Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft

Here we come walking down the street with the craziest music game… that you’ll ever play! Hey! Hey! Rate-O-Rama!

Are you ready to have fun? Let’s play Rate-O-Rama!

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If you’d like to receive a notification when the next Rate-O-Rama post is published, let me know in the comments.

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About Rate-O-Rama

Rate-O-Rama is a reader participation game.

Every other Wednesday, I will publish a new edition of Rate-O-Rama featuring three songs. Your task is to listen to the provided music videos, then rate each song in the comments section.

Rate-O-Rama #39 will be published on Wednesday August 6, 2025

(Note: You must be a Vocal Media member to comment. If you’re not a member, you can join for free! You’ll never have to pay unless you choose to upgrade your membership.)

How to Rate

The rating method is simple:

• Rate each song from 1 to 100 (the more you like it, the higher the rating).
• If possible, leave a brief comment sharing your thoughts on each song.
• After two weeks (on Monday evening), I will tally the ratings. In the next Rate-O-Rama post, I’ll announce the average rating each song received.
• Voting for the 38th Edition of Rate-O-Rama closes on Monday August 4, 2025

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The Results of The 37th Edition of Rate-O-Rama (Wynken, Blynken and Nod)

🥉Third Place: Doobie Brothers 76.5 point average

🥈Second Place: Donovan 81.3 point average

🥇First Place: The Simon Sisters 90 point average

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The Thirty-Eighth Edition features: The Space Rock classic “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft”

Klaatu (1976) Members of the Canadian band Klaatu, John Woloschuk and Terry Draper, co-wrote the song. The bulk of the song was written by Woloschuk with help on the lyrics from Terry Draper.

The lyrics were based on an actual event that happened in March 1953 an organization known as the "International Flying Saucer Bureau" sent a bulletin to all its members urging them to participate in an experiment termed "World Contact Day" whereby, at a predetermined date and time, they would attempt to collectively send out a telepathic message to visitors from outer space. The message began with the words..."Calling occupants of interplanetary craft."

The song was a semi-hit for Klaatu having reached #45 in Canada and #62 in the U.S.

Before moving on I want to take a moment to remember my friend Terry Draper. Terry passed away on May 15, 2025 at the young age of 73. He and I never met in person but maintained a friendship which spanned 17 years. Interviewed him three times - twice for various books I have published and once for my YouTube show Ten Questions with Rick Herry Christopher. Terry was always a gracious man - with his family, friends, fans, and media/reporters. Terry always said yes to an interview. He was more than generous with his time and his music. Throughout the years he emailed me regularly sharing his new music and various thoughts on a variety of topics. Terry was the ultimate artist, musician, and professional. The man had heart and soul. I will miss him greatly.

Trivia: Rumors spread after the release of Klaatu’s debut album that they were secretly a reunion of which popular band?

• The Beatles
• Herman’s Hermits
• The Velvet Underground

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Carpenters (1977) Klaatu’s rendition of the song was recorded using various synthesizers along with traditional rock band instruments. Carpenters did not use any synthesizers. Instead they had a crew of 160 musicians to create the big orchestral soundscape coupled with electric guitars, perfectly timed drums and percussion, and of course Richard Carpenter’s classical keyboards. But the highlight is Karen Carpenter’s lead vocal which is ethereal, commanding, and hauntingly tender. She conveys the lyrical message with a gentle mystique and immaculate phrasing and articulation.

Carpenters charted worldwide with the song reaching #32 in the U.S., #18 in Canada, #19 New Zealand, #13 Australia, #9 UK, and #1 in Ireland and France.

The famed Peter Knight composed the orchestral arrangement. Knight also composed the orchestrations for Carpenters’ classic Christmas Portrait album and is most famous for his orchestration of the Moody Blues’ concept album Days of the Future Passed.

Richard Carpenter received a Grammy nomination for his musical and vocal arrangement of the song.

Trivia: Carpenters open the song with a radio DJ on a request show. The DJ is voiced by which longstanding Carpenters band member?

• Cubby O’Brien (drummer)
• Joe Osborn (bass player)
• Tony Peluso (guitarist)

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Unitopia (2012) Unitopia is an Australian progressive rock band formed in 1996. Their rendition of “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft” was recorded for their fourth studio album Covered Mirror Vol. 1: Smooth As Silk, a cover album containing interpretations of classic prog rock tracks. The album includes covers of Led Zeppelin’s “Rain Song” and Supertramp’s “Even in the Quietest Moments.”

Unitopia’s rendition takes inspiration from both Klaatu and Carpenters while creating their own original take on the song.

Trivia: On their album Covered Mirror Vol. 1: Smooth As Silk, Unitopia included two medleys of songs from two popular prog rock groups of the 1970s and 80s. Which group did they not do a medley for?

• Genesis
• King Crimson
• Yes

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My Thoughts

Klaatu: they wrote the song and they recorded it the way they envisioned it. I like the sound effects and the vocals. I have been a big fan of Klaatu’s music since 1978. I have all their albums in my collection. My Rating: 96

Carpenters: the sweeping orchestration is phenomenal. I love the various time signatures and tempo changes. The song is expertly produced and showcases the fact that Richard Carpenter was one of the finest at his craft of arranging instrumentation and vocals. The instrumentation and orchestration alone put this rendition way over the top but add Karen Carpenter‘s sublime vocal reading and it doesn’t get much better. My Rating: 99

Unitopia: this Australian outfit did a very good job with the song. I enjoy their synthesizer effects. But to be honest, after Klaatu and Carpenters what’s the use? Still needed to fine job with the song. My Rating: 92

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Trivia Answers

• The Beatles: Their debut album was released in 1976, there were no photos of the band, no individual musician credits, and no biographical information in the album package; all songs were simply listed as being written and published by "Klaatu." The album received good reviews but sales stalled. In 1977, an article published in the Providence Journal by journalist Steve Smith speculated that 3:47 EST could actually be a release by a secretly-reunited Beatles recording under a pseudonym, leading to widespread rumours. The album had a Beatlesque sound to it and was released on Capital records, the same record label as the Beatles. Subsequently this rumor led to ”Calling Occupants” becoming a hit and their album ended up selling very well in Canada and the United States.
• Tony Peluso: Portrayed the DJ on the song "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft." He was also the voice of the DJ on Carpenters "Oldies Medley," which comprised the entire side two of their multi-platinum 1973 album Now & Then. Peluso played the great guitar solos on several of Carpenters’ hits including ”Goodbye To Love, ”Please Mr. Postman and of course “Calling Occupants.”
• King Crimson: Unitopia did not do a medley of King Crimson songs on their covers album. The album includes a Genesis medley of five songs from the early Peter Gabriel led Genesis days. The seven song Yes medley includes the hits “And You and I,” “Close to the Edge,” and “Owner of a Lonely Heart.”

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Now it’s your turn to rate the songs and share your thoughts in the comments below!

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