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A Kind of Hush (album)
A Kind of Hush is the seventh studio album by the American music duo Carpenters. It was released on June 11, 1976. BackgroundBy the time of the album's recording, Richard Carpenter's addiction to sleeping pills had begun to affect him professionally, and he blames this for the album being, in his opinion, sub-par.[1] John Bettis called "I Need to Be in Love" the favorite lyrics he ever wrote for Karen Carpenter. "If there was ever anything that came out of my heart straight to Karen's I would say that was it. I was very proud of it for that."[2] Richard Carpenter recalled that the song "became Karen's favorite Carpenters song".[1] The album was also the first not to have Karen playing drums on any tracks, which were performed by Los Angeles session drummer Jim Gordon (except two, "Goofus" and "Sandy," by Cubby O'Brien). Commercial performance"There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)", a cover of a 1960s song by Herman's Hermits, was released as a lead singleand topped the adult contemporary chart, however reached only #12 on the main US chart.[3] It also reached the UK Top 30[4] "I Need to Be in Love" hit number 25 in the US[5] and number 36 in the UK.[4] "Goofus" was only a minor success, stalling at number 56 on the Billboard chart, though it did crack the adult contemporary top 10.[6] Despite being certified Gold, the album was a relative commercial disappointment in the US, where its chart peak was outside the Top 30 and it's lead single peaking outside the Top 10, the first time since Close to You in 1970.[7] and Like its predecessor Horizon, it performed better in the UK, reaching number three in the UK Albums Chart. Reception
In their review of the album, Billboard called it an "exceptionally pretty album, with even more emphasis on Karen Carpenter's versatile, excellent vocals than in past efforts. Soft, easy ballads filled with the lush production of Richard Carpenter dominate the set, though the material alternates from the straight ballad form to easy rock to almost vaudevillian material to supper club, piano bar styled music. Keyboards handled well by Richard, who has always takes somewhat of a backseat when it comes to performing but does as good a job of production as anyone in the business. Most impressive and noticeable change is the different arrangements and styles tackled by Karen."[10] Cashbox praised the album, stating that "the dynamic duo of the MOR/easy listening idiom have come up with another winner. “A Kind Of Hush" is a clean collection of tunes that is truly representative of the kind of music that the Carpenters are famous for — smooth, ingratiating melodies that bear their contemporary trademark. This LP is bound to be an instant success with both the pop and MOR audiences, with the title tune and their cover of the Neil Sedaka hit, "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” standing out as prime shots for the AM market."[11] AllMusic's retrospective review was more mixed, calling the album "pleasant, well-sung, and well-played, but basically bland....If you close your eyes, it's possible to imagine Captain & Tennille, not to mention Debby Boone, taking lessons from this release, although Karen's voice was still beyond comparison with any of them".[8] Track listing
Personnel
Charts
Certifications
References
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