and the Papas)[10]
"I Think I Love You" (The Partridge Family)[5][9]
"If I Can Dream" (Elvis Presley) [41]
"If I Were a Carpenter" (Bobby Darin)[10]
"I'll Meet You Halfway" (The Partridge Family)[9]
'I'm Not Gonna Miss You" (Glen Campbell)
"I'm Sorry" (John Denver)[6][1]
"In My Room" (The Beach Boys)[7]
"Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" (Paul Revere & the Raiders)[5][1]
"It Never Rains in Southern California" (Albert Hammond)[1]
"It's Getting Better" (Cass Elliot)
"It's Over" (Roy Orbison)[13][3]
"I Won't Last a Day Without You" (The Carpenters)[15]
J
"Jam Up and Jelly Tight" (Tommy Roe)[9]
"Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" (The Carpenters)[15]
"Johnny Angel" (Shelley Fabares)[5]
"José Cuervo" (Shelly West)[6][1]
"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" (The First Edition)[42][43][9]
K
"Kicks" (Paul Revere & the Raiders)[13]
L
"(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All" (The 5th Dimension)[1]
"Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" (Helen Reddy)[1]
"Let Him Run Wild" (The Beach Boys)
"Let's Live for Today" (The Grass Roots)[10]
"Like a Sad Song" (John Denver)
"Like to Get to Know You" (Spanky and Our Gang)
"A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You" (The Monkees)[10]
"Little Deuce Coupe" (The Beach Boys)[7]
"The Little Girl I Once Knew" (The Beach Boys)
"A Little Less Conversation" (Elvis Presley)[44][45]
"The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)" (Jan and Dean)[46][3]
"Lizzie and the Rainman" (Tanya Tucker)[6][1]
"The Lonely Bull" (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass)[7]
"Looking Through the Eyes of Love" (The Partridge Family)
"Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" (Henry Mancini)[5][9]
"Love Will Keep Us Together" (Captain & Tennille)[notes 3][5][47][1]
M
"MacArthur Park" (Richard Harris)[48][49]
"Make Your Own Kind of Music" (Cass Elliot)
"Mamma" (Connie Francis)[7]
"Mary, Mary" (The Monkees)[6]
"Midnight Confessions" (The Grass Roots)
"Mona Lisa" (Nat King Cole) (remaster)[50]
"Monday, Monday" (The Mamas and the Papas)[5][13][10]
"Mother and Child Reunion" (Paul Simon)[1]
"Mountain of Love" (Johnny Rivers)[3]
"Mr. Tambourine Man" (The Byrds)[6][5][51][3]
"Mrs. Robinson" (Simon & Garfunkel)[notes 4][6][5][52][9]
"Muskrat Love" (Captain & Tennille)[1]
"My Love" (Petula Clark)[5][10]
"My Special Angel" (The Vogues)[9]
N
"Never My Love" (The Association)[10]
"New Shabbos Waltz" (David Grisman and Andy Statman)
"The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" (Bobby Vee)[7]
"No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)" (The T-Bones)[10]
O
"(Oly Oxen Free Free Free) Hide Go Seek" (The Honeys)[53]
"One Less Bell to Answer" (The 5th Dimension)[9]
"The Only Living Boy in New York" (Simon & Garfunkel)
"Our Sweet Love" (The Beach Boys)[2]
"Out of Limits" (The Marketts)[3]
P
"Paranoia Blues" (Paul Simon), track 10 on 1972 album Paul Simon
"Poor Side of Town" (Johnny Rivers)[6][5][10]
R
"Rainy Days and Mondays" (The Carpenters)[31]
"Red Roses for a Blue Lady" (Vic Dana)[3]
"Return to Sender" (Elvis Presley)[7]
"Rhythm of the Rain" (The Cascades)
"Ringo" (Lorne Greene)[5][3]
"Rock-A-Hula Baby" (Elvis Presley)
"The Rocky Horror Show" (original Roxy Theatre cast recording)[12][13]
"Run That Body Down" (Paul Simon), track 4 on 1972 album Paul Simon
S
"San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" (Scott McKenzie)[54]
"Save Your Heart for Me" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)[3]
"She's a Fool" (Lesley Gore)[7]
"She's Just My Style" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)[55]
"The Seventh Son" (Johnny Rivers)[3]
"Sleigh Ride" (The Ronettes)
"Sloop John B" (The Beach Boys)[10]
"The Snake" (Al Wilson)[56]
"So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" (Simon & Garfunkel)
"Softly, as I Leave You" (Frank Sinatra)[57][58]
"Somethin' Stupid" (Frank and Nancy Sinatra)[6][5][59]
"Song Sung Blue" (Neil Diamond)[5][1]
"Sooner or Later" (The Grass Roots)[1]
"Stoned Soul Picnic" (The 5th Dimension)[9]
"Stoney End" (Barbra Streisand)
"Strangers in the Night" (Frank Sinatra)[notes 5][42][5][60][59]
"Sugar Town" (Nancy Sinatra)[10]
"Sunshower" (Thelma Houston, prod: Jimmy Webb)
"Superstar" (The Carpenters)[31]
"Sure Gonna Miss Her" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)[10]
"Surf City" (Jan and Dean)[5][7]
"Surfer Girl" (The Beach Boys)[7]
T
"A Taste of Honey" (Herb Alpert)[notes 6][6][61][62]
"Tears in the Morning" (The Beach Boys)[2]
"A Texas State of Mind" (David Frizzell and Shelly West)[1]
"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" (John Denver)[6][5][1]
"That's Life" (Frank Sinatra)[59]
"Then He Kissed Me" (The Crystals)[7]
"(They Long to Be) Close to You" (The Carpenters)[5][63][27]
"This Diamond Ring" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)[5][64]
"This Girl Is a Woman Now" (Gary Puckett & the Union Gap)[9]
"This Is My Song" (Petula Clark)[10]
"Top of the World" (The Carpenters)[5][31]
"The Tracks of My Tears" (Johnny Rivers)[10]
"Turn Around, Look at Me" (The Vogues)[9]
U
"Up, Up and Away" (The 5th Dimension)[notes 7][42][65][66]
V
"Ventura Highway" (America)[8][67][1]
W
"Wedding Bell Blues" (The 5th Dimension)[5][9]
"(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story" (Andy Williams)[1]
"Where the Boys Are" (Connie Francis)[7]
"We've Only Just Begun" (The Carpenters)[68]
"Windy" (The Association)[5][10]
"Woman, Woman" (Gary Puckett & The Union Gap)
"Words of Love" (The Mamas and the Papas)[9]
"Workin' On a Groovy Thing" (The 5th Dimension)
"Wouldn't It Be Nice" (The Beach Boys)[69][12][10]
Y
"The Yard Went on Forever" (Richard Harris)
"Yesterday Once More" (The Carpenters)[31]
"Young Girl" (Gary Puckett & The Union Gap)[9]
"(You're the) Devil in Disguise" (Elvis Presley)[3]
"You're the One" (The Vogues)[3]
"You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" (David Frizzell and Shelly West)[1]
"You've Never Done It Like That" (Captain & Tennille)[1]
Z
"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" (Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans)[70][3]
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We may not listen to Karen Carpenter every day of our lives, but most of us DO listen to Hal Blaine every day and don't even know it.