From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . “This Masquerade” is a song written by Leon Russell.  The song appeared on the B-side of the single for Russell’s 1972 hit “Tight Rope“.

The Carpenters version was released on their album Now & Then (1973), and performed on TV withElla Fitzgerald, the medley in which it was sung was subsequently released on the compilation album As Time Goes By.

The song has also been recorded by many other artists. The Carpentersrecorded a version of the song and released it on their 1973 Now & Then album, as well as on the B-side of “Please Mr. Postman” in 1974. Shirley Bassey has also recorded this song, first released on her 1982 albumAll By Myself. Other artists to perform it include Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’77, No Mercy, Robert Goulet, Helen Reddy, Bob Berg and Kenny Rogers. The song was also a top-ten pop and R&B hit for jazz guitarist/vocalistGeorge Benson, who recorded it on his 1976 signature album Breezin’. It reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Hot Soul Singles chart. Benson won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year with his version of the song. SaxophonistDavid Sanbornalso recorded the song on his 1995 “Pearls” project.Leon Russell‘s version is part of the soundtrack for the Exorcist director William Friedkin‘s psychological thriller film Bug. The Bug Soundtrack is released on May 22, 2007. It also appeared in the movie The Pursuit of HappynessXX