Superstar

Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell wrote it in 1969, and the idea came from Rita Coolidge. Delaney and Bonnie first issued it as Groupie (Superstar), the B-side of Comin' Home in December 1969. Coolidge sang it on Joe Cocker's 1970 album Mad Dogs & Englishmen. Richard saw Bette Midler sing it on The Tonight Show on 15 February 1971 and felt that with the right arrangement it could be a hit and was a natural for Karen. Because the lyric never mentions the word superstar, he had to ask around to learn its name. He owned the A&M album but had never played it.

He changed the line I can hardly wait to sleep with you again to be with you again. The track was finished in one take, and Earle Dumler played the oboe. Richard hesitated between this and Let Me Be the One for the single, worried that the lyric was unconventional for a Carpenters record, and Jerry Moss, who strongly believed in it, made up his mind for him. Released in August 1971, it reached number 2 on the Hot 100, held off by Rod Stewart's Maggie May, and number 18 in Britain. Richard was nominated for a Grammy for his arrangement. Sonic Youth recorded it for the 1994 tribute If I Were a Carpenter, and Richard told NPR's Fresh Air that he did not care for it but did not understand it.