Close to all of us
Carpenters' triumphant entrance in pop music with this prime exercise on nostalgia remains rarely fresh for today's standards.
Wherever you feel that it's corn, Karen Carpenter's richly melancholic voice makes the band outstanding. But, it's not only that, as the songs are beautifully crafted.
My favorites: the endurable hit "Close to you", "We've only just begun", "Baby, it's you", a hip variation on "I'll never fall in love again" and "I kept on loving you" (a fine song from Paul Williams/Roger Nichols that gave a golden opportunity to Richard Carpenter).
Carpenters Make a Big Splash With Their New Sound!
Their second album (after Offering/Ticket To Ride), this album established the Carpenters as a new sound in the popular music world. It is not hard to understand their success, as this album is a solid winner in every respect, with two top-10 rated hits, "Close To You, and "We've Only Just Begun".Released in 1970, this album launched the Carpenters into stardom that made them one of the most-listened to groups of the seventies. Arranged by Richard Carpenter's unique blend of multiple track layered vocal recordings, the Carpenters music was indeed unique for its time. Karen's incredibly clear and flawless vocals made their sound a distinctive one, one you immediately recognise after hearing just the first several notes of music.
Since they had not yet found their formula for pop success, this album offers a variety of music, from a soon to be standard for weddings, "We've Only Just Begun", to an American top-40 popular, "Close To You", to a Beatle's ballad interpretation, "Help", to Richard's vocal presentation of "I Kept On Loving You".
The album is built around two wonderfully melodic songs. It begins with the love ballad "We've Only Just Begun", a song that became the group's second consecutive major hit. The other major hit, "Close To You", their first pop hit arriving at number one in the summer of 1970, shores up the middle of this album. The other tracks fill out the album quite nicely, although there are some songs that are a bit weak ("I Kept On Loving You" and "Love Is Surrender"), yet pleasing all the same. Karen turns "Maybe It's You" and "Baby It's You" into pure soothing ear candy, with her beautiful vocal interpretation. Other highlights include "Reason To Believe", with a country accent to this Rod Stewart hit, "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", a delightful rendition of Burt Bacharach's original recording, and the catchy "Mr. Guder", Richard's (and John Bettis') anti-establishment song about their boss at Disnyland.
This is a delightful album. There are no dull moments and when you have finished listening to it, I guarantee that you will want to hear it again (and again!). I still feel the same way about it 30-plus years after originally purchasing it. You will too.
Jim Koenig
The beginning of an era
The Carpenters became HUGE with the release of this album! Their trademark sound starts with this album and their songs continue to be sung at weddings and anniversaries even today!
There is a wonderful collection of covers and original songs. Richard once again shine sthrough on his wonderful musical arrangements and Karen brings her smooth soft voice to these beautiful songs!
music for the soul
this album may have been a rush job to capitalize on a hit, "close to you", but it is simply wonderful. To me all of the songs resemble a suite and show just how wonderful Karen Carpenter's voice really was and what a huge void she left behind. I find it totally amazing that she was only 20 when this album was recorded. The carpenters truly made music for the soul and I find this album is able to transport me to a place that is wonderful every time I hear it. I was originaly was going to give this album 4 stars but I'll give it 5
Good CD, But Wide Variance
My ratings for the tracks on this CD swing wildly all over the chart. Of the 12 tracks, I've rated four of them as really good, two as good, four as ok, and two as 70s-ish stinkers. Overall, I'd say it's a good CD worth having. But, there are problems. My specific track ratings are:
1. We've Only Just Begun -- 4 Stars
2. Love Is Surrender -- 2 Stars
3. Maybe It's You -- 3 Stars
4. Reason To Believe -- 4 Stars
5. Help -- 2 Stars
6. (They Long To Be) Close To You -- 4 Stars
7. Baby It's You -- 2 Stars
8. I'll Never Fall In Love Again -- 4 Stars
9. Crescent Noon -- 2 Stars
10. Mr. Guder -- 1 Star
11. I Kept On Loving You -- 2 Stars
12. Another Song -- 1 Star
When the Carpenters found themselves with a sudden radio hit ("Close to You"), their record company put the pressure on them to come up with a whole album. The album's glue is, of course, the unabashedly sentimental and corny title track and the subsequent chart topper, "We've Only Just Begun." However, their lush covers of now-classic songs such as "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" and "Baby It's You," and Karen's tragic plea on John Lennon's "Help," contribute to the strength of this collection. The band toys with bossa nova sounds on "Love Is Surrender" and explores deeper emotional terrain on the beautiful "Crescent Moon." Close to You stands as a harbinger of the great things ahead for the Carpenters in the '70s. --Lorry Fleming
