The Carpenters Wiki
Register
Advertisement
"We've Only Just Begun"
Single by The Carpenters
from the album Close to You
Close to You

Cover scan of The Carpenters' second album, Close to You.

B-side "All of My Life"
Recorded 1970
Released September 12, 1970
Length 3:05
Genre(s) Pop
Producer(s) Jack Daugherty & The Carpenters
Record label A&M Records
Letter (Make Your Own Kind of Music) Y, for "you"
Tracks from Close to You
"Love Is Surrender" (2)
Singles by The Carpenters
"(They Long to Be) Close to You" (1970)
"For All We Know" (1971)
Screenshot from Gold: Greatest Hits (1985)
We've Only Just Begun - Gold
Screenshot of The Carpenters performing "We've Only Just Begun".

And when the evening comes, we smile.
So much of life ahead.
We'll find a place where there's room to grow.
And yes, we've just begun.

The Carpenters, "We've Only Just Begun"

"We've Only Just Begun" is The Carpenters' third single. It also became their second gold single. "We've Only Just Begun" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Richard Carpenter considers this song to be the Carpenter's signature recording.

Song History[]

Richard was watching TV one night when he heard a commercial come on the television. It was a commercial for Crocker Bank that showed a newlywed couple getting married and moving into their new home. "You've got a long way to go, we'd like to help you get there," said the commercial's slogan.[1] Carpenter recognized the vocal work as that of Paul Williams, a friend and fellow recording artist at A&M, and requested the full version of the song from him on the company's lot[2]. The optimistic ballad, combining easy-listening and the pulse of pop/rock, was an instant smash- commanding the adult contemporary charts for seven weeks. It also became the wedding song of a generation[3].

The song would also help the Carpenters earn two Grammy awards in 1971.

In 1973, for the compilation album The Singles: 1969-1973, "We've Only Just Begun" was given a special remix.

Personnel[]

  • Karen Carpenter – lead and backing vocals
  • Richard Carpenter – backing vocals, keyboards
  • Joe Osborn – bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Doug Strawn – clarinet

Gallery[]

Have a Listen[]

Official Music Video[]

The Singles:1969-1973 Remix[]


References[]

Advertisement