Close to You was the second album by the Carpenters, released in August 1970. In 2003, the album was ranked number 175 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[1] The album contains the hit singles "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun". "(They Long to Be) Close to You" was the duo's first big hit that gained the Carpenters international reputation for a decade. The album topped the Canadian Albums Chart and peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard albums chart. It was also successful in the United Kingdom, entering the top 50 of the official chart for 76 weeks during the first half of 1970s.

"We've Only Just Begun" started out as a commercial for Crocker Citizen's Bank in 1970, composed by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols. The commercial showed a couple getting married and starting their life together. The Carpenters' recording is one of only two tracks on the album on which Richard Carpenter performs lead vocals, and the only one on which both Carpenters perform lead vocals. In August 1970, it became the Carpenters' second RIAA-certified Gold single. Richard regards this as the duo's signature song

Studio album by The Carpenters
Released August 19, 1970
Recorded 1970
Genre Pop
Length 38:35
Label A&M
Producer Jack Daugherty.

Album credits

Producer: Jack Daugherty
Arrangements and orchestration: Richard Carpenter
All vocals: Karen and Richard Carpenter
Drums: Karen Carpenter and Hal Blaine
Keyboards: Richard Carpenter
Bass: Joe Osborn and Danny Woodhams
Woodwinds: Jim Horn, Bob Messenger, Doug Strawn
Engineer: Ray Gerhardt and Dick Bogert
Art direction: Tom Wilkes
Photography: Kessel/Brehm Photography

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