Voice of the Heart

Last updated
Voice of the Heart
Voice of the Heart (Carpenters album) CD cover art.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 18, 1983
Recorded1976–1983
Studio
Genre Pop
Length40:24
Label A&M
Producer Richard Carpenter
Carpenters chronology
Made in America
(1981)
Voice of the Heart
(1983)
An Old-Fashioned Christmas
(1984)
live/compilation chronology
The Very Best of the Carpenters
(1982)
Yesterday Once More
(1985)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

Voice of the Heart is the eleventh studio album by American music duo Carpenters. It was released in 1983 after Karen's death and contains the two songs from her final recording sessions, "Now" and "You're Enough", as well as previously unreleased tracks from sessions of their previous albums A Kind of Hush, Passage and Made in America. At least one song, "In Love Alone", was intended to be on this album, but Karen did not get the opportunity to hear the track or record a vocal for it before her death; it would be released in 1987 on Richard's solo album Time with Dionne Warwick on lead vocals.

Contents

Karen's last recording, "Now", was recorded in April 1982 while Karen was taking a break from medical treatment in New York and had temporarily returned to California. The song was recorded in one take.

The tracks were finished by Richard months after Karen's death.

Reception

Billboard called it "the duo's strongest album in a decade and contains a few cuts that rank with their all-time best. The most radio-worthy are "Two Lives," a rock-edged ballad previously recorded by Bonnie Raitt; "Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore," a brooding, slow-boil pop piece in the tradition of "Hurt So Bad," and "Make Believe It's Your First Time," the soft reflective ballad which is the first single. But the most gripping cut is "Ordinary Fool," a Paul Williams ballad which features the bluesiest vocal of Karen's career." [3]

In their review, Cashbox noted that "this LP will probably be the last and most remembered collection of new songs by the brother and sister duo. One cannot help feel sad about the void she has left, but the songs featured on this LP are some of the best the duo has recorded in some time and the uplifting messages in their lyrics demand that “Voice of the Heart” be taken as a message of happiness and optimism. This is a fond farewell from a great singer who will be long appreciated for her inspirational and strong love for the music she sang." [4]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Now"3:51
2."Sailing on the Tide"4:24
3."You're Enough"3:48
4."Make Believe It's Your First Time"
  • Bob Morrison
  • Johnny Wilson
4:08
5."Two Lives"Mark Terrence Jordan4:35
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."At the End of a Song"
  • Bettis
  • Carpenter
3:40
7."Ordinary Fool" Paul Williams 3:42
8."Prime Time Love"
  • Danny Ironstone
  • Mary Unobsky
3:12
9."Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore" Larry Weiss 3:51
10."Look to Your Dreams"
  • Bettis
  • Carpenter
5:13

Singles

"Make Believe It's Your First Time"
US 7" single (1983) – A&M 2585
1. "Make Believe It's Your First Time"
2. "Look to Your Dreams"
BR 7" single (1983) – CBS 47075
1. "Make Believe It's Your First Time"
2. "Look to Your Dreams"
"Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore"
US 7" single (1984) – A&M 2620
1. "Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore"
2. "Sailing on the Tide"

Charts

Chart (1983-1984)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [5] 54
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [6] 41
UK Albums (OCC) [7] 6
US Billboard 200 [8] 46

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [9] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [10] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We've Only Just Begun</span> Song sung by the Carpenters

"We've Only Just Begun" is a single by the Carpenters, written by Roger Nichols (music) and Paul Williams (lyrics). It was ranked at No. 414 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

<i>Im Your Baby Tonight</i> 1990 studio album by Whitney Houston

I'm Your Baby Tonight is the third studio album by American singer Whitney Houston. It was released on November 6, 1990, by Arista Records. The album is one of the best-selling female albums of all time and has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<i>Close to You</i> (The Carpenters album) 1970 album by The Carpenters

Close to You is the second studio album by the American music duo the Carpenters, released on August 19, 1970. In 2003, the album was ranked No. 175 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list. The album contains the hit singles "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun". The success of the title track earned Carpenters an international reputation. The album topped the Canadian Albums Chart and peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard albums chart. It was also successful in the United Kingdom, entering the top 50 of the official chart for 76 weeks during the first half of the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(They Long to Be) Close to You</span> 1970 single by The Carpenters

"(They Long to Be) Close to You" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David with sections of the early version written by Cathy Steeves. The best-known version is that recorded by American duo The Carpenters for their second studio album Close to You (1970) and produced by Jack Daugherty. Released on May 14, 1970, the single topped both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. It also reached the top of the Canadian and Australian charts and peaked at number six on the charts of both the UK and Ireland. The record was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in August 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Top of the World (The Carpenters song)</span> 1972 song written and composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis

"Top of the World" is a 1972 song written and composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis and first recorded by American pop duo Carpenters. It was a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit for the duo for two consecutive weeks in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Carpenter (musician)</span> American pop musician (born 1946)

Richard Lynn Carpenter is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, who formed half of the sibling duo the Carpenters alongside his younger sister Karen. He had numerous roles in the Carpenters, including record producer, arranger, pianist, keyboardist, and songwriter, as well as joining with Karen on harmony vocals.

<i>A Song for You</i> (The Carpenters album) 1972 studio album by The Carpenters

A Song for You is the fourth studio album by the American music duo the Carpenters, released on June 22, 1972. According to Richard Carpenter, A Song for You was intended to be a concept album with the title tune opening and closing the set and the bookended selections comprising the 'song'. "A Song for You" was written by songwriter Leon Russell.

<i>Now & Then</i> (The Carpenters album) 1973 studio album by The Carpenters

Now & Then is the fifth studio album by the American music duo the Carpenters, released on May 1, 1973. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart on July 21, 1973, and ranked No. 20 on the Cash Box year-end pop albums chart. The title, suggested by Karen and Richard's mother Agnes, was taken from a leftover song that did not appear on the album.

<i>Made in America</i> (The Carpenters album) 1981 studio album by The Carpenters

Made in America is the tenth studio album by the American music duo The Carpenters, released in June 1981. Karen Carpenter died less than two years later, making it their final album released in her lifetime. It reached number 52 in the US and number 12 in the UK.

<i>Ticket to Ride</i> (album) 1969 studio album by Carpenters

Ticket to Ride is the debut studio album by the American music duo Carpenters. At the time of its initial release in 1969, it was issued under the title Offering, with a completely different cover photo. It was a commercial failure and produced only one minor hit single, a ballad version of the Lennon-McCartney song "Ticket to Ride".

<i>Horizon</i> (The Carpenters album) 1975 studio album by the Carpenters

Horizon is the sixth studio album by the American musical duo the Carpenters. It was recorded at A&M Studios. The Carpenters spent many hours experimenting with different sounds, techniques and effects.

<i>A Kind of Hush</i> (album) 1976 album by the Carpenters

A Kind of Hush is the seventh studio album by the American music duo Carpenters. It was released on June 11, 1976.

<i>Passage</i> (The Carpenters album) 1977 studio album by the Carpenters

Passage is the eighth studio album by the American music duo the Carpenters. Released in 1977, it produced the hit singles "All You Get from Love Is a Love Song", "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" and "Sweet, Sweet Smile". The Carpenters' "Sweet, Sweet Smile" was picked up by Country radio and put the duo in the top ten of Billboard's Country chart in the spring of 1978.

<i>Love Songs</i> (The Carpenters album) 1997 compilation album by Carpenters

Love Songs contains the Carpenters' love ballads, from their first big hit, "(They Long to Be) Close to You" to their later songs, like "Make Believe It's Your First Time" and "Where Do I Go from Here?". It remained on the Billboard charts for over six months and was certified Gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Need to Be in Love</span> 1976 single by Carpenters

"I Need to Be in Love" is a song written by Richard Carpenter, Albert Hammond and John Bettis. It was released as a single on May 21, 1976. It was featured on the A Kind of Hush album, which was released on June 11 of the same year.

<i>The Ultimate Collection</i> (The Carpenters album) 2006 compilation album by The Carpenters

The Ultimate Collection is a 3-CD set by The Carpenters released in 2006. It contains many of their popular songs, like "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "Top of the World", and their album cuts, like "Desperado" and "Jambalaya ". All of the songs are taken directly from the original album. In the case of "Yesterday Once More", it fades into a motorcycle engine, which subsequently fades into the oldies medley on the Now & Then album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Carpenters</span> American vocal duo (1965–1983)

The Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen (1950–1983) and Richard Carpenter. They produced a distinctive soft musical style, combining Karen's contralto vocals with Richard's harmonizing, arranging, and composition. During their 14-year career, the Carpenters recorded 10 albums along with many singles and several television specials.

"Make Believe It's Your First Time" is a song written by Bob Morrison and Johnny Wilson. Originally recorded by Bobby Vinton, the song was twice recorded by Karen Carpenter, both as a solo act and as a member of the Carpenters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore</span>

"Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore" is a song originally recorded and made a minor hit by Ruby & the Romantics in 1965. It appeared on their Greatest Hits album, and was released as a single on Kapp Records K-665 in April of that year. On The Romantics' original version, the song's composer is listed as Lawrence (Larry) Weiss. Although it was originally a B-side to the standard "We'll Meet Again", "Your Baby" received considerably more R&B radio airplay, but did not reach the Billboard Hot 100, only managing #8 on the Bubbling Under chart.

<i>Carpenters</i> (album) 1971 studio album by The Carpenters

Carpenters is the third studio album by American music duo the Carpenters. Released on May 14, 1971, it was their most successful studio album, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 chart and number 12 in the UK, as well as being certified 4× Platinum by the RIAA. The album contained the hit songs "For All We Know", "Rainy Days and Mondays" and "Superstar".

References

  1. Carpenter, Bil. Voice of the Heart at AllMusic
  2. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 140. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  3. "Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard. No. 29 October 1983. p. 66. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  4. "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. No. 22 October 1983. p. 10. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 19701992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Yamachan Land (Japanese Chart Archives) - Albums Chart Daijiten - Carpenters" (in Japanese). Original Confidence . Retrieved September 21, 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  8. "Carpenters Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  9. "British album certifications – Carpenters – Voice of the Heart". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved September 22, 2012.Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Voice of the Heart in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  10. "American album certifications – Carpenters – Voice of the Heart". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved September 22, 2012.