If I Were a Carpenter (song)

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"If I Were a Carpenter"
If I Were a Carpenter Four Tops.jpg
Single by Four Tops
from the album Reach Out
B-side"Wonderful Baby"
Released1968
GenreFolk, soul
Length2:47
LabelMotown
M 1124
Songwriter(s)Tim Hardin
Producer(s)Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier
Four Tops singles chronology
"Yesterday's Dreams"
(1968) 		"If I Were a Carpenter"
(1968) 		"Don't Let Him Take Your Love from Me"
(1968)

"If I Were a Carpenter" is a song written by Tim Hardin. Hardin's own recording of the piece appeared on his 1967 album Tim Hardin 2. It was one of two songs from that release (the other being "Misty Roses") performed by Hardin at Woodstock in 1969.[1] The song has been covered a number of times by other artists. It was partly inspired by the construction of a recording studio for Hardin, in the home of Lenny Bruce, and by his love for actress Susan Morss.[2]

Cover versions[]

  • In 1966, it was a top ten hit for Bobby Darin, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] It also peaked at #9 in the UK.[4] Bobby Darin also released an album If I Were a Carpenter, which contains the song.
  • In 1967, Joan Baez covered a gender-reversed version on her album Joan, initially renamed "If You Were a Carpenter" though later compilations reverted to the original title.[5]
  • In 1968, The Four Tops hit the Top 20 on both the pop and soul charts with their version.[6] It also reached #7 in the UK charts in 1968 staying in the charts for 11 weeks.[7] It reached #4 in the Netherlands.[8]
  • In 1969, Yugoslav band Crveni Koralji released a Serbo-Croatian version, entitled "Da sam drvosječa", on their EP Sam, the song becoming a nationwide hit for the band.[9]
  • In 1972, a cover by Bob Seger reached #76 on the Billboard Hot 100.[10] The single was released from his album Smokin' O.P.'s.[11]
  • In 1974, Leon Russell released a version with a funk tempo and his own rewritten lyrics from the perspective of a "rock star".[12] His single reached #73 on the Billboard Hot 100[13] and was included on his album Stop All That Jazz.[14]
  • In 2005, a duet by Dolly Parton and Joe Nichols was included on Parton's covers album Those Were The Days.

Johnny Cash version[]

In 1970, a duet by Johnny Cash and June Carter went to #2 on the country chart.[15]

"If I Were a Carpenter"
Single by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash
Released1970
StudioColumbia Nashville
GenreFolk, country
Length3:00
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Tim Hardin
Producer(s)Bob Johnston

Four Tops version[]

Personnel[]

Robert Plant version[]

"If I Were a Carpenter"
Single by Robert Plant
from the album Fate of Nations
Released1993
GenreRock
Length3:45
Label
Songwriter(s)Tim Hardin
Producer(s)
  • Chris Hughes
  • Robert Plant

In 1993 former Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant released a version on his studio album Fate of Nations. Plant's version reached #63 on the UK Singles Chart.[16]

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1993) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[16] 63

Johnny Hallyday version (in French)[]

"Si j'étais un charpentier"
Single by Johnny Hallyday
Released1966 (1966)
LabelPhilips
Songwriter(s)French adaptation: Long Chris
Johnny Hallyday singles chronology
"Noir c'est noir"
(1966) 		"Si j'étais un charpentier"
(1966) 		"Hey Joe"
(1967)

French singer Johnny Hallyday covered the song in French in 1966. His version, titled "Si j'étais un charpentier", reached #3 in Wallonia (French Belgium).[17]

Track listings[]

7" EP Philips 437.281 BE (1966)

A1. "Si j'étais un charpentier" – 2:15
A2. "On s'est trompé" – 2:40
B1. "Je veux te graver dans ma vie" – 2:50
B2. "La fille à qui je pense" – 2:57[17]

Charts[]

"Si j'étais un charpentier" / "Je veux te graver dans ma vie" / "La fille à qui je pense"[17][18][19]
Chart (1966–1967) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[17] 3

References[]

  1. ^ Evans, Mike (2010). Woodstock: Three Days that Rocked the World. Sterling. ISBN 9781402780349.
  2. ^ Songfacts. "If I Were A Carpenter by Bobby Darin - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 162.
  4. ^ "Bobby Darin". www.officialscharts.com. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Joan Baez - Joan (Vinyl, LP, album)". Discogs. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 212.
  7. ^ "Four Tops". www.officialscharts.com. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Dutch Charts: The Four Tops". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  9. ^ Janjatović, Petar (2007). EX YU ROCK enciklopedija 1960–2006. Belgrade: self-released. p. 49.
  10. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 Chart August 19, 1972". Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Bob Seger: Charts & Awards – Billboard Singles". AllMusic. United States. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  12. ^ Morris, Charles (October 23, 2017). "'If I Were a Carpenter' – the folk singer whose song went on to become a Motown classic". ft.com. Financial Times. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  13. ^ "Leon Russell Chart History". Billboard.com. Billboard. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  14. ^ "Leon Russell, Stop All That Jazz". Allmusic.com. Allmusic. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  15. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 74.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b "if i were a carpenter | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Ultratop.be – Johnny Hallyday – Si j'étais un charpentier" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  18. ^ "ultratop.be - Johnny Hallyday - Je veux te graver dans ma vie". Retrieved 2017-12-06.
  19. ^ "ultratop.be - Johnny Hallyday - La fille à qui je penses". Retrieved 2017-12-06.

External links[]



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