"Ticket to Ride" Carpenters

This is the original version of the Carpenters' cover of the Beatles' song released as a single in October 1969 on the A&M label and charting at #54 on the American Billboard Hot 100 charts in early 1970. It was included in the Carpenters' debut album, Offering, later retitled Ticket to Ride after the single. Richard Carpenter said of the song: "Ticket to Ride is one of our finest tracks. Since many of The Beatles'up-tempo songs are as melodic as the ballads, they can be made, with the right approach, into ballads as well. Not only did I slow the piece down, but changed, or added, some chord changes as well, along with the melody at the end of the choruses, with Karen resolving on a very effective major seven. This put her in her marvelous lower register on the word care, which sounds terrific and adds to the plangent character of the entire chart; after all Ticket To Ride is a sad lyric. The arrangement ends with a tag of four part harmony (overdubbed, 12 voices in all) singing Think I'm gonna be sad." In 1973 "Ticket to Ride" was re-recorded for inclusion in the album, Singles 1969-1973. While this version is now most often played, the earlier version also deserves to be heard.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Carpenters
• Pop
• 1960s

[maureen1938]

BEAUTIFUL......Karen Carpenter has such a beautiful voice, they were superb the group. How sad she left us at such a young age. Of course the song itself is terrific. Lovely video, thanks again.

[catman916]

She was one of the best. You're welcome, Maureen.

[2012uchicago]

@NANDIKHANNA I mean your wrong. The only step now is to figure out why anyone would prefer a fourth trier group (such as the sissy carpenters) to the band that transformed music as we know it. Let me put it this way, THEY SUCK!

[NANDIKHANNA]

@2012uchicago It was about the vocals & the emotion in the voice. The fucking background vocals add up to the song.

[2012uchicago]

@NANDIKHANNA ha ha ha ha We are talking about gods among mere mortals. Slowing the song down ruined it to the point of overkill. The tumpo is horrible and the background vocals are fucking annoying

[NANDIKHANNA]

Penned & originally sung by Beatles, Karen outpaces them easily with her far superior vocal capabilities.

[howtobejoy]

@howtobejoy 

[howtobejoy]

Awesome and Bravo million times love u Karen hope you r at a better place now :)

[k9slover]

What a voice, just absolutly tremendous. How I wish things were different and she were still with us. Very moving video.

[madkittyjoey70]

i love karen and richard carpenter. such amazing talent! poor karen! :'( always makes me cry hearing some of her songs, i must confess!

[PolarSkua]

This early version has intonation issues but despite that, it is far superior to the 1973 re-recording.

[claretea]

I remember when I got this album around 1971. LIke this version the best.