B-side "Maybe It's You" Format 7" single Genre Pop | Released January 5, 1972 Recorded 1971 Length 2:48 | |
"Hurting Each Other" is a song popularized by The Carpenters in 1972. It was written by Gary Geld and Peter Udell in 1965, and was recorded multiple times by artists from Ruby and the Romantics to Rosemary Clooney.
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Previous versions
One early version of the song was recorded by Jimmy Clanton and released in 1965 as a single on Mala Records. According to Richard Carpenter, this version of "Hurting Each Other" had a very different feel from the Carpenters' product. However, there are definite similarities in the vocal refrain. Clanton's 1965 single of the song failed to chart.
Chad Allan & The Expressions, who later became The Guess Who, also recorded the song in 1965 on their Canadian LP, "Hey Ho (What You Do to Me!)" Released as a single, the song hit #19 on the Canadian charts in early 1966.
In June 1966 a version by Ruth Lewis, produced by Udell and Geld, was released as a single by RCA Victor records.
A version of "Hurting Each Other" also appeared on The Walker Brothers' second album, Portrait, which was released in November 1966.
Carpenters' version
The Carpenters recorded "Hurting Each Other" with instrumental backing from L.A. sessions musicians from the Wrecking Crew, towards the end of 1971. Some footage of Richard and Karen performing the backup vocals can be seen on Jerry Dunphy Visits the Carpenters, when news anchor Jerry Dunphy went to Karen and Richard Carpenter's house and interviewed them and their parents about their life.
It was released as a single in late 1971 from the album A Song for You. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Easy Listening chart. Billboard ranked it as the No. 65 song for 1972.
The Carpenters performed "Hurting Each Other" at many live concerts, including a shortened version from the "Live in Osaka" concert in 1974.