"Superstar" is a 1969 song written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell, with a songwriting credit also given to Delaney Bramlett, that has been a hit for many artists in different genres in the years since. The best-known versions are by the Carpenters in 1971, and by Luther Vandross in 1983.
Original Delaney and Bonnie version
Rita Coolidge came up with the song idea, based on observing the relationships of female groupies with rock stars in the late 1960s.
In its first recorded incarnation, the song was called "Groupie (Superstar)", and was released in December 1969 as the B-side of the Delaney & Bonnie single "Comin' Home". Released by Atco Records in the United States and Atlantic Records in the rest of the world, the full credit on the single was "Delaney & Bonnie and Friends featuring Eric Clapton".
"Comin' Home" reached number 84 on the US pop singles chart, although it achieved a peak of sixteen on the UK Singles Chart.
The original version of "Superstar" finally surfaced in 1972, when the album D&B Together was released, shortly before Delaney and Bonnie's marriage and collaboration ended. That version was also included as a bonus track on a 2006 reissue of the 1970 album, Eric Clapton.
Bonnie Bramlett later rerecorded the song on her 2002 solo album ,I'm Still the Same. Using just the "Superstar" title, she rendered it as a very slow, piano-based torch song.
Personnel
(Taken from the liner notes of the 2006 Deluxe Edition of the Eric Clapton album):
Delaney Bramlett - rhythm guitar & vocals
Bonnie Bramlett - vocals
Eric Clapton - lead guitar
Dave Mason - guitar
Bobby Whitlock - organ
Carl Radle - bass
Jim Gordon - drums
Jim Price - trumpet
Bobby Keys - tenor sax
Tex Johnson - percussion
Rita Coolidge - vocals
Produced by Delaney Bramlett, recorded at A&M Studios, Los Angeles, September 27October 10, 1969.
Carpenters version
"Superstar" became most popular after its treatment by the Carpenters. Richard Carpenter became aware of the song after watching Bette Midler sing it on the February 15, 1971 edition of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Produced by Richard Carpenter with Jack Daugherty, it was recorded using members of the Wrecking Crew, a famed collection of Los Angeles-area session musicians. Because the original subject matter of the song was more risqué than was typical for the Carpenters, Richard changed a lyric in the second verse from "And I can hardly wait/To sleep with you again" to the less suggestive "And I can hardly wait/To be with you again." The track was finished in one take.
Karen Carpenter's vocal was praised for its intensity and emotional nature. David Hepworth commented: "Even with only half her mind on the job, she delivered a perfect performance. The guide vocal never needed to be replaced."
The duo's rendition was included on the May 1971 album Carpenters, and then released as a single in August 1971, rising to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, held out of the top spot by Rod Stewart's "Maggie May". It spent two weeks at number one on the Easy Listening chart that autumn, earning gold record status. It reached number 18 on the UK pop singles chart and charted in Australia and New Zealand as well.
Richard was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist for the song. "Superstar" would go on to appear on two mid-1970s Carpenters live albums as well as on many compilation albums, including the 2004 SACD compilation The Singles: 1969–1981 (not to be confused with the regular CD, The Singles: 1969–1981) as a remix of the original 1973 mix on the similarly titled compilation The Singles: 1969–1973.
Personnel
Karen Carpenterlead & backing vocals
Richard Carpenterbacking vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, orchestration Joe Osbornbass guitar Hal Blainedrums Earle Dumleroboe
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Luther Vandross version
In the early 1980s, American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross had "Superstar" in his stage act, sometimes in a rendition that stretched to 12 minutes, with vocal interpolations and an interpretive dancer.