The discography of the American pop group the Carpenters consists of 13 studio albums including 2 Christmas albums, 2 live albums, 49 singles, and numerous compilation albums a number of which were released only on certain territories.
The duo was made up of siblings Karen (lead vocals and drums) and Richard Carpenter (keyboards and vocals). The siblings started their musical career together in the latter half of the 1960s. In October 1969, six months after they signed a contract with A&M Records, the Carpenters released their debut album Offering (its title was later changed to Ticket to Ride). Within a year, they rose to prominence with their chart-topping single "(They Long to Be) Close to You", a Burt Bacharach and Hal David composition that had not been commercially successful when it was recorded by television star Richard Chamberlain in 1963.
The Carpenters garnered worldwide commercial success, scoring big hits mainly in the first half of the 1970s. RIAA-certified sales of their records (albums, singles and videos) have been estimated at around 34.6 million units. In the United Kingdom, they are ranked as the seventh top-selling albums artist on the official record chart of the 1970s. During their career, the duo scored 1 number one album and another 4 Top 10 albums on Billboard 200, as well as 3 number one singles, 12 top 10 singles and 20 top 40 hits on Billboard Hot 100. They have also been the third-best-selling international music act in the Japanese market, only behind Mariah Carey and the Beatles. By 2005, they had reportedly sold more than 100 million copies of records worldwide.
Albums Studio albums YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications(sales thresholds)USAUS For peaks 1974 to 1988: Note: This reference gives Australian albums and singles information. It is used for chart peak positions as the early albums were released before ARIA began regulating the Australian charts itself in 1988. For peaks 1988 to 2024: N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.CANGER Type Carpenters in the search field and press EnterJPNNORNZUK1969Ticket to Ride (First released under the title Offering) Released: October 9, 1969 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape (open reel), cassette, CD, digital download15019——88——201970Close to You Released: August 19, 1970 Label: A&M/Polydor Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download2161—53——23RIAA: 2× Platinum1971Carpenters Released: May 14, 1971 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download2166—47——12RIAA: 4× Platinum BPI: Gold1972A Song for You Released: June 22, 1972 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download465—5——13RIAA: 3× Platinum1973Now & Then Released: May 1, 1973 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download232—112—2RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Gold1975Horizon Released: June 6, 1975 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download13214421531RIAA: Platinum BPI: Gold MC: Gold1976A Kind of Hush Released: June 11, 1976 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download335722—517153RIAA: Gold BPI: Gold1977Passage Released: September 23, 1977 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape, cassette, 8-track CD, digital download494857—7——12BPI: Gold1978Christmas Portrait Released: October 13, 1978 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download56—74—————RIAA: Platinum MC: Gold1981Made in America Released: June 16, 1981 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download5250——44——12BPI: Silver1983Voice of the Heart Released: October 18, 1983 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download4654——41——6RIAA: Gold BPI: Gold1984An Old-Fashioned Christmas Released: 1984 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download190———————RIAA: Gold1989Lovelines Released: October 31, 1989 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download—110—————73"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Live albums YearTitlePeak chart positionsCertifications(sales thresholds)JPNUK1975Live in Japan Released: March 7, 1975 Recorded: June 1974 Label: A&M/King Released in Japan only Formats: LP, cassette, CD8—1976Live at the Palladium Released: December 1976 Recorded: November 1976 Label: A&M Not released in the U.S. Formats: LP, cassette, CD2428BPI: Gold"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Compilation albums Worldwide releases or releases limited to the United States. YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications(sales thresholds)USAUSCANThe Singles: 1969–1973: JPN Note: Reference indicates chart positions from 1988 onwards, and part of the information currently unavailableNEDNORNZUK1973The Singles: 1969–1973 Released: November 9, 1973 Label: A&M Formats: LP, 8-track, cassette, CD, digital download119[A]112——1RIAA: 7× Platinum BPI: Platinum MC: Platinum1978The Singles: 1974–1978 Released: November 1978 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD———42———2 BPI: Platinum1985Yesterday Once More Released: 1985 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download144——35———10RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Platinum RIAJ: Gold1990Only Yesterday Released: March 1990 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download—9—253811ARIA: Platinum BPI: 5× Platinum1994Interpretations Released: 1994 Label: A&M Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download—126—————29BPI: Gold1995Reflections Released: 1995 Label: A&M Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download————————BPI: Silver1997Love Songs Released: 1997 Label: A&M Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download106143———34—47RIAA: Gold BPI: Gold2000The Singles: 1969–1981 Released: 2000 Label: A&M Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download4519—73———65BPI: Gold2000Gold: Greatest Hits Released: September 13, 2000 Label: A&M Formats: CD, digital download101——79——174RIAA: Gold BPI: 5× Platinum2001As Time Goes By Released: August 1, 2001 Label: A&M Formats: CD, digital download———18————RIAJ: GoldType カーペンターズ in the アーティスト field and press Enter2003Carpenters Perform Carpenter Released: July 29, 2003 Label: A&M Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download————————2006The Ultimate Collection Released: November 26, 2006 Label: A&M Formats: CD, digital download—41——17———BPI: Gold200940/40 Released: April 22, 2009 Label: A&M / Universal Formats: CD, digital download———3—2—21BPI: Gold RIAJ: Gold2014Icon Released: December 24, 2014 Label: A&M / UMe Formats: CD, digital download————————2015The Complete Singles Released: November 2015 Label: A&M / TJL Productions / UMe Format: CD————————2018Carpenters with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Released: December 7, 2018 Label: A&M, Universal Music Enterprises Format: LP, CD, digital download—29—25———8BPI: Gold2019Collected Released: June 28, 2019 Label: Music On Vinyl Format: LP————25———2024Christmas Once More Released: November 1, 2024 Label: A&M/UMe Format: LP, CD, Digital download————————[B]"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. Notes A^ Charted in 2000 B^ Christmas Once More did not enter UK Albums chart, but it peaked #75 on UK Album sales chart
Limited releases List of the charted and/or certified compilation albums limited to certain territories excluding US YearAlbum detailsTerritoryPeak chart positionsCertifications(sales thresholds)AUSAUTGERJPNNEDNZUK1971Golden Prize Released: September 10, 1971 Label: A&M/King Formats: LP, cassetteJapan———3———1972Golden Double Deluxe Released: February 10, 1972 Label: A&M/King Formats: LP———10——— Great Hits of the Carpenters Released: 1972 Label: A&M/King Formats: LPAustralia3——————Gem I Released: October 10, 1972 Label: A&M/King Formats: LP, cassetteJapan———13———1973Max Prize Released: March 10, 1973 Label: A&M/King Formats: LP———26——— Gem II Released: October 25, 1973 Label: A&M/King Formats: LP———3———1974Great Hits of the Carpenters Volume 2 Released: 1974 Label: A&M/King Formats: LPAustralia24——————Golden Prize Volume II Released: April 10, 1974 Label: A&M/King Formats: LP, cassetteJapan———1———Big Star Released: June 1, 1974 Label: Cassette Formats: LP———20——— 1976Special Series Released: November 1, 1976 Label: A&M/King Formats: Cassette———36———1980Beautiful Moments Released: 1980 Label: A&M Formats: LP, Cassette AustriaGermanyNetherlandsSwitzerland—11————1981Beautiful Lovesongs Released: 1981 Label: A&M Formats: LP, CassetteNetherlands————8——1982Ketteiban (The Definitive) Released: June 21, 1982 Label: A&M/Alfa Formats: CassetteJapan———61———The Very Best of the Carpenters Released: 1982 Label: A&M/Festival Formats: LPAustraliaNew Zealand1————2—1987The Carpenters Collection - Their Greatest Hits Released: 1987 Label: A&M Formats: LP, CDBenelux————31——1994Treasures Released: 1994 Label: A&M Formats: CDAustralia181——————1995Seishun no Kagayaki: The Best of (22 Hits of the Carpenters) Released: November 10, 1995 Label: A&M / Polydor Japan Formats: CD, MD, CassetteJapan———3———RIAJ: 4× Platinum2001Yesterday Once More: De Nederlandse Singles Collectie Released: 2001 Label: A&M / Universal Formats: CDNetherlands————22——2016The Nation's Favourite Songs Released: September 2016 Label: A&M Formats: CD, digital downloadUK——————2BPI: Silver"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Box sets YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsUS NED1989The Compact Disc Collection Released: November 13, 1989 Label: A&M Formats: 12×CD——1991From the Top Released: 1991 Label: A&M Formats: 4×CD, digital download——1996Christmas Collection Released: 1996 Label: A&M Formats: 2×CD, digital download1581182002The Essential Collection: 1965–1997 Released: 2002 Label: A&M Formats: 4×CD, digital download——2017The Vinyl Collection Released: November 17, 2017 Label: A&M Formats: 12×LP——"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Singles Year Single Chart position B-side Certifications AlbumUSUS ACAUSCANCAN ACGERIREJPNNEDNZUK 1966 "Looking for Love" (Karen Carpenter) — — — — — — — — — — — "I'll Be Yours"Non-album single 1969 "Ticket to Ride" 54 19 — — 24 — — — — — — "Your Wonderful Parade"Offering 1970 "(They Long to Be) Close to You" 1 1 1 1 — — 6 71 30 9 6 "I Kept on Loving You" RIAA: Gold BPI: GoldClose to You "We've Only Just Begun" 2 1 6 1 1 — — 71 — — 28 "All of My Life" RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver "Merry Christmas, Darling" — — — 50 — — — — — — 45 "Mr. Guder"Christmas Portrait 1971 "For All We Know" 3 1 10 5 1 — — — — 6 — "Don't Be Afraid" RIAA: GoldCarpenters "Rainy Days and Mondays" 2 1 35 3 1 — — 72 — — 53[C] "Saturday" RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver "Superstar" 2[D] 1 35 3 1 — — 7 19 9 18[E] "Bless the Beasts and Children" RIAA: Gold "Bless the Beasts and Children" 6[F] 26 — — 25 — — 85 — — — B-side of "Superstar"A Song for You 1972 "Hurting Each Other" 2 1 4 2 3 — — 56 — 7 — "Maybe It's You" RIAA: Gold "It's Going to Take Some Time" 12 2 24 14 1 — — 48 — — — "Flat Baroque" "Goodbye to Love" 7 2 25 4 1 — 12 55 — 5 9 "Crystal Lullaby" 1973 "Sing" 3 1 24 4 5 — — 18 — 7 55[C] "Druscilla Penny" RIAA: GoldNow & Then "Yesterday Once More" 2 1 9 1 1 21 8 5 5 — 2 "Road Ode" RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver"Certified Awards Search ". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 October 2024. Note: User needs to enter "Carpenters" in the "Search" field, "Artist" in the "Search by" field and click the "Go" button. Select "More info" next to the relevant entry to see full certification history. "Top of the World" 1 2 1 1 2 38 3 21[G] 12 14 5 "Heather" RIAA: Gold BPI: SilverA Song for You 1974 "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" — — 95 — — 50 12 28 3 13 12 "Mr. Guder"Now & Then "I Won't Last a Day Without You" 11 1 63 7 1 — — 40 — — 32[H] "One Love"A Song for You "Please Mr. Postman" 1 1 1 1 1 10 2 11 29 4 2 "This Masquerade" RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver