( They Long to Be ) Close to You - wikipedia ( They Long to Be ) Close to You `` ( They Long to Be ) Close to You '' A-side label of U.S. 7 - inch single Single by The Carpenters from the album Close to You B - side `` I Kept on Lovin ' You '' Released May 15, 1970 Format 7 '' single Recorded 1970 Genre Pop, soft rock Length 4 : 33 ( LP version ) 3 : 40 ( 7 '' single ) Label A&M 1183 Songwriter ( s ) Burt Bacharach Hal David Producer ( s ) Jack Daugherty The Carpenters singles chronology `` Ticket to Ride '' ( 1969 ) `` ( They Long to Be ) Close to You '' ( 1970 ) `` We 've Only Just Begun '' ( 1970 ) `` Ticket to Ride '' ( 1969 ) `` ( They Long to Be ) Close to You '' ( 1970 ) `` We 've Only Just Begun '' ( 1970 ) Close to You track listing Side one `` We 've Only Just Begun '' `` Love Is Surrender '' `` Maybe It 's You '' `` Reason to Believe '' `` Help ! '' `` ( They Long to Be ) Close to You '' Side two `` Baby It 's You '' `` I 'll Never Fall in Love Again '' `` Crescent Noon '' `` Mr. Guder '' `` I Kept on Loving You '' `` Another Song '' `` ( They Long to Be ) Close to You '' is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, most notably recorded and performed by the Carpenters. Contents 1 Background 2 Carpenters version 2.1 Personnel 3 Chart performance 3.1 Weekly charts 3.2 Year - end charts 4 Other cover versions 5 In popular culture 6 References 7 External links Background The song was first recorded by Richard Chamberlain and released as a single in 1963 as `` They Long to Be Close to You '', without parentheses. However, only that single 's flip side, `` Blue Guitar '', became a hit. The tune was also recorded as a demo by Dionne Warwick in 1963 and re-recorded with a Burt Bacharach arrangement for her 1964 album Make Way for Dionne Warwick, and was released as the B - side of her 1965 single `` Here I Am ''. Bacharach released his own version in 1968. But the version recorded by Carpenters with instrumental backing by L.A. studio musicians from the Wrecking Crew, which became a hit in 1970, is the best known. Carpenters version Karen and Richard Carpenter recorded the most commercially successful version of the song In 1970, it was released by the Carpenters 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 one hit, `` This Guy 's in Love with You '', another Bacharach - David composition. Alpert was not thrilled with his version and shelved the recording. Looking for a follow - up to their first A&M Records / Billboard number 54 recording `` Ticket to Ride '', in 1969 Alpert decided to give it to the Carpenters ( Alpert 's version was released in 2005 on the Tijuana Brass album 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. 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 remove the extended coda and release it as a 3 - minute, 40 - second long single in May 1970, it became A&M 's biggest hit since Alpert 's `` This Guy 's in Love with You '' from 1968. Billboard ranked it as the number 2 song for 1970. With `` ( They Long to Be ) Close to You '', 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. Richard had originally written the flugelhorn solo part for Herb Alpert, but when he was unavailable, Chuck Findley was brought in. Richard later commented : `` Chuck did n't play it that way at first, but I worked with him and he nailed it. A lot of people thought it was Herb -- Bacharach thought so, too. But it 's the way Findley is playing it. '' Personnel Karen Carpenter -- lead and backing vocals Richard Carpenter -- backing vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, harpsichord, orchestration Joe Osborn -- bass Hal Blaine -- drums Chuck Findley -- trumpet Bob Messenger -- flute uncredited -- vibraphone Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1970 ) Peak position Australia Go - Set Chart Canada RPM Top Singles Ireland ( IRMA ) 6 Oricon ( Japanese ) Singles Chart 71 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 6 US Billboard Hot 100 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) US Cash Box Top 100 US Record World Year - end charts Chart ( 1970 ) Rank Australia Canada 9 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 U.S. Cash Box 16 Other cover versions In 1966 Adrienne Posta released a single version on Decca in the UK. In 1972 the song again became a hit when recorded by Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager. It went to number 6 on the Billboard R&B chart. In 1976 another hit version was released by B.T. Express, peaking at number 31 on the R&B chart. Gwen Guthrie had a UK number 25 hit with a version released in 1986. Matt Monro covered it in 1988 ; this version was used in From Paris with Love, starring John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers It was also a theme song for the 2002 Hong Kong action film So Close, starring Shu Qi, Zhao Wei, and Karen Mok. Josefine Cronholm recorded a version for the 2005 film MirrorMask and was included on the film 's soundtrack Barry Manilow covered it on his 2007 album `` The Greatest Songs of the Seventies ''. The song is the lead single from Harry Connick, Jr. 's 2009 album, Your Songs, and it was released on August 25, 2009. Clive Davisrecommended `` ( They Long to Be ) Close to You '' for the album. Connick sings backed by his big band, a piano, and a string orchestra, with a solo by trumpeter Leroy Jones. In popular culture In episode of The Simpsons, The Way We Was ( 1991 ) in a flashback scene when Homer first meets Marge the song is playing in his mind. Later in the series, in The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons ( 1997 ) an Indian translation of the song can be heard at Apu 's wedding. In Maximum Homerdrive ( 1999 ) Marge is determined to find a doorbell that plays the song. It also features in The Simpsons Movie ( 2007 ), in which it is revealed that it was played at the wedding of Homer and Marge as well. As background music, it can be heard in an episode released ten years later, Moho House ( 2017 ), as Homer delivers a gift to Marge. In 1997 a documentary on the Carpenters was made, titled Close to You : Remembering The Carpenters. In 2002 another documentary was made by BBC, titled Close to You : Story of the Carpenters. References Jump up ^ Hartman, Kent ( 2012 ). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin 's Griffin. pp. 261 -- 263. ISBN 978 - 1 - 250 - 03046 - 7. Jump up ^ `` Carpenters Close To You ( Album 1970 ) Karen Carpenter ''. leadsister.com. Retrieved May 1, 2016. Jump up ^ Billboard Year - End Hot 100 singles of 1970 Jump up ^ Randy L. Schmidt ( 2012 ). Yesterday Once More : The Carpenters Reader. Chicago Review Press. p. 303. Jump up ^ Schmidt, Randy L. ( 13 August 2017 ). `` Yesterday Once More : The Carpenters Reader ''. Chicago Review Press. Retrieved 13 August 2017 -- via Google Books. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1970 - 08 - 15. Retrieved 2018 - 03 - 25. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- ( They Long to Be ) Close to You ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Carpenters : Artist Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 21, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Carpenters Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Carpenters Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Cash Box Top 100 8 / 08 / 70 ''. Tropicalglen.com. 1970 - 08 - 08. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Australian Chart Book ''. Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 2016 - 03 - 05. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. collectionscanada.gc.ca. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1970 / Top 100 Songs of 1970 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1970 ''. Tropicalglen.com. 1970 - 12 - 26. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ Harry Connick Jr. Announces New Album Produced by Clive Davis, Vintageguitar.com, July 30, 2009. Accessed 2009 - 08 - 13. Archived 2009 - 08 - 15. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Preceded by `` A Song of Joy '' by Miguel Ríos Billboard Easy Listening Singles number - one single ( The Carpenters version ) July 11, 1970 ( six weeks ) Succeeded by `` I Just Ca n't Help Believing '' by B.J. Thomas Preceded by `` Mama Told Me ( Not to Come ) '' by Three Dog Night Billboard Hot 100 number - one single July 25, 1970 ( four weeks ) Succeeded by `` Make It With You '' by Bread Preceded by `` A Song of Joy '' by Miguel Ríos RPM number - one single August 8, 1970 ( two weeks ) Succeeded by `` As the Years Go By '' by Mashmakhan Preceded by `` In the Summertime '' by The Mixtures Australian ARIA Singles Chart number - one single October 19, 1970 ( three weeks ) Succeeded by `` Lookin ' Out My Back Door '' / `` Long as I Can See the Light '' by Creedence Clearwater Revival The Carpenters Karen Carpenter Richard Carpenter Albums Offering ( Ticket to Ride ) Close to You Carpenters A Song for You Now & Then Horizon A Kind of Hush Passage Made in America Voice of the Heart Lovelines As Time Goes By Live albums Live in Japan Live at the Palladium Compilation albums The Singles : 1969 -- 1973 The Singles : 1974 -- 1978 The Very Best of the Carpenters Yesterday Once More Only Yesterday From the Top Interpretations : A 25th Anniversary Celebration Love Songs Reflections The Singles : 1969 -- 1981 The Essential Collection : 1965 -- 1997 Carpenters Perform Carpenter Gold : 35th Anniversary Edition The Ultimate Collection 40 / 40 Other Christmas Portrait An Old - Fashioned Christmas Time ( Richard Carpenter ) Karen Carpenter ( album ) Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor ( Richard Carpenter ) Singles `` Looking for Love '' `` Ticket to Ride '' `` ( They Long to Be ) Close to You '' `` We 've Only Just Begun '' `` Merry Christmas, Darling '' `` For All We Know '' `` Rainy Days and Mondays '' `` Superstar '' `` Bless the Beasts and Children '' `` Hurting Each Other '' `` It 's Going to Take Some Time '' `` Goodbye to Love '' `` Sing '' `` Yesterday Once More '' `` Top of the World '' `` Jambalaya ( On the Bayou ) '' `` I Wo n't Last a Day Without You '' `` Please Mr. Postman '' `` Santa Claus Is Comin ' to Town '' `` Only Yesterday '' `` Solitaire '' `` There 's a Kind of Hush ( All Over the World ) '' `` I Need to Be in Love '' `` Goofus '' `` Breaking Up Is Hard to Do '' `` All You Get from Love Is a Love Song '' `` Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft '' `` The Christmas Song ( Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire ) '' `` Sweet, Sweet Smile '' `` I Believe You '' `` Touch Me When We 're Dancing '' `` ( Want You ) Back in My Life Again '' `` Those Good Old Dreams '' `` Beechwood 4 - 5789 '' `` Make Believe It 's Your First Time '' `` Your Baby Does n't Love You Anymore '' `` Now '' `` Little Altar Boy '' `` Honolulu City Lights '' `` Something in Your Eyes '' `` If I Had You '' `` Let Me Be the One '' `` Tryin ' to Get the Feeling Again '' `` Ave Maria '' `` The Rainbow Connection '' TV series / specials Make Your Own Kind of Music Live at the BBC Very First TV Special Space Encounters A Christmas Portrait Music, Music, Music DVDs Gold : Greatest Hits Interpretations Close to You : Remembering The Carpenters Related articles Discography Songs John Bettis Joe Osborn Tony Peluso If I Were a Carpenter Superstar : The Karen Carpenter Story The Karen Carpenter Story Only Yesterday : The Carpenters Story Book Burt Bacharach Albums Hit Maker ! : Burt Bacharach plays the Burt Bacharach Hits Woman Painted from Memory ( with Elvis Costello ) At This Time Film scores What 's New Pussycat ? After the Fox Casino Royale Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Lost Horizon Arthur Compositions A-M `` Alfie '' `` Another Tear Falls '' `` Any Day Now '' `` Anyone Who Had a Heart '' `` Are You There ( With Another Girl ) '' `` Arthur 's Theme ( Best That You Can Do ) '' `` Baby It 's You '' `` Back at You '' `` Blue Guitar '' `` Blue on Blue '' `` Do You Know the Way to San Jose '' `` Do n't Make Me Over '' `` Do n't Say Goodbye Girl '' `` Do n't You Believe It '' `` God Give Me Strength '' `` Heartlight '' `` A House Is Not a Home '' `` I Just Do n't Know What to Do with Myself '' `` I Say a Little Prayer '' `` I Want You '' `` I 'll Never Fall in Love Again '' `` Living Together, Growing Together '' `` Long Ago Tomorrow '' `` The Look of Love '' `` Love Power '' `` Magic Moments '' `` Make It Easy on Yourself '' `` Making Love '' `` Message to Michael '' `` My Little Red Book '' N-Z `` On My Own '' `` One Less Bell to Answer '' `` Only Love Can Break a Heart '' `` Please Stay '' `` Rain on Me '' `` Raindrops Keep Fallin ' on My Head '' `` Reach Out for Me '' `` Slow Jamz '' `` The Story of My Life '' `` That 's What Friends Are For '' `` ( There 's ) Always Something There to Remind Me '' `` ( They Long to Be ) Close to You '' `` This Guy 's in Love with You '' `` Three Wheels on My Wagon '' `` Tower of Strength '' `` Trains and Boats and Planes '' `` Turkey Lurkey Time '' `` Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa '' `` Walk On By '' `` What the World Needs Now Is Love '' `` What 's New Pussycat ? '' `` The Windows of the World '' `` Wishin ' and Hopin ' '' `` Wives and Lovers '' Tribute albums Connie Francis Sings Bacharach & David Sings the Music of Bacharach & Kaempfert Four Bacharach & David Songs One Amazing Night To Hal and Bacharach Back to Bacharach When Ronan Met Burt ( also produced by Bacharach ) Related articles Back to Bacharach and David Hal David The Look of Love ( musical ) Promises, Promises ( musical ) Andy Williams Studio albums Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen Andy Williams Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein Two Time Winners To You Sweetheart, Aloha Lonely Street The Village of St. Bernadette Under Paris Skies Danny Boy and Other Songs I Love to Sing Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes Warm and Willing Days of Wine and Roses and Other TV Requests The Andy Williams Christmas Album The Wonderful World of Andy Williams The Academy Award - Winning `` Call Me Irresponsible '' and Other Hit Songs from the Movies The Great Songs from `` My Fair Lady '' and Other Broadway Hits Andy Williams ' Dear Heart Merry Christmas The Shadow of Your Smile In the Arms of Love Born Free Love, Andy Honey Happy Heart Get Together with Andy Williams Raindrops Keep Fallin ' on My Head The Andy Williams Show Love Story You 've Got a Friend Love Theme from `` The Godfather '' Alone Again ( Naturally ) Solitaire The Way We Were Christmas Present You Lay So Easy on My Mind The Other Side of Me Andy Let 's Love While We Can Greatest Love Classics Close Enough for Love I Still Believe in Santa Claus Nashville We Need a Little Christmas I Do n't Remember Ever Growing Up Compilations Andy Williams Andy Williams ' Best Million Seller Songs Canadian Sunset Andy Williams ' Newest Hits May Each Day The Andy Williams Sound of Music Andy Williams ' Greatest Hits The Impossible Dream Love Story Andy Williams ' Greatest Hits Vol. 2 ( CBS ) Andy Williams ' Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Reflections The Best of Andy Williams ( 1992 ) Personal Christmas Collection 16 Most Requested Songs : Encore ! The Best of Andy Williams ( 1996 ) The Love Songs In the Lounge with... The Very Best of Andy Williams ( 2000 ) Andy The Essential Andy Williams B Sides and Rarities Music to Watch Girls By : The Very Best of Andy Williams Moon River : The Very Best of Andy Williams The Very Best of Andy Williams ( 2009 ) The Classic Christmas Album Live albums Greatest Hits The New Andy Williams Christmas Album Singles `` Walk Hand in Hand '' `` Canadian Sunset '' `` Butterfly '' `` I Like Your Kind of Love '' `` Lips of Wine '' `` Are You Sincere ? '' `` Promise Me, Love '' `` The Hawaiian Wedding Song '' `` Lonely Street '' `` The Village of St. Bernadette '' `` Danny Boy '' `` Fly by Night '' `` Stranger on the Shore '' `` Do n't You Believe It '' `` Twilight Time '' `` Ca n't Get Used to Losing You '' `` Days of Wine and Roses '' `` Hopeless '' `` A Fool Never Learns '' `` Charade '' `` Wrong for Each Other '' `` On the Street Where You Live '' `` Almost There '' `` Dear Heart '' ``... and Roses and Roses '' `` Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars ( Corcovado ) '' `` May Each Day '' `` You 're Gonna Hear from Me '' `` Bye Bye Blues '' `` How Can I Tell Her It 's Over '' `` In the Arms of Love '' `` Music to Watch Girls By '' `` Holly '' `` Ca n't Take My Eyes Off You '' `` Sweet Memories '' `` Battle Hymn of the Republic '' `` Happy Heart '' `` Live and Learn '' `` A Woman 's Way '' `` Ca n't Help Falling in Love '' `` One Day of Your Life '' `` It 's So Easy '' `` Home Lovin ' Man '' `` ( Where Do I Begin ? ) Love Story '' `` A Song for You '' `` You 've Got a Friend '' `` Speak Softly Love ( Love Theme from The Godfather ) '' `` MacArthur Park '' `` Solitaire '' `` Love 's Theme '' `` Another Lonely Song '' `` Cry Softly '' `` Sad Eyes '' `` The Other Side of Me '' `` Tell It Like It Is '' `` It 's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year '' B - Sides `` I 'm So Lonesome I Could Cry '' `` I Want to Be Wanted '' `` Summertime '' `` So Rare '' `` Emily '' `` Red Roses for a Blue Lady '' `` I 'll Remember You '' `` Something '' `` My Love '' `` They Long to Be Close to You '' `` I Love My Friend '' Related articles Discography The Williams Brothers Dami Im Discography Studio albums Dami Im Heart Beats Classic Carpenters I Hear a Song Singles `` Alive '' `` I Am Australian '' `` Jolene ( Acoustic ) '' `` Super Love '' `` Gladiator '' `` Smile '' `` Sound of Silence '' `` Fighting for Love '' `` Hold Me in Your Arms '' Promotional singles `` Heart Beats Again '' Movie soundtracks `` Beauty in the World '' Concert tours Yesterday Once More Tour I Hear a Song Tour Related articles Sony Music Australia Eurovision Song Contest 2015 Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest Richard Chamberlain Albums Richard Chamberlain Sings ( 1962 ) Singles `` Theme from Dr. Kildare ( Three Stars Will Shine Tonight ) '' `` Love Me Tender '' `` All I Have to Do Is Dream '' `` Hi - Lili, Hi - Lo '' `` True Love '' `` I Will Love You '' `` Blue Guitar '' `` ( They Long to Be ) Close to You '' Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=(They_Long_to_Be)_Close_to_You&oldid=834226233 '' Categories : 1970 singles 2009 singles A&M Records singles The Carpenters songs Dionne Warwick songs Isaac Hayes songs Richard Chamberlain songs Harry Connick Jr. songs Andy Williams songs Nancy Wilson ( jazz singer ) songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one singles Number - one singles in Australia RPM Top Singles number - one singles Songs with lyrics by Hal David Songs with music by Burt Bacharach Diana Ross songs Dami Im songs 1963 songs Hidden categories : Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from March 2016 Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart called without artist Singlechart usages for UKsinglesbyname Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Articles with unsourced statements from April 2018 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Français Italiano 日本 語 Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски ไทย Tiếng Việt Edit links This page was last edited on 4 April 2018, at 15 : 54. 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Question: who wrote they long to be close to you
Answer: Burt Bacharach