Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell’s evocative 1969 composition “Superstar” had plenty of historical past even earlier than Richard and Karen Carpenter recorded their model in early 1971. However the refined rendition by the Carpenters would turn into the definitive pop interpretation of the tune that took its bow as the best new entry on the Billboard Scorching 100 for the week of September 4, 1971.
Delaney & Bonnie had recorded the primary model of the music in late 1969, with Eric Clapton including refined guitar element. It was launched solely because the B-side of their Atlantic single “Comin’ Home,” which peaked at No.84 within the US however reached No.16 within the UK, credited to Delaney & Bonnie and Buddies that includes Eric Clapton. At the moment, the music was referred to as “Groupie (Superstar).”
In 1970, when Joe Cocker launched into his well-known Mad Canines & Englishmen tour, Leon Russell was his bandleader, and Rita Coolidge was given the vocal highlight to interpret the music that by now was generally known as “Superstar.” All of that was earlier than the Carpenters made it their very own, with the assistance of Earle Dumler’s plaintive oboe, Joe Osborn on bass, and the prolific session drummer Hal Blaine.
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Richard Carpenter wasn’t conscious of the Delaney & Bonnie or Mad Canines variations. However he was drawn to the music when he heard Bette Midler, earlier than she had ever made the charts, performing it on the Tonight Present on American tv. She included it on her debut album The Divine Miss M, after which the duo’s recording turned a part of their third, self-titled album, launched in Might, 1971.
The Carpenters had been coming off an enormous No.2 US hit from the album with “Rainy Days And Mondays,” and had been quickly onto one other winner. “Superstar” entered the Scorching 100 at a assured No.49, in every week that additionally included modest new entries for Joni Mitchell’s “Carey” and Graham Nash’s “Military Madness.” It took solely six weeks to climb to No.2, the place it stayed for 2 weeks, parked behind Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May”/“Reason To Believe.” It went High 10 in Japan and Canada, and within the UK it turned their third hit, and second High 20, at No.18.
Bonnie Bramlett’s revisiting of the music was on her 2002 album I’m Nonetheless The Identical. In 1983, Luther Vandross’ epic model was a part of a medley with the Aretha Franklin hit “Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do).” There was a studying by British vocalist Elkie Brooks, from her 1981 large vendor Pearls, and an unlikely one by indie rock heroes Sonic Youth, from the 1994 tribute album If I Have been A Carpenter.
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