What I love about this CD is the song writers who's songs are on this CD are among my favourite such as Lennon / McCartney, Bacharach / David, Williams / Nichols and Richard Carpenter / John Bettis. All of them wrote great songs.
The song Close To You I bought as a single when it was released in 1970 also being the first Carpenters song I heard here in Australia and I had not seen any photos of them also at the time I did not know they were brother and sister. I played that song on the family stereo over and over again it is such a great song due to Karen's perfect vocal's and Richard's great arrangements.
Help is a classic song and the Carpenters version was played on the radio when the LP was released here in Australia and I must say I had not heard this song since then also what a treat to hear such a good Carpenters version now. I'll Never Fall In Love Again was a big top 5 hit by Bobbi Gentrey here in Australia which was released about this same period and I loved Bobbi's vocals on this song. Karen does a great version of the song with her clear smooth as silk voice and Richard is top class with his arrangements. Love Is Surrender I first came across this song on a DVD Carpenters Live At BBC in London 1970 I like Karen's upbeat vocals and drumming also the imput by the band members plus Richard's vocals.
We've Only Just Begun is a Carpenters classic and probably the best song written by the great Paul Williams. Mr Guder being a good song written by Richard and john Bettis is about there boss when they worked at Disneyland who wanted them to stick to the script but they would play requests.
It is very good CD to listen to when you consider Close TO YOU was a international number 1 hit single and the Carpenters toured the world for the first time and introduce themselves to all of us. Just two kids from Downey California.
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Close To You
180 grams
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Close To You
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MP3 Music, August 19, 1970
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Audio CD, Import, September 25, 2012
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From the brand
Track Listings
1 | We've Only Just Begun (Side A) |
2 | Love Is Surrender (Side A) |
3 | Maybe It's You (Side A) |
4 | Reason To Believe (Side A) |
5 | Help (Side A) |
6 | (They Long To Be) Close To You (Side A) |
7 | Baby It's You (Side B) |
8 | I'll Never Fall In Love Again (Side B) |
9 | Crescent Noon (Side B) |
10 | Mr. Guder (Side B) |
11 | I Kept On Loving You (Side B) |
12 | Another Song (Side B) |
Editorial Reviews
When released in 1970, the Carpenters 2nd studio album rose to #2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and gained them international success. The album contains the hit singles "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun". Now available on 180 gram heavyweight vinyl.
Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Product Dimensions : 12.4 x 12.28 x 0.24 inches; 9.67 ounces
- Manufacturer : A&M
- Original Release Date : 2017
- Date First Available : April 17, 2006
- Label : A&M
- ASIN : B076BWQY9J
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #21,237 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #9,015 in Pop (CDs & Vinyl)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
592 global ratings
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1 Star
PLAY RECORDS IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT!
I didn't play this record right away. I wish I had. I found out too late that it was pressed off center. It's more noticable on side one than side two. You can hear the "wow" effect on every track, as you would expect. I wish I had found out sooner when I could have return/exchange it. I am warned, I hope you are too. Such a waste!
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2012
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2023
This album is a must for every Carpenters fan.
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2021
I had the original CD releases of the Carpenters, then sold them when the remastered versions was released. Boy, to my surprise, the remastered versions were sonic-ally awful, no depth, three dimension sound stage, and Karen's voice was in echo, on every CD, seemingly the same as if they just used the same Technic, even if the original did not have echo (reverb) in it. These SHM-CD, not only are true to the original LP releases, but the sound quality is analog warm, clean and no harshness of distortion. Richard, who help master the A&M remasters, should seriously take lesson from the Japan technicians, who absolutely gets it right.
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2008
I was 13 years old when this album was released. I was into rock bands like Deep Purple and the Grass Roots, and just starting to listen to Black Sabbath. So you could imagine my reaction when a neighbor friend of my parents gave me this tape for Christmas. First of all, at that time I had never heard of the Carpenters, and the only exposure to their music was some bank using "We've Only Just Begun" in their commercials. So I took one brief, two-song listen, and put it away. A couple years later, having trouble sleeping, I decided to put it in the tape player figuring it would bore me to sleep. And in that setting I couldn't believe how beautiful the music was. Instead of helping me sleep I must have listened to it three times. Although there are a few weak songs (hence the 4 star rating instead of a 5) there are some wonderfully produced and original sounding pieces as well.
Believe it or not, the two hits on this CD are by far not the best songs on this album. While popular as easy-listening pop songs, "We've Only Just Begun" and "Close to You" feel like they were produced solely to be hits. To me, the best part of the tape was side two which, if you look at the sequence of songs on the CD, started with "Baby It's You." Here you begin to find, with the possible exception of "Mr. Guder", a group of songs that just sound beautiful. Wonderful melodies, great harmonies, and above average lyrics set these songs way above the first six on the CD. My favorites are the aforementioned "Baby It's You" (a Burt Bacharach song that had been done by just about everyone), "Crescent Moon (showing Karen's ability to sing in a lower octave that you normally hear), and "Another Song" (an interesting mix of vocal & instrumental music). Other gems, "Maybe It's You", "Reason to Believe" and "I kept on Loving You" (Sung by Richard Carpenter).
Of course I would recommend this to any Carpenter fan, although I would be surprised if you didn't already have it. But also to fans of great and beautiful music. Even though I still prefer a harder guitar type of music I went ahead and bought this CD when my tape finally died and I still listen to it.
Believe it or not, the two hits on this CD are by far not the best songs on this album. While popular as easy-listening pop songs, "We've Only Just Begun" and "Close to You" feel like they were produced solely to be hits. To me, the best part of the tape was side two which, if you look at the sequence of songs on the CD, started with "Baby It's You." Here you begin to find, with the possible exception of "Mr. Guder", a group of songs that just sound beautiful. Wonderful melodies, great harmonies, and above average lyrics set these songs way above the first six on the CD. My favorites are the aforementioned "Baby It's You" (a Burt Bacharach song that had been done by just about everyone), "Crescent Moon (showing Karen's ability to sing in a lower octave that you normally hear), and "Another Song" (an interesting mix of vocal & instrumental music). Other gems, "Maybe It's You", "Reason to Believe" and "I kept on Loving You" (Sung by Richard Carpenter).
Of course I would recommend this to any Carpenter fan, although I would be surprised if you didn't already have it. But also to fans of great and beautiful music. Even though I still prefer a harder guitar type of music I went ahead and bought this CD when my tape finally died and I still listen to it.
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2022
I listened to this on vinyl as a child when my aunts baby sat me in the early 70s. It takes me back to being a small child who was soothed by Karen's voice. This cd is a must have and it sounds as wonderful on cd as it did on vinyl. I can play it in the car, and at home... I love Cresent Noon its hauntly beautiful and soothing. Sooo love this cd Im soo excited & happy with it.... A+++++
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2021
Here's an example of a CD surpassing (far surpassing) the LP version -- a remastered one, no less -- of a musical masterpiece. I sent back the first, defective (off-center spindle hole, noise in the grooves, muddy mix) LP of this album. The replacement, probably from the same batch, was as bad as the first. But rather than return the second vinyl version, I kept it for the cover, ordered this Japanese-made CD, and was thrilled with the result. It's compact disc technology at its greatest: warm, rich, beautiful sound, and as well packaged as a compact disc can hope to be. I know LPs are enjoying a resurgence; let's hope CDs turn the corner soon and make a comeback. When done right, they sound tremendous, superior at times to vinyl.
Top reviews from other countries
No Name
5.0 out of 5 stars
Close To You Carpenters CD
Reviewed in Canada on February 17, 2024
Excellent condition!
Dr. Vladan Jankovic
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential Carpenters
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2023
Grab it while you can
giuseppe
5.0 out of 5 stars
LP incisione professionale
Reviewed in Italy on August 29, 2019
Album molto bello da aggiungere alla collezione di vinile
Petitjean
5.0 out of 5 stars
close to you
Reviewed in France on January 17, 2018
tres bon album remasterise aux mélodies de qualité des années 70 à recommander aux amateurs du duo Carpenters qui a marqué cette époque
こうじかび
5.0 out of 5 stars
70年代の幕開けを飾る1枚
Reviewed in Japan on June 11, 2017
私がカーペンターズを聴き始めた頃、「Yesterday once more」が日本でヒットしており、初めの頃はアルバム「Now & Then」が最高と思っていましたが、あれから40年以上経ち、このアルバムがカーペンターズの中では一番好きです。
まずアルバムタイトル曲「Close to you」が素晴らしい。他の方も書かれていましたが、齢を重ねるごとにこの曲の良さが身に染みて分かってきたような気がします。フェイドアウトして再びフェイドインしてくるラストのコーラス部分は感動的ですが、このバージョンはこのアルバムでしか聞けません。私はこの部分を聴きたかったのが、このCDアルバムを購入した大きな動機のようです。
もちろん他にも佳曲が多く、一番最初の「We've only just began」は十代の頃、初めて聴いた時と同様の高揚感を感じます。名曲にあふれていた1970年代の幕開けを飾る1枚と思います。
まずアルバムタイトル曲「Close to you」が素晴らしい。他の方も書かれていましたが、齢を重ねるごとにこの曲の良さが身に染みて分かってきたような気がします。フェイドアウトして再びフェイドインしてくるラストのコーラス部分は感動的ですが、このバージョンはこのアルバムでしか聞けません。私はこの部分を聴きたかったのが、このCDアルバムを購入した大きな動機のようです。
もちろん他にも佳曲が多く、一番最初の「We've only just began」は十代の頃、初めて聴いた時と同様の高揚感を感じます。名曲にあふれていた1970年代の幕開けを飾る1枚と思います。