Most Carpenters fans are aware that Herb Alpert gave Richard the lead sheet for "Close to You" in early 1970.
In his bio of the C's, Ray Coleman indicates that Alpert provided the CTY lead sheet, knowing that Richard was preparing a Bacharach medley for the Carpenters' upcoming appearance with Bacharach at the Reiss-Davis Clinic.
In other recollections, however, this key career moment is presented as the boss subtly suggesting to RC that the C's should record CTY. There is no mention of the medley being the catalyst for Alpert digging up the lead sheet.
So I'm wondering what Alpert's true intention was. Was this a case of "I know you're preparing a Bacharach medley and here's one of his lesser known songs which you may want to include"? Or was it more along the lines of "Here's a Bacharach song that I'd like you and Karen to record"?
In his bio of the C's, Ray Coleman indicates that Alpert provided the CTY lead sheet, knowing that Richard was preparing a Bacharach medley for the Carpenters' upcoming appearance with Bacharach at the Reiss-Davis Clinic.
In other recollections, however, this key career moment is presented as the boss subtly suggesting to RC that the C's should record CTY. There is no mention of the medley being the catalyst for Alpert digging up the lead sheet.
So I'm wondering what Alpert's true intention was. Was this a case of "I know you're preparing a Bacharach medley and here's one of his lesser known songs which you may want to include"? Or was it more along the lines of "Here's a Bacharach song that I'd like you and Karen to record"?