Hurting Each Other

"Hurting Each Other" is a song popularized by the Carpenters in 1972. It was written in 1965 by Gary Geld and Peter Udell,[1] and has been recorded many times by artists ranging from Ruby & the Romantics to Rosemary Clooney.[2]

"Hurting Each Other"
Single by Carpenters
from the album A Song for You
B-side"Maybe It's You"
ReleasedDecember 23, 1971 (1971-12-23)
StudioA&M Studios
GenrePop
Length2:48
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)
  • Gary Geld
  • Peter Udell
Producer(s)Jack Daugherty
Carpenters singles chronology
"Bless the Beasts and Children"
(1971)		 "Hurting Each Other"
(1971)		 "It's Going to Take Some Time" / "Flat Baroque"
(1972)
A Song for You track listing
13 tracks
Side one
  1. "A Song for You"
  2. "Top of the World"
  3. "Hurting Each Other"
  4. "It's Going to Take Some Time"
  5. "Goodbye to Love"
  6. "Intermission"
Side two
  1. "Bless the Beasts and Children"
  2. "Flat Baroque"
  3. "Piano Picker"
  4. "I Won't Last a Day Without You"
  5. "Crystal Lullaby"
  6. "Road Ode"
  7. "A Song for You (Reprise)"

Previous versions

The original version of the song was recorded by Jimmy Clanton and released in 1965 as a single on Mala Records.[3] According to Richard Carpenter, this version of "Hurting Each Other" had a very different feel from the Carpenters' product.[4] However, there are definite similarities in the vocal refrain. Clanton's 1965 single of the song failed to chart.

Chad Allan & the Expressions, who later became The Guess Who, also recorded the song in 1965 on their Canadian LP Hey Ho (What You Do to Me!). Released as a single, the song hit #19 on the Canadian charts in early 1966.[5] In June 1966 a version by Ruth Lewis, produced by Udell and Geld, was released as a single by RCA Victor records.[6] A version also appeared on The Walker Brothers' second album, Portrait, which was released in November 1966.

Ruby & the Romantics released the song as a single in 1969. The vocal arrangement is reflected in the Carpenters' version three years later.[7]

Carpenters' version

The Carpenters recorded "Hurting Each Other" with instrumental backing from L.A. sessions musicians from the Wrecking Crew,[8] towards the end of 1971. Some footage of Richard and Karen performing the backup vocals can be seen on Jerry Dunphy Visits the Carpenters, when news anchor Jerry Dunphy went to Karen and Richard Carpenter's house and interviewed them and their parents about their life.[9]

It was released as a single in late 1971 from the album A Song for You. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100; it was kept from number one by "Without You" by Harry Nilsson.[10] "Hurting Each Other" also peaked at number one on the Easy Listening chart.[11] Billboard ranked it as the No. 65 song for 1972.

The Carpenters performed "Hurting Each Other" at many live concerts, including a shortened version from the "Live in Osaka" concert in 1974.

Personnel

Chart performance

Post-Carpenters versions

In 1994, a version performed by Johnette Napolitano and Marc Moreland (of Concrete Blonde and Wall of Voodoo respectively) appeared on producer Matt Wallace's alternative rock tribute album of Carpenters covers, If I Were a Carpenter.

In 2020, The Avalanches sampled the Carpenters' chorus for their song, "We Go On".

See also

References
  1. "Hurting Each Other". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  2. "Search result, ACE title search, Performers of "Hurting Each Other"". American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). Archived from the original on 2003-03-27. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  3. "45 Discography For Mala Records". Discographies of 50's and 60's record labels. Global Dog Productions. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  4. Song synopsis insert in Carpenters: Gold 35th Anniversary Edition
  5. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-10-02. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  6. "Artist: Ruth Lewis". Second Hand Songs. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  7. Schmidt, Randy L. (2010). Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter. Chicago Review Press. p. 351. ISBN 978-1556529764. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  8. Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
  9. Brte, Anhieo (1984). The Carpenters. AnVi OpenSource Knowledge Trust.
  10. "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
  11. "Hurting Each Other (song by The Carpenters) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. 1972-01-15. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  12. "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 26, 1972" (PDF).
  13. "RPM Top AC Singles - February 26, 1972" (PDF).
  14. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  15. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  16. "Carpenters Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. "Best of 1972 songs and music, on MusicAndYears.com!". Archived from the original on 2011-09-16. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  18. "Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972". Musicoutfitters.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  19. "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1972". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
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