Close to You

Hurriedly put together in the wake of the success of the title song, and containing the follow-up hit "We've Only Just Begun," Close to You is a surprisingly strong album, and not just for those hits. Richard Carpenter's originals "Maybe It's You" and "Crescent Noon" are superb showcases for Karen Carpenter's developing talent, the latter a superbly atmospheric, hauntingly beautiful art song of the kind that Judy Collins was doing well at the time, and gorgeously arranged…

When Karen Carpenter died on February 4, 1983 at the age of 32, more than one generation mourned. Karen and her brother, Richard, had achieved monumental success as purveyors of soft-rock soulfulness, aided by their wholesome, wistful looks…

Close to You is one of Frank Sinatra's most gentle and intimate albums, and that is due in no small part to the Hollywood String Quartet, which forms the core of the album's instrumental support. It also was one of the most difficult to record, taking eight months and five different sessions. Certainly, it is one of the most unusual and special of Sinatra's albums, featuring a subdued and detailed performances that accentuate both the romantic longing and understated humor of the numbers, which are mainly torch songs. With the quartet's support, the album comes closer to sounding like a classical album, like a pop variation on chamber music. Where the intimacy of In the Wee Small Hours sounded confessional and heart-broken, Close to You has a delicate, lovely quality; it may not be seductive, but it is charming and romantic.

On her new album Close to You, the Dutch power woman of jazz Fay Claassen draws her attention to musical gems of late sixties and early seventies. Averse to box spirit and style restrictions, she broadens her musical horizon again with surprisingly own versions of well-known powerful Pop & Soul ballads and songs, which really have something to say.

Close To You', from renowned guitarist/vocalist/songwriter JONATHAN BUTLER celebrating the music of Burt Bacharach! These well-loved songs find invigorated, unique interpretations that resonate as strongly as the originals. Polished to an easy, smooth shine Jonathan presents this collection to his International audience which has easily crossed musical genres.