Mr. Postman - Carpenters (1975) 3/29/23

Question: From the Marvelettes in 1961...to The Beatles in 1963...to The Carpenters in 1975---which version of "Please Mr, Postman" did NOT go to #1?

Of course, that's a trick question, because the Fab Four's" version--although critically acclaimed--was never released as a single from the album "With the Beatles," and therefore never charted.

The versions by The Marvelettes and Carpenters offer an interesting contrast--not only stylistically, but historically.

For the Marvelettes, it was the FIRST song on the Motown/Tamla label to reach #1 on the Hot 100.

For the Carpenters, it was their tenth and LAST million seller. For the record, it went to #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 and Adult contemporary Charts. It also topped the charts in Canada, Australia and South Africa.

TRIVIA:: The song was written by a team of Motown writers, including Freddie Gorman, who was an actual postman in Detroit!

Any song song that can go to #1 by two different groups more than a decade apart, with an acclaimed version by The Beatles sandwiched in between, is most definitely a "Great Song. "Please Mr. Postman" turned the trick in 1961, 1963, and 1975!"

Carpenters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNn_UoI97GU

Beatles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Kk5IG2b8E

Marvelettes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=425GpjTSlS4