"Yesterday Once More", written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis, is a hit song by the Carpenters from their 1973 album Now & Then. Thematically the song concerns reminiscing about songs of a generation gone by. It segues into a long medley, consisting of eight covers of 1960s tunes incorporated into a faux oldies radio program. The work takes up the entire B-side of the album.
The single version of the song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, kept from the number 1 spot by "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" by Jim Croce. It was the duo's fifth number two hit and makes them the act with the second-most number two hits on the chart behind Madonna. The song also peaked at number 1 on the easy listening chart, becoming their eighth number 1 on that chart in four years. It is the Carpenters' biggest-selling record worldwide and their best-selling single in the UK, peaking at number 2. Richard Carpenter stated, on a Japanese documentary, that it was his favorite of all the songs that he had written. He has performed an instrumental version at concerts.
According to Cash Box, on June 2, 1973, "Yesterday Once More" was the highest-debuting single at No. 71. By August 4, it had reached No. 1.
Reception[edit]
Cash Box said that the "hook will knock everyone out."
Personnel[edit]
- Karen Carpenter – lead and backing vocals, drums
- Richard Carpenter – backing vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electronic piano, Hammond organ, orchestration
- Joe Osborn – bass guitar
- Tony Peluso – electric guitar
- Earl Dumler – English horn
- Uncredited – tambourine
Cover versions[edit]
- Japanese idol trio Candies covered the song on their 1974 album Abunai Doyōbi: Candies no Sekai.
- Redd Kross, a rock/punk band from Hawthorne, California covered the song on the 1994 Carpenters tribute album, If I Were a Carpenter. This cover was also released as a double A-side single with Sonic Youth's cover of "Superstar" to promote the album. It reached No. 45 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 84 on the Australian ARIA Charts.
- The Spinners covered the song as a medley with "Nothing Remains the Same" in 1981, reaching No. 52 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 45 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Charts[edit]
Certifications[edit]
See also[edit]
- List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1973
- List of number-one singles of 1973 [Canada]
References[edit]
- "Soft rock - The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia". www.artandpopularculture.com. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
- Whitburn, Joel [2002]. Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 47.
- "CARPENTERS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
- Cash Box Top 100 Singles, August 4, 1973
- "CashBox Record Reviews" [PDF]. Cash Box. June 2, 1973. p. 12. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
- "危い土曜日/キャンディーズの世界 - キャンディーズ". Oricon. Archived from the original on 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-11-26. 9. イエスタディ・ワンス・モア [1991 CD reissue of 1974 vinyl Abunai Doyōbi: Candies no Sekai album]
- "キャンディーズ". Idol.ne.jp. 2018-12-24. Retrieved 2023-08-21. 『危い土曜日／キャンディーズの世界』 CBS/SONY LP:SOLL-72 74.06.21 [June 21, 1974]... 3.イエスタディ・ワンス・モア Richard Carpenter・John Bettis／Richard Carpenter・John Bettis／竜崎孝路
- "REDD KROSS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
- "Carpenters – Yesterday Once More" [in Dutch]. Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- "Carpenters – Yesterday Once More" [in French]. Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
- "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4853." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4863." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 20, 2017. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Yesterday Once More". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2017.