CARPENTERS - CALLING OCCUPANTS OF INTERPLANETARY CRAFT

Released: September 20, 1977

Charts:  UK: #9   US: #32 

"Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" was originally released by Canadian rock band Klaatu in 1976. The story behind the track is filled with intrigue and mystery. When Canadian band Klaatu released the track in 1976 on their album “3:47 EST”, rumors began swirling that the group was actually The Beatles recording in disguise. The song’s somewhat Beatlesque sound, combined with the fact that no personal information about the band members was provided, fueled speculation of a secret Beatles reunion. The album was released by Capitol Records, which had previously distributed Beatles albums in the US. Capitol Records amplified the band's mystique by stoking rumors that Klaatu might secretly be the Fab Four. These rumors were never confirmed or denied, fueling intrigue. 

Carpenters were captivated by the song’s unique futuristic theme, and decided to cover the song employing a crew of 160 musicians for their rendition. Remember we are in 1977, the year of “Star Wars” fever and “Close Encounters”. Their version of "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" became a hit, reaching #9 in the UK and topping the charts in Ireland, marking the Carpenters' last top 10 UK hit.

The origins of "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" trace back to 1953, when the International Flying Saucer Bureau initiated "World Contact Day," encouraging its members to send a collective telepathic message to extraterrestrials. This message famously began with the phrase “Calling occupants of interplanetary craft.” Fast forward to 1967, when Jay David’s “The Flying Saucer Reader” influenced John Woloschuk, a founding member of the Canadian band Klaatu. 

Formed in 1973, Klaatu, named after the alien in the 1951 sci-fi film “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, embraced sci-fi themes in their music. Woloschuk and Dee Long crafted the song "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft," which was co-written with drummer Terry Draper. Klaatu’s self-titled debut album with its cryptic lack of musician credits, helped the single chart modestly, reaching #62 on the Billboard Hot 100. Carpenters cover brings greater commercial success to the song peaking at #32. The cover art featured on the US single was painted by Star Trek designer, Andrew Probert.

Klaatu's original version opens with sounds from various living species, while the Carpenters' rendition begins with a radio DJ on a request show. The DJ, voiced by their guitarist Tony Peluso, asks a caller named "Mike Ledgerwood" for his song request, only to be answered by an alien-sounding voice. Peluso can be seen performing this DJ role in the track's music video.

Carpenters' version was released on their ”Passage” album, and appeared also on multiple greatest hits compilations. Their version featured the tagline "(The Recognized Anthem Of World Contact Day)" under the title, leading to a surge of letters from fans inquiring about the next World Contact Day. The popularity of the song even inspired a successful Carpenters TV special titled “The Carpenters...Space Encounters”.