Rainy Days and Mondays

"Rainy Days and Mondays" is a song by the Carpenters from their self-titled third album, with instrumental backing by the Wrecking Crew. [2] It was written by Paul Williams (lyrics) and Roger Nichols (music), who had previously written “We’ve Only Just Begun,” another hit for the duo. The B-side on the single is "Saturday", a song written and sung by Richard Carpenter.

"Rainy Days and Mondays"
Single by Carpenters
from the album Carpenters
B-side"Saturday"
ReleasedApril 23, 1971 (1971-04-23)
Recorded1971
GenreSoft rock[1]
Length3:36
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jack Daugherty
Carpenters singles chronology
"For All We Know"
(1971)		 "Rainy Days and Mondays"
(1971)		 "Superstar"
(1971)

A demo for the song was initially sent to Richard Carpenter by Williams and Nichols. Upon hearing it, Richard felt that the song was perfect for him and Karen Carpenter to record. The song was recorded a few weeks before Karen’s 21st birthday. Richard wanted to keep the song’s arrangement sparse in order to showcase her vocal talent. [3]

“Rainy Days and Mondays” peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, spending seven weeks in the Top 10, and was kept from number 1 by "It's Too Late"/"I Feel the Earth Move" by Carole King.[3] The song was also the duo's fourth number 1 single on the Adult Contemporary singles chart.[4] However, the song failed to chart in the United Kingdom until it went to number 63 in a reissue there in 1993. "Rainy Days and Mondays" was certified Gold by the RIAA for 500,000 copies sold in the United States.

Personnel

Chart performance

Compilations
  • Yesterday Once More
  • From the Top
  • Interpretations
  • Love Songs
  • The Essential Collection
  • Carpenters: Gold 35th Anniversary Edition

See also

References
  1. "Soft Rock Music Songs". AllMusic.
  2. Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
  3. "richardandkarencarpenter.com".
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 47.
  5. "RPM Top 100 Singles - June 26, 1971" (PDF).
  6. "RPM Top AC Singles - June 26, 1971".
  7. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  8. "RPM Top 100 Singles of '71 - January 8, 1972" (PDF).
  9. "Top 100 Hits of 1971/Top 100 Songs of 1971". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  10. Billboard. 1971-12-25. p. 15. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  11. "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1971". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
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