(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)
The Carpenters - "Top of the World"
Hit Number 1: December 1, 1973
Stay at Number 1: 2 Weeks
Finally. They finally did it again. It was almost becoming a joke here on the Hit Hammer how many times the Carpenters peaked at #2, and couldn't get all the way to #1. They were at least on their way to becoming stars after their song "(They Long to Be) Close to You" held down #1 for 4 weeks, and honestly a ton of #2 hits is still a great achievement. It's just striking to me how easily they could have had around 10 #1 hits. I never knew how "unlucky" they were on the charts until this series. Apparently all it took was a simple song about being in love, and that love making you feel good. That's what the Carpenters needed to get them back to the top. On the surface, there probably are better songs that should've been #1 hits for the Carpenters, but it's a song that you expect someone like the Carpenters to do.
The Carpenters were the ones to get the first crack at "Top of the World", as it was written by Richard Carpenter, but they didn't expect much from it at first. The song was to be included on their album A Song for You, but only as an album cut. They had no plans to record it for single release, but their plans would obviously change. Country artist Lynn Anderson would record the song as a cover, and she saw success with it, as her version peaked at #2 on the country charts. After seeing Anderson's luck with the song, the Carpenters wanted to try out their own song as a pop single. However instead of re-releasing the album version as a single, they re-recorded the song since Karen wasn't 100% satisfied with the album version. That ended up being a wise decision. (While on the topic, Anderson's version also saw moderate success on the pop charts, peaking at #74 on the Hot 100. Her version is a 7. Her highest-charting pop single "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden" peaked at #3 in 1971. That one is an 8)
You can understand why the Carpenters didn't get overly excited about "Top of the World". There's nothing incredible about the song. As I said earlier, the song is about a woman who's crazy in love, and she feels as if she's on top of the world. The melody is sweet, and Karen Carpenter does what she always does, and it creates a song that's a good listen. But in my personal opinion, "Top of the World" is really creative in the way it's written. Richard wrote the song in poetic ways: "Something in the wind has learned my name/And it's telling me that things are not the same" and "In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze/There's a pleasing sense of happiness for me." Of course those are cool lyrics, but the fact that Karen is singing them makes them better. "Top of the World" is probably my favorite Carpenters song because of that. The song gives off happy, soothing vibes. Karen's harmonies with Richard in the chorus remain top-notch, and everything fits together. It's not their greatest song, but it's the one I find myself listening to the most.
Karen and Richard still weren't done making hits after "Top of the World". They'll show up in this series again.
GRADE: 8/10
JUST MISSED:
Elton John's mystic wonder "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" peaked at #2 behind "Top of the World". It's an 8.
Comments