# The Carpenters discography

The discography of the American pop group the Carpenters consists of 14 studio albums, two Christmas albums, two live albums, 49 singles, and numerous compilation albums. 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

| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
| Year | Album details | US | AUS | CAN | JPN | NOR | NZ | UK | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
| 1969 | Ticket to Ride (First released under the title Offering) Released: October 9, 1969 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape (open reel), cassette, CD, digital download | 150 | 19 | — | 88 | — | — | 20 | |
| 1970 | Close to You Released: August 19, 1970 Label: A&M/Polydor Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download | 2 | 16 | 1 | 53 | — | — | 23 | RIAA: 2× Platinum |
| 1971 | Carpenters Released: May 14, 1971 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download | 2 | 16 | 6 | 47 | — | — | 12 | RIAA: 4× Platinum BPI: Gold |
| 1972 | A Song for You Released: June 22, 1972 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | — | — | 13 | RIAA: 3× Platinum |
| 1973 | Now & Then Released: May 1, 1973 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | — | 2 | RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Gold |
| 1975 | Horizon Released: June 6, 1975 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download | 13 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | RIAA: Platinum BPI: Gold MC: Gold |
| 1976 | A Kind of Hush Released: June 11, 1976 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape, cassette, CD, digital download | 33 | 57 | 22 | 5 | 17 | 15 | 3 | RIAA: Gold BPI: Gold |
| 1977 | Passage Released: September 23, 1977 Label: A&M Formats: LP, tape, cassette, 8-track CD, digital download | 49 | 48 | 57 | 7 | — | — | 12 | BPI: Gold |
| 1978 | Christmas Portrait Released: October 13, 1978 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download | 56 | — | 74 | — | — | — | 104 | RIAA: Platinum MC: Gold |
| 1981 | Made in America Released: June 16, 1981 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download | 52 | 50 | — | 44 | — | — | 12 | BPI: Silver |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. ||||||||||

### Live albums

There are two live albums that the Carpenters have released officially, though neither of them were issued in their homeland.
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
| Year | Title | JPN | UK | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
| 1975 | Live in Japan Released: March 7, 1975 Recorded: June 1974 Label: A&M/King Released in Japan only Formats: LP, cassette, CD | 8 | — | |
| 1976 | Live at the Palladium Released: December 1976 Recorded: November 1976 Label: A&M Not released in the U.S. Formats: LP, cassette, CD | 24 | 28 | BPI: Gold |

### Compilation albums

| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
| Year | Album details | US | AUS | CAN | JPN | NED | NOR | NZ | UK | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
| 1973 | The Singles: 1969–1973 Released: November 9, 1973 Label: A&M Formats: LP, 8-track, cassette, CD, digital download | 1 | 129 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | RIAA: 7× Platinum BPI: Platinum MC: Platinum |
| 1978 | The Singles: 1974–1978 Released: November 1978 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD | — | — | — | 42 | — | — | — | 2 | BPI: Platinum |
| 1983 | Voice of the Heart Released: October 18, 1983 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download | 46 | 54 | — | 41 | — | — | — | 6 | RIAA: Gold BPI: Gold |
| 1984 | An Old-Fashioned Christmas Released: 1984 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download | 190 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: Gold |
| 1985 | Yesterday Once More Released: 1985 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download | 144 | — | — | 35 | — | — | — | 10 | RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Platinum |
| 1989 | Lovelines Released: October 31, 1989 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download | — | 110 | — | — | — | — | — | 73 | |
| 1990 | Only Yesterday Released: March 1990 Label: A&M Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download | — | 9 | — | 25 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | ARIA: Platinum BPI: 5× Platinum |
| 1994 | Interpretations Released: 1994 Label: A&M Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download | — | 126 | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | BPI: Gold |
| 1995 | Reflections Released: 1995 Label: A&M Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | BPI: Silver |
| 1997 | Love Songs Released: 1997 Label: A&M Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download | 106 | 143 | — | — | — | 34 | — | 47 | RIAA: Gold BPI: Gold |
| 2000 | The Singles: 1969–1981 Released: 2000 Label: A&M Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download | 45 | 19 | — | 73 | — | — | — | 65 | BPI: Gold |
| 2000 | Gold: Greatest Hits Released: September 13, 2000 Label: A&M Formats: CD, digital download | 101 | — | — | 79 | — | — | 17 | 4 | RIAA: Gold BPI: 5× Platinum |
| 2001 | As Time Goes By Released: August 1, 2001 Label: A&M Formats: CD, digital download | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | RIAJ: Gold |
| 2003 | Carpenters Perform Carpenter Released: July 29, 2003 Label: A&M Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2006 | The Ultimate Collection Released: November 26, 2006 Label: A&M Formats: CD, digital download | — | 41 | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | BPI: Gold |
| 2009 | 40/40 Released: April 22, 2009 Label: A&M / Universal Formats: CD, digital download | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | — | 21 | BPI: Gold RIAJ: Gold |
| 2014 | Icon Released: December 24, 2014 Label: A&M / UMe Formats: CD, digital download | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2015 | The Complete Singles Released: November 2015 Label: A&M / TJL Productions / UMe Format: CD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2016 | The Nation's Favourite Songs Released: September 2016 Label: A&M Format: CD, digital download | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | BPI: Silver |
| 2018 | Carpenters with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Released: December 7, 2018 Label: A&M, Universal Music Enterprises Format: LP, CD, digital download | — | 29 | — | 25 | — | — | — | 8 | BPI: Gold |
| 2019 | Collected Released: June 28, 2019 Label: Music On Vinyl Format: LP | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | |
^ I Album only downloadable in the UK. "—" denotes releases that did not chart.

#### Limited releases

* Golden Prize (Japan only)
** Released: September 10, 1971
** Label: A&M/King
** Format: LP, cassette
** Chart position(s): #3 (JPN)
* Golden Double Deluxe (Japan only)
** Released: February 10, 1972
** Label: A&M/King
** Format: LP
** Chart position(s): #10 (JPN)
* Great Hits of the Carpenters (Australia)
** Released: 1972
** Label: A&M/King
** Format: LP
** Chart position(s): #3 (AUS)
* GEM I (Japan only)
** Released: October 10, 1972
** Label: A&M/King
** Format: LP
** Chart position(s): #13 (JPN)
* MAX 20 (Japan only)
** Released: March 10, 1973
** Label: A&M/King
** Format: LP
** Chart position(s): #26 (JPN)
* GEM II (Japan only)
** Released: October 25, 1973
** Label: A&M/King
** Format(s): LP
** Chart position(s): #3 (JPN)
* Great Hits of the Carpenters Volume 2 (Australia)
** Released: 1972
** Label: A&M/King
** Format: LP
** Chart position(s): #24 (AUS)
* Golden Prize Volume II (Japan only)
** Released: April 10, 1974
** Label: A&M/King
** Format(s): LP, cassette
** Chart position(s): #1 (JPN)
* Big Star (Japan only)
** Released: June 1, 1974
** Label: A&M/King
** Format(s): Cassette
** Chart position(s): #20 (JPN)
* Special Series (Japan only)
** Released: November 1, 1976
** Label: A&M/King
** Format(s): Cassette
** Chart position(s): #36 (JPN)
* Beautiful Lovesongs (Netherlands only)
** Released: 1981
** Label: A&M
** Format(s): LP, Cassette
** Chart position(s): #8 (NVPI)
* Ketteiban (The Definitive) (Japan only)
** Released: June 21, 1982
** Label: A&M/Alfa
** Format(s): Cassette
** Chart position(s): #61 (JPN)
* The Very Best of the Carpenters (Australia and New Zealand only)
** Released: 1982
** Label: A&M/Festival
** Format(s): LP
** Chart position(s): #1 (AUS), #2 (NZ)
* The Carpenters Collection - Their Greatest Hits (Benelux only)
** Released: 1987
** Label: A&M
** Format(s): LP, CD
** Chart position(s): #31 (NVPI)
* Treasures (Australia)
** Released: 1994
** Format: CD
** Chart position(s): #181 (AUS)
* Seishun no Kagayaki: The Best of (22 Hits of the Carpenters) (Japan only)
** Released: November 10, 1995
** Label: A&M / Polydor Japan
** Format(s): CD, MD, cassette
** Chart position(s): #3 (JPN)
** Certification(s): 12× Platinum (RIAJ)
* Yesterday Once More: De Nederlandse Singles Collectie (Netherlands only)
** Released: 2001
** Label: A&M / Universal
** Format(s): CD
** Chart position(s): #22 (NVPI)

## Box sets

| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Year | Album details | US | NED |
| 1991 | From the Top Released: 1991 Label: A&M Formats: 4×CD, digital download | — | — |
| 1996 | Christmas Collection Released: 1996 Label: A&M Formats: 2×CD, digital download | 158 | 118 |
| 2002 | The Essential Collection: 1965–1997 Released: 2002 Label: A&M Formats: 4×CD, digital download | — | — |
| 2017 | The Vinyl Collection Released: November 17, 2017 Label: A&M Formats: 12×LP | — | — |

## Singles

| Year | Single | Chart position | Chart position | Chart position | Chart position | Chart position | Chart position | Chart position | Chart position | Chart position | Chart position | Chart position | B-side | Certifications | Album |
| Year | Single | US | US AC | AUS | CAN | CAN AC | GER | IRE | JPN | NED | NZ | UK | B-side | Certifications | Album |
| 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: Gold | Close to You |
| 1970 | "We've Only Just Begun" | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 71 | — | — | 28 | "All of My Life" | RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver | Close to You |
| 1970 | "Merry Christmas, Darling" | 1 | — | — | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 45 | "Mr. Guder" | | Christmas Portrait |
| 1971 | "For All We Know" | 3 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | "Don't Be Afraid" | RIAA: Gold | Carpenters |
| 1971 | "Rainy Days and Mondays" | 2 | 1 | 35 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 72 | — | — | 53 | "Saturday" | RIAA: Gold | Carpenters |
| 1971 | "Superstar" | 2 | 1 | 35 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 7 | 19 | 9 | 18 | "Bless the Beasts and Children" | RIAA: Gold | Carpenters |
| 1971 | "Bless the Beasts and Children" | 2 | 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 | A Song for You |
| 1972 | "It's Going to Take Some Time" | 12 | 2 | 24 | 14 | 1 | — | — | 48 | — | — | — | "Flat Baroque" | | A Song for You |
| 1972 | "Goodbye to Love" | 7 | 2 | 25 | 4 | 1 | — | 12 | 55 | — | 5 | 9 | "Crystal Lullaby" | | A Song for You |
| 1973 | "Sing" | 3 | 1 | 24 | 4 | 5 | — | — | 18 | — | 7 | 55 | "Druscilla Penny" | RIAA: Gold | Now & Then |
| 1973 | "Yesterday Once More" | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 5 | — | 2 | "Road Ode" | RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver | Now & Then |
| 1973 | "Top of the World" | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 38 | 3 | 21 | 12 | 14 | 5 | "Heather" | RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver | A Song for You |
| 1974 | "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" | — | — | 95 | — | — | 50 | 12 | 28 | 3 | 13 | 12 | "Mr. Guder" | | Now & Then |
| 1974 | "I Won't Last a Day Without You" | 11 | 1 | 63 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 40 | — | — | 32 | "One Love" | | A Song for You |
| 1974 | "Please Mr. Postman" | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 11 | 29 | 4 | 2 | "This Masquerade" | RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver MC: Gold | Horizon |
| 1975 | "Only Yesterday" | 4 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 43 | 5 | 12 | — | 10 | 7 | "Happy" | | Horizon |
| 1975 | "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | "Merry Christmas, Darling" | | Christmas Portrait |
| 1975 | "Solitaire" | 17 | 1 | 61 | 12 | 3 | — | 44 | — | — | 6 | 32 | "Love Me for What I Am" | | Horizon |
| 1976 | "There's a Kind of Hush" | 12 | 1 | 33 | 8 | 1 | — | 7 | 27 | — | 5 | 22 | "(I'm Caught Between) Goodbye and I Love You" | | A Kind of Hush |
| 1976 | "I Need to Be in Love" | 25 | 1 | 47 | 24 | 1 | — | 14 | 62 | — | — | 36 | "Sandy" | | A Kind of Hush |
| 1976 | "Goofus" | 56 | 4 | — | 82 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Boat to Sail" | | A Kind of Hush |
| 1976 | "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 71 | — | — | — | "I Have You" | | A Kind of Hush |
| 1977 | "All You Get from Love Is a Love Song" | 35 | 4 | 89 | 38 | 5 | — | — | 68 | — | — | 54 | "I Have You" | | Passage |
| 1977 | "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" | 32 | 18 | 13 | 18 | 10 | — | 1 | — | — | 19 | 9 | "Can't Smile Without You" | | Passage |
| 1977 | "Christmas Song" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Merry Christmas Darling" | | Christmas Portrait |
| 1978 | "Sweet, Sweet Smile" | 44 | 7 | 100 | 43 | 7 | 22 | — | 59 | 22 | — | 40 | "I Have You" | | Passage |
| 1978 | "I Believe You" | 68 | 9 | — | 81 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | "B'wana, She No Home" | | Made in America |
| 1981 | "Touch Me When We're Dancing" | 16 | 1 | 78 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | "Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song)" | | Made in America |
| 1981 | "(Want You) Back in My Life Again" | 72 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Somebody's Been Lyin'" | | Made in America |
| 1981 | "Those Good Old Dreams" | 63 | 21 | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | "When It's Gone (It's Just Gone)" | | Made in America |
| 1982 | "Beechwood 4-5789" | 74 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | "Two Sides" | | Made in America |
| 1983 | "Make Believe It's Your First Time" | 101 | 7 | 80 | — | 2 | — | 20 | — | — | — | 60 | "Look to Your Dreams" | | Voice of the Heart |
| 1984 | "Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore" | — | 12 | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Sailing on the Tide" | | Voice of the Heart |
| 1984 | "Now" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Look to Your Dreams" | | Voice of the Heart |
| 1984 | "Little Altar Boy" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Do You Hear What I Hear?" | | An Old Fashioned Christmas |
| 1986 | "Honolulu City Lights" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "I Just Fall in Love Again" | | Lovelines |
| 1989 | "If I Had You" (Karen Carpenter) | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "The Uninvited Guest" | | Lovelines |
| 1990 | "Merry Christmas, Darling" (re-issue) | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | 25 | "(They Long to Be) Close to You" | | Christmas Portrait |
| 1991 | "Let Me Be the One" (promotional single) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | From the Top |
| 1993 | "Rainy Days and Mondays" (re-issue) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 63 | "Goodbye to Love" | | From the Top |
| 1994 | "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 44 | "Sing" | | Interpretations |
| 1995 | "I Need to Be in Love" (Japan re-issue) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | "Top of the World" | | 22 Hits of the Carpenters |
| 1996 | "Ave Maria" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Merry Christmas, Darling" | | Christmas Portrait |
| 2001 | "The Rainbow Connection" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | — | — | — | "Leave Yesterday Behind", "Medley" | | As Time Goes By |
| 2003 | "Top of the World" (Japan re-issue) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 83 | — | — | — | "Top of the World", "Sing" (karaoke) | | Gold |