Superstar ( Delaney and Bonnie song ) - wikipedia Superstar ( Delaney and Bonnie song ) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( March 2018 ) `` Superstar '' Song by Delaney & Bonnie Released 1969 Format 7 '' single Genre Adult contemporary, pop, soft rock Songwriter ( s ) Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell `` Superstar '' is a 1969 song written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell with a songwriting credit also given to Delaney Bramlett that has been a hit for many artists in different genres and interpretations in the years since ; the best - known version is by the Carpenters in 1971. Contents 1 Original Delaney and Bonnie version 2 Mad Dogs and Englishmen version 3 Bette Midler version 4 Other versions 5 The Carpenters version 5.1 Personnel 6 Chart performance 6.1 Weekly charts 6.2 Year - end charts 7 Original version 8 Luther Vandross version 8.1 Charts 9 Ruben Studdard version 10 Other later versions 11 See also 12 References 13 Sources 14 External links Original Delaney and Bonnie version In its first recorded incarnation, the song was called `` Groupie ( Superstar ), '' and was recorded and released as a B - side to the Delaney & Bonnie single `` Comin ' Home '' in December 1969. Released by Atlantic Records, the full credit on the single was to Delaney & Bonnie and Friends Featuring Eric Clapton. `` Comin ' Home '' reached number 84 on the US pop singles chart, although it achieved a peak of sixteen on the UK Singles Chart. Mad Dogs and Englishmen version In August 1970, the live album Mad Dogs and Englishmen by Joe Cocker was released, using performances of the song under the title `` Superstar, '' recorded in March and June of that year. The Mad Dogs album became a hit, reaching number 2 on the Billboard pop albums chart and number 23 on the Billboard Black Albums chart. Bette Midler version Bette Midler 's recording of the song appeared on her 1972 debut album, The Divine Miss M. Other versions In 1970, Cher recorded `` Superstar '' as a single for Atco Records. Australian rock - group McPhee recorded the song for their eponymous first album in 1970. Vikki Carr used the song as the title track of a 1971 album. Also in 1971, ex-Smith singer Gayle McCormick recorded the song on her self - titled debut solo album on Dunhill Records. The following year, Peggy Lee included the song on her album Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown, North Dakota. In Australia, Colleen Hewett 's recording of `` Superstar '' was released by May 1971. The Carpenters version `` Superstar '' Picture sleeve for U.S. vinyl single Single by Carpenters from the album Carpenters B - side `` Bless the Beasts and Children '' Released August 12, 1971 Format 7 '' single Recorded 1971 Genre Soft rock Length 3 : 46 Label A&M 1289 Songwriter ( s ) Leon Russell Bonnie Bramlett Producer ( s ) Jack Daugherty Carpenters singles chronology `` Rainy Days and Mondays '' ( 1971 ) `` Superstar '' ( 1971 ) `` Bless the Beasts and Children '' ( 1971 ) `` Rainy Days and Mondays '' ( 1971 ) `` Superstar '' ( 1971 ) `` Bless the Beasts and Children '' ( 1971 ) Carpenters track listing Side one `` Rainy Days and Mondays '' `` Saturday '' `` Let Me Be the One '' `` ( A Place to ) Hideaway '' `` For All We Know '' Side two `` Superstar '' `` Druscilla Penny '' `` One Love '' `` Bacharach / David Medley '' `` Sometimes '' `` Superstar '' Single by Sonic Youth from the album If I Were a Carpenter Released 1994 Format 7 '' single Recorded 1994 Genre Alternative rock noise rock Length 4 : 06 Label A&M Songwriter ( s ) Leon Russell Bonnie Bramlett Sonic Youth singles chronology `` Bull in the Heather '' ( 1994 ) `` Superstar '' ( 1994 ) `` The Diamond Sea '' ( 1995 ) `` Bull in the Heather '' ( 1994 ) `` Superstar '' ( 1994 ) `` The Diamond Sea '' ( 1995 ) The song `` Superstar '' became most popular after its treatment by the Carpenters. Richard Carpenter became aware of the song after hearing it sung by Bette Midler on late night television. He remembered, `` I came home from the studio one night and heard a then relatively unknown Bette Midler perform it on The Tonight Show. I could barely wait to arrange and record it. It remains one of my favorites. '' Produced by Richard Carpenter with Jack Daugherty, it was recorded with members of `` The Wrecking Crew, '' a famed collection of Los Angeles area session musicians. As the song 's storyline was originally more risqué than what was typical for the Carpenters, Richard changed a lyric in the second verse from And I can hardly wait To sleep with you again to the somewhat less suggestive And I can hardly wait To be with you again. Upon hearing the final recording, Karen Carpenter later noted : `` For some reason that tune did n't hit me in the beginning. It 's the only one. Richard looked at me like I had three heads. He said : ' Are you out of your mind ? ' When I heard his arrangement of it I fell over, and now it 's one of my favorites too. '' Karen Carpenter 's vocal was praised for its intensity and emotional nature. When asked in a 1972 interview how she could communicate the heart of the song while lacking the personal experience it depicted, Karen replied, `` I 've seen enough groupies hanging around to sense their loneliness, even though they usually do n't show it. I ca n't really understand them, but I just tried to feel empathy and I guess that 's what came across in the song. '' In truth, Karen struggled with loneliness herself, and the personal implications of the song made it one of the three she found most emotionally difficult to sing, the other two being the previous `` Rainy Days and Mondays '' and the subsequent `` I Need to Be in Love. '' The duo 's rendition was included on the May 1971 album Carpenters, and then released as a single in August 1971, rising to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart ( held out of the top spot by Rod Stewart 's `` Maggie May '' ), and spending two weeks at number one on the Easy Listening chart that autumn and earned gold record status. It also reached number 18 on the UK pop singles chart and did well in Australia and New Zealand as well. Richard would be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist for his efforts. `` Superstar '' would go on to appear on two mid-1970s Carpenters live albums as well as innumerable compilation albums. For instance, it appeared on the Carpenters 's 2004 SACD compilation, The Singles : 1969 -- 1981 ( not to be confused with the regular CD, The Singles : 1969 -- 1981 ), as a remix of the original 1973 mix on the similarly titled compilation The Singles : 1969 -- 1973. The song has been featured in films : In the 1995 comedy film Tommy Boy. The song was also used in the 2007 film Ghost Rider. Personnel Karen Carpenter -- lead and backing vocals Richard Carpenter -- backing vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, orchestration Joe Osborn -- bass Hal Blaine -- drums Earle Dumler -- oboe Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1971 ) Peak position Australia 35 Canada RPM Top Singles Canada RPM Adult Contemporary Japanese Singles Chart 7 New Zealand ( Listener ) 9 UK Singles Chart 18 US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard Adult Contemporary US Cash Box Top 100 Year - end charts Chart ( 1971 ) Rank Australia 173 Canada 52 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 30 U.S. Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 7 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 71 Trivia Released as a double A-side with `` For All We Know '' in the UK Original version The original Delaney and Bonnie version would finally surface on an album in 1972 when D&B Together was released, shortly before their marriage and collaboration ended. This version was also included as a bonus track on a 2006 reissue of the 1970 album Eric Clapton. Bonnie Bramlett would later re-record the song on her 2002 solo album I 'm Still the Same. Now using just the `` Superstar '' title, she rendered it this time as a very slow, piano - based torch song. Luther Vandross version `` Superstar / Until You Come Back to Me ( That 's What I 'm Gonna Do ) '' Single by Luther Vandross from the album Busy Body Released ( US, Canada ) Format Vinyl 7 '' 45 RPM Genre R&B soul Length 5 : 32 ( single edit version ) Label Epic Records Songwriter ( s ) Leon Russell Bonnie Bramlett Producer ( s ) Luther Vandross Larkin Arnold ( exec. ) Luther Vandross singles chronology `` I 'll Let You Slide '' ( 1983 ) `` Superstar / Until You Come Back to Me ( That 's What I 'm Gonna Do ) '' ( 1983 ) `` Til My Baby Comes Home '' ( 1985 ) `` I 'll Let You Slide '' ( 1983 ) `` Superstar '' ( where the edited Yamaha DX7 patch `` tub bells '' was heard ) / `` Until You Come Back to Me ( That 's What I 'm Gonna Do ) '' ( 1983 ) ' Til My Baby Comes Home '' ( 1985 ) In the early 1980s, American R&B singer Luther Vandross had `` Superstar '' in his stage act, sometimes in a rendition that stretched to 12 minutes, with vocal interpolations, an interpretive dancer. Vandross then recorded `` Superstar '' in 1983 in a slower, more soulful fashion, as part of a medley with Stevie Wonder 's `` Until You Come Back to Me ( That 's What I 'm Gonna Do ) '' on his album Busy Body. Released as a single the following year, it became an R&B hit, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Top R&B Singles chart. It did not have much pop crossover effect, however, only reaching number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100. Charts Chart ( 1984 ) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100 87 US Billboard Hot R&B Singles 5 Ruben Studdard version Second - season American Idol contestant Ruben Studdard found his melismatic, R&B groove early in the Final 12 rounds when he performed a Vandross - influenced `` Superstar ''. It got rave reviews from the judges and established Studdard as one of the early leaders in the competition, a position he held through his narrow May 2003 win over second - place finisher Clay Aiken. By now his signature song, Studdard recorded `` Superstar '' as the B - side of his June 2003 first single and number two hit, `` Flying Without Wings ''. Studdard earned a 2004 Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for `` Superstar '', but he lost to his own idol, Vandross, who won for `` Dance with My Father ''. Studdard 's treatment was also included on his December 2003 debut album, Soulful. Other later versions On the 1993 soundtrack the band `` Superfan '' performs `` Superstar. '' Superfan is a collective including Chrissie Hynde ( from the Pretenders ) on vocals and the musicians from Urge Overkill. The Salsa musician and arranger Andy Harlow covered the song in tempo of bolero, with the vocals of Johnny Vasquez. This cover is the third track from his first studio album Sorpresa La Flauta recorded in 1972 for the label Vaya Records and produced by his brother, the Salsa pianist Larry Harlow. The Spanish translation was made by Ismael Miranda. The musical team Sonic Youth, which had always found unlikely inspiration from the Carpenters, recorded a version of the selection for the 1994 tribute album If I Were a Carpenter. This version was later included on the soundtrack for the 2007 film Juno. It was also featured in the film The Frighteners and in the theatrical trailer for High Tension. It likewise appeared in professional skateboarder Jerry Hsu 's part in Bag of Suck. On a November 28, 2009 transmission of the National Public Radio program Fresh Air, Richard Carpenter expressed his distaste for this version. Usher Raymond IV performed the selection, in homage to the now - late Vandross 's version, on the 2005 album So Amazing : An All - Star Tribute to Luther Vandross ; for his version, he received a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. The song 's refrain is featured in the song `` It 's Alright, '' on American rapper Saigon 's debut album The Greatest Story Never Told, released in 2011. The band Dogstar, whose bassist is actor Keanu Reeves, recorded a cover in 2000. Actor Trai Byers did the late Luther Vandross 's version of the song for the show Empire in 2017. See also List of number - one adult contemporary singles of 1971 ( U.S. ) References Jump up ^ `` BMI Repertoire Search : Superstar ( Legal Title ) ''. BMI. Retrieved 2012 - 04 - 10. Jump up ^ `` VH1 's 40 Most Softsational Soft - Rock Songs ''. Stereogum. SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016. Jump up ^ Black, Johnny ( October 2002 ). `` The Greatest Songs Ever ! Superstar ''. Blender. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 19. ^ Jump up to : UK Radio, October 1981 - transcript Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2002 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 - 2001. Record Research. p. 47. Jump up ^ Canada, Library and Archives ( 17 July 2013 ). `` Image : RPM Weekly ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 25 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2016 - 03 - 06. Retrieved 2016 - 03 - 05. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1971 / Top 100 Songs of 1971 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ Billboard, December 25, 1971. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2015 - 06 - 26. Retrieved 2016 - 05 - 30. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Top R&B / Hip - Hop Singles : 1942 - 2004. Record Research. p. 597. Jump up ^ Luther Vandross - Singles Chart history.Billboard.com Jump up ^ `` Sorpresa La Flauta -- Fania ''. Fania.com. Retrieved 25 January 2018. Jump up ^ Christopher Borrelli ( 2007 - 08 - 12 ). `` Sonic Youth broke new ground with ' Daydream Nation ' ''. The Blade. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 27. Jump up ^ `` 40 / 40 Celebrates the Carpenters ' 1969 Debut ''. Fresh Air. NPR. November 25, 2009. Sources October 2002 Blender magazine article by Johnny Black Allmusic discussion of song 's origins Randy L. Schmidt, Little Girl Blue : The Life of Karen Carpenter, Chicago Review Press, 2010, ISBN 1 - 55652 - 976 - 7, pp. 77 -- 78. IMDB listing of Bette Midler television appearances Australian PopArchives entry Australian Countdown entry External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Colleen Hewett Studio albums Colleen Hewett M'Lady Colleen Tenterfield Dreams Black & White Compilation albums Greatest Hits Notable singles `` Superstar '' `` Day by Day '' `` Carry That Weight '' `` Waltzing Matilda '' `` Sit Yourself Down '' `` I Believe When I Fall in Love '' `` If You Could Read My Mind '' `` Dreaming My Dreams with You '' `` The Wind Beneath My Wings '' `` I Hope I Never '' Related articles The Incredible Penguins The Carpenters Karen Carpenter Richard Carpenter Albums Offering ( Ticket to Ride ) Close to You Carpenters A Song for You Now & Then Horizon A Kind of Hush Passage Made in America Voice of the Heart Lovelines As Time Goes By Live albums Live in Japan Live at the Palladium Compilation albums The Singles : 1969 -- 1973 The Singles : 1974 -- 1978 The Very Best of the Carpenters Yesterday Once More Only Yesterday From the Top Interpretations : A 25th Anniversary Celebration Love Songs Reflections The Singles : 1969 -- 1981 The Essential Collection : 1965 -- 1997 Carpenters Perform Carpenter Gold : 35th Anniversary Edition The Ultimate Collection 40 / 40 Other Christmas Portrait An Old - Fashioned Christmas Time ( Richard Carpenter ) Karen Carpenter ( album ) Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor ( Richard Carpenter ) Singles `` Looking for Love '' `` Ticket to Ride '' `` ( They Long to Be ) Close to You '' `` We 've Only Just Begun '' `` Merry Christmas, Darling '' `` For All We Know '' `` Rainy Days and Mondays '' `` Superstar '' `` Bless the Beasts and Children '' `` Hurting Each Other '' `` It 's Going to Take Some Time '' `` Goodbye to Love '' `` Sing '' `` Yesterday Once More '' `` Top of the World '' `` Jambalaya ( On the Bayou ) '' `` I Wo n't Last a Day Without You '' `` Please Mr. Postman '' `` Santa Claus Is Comin ' to Town '' `` Only Yesterday '' `` Solitaire '' `` There 's a Kind of Hush ( All Over the World ) '' `` I Need to Be in Love '' `` Goofus '' `` Breaking Up Is Hard to Do '' `` All You Get from Love Is a Love Song '' `` Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft '' `` The Christmas Song ( Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire ) '' `` Sweet, Sweet Smile '' `` I Believe You '' `` Touch Me When We 're Dancing '' `` ( Want You ) Back in My Life Again '' `` Those Good Old Dreams '' `` Beechwood 4 - 5789 '' `` Make Believe It 's Your First Time '' `` Your Baby Does n't Love You Anymore '' `` Now '' `` Little Altar Boy '' `` Honolulu City Lights '' `` Something in Your Eyes '' `` If I Had You '' `` Let Me Be the One '' `` Tryin ' to Get the Feeling Again '' `` Ave Maria '' `` The Rainbow Connection '' TV series / specials Make Your Own Kind of Music Live at the BBC Very First TV Special Space Encounters A Christmas Portrait Music, Music, Music DVDs Gold : Greatest Hits Interpretations Close to You : Remembering The Carpenters Related articles Discography Songs John Bettis Joe Osborn Tony Peluso If I Were a Carpenter Superstar : The Karen Carpenter Story The Karen Carpenter Story Only Yesterday : The Carpenters Story Book Category Sonic Youth Kim Gordon Thurston Moore Lee Ranaldo Steve Shelley Bob Bert Anne DeMarinis Richard Edson Mark Ibold Jim O'Rourke Jim Sclavunos Studio albums Confusion Is Sex Bad Moon Rising EVOL Sister Daydream Nation The Whitey Album Goo Dirty Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star Washing Machine A Thousand Leaves NYC Ghosts & Flowers Murray Street Sonic Nurse Rather Ripped The Eternal Extended plays Sonic Youth Kill Yr Idols Master = Dik 4 Tunna Brix Whores Moaning TV Shit Silver Session for Jason Knuth Live albums Sonic Death Walls Have Ears Hold That Tiger Live at the Continental Club Smart Bar Chicago 1985 Compilation albums Screaming Fields of Sonic Love The Destroyed Room : B - Sides and Rarities Hits Are for Squares Other albums Made in USA In the Fishtank 9 Demonlover SYR series SYR1 : Anagrama SYR2 : Slaapkamers met slagroom SYR3 : Invito al ĉielo SYR4 : Goodbye 20 Century SYR5 : ミュージカル パ 一 スペクティブ SYR6 : Koncertas Stan Brakhage prisiminimui SYR7 : J'Accuse Ted Hughes SYR8 : Andre Sider Af Sonic Youth SYR9 : Simon Werner a Disparu Singles `` Death Valley ' 69 '' ( feat. Lydia Lunch ) `` Flower '' / `` Halloween '' `` Flower '' / `` Satan Is Boring '' `` Starpower '' `` Teen Age Riot '' `` Silver Rocket '' `` Touch Me I 'm Sick '' `` Kool Thing '' `` Dirty Boots '' `` 100 % '' `` Youth Against Fascism '' `` Sugar Kane '' `` Drunken Butterfly '' `` Bull in the Heather '' `` Superstar '' `` Sunday '' Video albums Goo Screaming Fields of Sonic Love Corporate Ghost : The Videos : 1990 -- 2002 Books about Sonic Youth Goodbye 20th Century Girl in a Band : A Memoir Side projects Body / Head Chelsea Light Moving Dim Stars Free Kitten Harry Crews Gate Related articles Discography 1991 : The Year Punk Broke Category Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Superstar_(Delaney_and_Bonnie_song)&oldid=841065953 '' Categories : 1969 songs 1970 singles 1971 singles 1984 singles A&M Records singles Colleen Hewett songs Bette Midler songs Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one singles Cher songs Leon Russell songs Luther Vandross songs Ruben Studdard songs Songs written by Leon Russell Sonic Youth songs The Carpenters songs Usher ( musician ) songs Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from January 2018 Articles needing additional references from March 2018 All articles needing additional references Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Galego 日本 語 Norsk nynorsk Edit links This page was last edited on 13 May 2018, at 21 : 20. 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Question: who wrote the song superstar by the carpenters
Answer: Bonnie Bramlett