Carpenters "Sing" Single (1973)

Details: Carpenters "Sing" b/w "Druscilla Penny" on A&M Records, 1973. Terre Haute pressing. Record media shows no marks or scuffs. The sleeve is original some tearing near the top where paper has folded over from storage, otherwise front/back is clean.

Description: "Although Barbra Streisand had an easy-listening hit in 1972 with "Sing," Karen and Richard Carpenter heard the song for the first time as guests on the ABC television special Robert Young with the Young in 1973. They loved the song and felt that it could be a hit. It appeared as the debut single on the group's 1973 album Now & Then. It reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #1 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart, and it became the group's seventh gold single.

The Carpenters' recording was produced and arranged by Richard Carpenter and engineered by Ray Gerhardt. Karen Carpenter sang lead vocals, with backing vocals by herself, Richard, and the Jimmy Joyce Children's Choir. Keyboards were played by Richard, bass by Joe Osborn, drums by Karen, and recorders by Tom Scott.

In 1974 while touring Japan, the Carpenters recorded their first live album in Osaka. It contained a new version of the song with the children's chorus sung by the Kyoto Children's Choir. It is featured on the album Live in Japan, recorded in June 1974, and released in Japan only on March 7, 1975. The album has since been released on CD.

The 1991 box set From the Top contains a Spanglish version of the song. The title is listed as "Canta/Sing," and the song is sung with alternating Spanish and English lines. The Mexican single version contains full Spanish lyrics except for the refrain. A new recording and remix of Carpenters' version was created in 1994 by sound engineer Roger Young."

Grade: VG+ (Sleeve) / NM (Record)

TRACK LISTING SIDE A:

A1. Sing

TRACK LISTING SIDE B:

B1. Druscilla Penny