Mary Chapin Carpenter is an American country and folk music singer-songwriter. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C.-area clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records. Carpenter's first album, 1987's Hometown Girl, did not produce any charting singles. She broke through with 1989's State of the Heart and 1990's Shooting Straight in the Dark.
"Calling Elvis" is a song written by Mark Knopfler and performed by Dire Straits. It first appeared on the final studio album by the band, On Every Street (1991). It was released as the first single from that album, peaking at number 21 in the United Kingdom, and reaching the Top 10 in numerous other countries. It was included on the 2005 compilation The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations. A live version of the song also appears on the 1993 live album On the Night.
"He Thinks He'll Keep Her" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in December 1993 as the sixth single from the album Come On Come On. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was written by Carpenter and Don Schlitz.
"Walk of Life" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits, the third track on their fifth studio album Brothers in Arms (1985). It subsequently appeared on their live album On the Night (1993). It was released as a single October 1985 but had first been available as the B-side of "So Far Away" released in advance of Brothers in Arms.
Come On Come On is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. Seven of its tracks became Billboard Hot Country Singles hits in 1992, 1993, and 1994. They were, chronologically, "I Feel Lucky" at #4, "Not Too Much to Ask" at #15, "Passionate Kisses" at #4, "The Hard Way" at #11, "The Bug" at #16, "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" at #2, and "I Take My Chances" also at #2. The album topped out at #6 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.
"Not Too Much to Ask" is a song recorded by American country music artists Mary Chapin Carpenter and Joe Diffie. It was released in September 1992 as the second single from Carpenter's album Come On Come On. The song reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in December 1992. It was nominated for a 1993 Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. It was written by Carpenter and Don Schlitz.
"Shut Up and Kiss Me" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in August 1994 as the first single from her album Stones in the Road. The song became her only number one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts on November 19, 1994; it also peaked at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song features Lee Roy Parnell accompanying on slide guitar, Benmont Tench on piano, Don Dixon on bass, Kenny Aronoff on drums, and Trisha Yearwood providing backing vocals. The song also won Carpenter a Grammy Award in 1995 for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
The discography of American singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter consists of 16 studio albums, four compilation albums, three video albums, 41 singles, 15 music videos, and 88 album appearances. After recording a demo tape, she was signed to Columbia Records in 1987 and released her debut studio album Hometown Girl (1987). In June 1989, Carpenter's second studio album State of the Heart was issued, which transitioned more towards country music. Among its four singles, both "Never Had It So Good" and "Quittin' Time" became top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart. Shooting Straight in the Dark was released in October 1990 and certified platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America. Its third single "Down at the Twist and Shout" won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1992 and became a top ten hit. In June 1992, Carpenter released Come On Come On, which became her best-selling record. From seven singles issued, the songs "I Feel Lucky", "Passionate Kisses", and "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" became top ten hits on the Billboard country chart. Her fifth album Stones in the Road (1994) debuted at number one on the Top Country Albums chart and number 10 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single "Shut Up and Kiss Me" topped the Billboard country chart in 1994. Her sixth studio release entitled A Place in the World (1996) certified gold in sales in the United States. Party Doll and Other Favorites (1998) was Carpenter's first compilation album, also certifying gold in sales from the RIAA.
Party Doll and Other Favorites is the first compilation album by American country music singer Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in 1999 on the Columbia Records label and comprises a mix of her greatest hits, several album cuts, and newly recorded tracks.
"Water of Love" is a song written by Mark Knopfler and originally released on Dire Straits' self-titled debut album. It was also released as a single in the Netherlands in October 1978 and in Australia in December 1978 as a follow-up to the band's first single "Sultans of Swing". The single reached number 28 in the Netherlands and number 54 in Australia. The song was also included on Dire Straits live album Live at the BBC and on the multi-artist compilation album More Than Unplugged.
"Tender When I Want to Be" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in December 1994 as the second single from her album Stones in the Road. The song reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in February 1995.
"I Take My Chances" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in April 1994 as the seventh and final single from her album Come On Come On. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in July 1994. It was written by Carpenter and Don Schlitz.
"Passionate Kisses" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. It was released in 1989 as the fourth single from her third album, Lucinda Williams (1988).
"Down at the Twist and Shout" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It celebrates the Bethesda, Maryland, dance and music venue Twist & Shout. It was released in June 1991 as the third single from the album Shooting Straight in the Dark. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on September 14, 1991. The Cajun-themed song features backing from members of BeauSoleil, who are also name-dropped in the lyrics. Carpenter performed the song pregame at Super Bowl XXXI.
"I Feel Lucky" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in May 1992 as the first single from the album Come On Come On. The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The Chipettes recorded a cover of this song for the 1992 album Chipmunks in Low Places. It was written by Carpenter and Don Schlitz.
"You Win Again" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in October 1990 as the first single from the album Shooting Straight in the Dark. The song reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and number 6 on the RPM Country Tracks in Canada.
"Let Me into Your Heart" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in September 1996 as the first single from the album A Place in the World. The song reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and number 5 on the RPM Country Tracks in Canada.
"The Hard Way" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in March 1993 as the fourth single from her album Come On Come On. The song reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in July 1993. It was nominated at the 36th Grammy Awards for Best Country Song.
"Going Out Tonight" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in September 1991 as the fourth single from her album Shooting Straight in the Dark. The song reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in January 1992. It was written by Carpenter and John Jennings.
"Right Now" is a song written by Al Lewis and Sylvester Bradford, and recorded by Rock 'n' Roll singer Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps on 15 December 1957. The song was not released until 1959, when the Blue Caps had disbanded.
