The Carpenters - a cryptic clue challenge Quiz

Answer: Yesterday Once More

In the Harold Ramis-directed 1993 movie, Bill Murray wakes up each day to find it's 'yesterday once more' - the previous day repeating itself. It co-stars Andie McDowell.

This iconic song opened Richard and Karen's fifth album 'Now and Then', my personal favorite. The song expresses nostalgia for the romantic hits of the past. It's followed by a superbly arranged medley of 60s covers that take up the whole first side of the original LP, including such gems as 'One Fine Day', 'Johnny Angel', 'Our Day Will Come', 'The End of the World' and 'Da Doo Run Run'. This retro style, going in the opposite direction of musical trends of the time, no one did better, now or then.

The single made number two in the US and UK, and number one in Canada.

Answer: We've Only Just Begun

'We've Only Just Begun' was the duo's second major hit, the follow-up to 'Close to You', and made number two in the US, number one in Canada, and 16 in the UK. Richard regarded it as their signature song, especially in the early days of their success. So true - there was a lot of wonderful music to come.

The song is actually a reworking of a bank commercial written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols which had stayed in Richard's head. The lyrics, about a young couple starting their adult lives together, soon made it a popular choice for weddings: 'White lace and promises, a kiss for luck and we're on our way.'

Answer: Hurting Each Other

This dramatic ballad made number two in both the US and Canada, number four in Australia, and top position on the US Easy Listening chart, though personally I find it quite 'demanding' listening. The song begins gently and builds to an emotional, richly arranged climax, harking back to Dionne Warwick's classic mid-60s renditions of Bacharach-David compositions. I hear echoes of Little Anthony and the Imperials, too, especially 'Going out of my Head'.

A minor 60s hit for Ruby and the Romantics (of 'Our Day Will Come' fame), it was recorded by various artists of that decade, including the Walker Brothers and southern rock'n'roller Jimmy Clanton, (best known for 'Venus in Blue Jeans'). It was a hit in Canada for Chad Allan and the Expressions, later known as the 'Guess Who'. Rosemary Clooney (George's auntie) also had a version.

Answer: Top of the World

These are the Nepalese and Chinese names respectively for Mount Everest, sometimes referred to as the 'Top of the World'. This song was composed by Richard and his lyricist partner and former bandmate John Bettis. Richard did not have a single in mind when they recorded it, and it was intended for album filler, but upon release they were surprised to find it was another huge hit - number two in both the US and Canada, number four in Australia.

The song has grown in stature over the years and been covered by numerous artists. The pedal steel backing (by Buddy Emmons) lent itself to a country feel, and Nashville songbird Lynn Anderson used it as the title track for an album. Bluegrass mandolinist David Grisman and fiddler Mark O'Connor also have versions.

It became the Carpenters' most familiar song in Japan when it was used as the theme for a major TV drama series, and is often used as a listening exercise in high school English classes there, due to Karen's clear diction (not to mention John Bettis's correct standard grammar, an increasing rarity in pop songs).

Answer: For All We Know

Another beautiful song about blossoming young love, magnificently rendered by Karen. It was this song that really made me sit up and take notice. Up to then I had thought of the Carpenters' music as too saccharine, songs for moon-eyed girly-girls, but when I heard this I knew I was listening to a voice that was very, very special.

It made number three in the US, seven in Canada, 18 in the UK and 10 in Australia. The 'two lost souls' quote is taken from a Pink Floyd song, 'Wish You Were Here', from the 1975 album of the same name, lyrics by Roger Waters.

The song was written for the movie 'Lovers and Other Strangers' by founding members of Bread (under pseudonyms), sung by little-known Larry Meredith, and won the Academy Award for Best Song in 1971. The oboe intro is credited to Earl Dumler. Mexican-American guitar phenomenon Jose Feliciano played on the original takes but his input had to be removed for contract reasons.

Answer: Rainy Days and Mondays

This was the original B-side to the previously mentioned 'For All We Know' and it independently made number-one on the US Easy Listening charts. Its distinctive harmonica introduction (by Tommy Morgan) makes it one of the most recognizable Carpenters tunes, and remains a favorite among many fans and a staple of the duo's many compilation albums.

Two other musicians on this track, and on many other early Carpenters recordings, are worth mentioning at this point: drummer Hal Blaine and bassist Joe Osborn. They were members of the circle of LA session musicians now referred to as the 'Wrecking Crew'. and played on countless pop hits of the 60s and 70s. They play on the majority of selections for this quiz.

Answer: Sing

Written by Joe Raposo, this perennial favorite is the only Carpenters studio recording I know of that contains voices other than Richard and Karen's, in the form of a children's choir. It made US number three and Canada number four, and in the mid-70s became a popular part of their stage act, sometimes featuring local children's choirs on stage for the choruses.

The once notorious Sing Sing prison, 'up the river' from New York City, is still an operational correctional facility today.

Answer: Goodbye to Love

The clue of course is a corrupted version of the opening line to the Dean Martin 1953 hit 'That's Amore'.

This US number seven hit introduced an electric guitar solo in to a Carpenters arrangement for the first time, giving their backing group a heavier, more contemporary rock sound than had been heard on their previous recordings. It was played by Tony Peluso. Ironically, this move precluded the song from 'easy listening' radio play.

Do you know the scuba-divers' lament? 'When your arm says goodbye in a crevice you pry, that's a moray!' Something like that.

Answer: Superstar

Written by LA session musician Leon Russell, it was previously a moderate hit for Rita Coolidge so technically it's a cover, but the Carpenters version did better commercially and is the one most remembered today. It made US number two and Canada number three. It tells the sad story of a pining girl and a 'love 'em and leave 'em' rock guitarist, perhaps a not uncommon scenario in the world of popular music.

Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star in the constellation of Orion and one of the most readily visible to the naked eye. It's estimated to be up to 20 times the size of our Sun. Let's not go there. Anyway, it's 640 light years away so no chance of that in the foreseeable future.

Answer: Close to You

This mega-hit Bacharach-David tune (US Billboard number-one for four weeks) was the one that started it all commercially for the Carpenters. They had been making quality recordings for about two years without success, but with the full confidence and backing of A&M studio owner Herb Alpert. Though that sounds like Alpert's distinctive trumpet on the recording, it's credited to a sessionist named Chuck Findley.

A magnificent semi-classical cover of the Beatles' 'Ticket to Ride', showcasing Karen's remarkable low range, had been heavily promoted in 1968 but sank without trace, as they say. Hard to believe, listening to it now. Obviously the world was not ready, but all concerned felt it was just a matter of time. They were right.

Dionne Warwick had recorded the song, among others, but even she had generated little interest. Burt Bacharach, who already had great admiration for Richard's arranging skills, gave it to him to revitalize somehow. He came up with the 'sprinkles of moondust', literally and figuratively. Add Karen's close-miked, intimate vocals, and a legend was born. The correct title is actually '(They Long to Be) Close to You', but I didn't want to make the quiz any harder than it is already.

Answer: Sometimes

The word 'sometimes' is used frightfully frequently, is it not? Sometimes I think it's used more often than often, but not always.

Set to music by the great Hollywood orchestra conductor and composer Henry Mancini from lyrics composed by his daughter Felice, who was a child at the time. It was stripped down to solo piano accompaniment for Karen's sensitive interpretation. In other hands, it might have sounded sentimental and maudlin, but Richard and Karen, in characteristic fashion, go unerringly for the heart of the song. In live performances, they would use it as their penultimate song, an intimate duet before launching into one of their signature farewell songs like 'For All We Know'.

Answer: Maybe It's You

Maybe it's YOU, not IOU. That was a nasty one, huh? This gorgeous Karen vehicle appeared on their second album 'Close to You' and was also the B-side of 'Hurting Each Other'. It was composed by Richard with lyrics by John Bettis, some of the latter's finest. It remains a personal favorite. The oboe solo is by Doug Shawn.

One more gem tucked away on the 'Close to You' album is yet another Bacharach-David cover, 'Baby It's You', popularized by the Beatles in their early days. It's worth the price of the whole album, the Carpenters doing what they do best, in my opinion.

Answer: Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft

The duo go sci-fi on this one, quite an unusual departure for them. It was number one in Ireland of all places, and made top ten in the UK and Canada. It was not released as a single in the US. Richard and Karen were obviously looking for new directions here, and may have been inspired by movies like Spielberg's 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' or even George Lucas's 'Star Wars', which were both released around that time. 'Flying saucers' were cool again.

The siblings both stated they were very pleased with this recording, refreshing for them I suppose. Give me their 'three Bs' any day (i.e. Bacharach, Beach Boys, Beatles).

Answer: Crescent Noon

Croissant means 'crescent' in English, and lunch is served at noon, of course.

Carpenter and Bettis composed this song in 1969 and Richard performed it with Karen in the State University of California, Long Beach choir. Considered too slow and ponderous for a single, it showcased the simultaneous power and intimacy of Karen's warm, inimitable contralto range, what Richard called 'the basement'. Quintessential Carpenters, with a sublime bridge - three Karens harmonizing with each other. Who could ask for more?

If anyone who hadn't heard Karen's magical voice asked me to recommend an example, this is the one I would play. A true tour-de-force.

Answer: A Place to Hide Away

The reference in the clue was to the pop tango evergreen 'Fernando's Hideaway'.

Another personal favorite. Karen sings about sorrow like she knows what it is. Given her well-publicized personal problems and the dark secret beneath that cheerful, girl-next-door exterior, a secret that ultimately killed her way too early, I'm sure she did know. Rarely do singers get this convincing.

The album that contains this song, simply titled 'Carpenters' and sometimes referred to by fans as the "Tan Album' (cf the Beatles 'White Album'), not only features several of the fine songs mentioned in this quiz, but also the remarkable 5.27-minute 'Bacharach-David Medley'. They performed a 14-minute version on stage at a Bacharach special at the composer's request. Not only does it showcase Karen's world-class jazz drumming chops, but Richard's arranging skills are on full display here, demonstrating the Carpenters were not the same thing as Karen Carpenter, and he was very much her musical equal in his own way.