If I Were a Carpenter (tribute album)

If I Were a Carpenter
Compilation album by Various Artists
Released	September 13, 1994 (1994-09-13)
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	49:06
Label	A&M Executive Producers = Matt Wallace & Dave Konjoyan

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	A−[2]
Los Angeles Times	[3]
Rolling Stone	[4]

If I Were a Carpenter is a 1994 tribute album to The Carpenters. It features alternative rock bands covering the songs of Richard and Karen Carpenter.

Overview

The cover is a cartoon-like drawing of Richard and Karen Carpenter listening to an LP album against an orange background. One of the songs on the album is Sonic Youth's rendition of "Superstar", which, along with the album, was mentioned in the 2007 film Juno. Richard Carpenter has said that he "doesn't care for" this version of "Superstar".^[5] The album is the brainchild of Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Replacements, Faith No More) and David Konjoyan.

Track listing

1. American Music Club - "Goodbye to Love" (3:12)
2. Shonen Knife - "Top of the World" (3:55)
3. Sonic Youth - "Superstar" (4:06)
4. The Cranberries - "(They Long to Be) Close to You" (2:40)
5. Bettie Serveert - "For All We Know" (3:27)
6. Dishwalla - "It's Going to Take Some Time" (4:16)
7. Sheryl Crow - "Solitaire" (4:43)
8. Johnette Napolitano with Marc Moreland - "Hurting Each Other" (4:09)
9. Redd Kross - "Yesterday Once More" (3:58)
10. Babes In Toyland - "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" (4:06)
11. Cracker - "Rainy Days and Mondays" (3:44)
12. Matthew Sweet - "Let Me Be the One" (3:26)
13. 4 Non Blondes - "Bless the Beasts and Children" (4:17)
14. Grant Lee Buffalo - "We've Only Just Begun" (3:51)

In popular culture

The album is picked up by the title character in the film Juno, leading to a discussion of one the bands on the album, Sonic Youth. Throughout season 4 of Melrose Place, the picture above Sydney's mantle is the album cover for this compilation.^[6]

References