A Kind of Hush (album)

By the time of the album's recording, Richard Carpenter's addiction to sleeping pills had begun to affect him professionally, and he blames this for the album being, in his opinion, sub-par.

John Bettis called "I Need to Be in Love" the favorite lyrics he ever wrote for Karen Carpenter. "If there was ever anything that came out of my heart straight to Karen's I would say that was it. I was very proud of it for that."{{cite book|last1=Schmidt|first1=Randy L.|title=Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter|date=2010|publisher=Chicago Review Press|location=Chicago, Ill.|isbn=9781556529764|page=[https://archive.org/details/littlegirlblueli00schm/page/156 156]|edition=1st|url=https://archive.org/details/littlegirlblueli00schm/page/156}} Richard Carpenter recalled that the song "became Karen's favorite Carpenters song".[http://richardandkarencarpenter.com/Album_A%20Kind%20Of%20Hush.htm Richard Carpenter's comments on A Kind Of Hush], RichardAndKarenCarpenter.com.

The album was also the first not to have Karen playing drums on any tracks, which were performed by Los Angeles session drummer Jim Gordon (except two, "Goofus" and "Sandy," by Cubby O'Brien).

"There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)", a cover of a 1960s song by Herman's Hermits, was released as a lead single and topped the adult contemporary chart, however reached only #12 on the main US chart.[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=carpenters|chart=all}} "There's a Kind of Hush" US chart history], Billboard.com. Retrieved March 19, 2012. It also reached the UK Top 30[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/carpenters/ Carpenters UK chart history], The Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2012.

"I Need to Be in Love" hit number 25 in the US[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=carpenters|chart=all}} "I Need to Be in Love" US chart history], Billboard.com. Retrieved March 19, 2012. and number 36 in the UK.

"Goofus" was only a minor success, stalling at number 56 on the Billboard chart, though it did crack the adult contemporary top 10.[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=carpenters|chart=all}} "Goofus" US chart history], Billboard.com. Retrieved March 19, 2012.

Despite being certified Gold, the album was a relative commercial disappointment in the US, where its chart peak was outside the Top 30 and its lead single peaking outside the Top 10, the first time since Close to You in 1970.Complete Guide to the music of The Carpenters, John Tobler, Omnibus Press {{ISBN|0-7119-6312-6}} and

Like its predecessor Horizon, it performed better in the UK, reaching number three in the UK Albums Chart.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r3366|first=Bruce|last=Eder}}

| rev2 = MusicHound Lounge

| rev2Score = {{rating|1.5|5}}{{cite book|editor-last=Knopper|editor-first=Steve|title=MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide to Martini Muisc and Easy Listening|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Farmington Hills, MI|year=1999|section=The Carpenters|isbn=1578590485|page=79}}

| rev3 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev3Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite book| last = Brackett | first = Nathan |author2= Christian Hoard | title = The Rolling Stone Album Guide | publisher = Simon and Schuster | year = 2004 | location = New York City, New York | page = [https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/n153 140] | isbn = 0-7432-0169-8 | url = https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac| url-access = registration | quote = rolling stone carpenters album guide. }}

}}

In their review of the album, Billboard called it an "exceptionally pretty album, with even more emphasis on Karen Carpenter's versatile, excellent vocals than in past efforts. Soft, easy ballads filled with the lush production of Richard Carpenter dominate the set, though the material alternates from the straight ballad form to easy rock to almost vaudevillian material to supper club, piano bar styled music. Keyboards handled well by Richard, who has always takes somewhat of a backseat when it comes to performing but does as good a job of production as anyone in the business. Most impressive and noticeable change is the different arrangements and styles tackled by Karen."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1976/BB-1976-07-04.pdf|magazine=Billboard|title=Album Reviews|issue =4 July 1976 |page=64 |access-date=August 25, 2024}}

Cashbox praised the album, stating that "the dynamic duo of the MOR/easy listening idiom have come up with another winner. “A Kind Of Hush" is a clean collection of tunes that is truly representative of the kind of music that the Carpenters are famous for — smooth, ingratiating melodies that bear their contemporary trademark. This LP is bound to be an instant success with both the pop and MOR audiences, with the title tune and their cover of the Neil Sedaka hit, "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” standing out as prime shots for the AM market."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1976/Cash-Box-1976-06-26.pdf|magazine=Cash Box|title=Album Reviews|issue=26 June 1976 |page=16 |access-date=August 26, 2024}}

AllMusic's retrospective review was more mixed, calling the album "pleasant, well-sung, and well-played, but basically bland....If you close your eyes, it's possible to imagine Captain & Tennille, not to mention Debby Boone, taking lessons from this release, although Karen's voice was still beyond comparison with any of them".

{{Track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = There's a Kind of Hush

| writer1 = {{hlist|Les Reed|Geoff Stephens}}

| length1 = 2:57

| title2 = You

| writer2 = Randy Edelman

| length2 = 3:52

| title3 = Sandy

| writer3 = {{hlist|Richard Carpenter|John Bettis}}

| length3 = 3:42

| title4 = Goofus

| writer4 = {{hlist|William Harold|Gus Kahn|Wayne King}}

| length4 = 3:09

| title5 = Can't Smile Without You

| writer5 = {{hlist|Chris Arnold ∙ David Martin ∙ Geoff Morrow}}

| length5 = 3:28

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| title6 = I Need to Be in Love

| writer6 = {{hlist|Carpenter|Bettis|Albert Hammond}}

| length6 = 3:47

| title7 = One More Time

| writer7 = Lewis Anderson

| length7 = 3:32

| title8 = Boat to Sail

| writer8 = Jackie DeShannon

| length8 = 3:31

| title9 = I Have You

| writer9 = {{hlist|Carpenter|Bettis}}

| length9 = 3:27

| title10 = Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

| writer10 = {{hlist|Neil Sedaka|Howard Greenfield}}

| length10 = 2:35

}}

• Karen Carpenter - Drums, Vibraphone, Vocals, Background Vocals
• Richard Carpenter - Arranger, Keyboards, Orchestration, Vibraphone, Vocals, Background Vocals
• Frank DeLuna - Mastering
• Earl Dumler - English Horn, Oboe
• Ray Gerhardt - Engineer
• Jim Gordon - Drums
• Jim Horn - Baritone Saxophone
• Dave Iveland - Assistant Engineer
• Wes Jacobs - Tuba
• Gayle Levant - Harp
• Bob Messenger - Flute, Tenor Saxophone
• Cubby O'Brien - Drums
• Joe Osborn - Bass
• Tony Peluso - Guitar
• Tom Scott - Clarinet, Flute
• David Shostac - Flute
• Doug Strawn - Whistle

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{{certification Table Top}}

{{certification Table Entry|title=Kind of Hush|artist=Carpenters|type=album|certyear=1979|relyear=1976|region=Hong Kong|award=Gold|access-date=17 November 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan (RIAJ)|nocert=yes|salesamount=81,000|salesref={{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9}}}}

{{certification Table Entry|title=Kind of Hush|artist=Carpenters|type=album|relyear=1976|region=United Kingdom|award=Gold|access-date=2012-02-22|id=199-662-2}}

{{certification Table Entry|title=Kind of Hush|artist=Carpenters|type=album|relyear=1976|region=United States|award=Gold|access-date=2012-02-22}}

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{{Reflist}}

{{The Carpenters}}

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Category:1976 albums

Category:The Carpenters albums

Category:A&M Records albums

Category:Albums recorded at A&M Studios