Tender When I Want to Be

Last updated
"Tender When I Want to Be"
Chapin Carpenter - Tender When I Want single.png
Single by Mary Chapin Carpenter
from the album Stones in the Road
B-side "John Doe No 24"
ReleasedDecember 5, 1994
Genre Country
Length2:54
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Mary Chapin Carpenter
Producer(s)
Mary Chapin Carpenter singles chronology
"Shut Up and Kiss Me"
(1994)
"Tender When I Want to Be"
(1994)
"House of Cards"
(1995)

"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. [1]

Contents

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "think-while-you-dance pop/country tune about grown-up emotions." She goes on to say that Carpenter continues to "light up country radio with incisive, intelligent lyrics and a talent for creating just the right melody." [2]

Music video

The music video was directed by Michael Salomon and premiered in early 1995.

Personnel

Chart performance

"Tender When I Want to Be" debuted at number 59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of December 10, 1994.

Chart (1994-1995)Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [3] 2
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [4] 6

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)Position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [5] 44

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Chapin Carpenter</span> American singer-songwriter (b. 1958)

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.

<i>Sweethearts Dance</i> 1994 studio album by Pam Tillis

Sweetheart's Dance is the fourth studio album by American country music singer Pam Tillis, released on April 26, 1994 via Arista Records. It is her highest ranking album on the Billboard charts, at number 6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">He Thinks He'll Keep Her</span> 1993 single by Mary-Chapin Carpenter

"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.

"When You Walk in the Room" is a song written and recorded by Jackie DeShannon, released as a single on November 23, 1963, as the B-side to "Till You Say You'll Be Mine".

<i>Come On Come On</i> 1992 studio album by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Come On Come On is the fourth album by 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.

<i>State of the Heart</i> (Mary Chapin Carpenter album) 1989 studio album by Mary Chapin Carpenter

State of the Heart is singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter's second album. It is much more country sounding than her preceding basically folk début Hometown Girl. State of the Heart eventually rose to the No. 28 position on the Billboard Country Albums chart, with four of its tracks finding places within the Hot Country Singles chart. Chronologically, they were "How Do" at No. 19, "Never Had It So Good" at No. 8, "Quittin' Time" at No. 7, and "Something of a Dreamer" at No. 14.

<i>Stones in the Road</i> 1994 studio album by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Stones in the Road is the fifth album by Mary Chapin Carpenter, and her first and only #1 Country Album on the Billboard charts. The album also contains her first and only #1 Hot Country Singles hit, "Shut Up and Kiss Me." Other charting singles were "Tender When I Want to Be" at #6, "House of Cards" at #21, and "Why Walk When You Can Fly?" at #45. The nostalgically themed title track was first recorded by folk singer Joan Baez for her 1992 studio album Play Me Backwards, to whom Carpenter first pitched the song during a joint concert appearance before she recorded it herself. It was also featured in the 1995 film Bye Bye Love.

<i>A Place in the World</i> (Mary Chapin Carpenter album) 1996 studio album by Mary Chapin Carpenter

A Place in the World is the sixth album by Mary Chapin Carpenter, and was a No. 3 Country Album on the Billboard charts. Album tracks that entered the Hot Country Singles chart were "Let Me into Your Heart" at No. 11, "I Want to Be Your Girlfriend" at No. 35, and "Keeping the Faith" at No. 58. Carpenter wrote all of the songs on the album singlehandedly.

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shut Up and Kiss Me (Mary Chapin Carpenter song)</span> 1994 single by Mary Chapin Carpenter

"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.

"My Baby Loves Me " is a song written by American singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters. The song was first recorded by Canadian country music singer Patricia Conroy on her 1992 album, Bad Day for Trains. Her version was released in May 1992 as the first single from her album and peaked at number 8 on the RPM Top Country Tracks chart.

<i>Time* Sex* Love*</i> 2001 studio album by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Time* Sex* Love* is the seventh studio album from American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in 2001 on Columbia Records Nashville as her first studio album since A Place in the World five years previous. This album produced two singles in "Simple Life," which peaked at number 53 on Billboard's Hot Country chart, and "This Is Me Leaving You" which failed to chart. Despite its low airplay ranking, "Simple Life" spent 28 weeks on Billboard's Top 25 Country Singles Sales chart, peaking at number 8 on May 5, 2001.

"How Do" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in April 1989 as the first single from the album State of the Heart. The song reached #19 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

"You Better Think Twice" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in May 1995 as the fifth single from the album When Love Finds You. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, behind Shania Twain's "Any Man Of Mine". It was written by Gill and Reed Nielsen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Take My Chances</span> 1994 single by Mary Chapin Carpenter

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passionate Kisses</span> 1989 single by Lucinda Williams

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Feel Lucky</span> 1992 single by Mary Chapin Carpenter

"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.

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almost Home (Mary Chapin Carpenter song)</span> 1999 single by Mary Chapin Carpenter

"Almost Home" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in April 1999 as the first single from her compilation album, Party Doll and Other Favorites. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and is her last Top 40 country hit.

References

  1. Mary Chapin Carpenter Hot Country Songs Chart History
  2. Billboard , December 3, 1994
  3. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 8009." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. February 27, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  4. "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  5. "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1995". RPM . December 18, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.