Editing Harry Chapin (section)

===Career peak (1973–1975)===

In 1973, Chapin released his third album, ''[[Short Stories (Harry Chapin album)|Short Stories]].'' The album sold over 1 million units and produced another international hit, "[[W.O.L.D.]]," a song about an aging disc jockey who has given up his entire life and family for his career. The song is sung from the point of view of the disc jockey, who is singing to his ex-wife. It was inspired by American radio personality Jim Connors. Chapin wrote the song when he listened to Connors calling his ex-wife in the [[WMEX (AM)|WMEX]] studio in Boston. <ref> Gary Deeb, "WOLD Tells Disc Jockey's Station in Life," ''Chicago Tribune'', February 22, 1974, Section 2, p. 13. </ref>  The song became a top-40 hit on the [[Billboard Hot 100]], a top-10 hit in Canada, and a top-10 and -20 hit in various other countries. Other notable songs from the album not released as singles are "[[Mr. Tanner]]," "Mail Order Annie," and "They Call Her Easy." The song "Mr. Tanner" was loosely based on a pair of ''New York Times'' concert reviews of baritone Martin Tubridy&nbsp;– once in 1971<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1971/03/28/archives/tubridy-makes-song-debut.html | title = Tubridy Makes Song Debut| newspaper = [[The New York Times]]| date = March 28, 1971 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170920100446/https://www.nytimes.com/1971/03/28/archives/tubridy-makes-song-debut.html | archive-date = September 20, 2017 | url-status= unfit | access-date = June 16, 2022}}</ref> and once in 1972.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/17/archives/tubridy-a-bassbaritone-performs-in-2d-recital-here.html | title = Tubridy, a Bass-Baritone, Performs in 2d Recital Here| newspaper = The New York Times| date = February 17, 1972}}</ref>

In 1974, Chapin released his most successful album, ''[[Verities and Balderdash]]'', which sold 2.5 million units because of the number 1 hit "[[Cat's in the Cradle]]." The song is about a father who does not find time for his son during the boy's childhood; ultimately the son grows up to be just like his father, not making any time for his dad. The song earned Chapin another Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and Chapin was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]]. ''Verities and Balderdash'' peaked at number four on the [[Billboard 200]]. The album's follow-up single, "[[I Wanna Learn a Love Song]]," charted at number 7 on [[Billboard Adult Contemporary]]. The song is a true story of how Chapin met his wife, [[Sandra Chapin]]. "[[30,000 Pounds of Bananas]]" was included on the album and became the number-one requested song for a few weeks, despite not being released as a single. It is a semi-fictional account of a truck crash that occurred in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]], transporting bananas—based loosely on a March 18, 1965, accident involving truck driver Gene Sesky.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11891601/eugene_sesky_35_killed_in_scranton/ | title = Runaway Truck Kills Driver; 16 Persons Hurt| newspaper = The Daily Courier| date = March 19, 1965| page = 17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://wnep.com/2015/03/18/the-banana-truck-crash-50-years-later/ | title = The 'Banana Truck' Crash: 50 Years Later|website=Wnep.com| date = March 19, 2015}}</ref> Other notable songs from the album include "Shooting Star," "Halfway to Heaven," and "[[Six String Orchestra]]."

In 1975, Chapin released his fifth album, ''[[Portrait Gallery (album)|Portrait Gallery]]'', which produced a top-40 [[Billboard Adult Contemporary]] hit, "[[Dreams Go By]]." However, it was less successful than the last, selling 350,000 units. Chapin also wrote and performed a Broadway play, ''[[The Night That Made America Famous]]'', which  earned two [[Tony Award]] nominations and two [[Drama Desk Award]] nominations.