Voice of the Heart
Voice of the Heart | ||||
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Studio album by Carpenters | ||||
Released | October 18, 1983 | |||
Recorded | 1976–1983 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 40:24 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Producer | Richard Carpenter | |||
Carpenters chronology | ||||
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live/compilation chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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.
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
No. | Title | Writer(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" |
| 4:08 |
5. | "Two Lives" | Mark Terrence Jordan | 4:35 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "At the End of a Song" |
| 3:40 |
7. | "Ordinary Fool" | Paul Williams | 3:42 |
8. | "Prime Time Love" |
| 3:12 |
9. | "Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore" | Larry Weiss | 3:51 |
10. | "Look to Your Dreams" |
| 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
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[9] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[10] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ Carpenter, Bil. Voice of the Heart at AllMusic
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard. No. 29 October 1983. p. 66. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. No. 22 October 1983. p. 10. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Yamachan Land (Japanese Chart Archives) - Albums Chart Daijiten - Carpenters" (in Japanese). Original Confidence. Retrieved September 21, 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ "Carpenters Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "American album certifications – Carpenters – Voice of the Heart". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
- v
- t
- e
- Karen Carpenter
- Richard Carpenter
- Offering (Ticket to Ride) (1969)
- Close to You (1970)
- Carpenters (1971)
- A Song for You (1972)
- Now & Then (1973)
- Horizon (1975)
- A Kind of Hush (1976)
- Passage (1977)
- Christmas Portrait (1978)
- Made in America (1981)
- Voice of the Heart (1983)
- An Old-Fashioned Christmas (1984)
- Lovelines (1989)
- As Time Goes By (2001)
- Live in Japan (1975)
- Live at the Palladium (1976)
- The Singles: 1969–1973 (1973)
- The Singles: 1974–1978 (1978)
- The Very Best of the Carpenters (1982)
- Yesterday Once More (1984)
- Only Yesterday (1990)
- From the Top (1991)
- Interpretations: A 25th Anniversary Celebration (1995)
- Love Songs (1997)
- Reflections (1998)
- The Singles: 1969–1981 (2000)
- The Essential Collection: 1965–1997 (2002)
- Carpenters Perform Carpenter (2003)
- Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition (2004)
- The Ultimate Collection (2006)
- 40/40 (2009)
- Carpenters with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (2018)
- Time (1987)
- Karen Carpenter (1996)
- Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor (1998)
- "Looking for Love"
- "Ticket to Ride"
- "(They Long to Be) Close to You"
- "We've Only Just Begun"
- "Merry Christmas, Darling"
- "For All We Know"
- "Rainy Days and Mondays"
- "Superstar"
- "Bless the Beasts and Children"
- "Hurting Each Other"
- "It's Going to Take Some Time"
- "Goodbye to Love"
- "Sing"
- "Yesterday Once More"
- "Top of the World"
- "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)"
- "I Won't Last a Day Without You"
- "Please Mr. Postman"
- "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"
- "Only Yesterday"
- "Solitaire"
- "There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)"
- "I Need to Be in Love"
- "Goofus"
- "All You Get from Love Is a Love Song"
- "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft"
- "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"
- "Sweet, Sweet Smile"
- "I Believe You"
- "Touch Me When We're Dancing"
- "(Want You) Back in My Life Again"
- "Those Good Old Dreams"
- "Beechwood 4-5789"
- "Make Believe It's Your First Time"
- "Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore"
- "Little Altar Boy"
- "Honolulu City Lights"
- "Something in Your Eyes"
- "If I Had You"
- "Ave Maria"
- "The Rainbow Connection"
- "Let Me Be the One"
- "A Song for You"
- "This Masquerade"
- "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"
- "Can't Smile Without You"
- "I Just Fall in Love Again"
- "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again"
- "Where Do I Go from Here"
and specials
- Make Your Own Kind of Music (1971)
- Live at the BBC (1971)
- Very First TV Special (1976)
- Space Encounters (1978)
- A Christmas Portrait (1978)
- Music, Music, Music (1980)
- Gold: Greatest Hits (1991 VHS / 2002 DVD)
- Interpretations (1995 VHS / 2003 DVD)
- Close to You: Remembering The Carpenters (1998)
- Only Yesterday: The Carpenters Story (2007)
- Discography
- Songs
- John Bettis
- Tony Peluso
- If I Were a Carpenter
- Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story
- The Karen Carpenter Story
- Classic Carpenters
Category