About The Song
In October 1970, The Carpenters released “We’ve Only Just Begun”. The song started as a commercial for Crocker National Bank. Written by a young Paul Williams and Roger Nichols and sung by Williams, the commercial depicted the marriage of a young couple and their bright future. Aimed directly at bringing that youth market into the bank for loans, Crocker quickly realized that those young customers lacked collateral for those loans and they suspended the campaign.
The Carpenters had gotten off to a rocky start with A&M Records. Their first album sold less than 20,000 units. While some at the label wanted to drop the act, Herb Alpert decided to try to launch a single with the group. He chose a Burt Bacharach song, “Close To You”. His gamble paid off and the song became their first #1 single.
The Carpenters had gotten off to a rocky start with A&M Records. Their first album sold less than 20,000 units. While some at the label wanted to drop the act, Herb Alpert decided to try to launch a single with the group. He chose a Burt Bacharach song, “Close To You”. His gamble paid off and the song became their first #1 single.
The album “Close To You”, including “We’ve Only Just Begun” won two Grammys and launched a record run of hits on the Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts. Before Karen’s untimely de.ath in 1983, the group sold more than 90 million records…making them one of the most successful groups in record history.
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__VQX2Xn7tI