"(They Long to Be) Close to You" is The Carpenters' second official single, from their second album of the same name, Close to You. Released on May 15, 1970, "(They Long to Be) Close to You" became the Carpenters' first #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100.
"They Long to Be Close to You" was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in the early 1960s and originally recorded by artists such as Richard Chamberlain and Dionne Warwick. The song's success did not break through until 1970, when Herb Alpert felt uncomfortable with the song and requested that Richard Carpenter create an arrangement. The Carpenters subsequently took several tries and finally recorded "(They Long to Be) Close to You" (Richard had taken it upon himself to shorten the title). Carpenter believed the song would either "go stiff" or hit number one on the charts [1], and the latter came true: it would become their breakthrough hit, peaking at #1 and staying there for four weeks.
The album version features an extended ending where the song fades out and appears to end, but then Karen and Richard's overdubbed "wahhhs" continue.
Personnel
Karen Carpenter - lead and backing vocals
Richard Carpenter - backing vocals, keyboards
Joe Osborn - bass guitar
Hal Blaine - drums
Chuck Findley - trumpets
Have a Listen
Album extended version
Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You - Album Version
