Uploaded July 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
"(They Long to Be) Close to You" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. In 1970, it was released by Karen and Richard Carpenter on their album Close to You, and it became their breakthrough hit. The song stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.
This song was originally given to Herb Alpert as a follow up to his Number 1 hit, "This Guy's in Love with You". Alpert was not thrilled with his version and shelved the recording. He decided to give it to the new act he had signed to A&M Records, The Carpenters. Alpert's version finally saw an official release in 2005 on a new Tijuana Brass release called Lost Treasures 1963--1974.
Richard had stated that when Alpert introduced the song to him back in early 1970, he was a bit apprehensive about the song.[citation needed] He and Alpert collaborated on the song, and the finished product was a 4-minute, 36-second long song. When A&M Records decided to release it in May 1970, it became A&M's biggest hit since Alpert's "This Guy's in Love with You" from 1968.
With "(They Long to Be) Close to You", The Carpenters earned a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus in 1971. It became the first of three Grammy Awards they would win during their careers.
"(They Long to Be) Close to You" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. In 1970, it was released by Karen and Richard Carpenter on their album Close to You, and it became their breakthrough hit. The song stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.
This song was originally given to Herb Alpert as a follow up to his Number 1 hit, "This Guy's in Love with You". Alpert was not thrilled with his version and shelved the recording. He decided to give it to the new act he had signed to A&M Records, The Carpenters. Alpert's version finally saw an official release in 2005 on a new Tijuana Brass release called Lost Treasures 1963--1974.
Richard had stated that when Alpert introduced the song to him back in early 1970, he was a bit apprehensive about the song.[citation needed] He and Alpert collaborated on the song, and the finished product was a 4-minute, 36-second long song. When A&M Records decided to release it in May 1970, it became A&M's biggest hit since Alpert's "This Guy's in Love with You" from 1968.
With "(They Long to Be) Close to You", The Carpenters earned a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus in 1971. It became the first of three Grammy Awards they would win during their careers.
