Name: Close To You by The Carpenters
Brand: The Carpenters
SKU: 602517837409
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 4 (84 reviews)

ALBUM

Hurriedly put together in the wake of the success of the title song, and containing the follow-up hit "We've Only Just Begun," Close to You is a surprisingly strong album, and not just for those hits. Richard Carpenter's originals "Maybe It's You" and "Crescent Noon" are superb showcases for Karen Carpenter's developing talent, the latter a superbly atmospheric, hauntingly beautiful art song of the kind that Judy Collins was doing well at the time, and gorgeously arranged. There's also a Swingle Singers-style number, "Mr. Guder," showing off their paired vocal talents and more of Richard's arranging talents. Karen's singing on "Reason to Believe" isn't so much somber as it is passionate, as she emphasizes the melancholy component in the song more than most versions. Their version of "Help" lacks the inventiveness of "Ticket to Ride," although it has some pleasing vocal flourishes. The finale, "Another Song," tries hard for a serious rock sound, especially in Karen's animated drumming, but it's her voice that stands out. Released amid the political turmoil of 1970, in the wake of the Cambodian incursion, Kent State, and the conservative backlash against the antiwar forces, there was no way that the rock press or the most politically active listeners were going to appreciate this record, but the fact that it had two huge hit singles and earned a gold record award raised their ire against the Carpenters, a problem that would dog the duo for most of its career. But the public bought, and kept on buying.
© Bruce Eder /TiVo

1. We've Only Just Begun

by The Carpenters

Composer: Roger Nichols
Paul Williams; Composer
Lyricist: Paul Williams
Roger Nichols; Composer
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dan Woodhams
Joe Osborn; Performer
Drums: Karen Carpenter
Hal Blaine; Performer
Keyboard: Richard Carpenter; Performer
Performer: Richard Carpenter
Doug Strawn
Dan Woodhams
Bob Messenger
Jim Horn
Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter
Joe Osborn; Performer
Vocals: Richard Carpenter
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Woodwind: Bob Messenger
Doug Strawn
Jim Horn; Performer
Creation: Tom Wilkes; Production
Graphics: Tom Wilkes; Production
Photography: Kessel; Production
Recording: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Recording Arrangement: Richard Carpenter; Production
Studio Personnel: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Composer Lyricist: Roger Nichols
Paul Williams; Other
Primary Artist: Carpenters; Main Performer
Producer: Jack Daugherty; Production

2. Love Is Surrender

by The Carpenters

Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dan Woodhams
Joe Osborn; Performer
Drums: Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Lyricist: Ralph Carmichael; Composer
Creation: Tom Wilkes; Production
Engineer: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Graphics: Tom Wilkes; Production
Keyboard: Richard Carpenter; Performer
Composer: Ralph Carmichael; Composer
Performer: Richard Carpenter
Bob Messenger
Joe Osborn
Jim Horn
Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter
Doug Strawn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Vocals: Richard Carpenter
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Woodwind: Bob Messenger
Doug Strawn
Jim Horn; Performer
Photography: Kessel; Production
Recording: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Recording Arrangement: Richard Carpenter; Production
Studio Personnel: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ralph Carmichael; Other
Primary Artist: Carpenters; Main Performer
Producer: Jack Daugherty; Production

3. Maybe It's You

by The Carpenters

Composer: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Composer
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Drums: Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Lyricist: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Composer
Keyboard: Richard Carpenter; Performer
Performer: Richard Carpenter
Doug Strawn
Dan Woodhams
Bob Messenger
Joe Osborn
Jim Horn
Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Creation: Tom Wilkes; Production
Engineer: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Graphics: Tom Wilkes; Production
Photography: Kessel; Production
Producer: Jack Daugherty; Production
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Primary Artist: Carpenters; Main Performer
Vocals: Richard Carpenter
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Woodwind: Bob Messenger
Doug Strawn
Jim Horn; Performer
Recording: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Recording Arrangement: Richard Carpenter; Production
Studio Personnel: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Composer Lyricist: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Other

4. Reason To Believe

by The Carpenters

Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dan Woodhams
Joe Osborn; Performer
Drums: Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Lyricist: Tim Hardin; Composer
Creation: Tom Wilkes; Production
Engineer: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Graphics: Tom Wilkes; Production
Keyboard: Richard Carpenter; Performer
Composer: Tim Hardin; Composer
Performer: Richard Carpenter
Bob Messenger
Joe Osborn
Jim Horn
Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter
Doug Strawn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Vocals: Richard Carpenter
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Woodwind: Bob Messenger
Doug Strawn
Jim Horn; Performer
Photography: Kessel; Production
Recording: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Recording Arrangement: Richard Carpenter; Production
Studio Personnel: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tim Hardin; Other
Primary Artist: Carpenters; Main Performer
Producer: Jack Daugherty; Production

5. Help

by The Carpenters

Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Drums: Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Lyricist: Paul Mccartney
John Lennon; Composer
Creation: Tom Wilkes; Production
Engineer: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Graphics: Tom Wilkes; Production
Keyboard: Richard Carpenter; Performer
Composer: Paul Mccartney
John Lennon; Composer
Performer: Richard Carpenter
Doug Strawn
Dan Woodhams
Bob Messenger
Joe Osborn
Jim Horn
Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Vocals: Richard Carpenter
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Woodwind: Bob Messenger
Doug Strawn
Jim Horn; Performer
Photography: Kessel; Production
Recording: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Recording Arrangement: Richard Carpenter; Production
Studio Personnel: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Composer Lyricist: John Lennon
Paul Mccartney; Other
Primary Artist: Carpenters; Main Performer
Producer: Jack Daugherty; Production

6. (They Long To Be) Close To You

by The Carpenters

Composer: Hal David
Burt Bacharach; Composer
Lyricist: Burt Bacharach
Hal David; Composer
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dan Woodhams
Joe Osborn; Performer
Drums: Karen Carpenter
Hal Blaine; Performer
Keyboard: Richard Carpenter; Performer
Performer: Richard Carpenter
Doug Strawn
Dan Woodhams
Bob Messenger
Jim Horn
Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter
Joe Osborn; Performer
Vocals: Richard Carpenter
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Woodwind: Bob Messenger
Doug Strawn
Jim Horn; Performer
Creation: Tom Wilkes; Production
Graphics: Tom Wilkes; Production
Photography: Kessel; Production
Recording: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Recording Arrangement: Richard Carpenter; Production
Studio Personnel: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Composer Lyricist: Burt Bacharach
Hal David; Other
Primary Artist: Carpenters; Main Performer
Producer: Jack Daugherty; Production

7. Baby It's You

by The Carpenters

Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dan Woodhams
Joe Osborn; Performer
Drums: Karen Carpenter
Hal Blaine; Performer
Lyricist: Mack David
Barney Williams
Burt Bacharach; Composer
Creation: Tom Wilkes; Production
Engineer: Ray Gerhardt
Dick Bogert; Production
Graphics: Tom Wilkes; Production
Keyboard: Richard Carpenter; Performer
Composer: Burt Bacharach
Mack David
Barney Williams; Composer
Performer: Karen Carpenter
Richard Carpenter
Doug Strawn
Dan Woodhams
Bob Messenger
Joe Osborn
Jim Horn
Hal Blaine; Performer
Vocals: Richard Carpenter
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Woodwind: Doug Strawn
Bob Messenger
Jim Horn; Performer
Photography: Kessel; Production
Recording: Ray Gerhardt
Dick Bogert; Production
Recording Arrangement: Richard Carpenter; Production
Studio Personnel: Ray Gerhardt
Dick Bogert; Production
Composer Lyricist: Burt Bacharach
Barney Williams
Mack David; Other
Primary Artist: Carpenters; Main Performer
Producer: Jack Daugherty; Production

8. I'll Never Fall In Love Again

by The Carpenters

Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Drums: Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Lyricist: Hal David
Burt Bacharach; Composer
Creation: Tom Wilkes; Production
Engineer: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Graphics: Tom Wilkes; Production
Keyboard: Richard Carpenter; Performer
Composer: Hal David
Burt Bacharach; Composer
Performer: Richard Carpenter
Doug Strawn
Dan Woodhams
Bob Messenger
Joe Osborn
Jim Horn
Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Vocals: Richard Carpenter
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Woodwind: Bob Messenger
Doug Strawn
Jim Horn; Performer
Photography: Kessel; Production
Recording: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Recording Arrangement: Richard Carpenter; Production
Studio Personnel: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Composer Lyricist: Burt Bacharach
Hal David; Other
Primary Artist: Carpenters; Main Performer
Producer: Jack Daugherty; Production

9. Crescent Noon

by The Carpenters

Composer: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Composer
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Drums: Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Lyricist: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Composer
Keyboard: Richard Carpenter; Performer
Performer: Richard Carpenter
Doug Strawn
Dan Woodhams
Bob Messenger
Joe Osborn
Jim Horn
Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Creation: Tom Wilkes; Production
Engineer: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Graphics: Tom Wilkes; Production
Photography: Kessel; Production
Producer: Jack Daugherty; Production
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Primary Artist: Carpenters; Main Performer
Vocals: Richard Carpenter
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Woodwind: Bob Messenger
Doug Strawn
Jim Horn; Performer
Recording: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Recording Arrangement: Richard Carpenter; Production
Studio Personnel: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Composer Lyricist: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Other

10. Mr. Guder

by The Carpenters

Composer: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Composer
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Drums: Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Lyricist: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Composer
Keyboard: Richard Carpenter; Performer
Performer: Richard Carpenter
Doug Strawn
Dan Woodhams
Bob Messenger
Joe Osborn
Jim Horn
Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Creation: Tom Wilkes; Production
Engineer: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Graphics: Tom Wilkes; Production
Photography: Kessel; Production
Producer: Jack Daugherty; Production
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Primary Artist: Carpenters; Main Performer
Vocals: Richard Carpenter
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Woodwind: Bob Messenger
Doug Strawn
Jim Horn; Performer
Recording: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Recording Arrangement: Richard Carpenter; Production
Studio Personnel: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Composer Lyricist: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Other

11. I Kept On Loving You

by The Carpenters

Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Drums: Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Lyricist: Roger Nichols
Paul Williams; Composer
Creation: Tom Wilkes; Production
Engineer: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Graphics: Tom Wilkes; Production
Keyboard: Richard Carpenter; Performer
Composer: Roger Nichols
Paul Williams; Composer
Performer: Richard Carpenter
Doug Strawn
Dan Woodhams
Bob Messenger
Joe Osborn
Jim Horn
Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Vocals: Richard Carpenter
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Woodwind: Bob Messenger
Doug Strawn
Jim Horn; Performer
Photography: Kessel; Production
Recording: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Recording Arrangement: Richard Carpenter; Production
Studio Personnel: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Composer Lyricist: Roger Nichols
Paul Williams; Other
Primary Artist: Carpenters; Main Performer
Producer: Jack Daugherty; Production

12. Another Song

by The Carpenters

Composer: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Composer
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Drums: Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Lyricist: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Composer
Keyboard: Richard Carpenter; Performer
Performer: Richard Carpenter
Doug Strawn
Dan Woodhams
Bob Messenger
Joe Osborn
Jim Horn
Hal Blaine
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Creation: Tom Wilkes; Production
Engineer: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Graphics: Tom Wilkes; Production
Photography: Kessel; Production
Producer: Jack Daugherty; Production
Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
Dan Woodhams; Performer
Primary Artist: Carpenters; Main Performer
Vocals: Richard Carpenter
Karen Carpenter; Performer
Woodwind: Bob Messenger
Doug Strawn
Jim Horn; Performer
Recording: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Recording Arrangement: Richard Carpenter; Production
Studio Personnel: Dick Bogert
Ray Gerhardt; Production
Composer Lyricist: John Bettis
Richard Carpenter; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

12 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

38 minutes and 36 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1500x1500 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

All tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

All tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Easy Pop

Label

A&M

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Jul 31, 1970

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

602517837409

Shopping cart

Notification

Close To You

1. We've Only Just Begun

2. Love Is Surrender

3. Maybe It's You

4. Reason To Believe

5. Help

6. (They Long To Be) Close To You

7. Baby It's You

8. I'll Never Fall In Love Again

9. Crescent Noon

10. Mr. Guder

11. I Kept On Loving You

12. Another Song

Technical Specifications

Close To You

Product information

Release options

1. We've Only Just Begun

2. Love Is Surrender

3. Maybe It's You

4. Reason To Believe

5. Help

6. (They Long To Be) Close To You

7. Baby It's You

8. I'll Never Fall In Love Again

9. Crescent Noon

10. Mr. Guder

11. I Kept On Loving You

12. Another Song

Technical Specifications