music.wikisort.org - Composition

"If I Were a Carpenter" is a folk song written by Tim Hardin in the 1960s, and re-recorded with commercial success by various artists including Bobby Darin, The Four Tops and Johnny Cash.[1] 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.[2] The song, believed by some to be about male romantic insecurity, is rumored to have been inspired by his love for actress Susan Morss, as well as the construction of Hardin's recording studio (in the home of Lenny Bruce).[3][1]

Bobby Darin version

"If I Were a Carpenter"
Single by Bobby Darin
B-side	"Rainin'"
Released	October 1966
Genre	Folk
Length	2:22
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Tim Hardin
Producer(s)	Charles Koppelman, Don Rubin

The first notable version of "If I Were a Carpenter" was released by Bobby Darin in October 1966. The song was produced by Charles Koppelman and Don Rubin at Darin's insistence. Darin played the acoustic guitar on the recording. Darin took some time to record the song in his recording session, and did not finish the recording until 7 o'clock in the morning.[4] The song was released by Atlantic Records, whose executives were reluctant to release the song until it received enthusiastic response by radio audience on the West Coast when Koppleman manage to get the song played there.[4]

The song became the biggest hit for Darin since his 1963 song "You're the Reason I'm Living", reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5] It also peaked at No. 9 in the UK.[6] Darin's recording received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Rock and Roll Solo Vocal Performance at the 9th Annual Grammy Awards, but lost to "Eleanor Rigby" by Paul McCartney.[4]

The song is the title song of Bobby Darin's album If I Were a Carpenter, also produced by Koppelman and Rubin.

Charts

Chart (1966)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7]	8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8]	8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9]	7
New Zealand (Listener)[10]	8
UK Singles (OCC)[11]	9

Four Tops version

"If I Were a Carpenter"
Single by Four Tops
from the album Reach Out
B-side	"Wonderful Baby"
Released	1968
Genre	Folk, soul
Length	2:47
Label	Motown M 1124
Songwriter(s)	Tim Hardin
Producer(s)	Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier
Four Tops singles chronology
"Walk Away Renée" (1968) "If I Were a Carpenter" (1968) "Yesterday's Dreams" (1968)

In 1968, The Four Tops hit the Top 20 on both the pop and soul charts with their version.[12] It also reached No. 7 in the UK charts in 1968 staying in the charts for 11 weeks.[13] It reached No. 4 in the Netherlands.[14]

Personnel

• Lead vocals by Levi Stubbs
• Background vocals by Duke Fakir, Obie Benson and Lawrence Payton
• Additional background vocals by The Andantes
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

Charts

Chart (1968)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15]	12
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16]	21
Ireland (IRMA)[17]	6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18]	4
UK Singles (OCC)[19]	7
US Billboard Hot 100[20]	20
West Germany (Official German Charts)[21]	34

Johnny Cash version

"If I Were a Carpenter"
Single by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash
B-side	"'Cause I Love You"
Released	1970
Studio	Columbia Recording Studios, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genre	Folk, country
Length	3:00
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Tim Hardin
Producer(s)	Bob Johnston

In 1970, Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded a duet of the song, which went to No. 2 on the country chart and No. 36 on pop.[22] Their recording won Cash and June a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1971 Grammy.[23]

Charts

Chart (1970)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[24]	13
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[25]	11
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[26]	1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[27]	9
US Billboard Hot 100[28]	36
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[29]	2

Robert Plant version

"If I Were a Carpenter"
Single by Robert Plant
from the album Fate of Nations
B-side	"Ship of Fools" (Live from Montreaux) "Tall Cool One" (Live from Montreaux)
Released	1993
Genre	Rock
Length	3:45
Label	Fontana Es Paranza
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 No. 63 on the UK Singles Chart.[30]

Personnel

• Robert Plant – lead vocals
• Maartin Allcock – mandolin
• Chris Hughes – drums
• Phil Johnstone – harmonium
• Charlie Jones – bass guitar
• Kevin Scott MacMichael – guitar
• Lynton Naiff – string arrangement

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart[30]	63

Johnny Hallyday version (in French)

"Si j'étais un charpentier"
Single by Johnny Hallyday
Released	1966 (1966)
Label	Philips
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 No. 3 in Wallonia (French Belgium).[31]

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[31]

Charts

"Si j'étais un charpentier" / "Je veux te graver dans ma vie" / "La fille à qui je pense"[31][32][33]

Chart (1966–1967)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[31]	3

Other versions

• 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.[34]
• In 1972, a cover by Bob Seger reached No. 76 on the Billboard Hot 100.[35] The single was released from his album Smokin' O.P.'s.[36]
• In 1974, Leon Russell released a version with a funk tempo and his own rewritten lyrics from the perspective of a "rock star".[1] His single reached No. 73 on the Billboard Hot 100[37] and was included on his album Stop All That Jazz.[38]

References

На других языках

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- [en] If I Were a Carpenter (song)

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[ru] If I Were a Carpenter

«If I Were a Carpenter» («Если бы я был плотником») — кантри-песня, написанная Тимом Хардином.

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