We've Only Just Begun - Song Information

Song Information

The song was a remake of an original song rerecorded by Smokey Roberds, a friend of Nichols, under the name Freddie Allen. It debuted in a wedding-themed television commercial for Crocker National Bank in California in the winter of 1970, with Williams on vocals. The San Francisco-based 1970's advertising agency Hal Riney & Partners was struggling to find a concept for its client's commercial. The agency soon realized there was nothing relevant to talk about because Crocker's clientele was old, always at home and/or dying, and since Crocker was looking to replace those customers, an idea was born. So Hal Riney approached the president of Crocker National and proposed they hire a few song writers and write a few songs about young people.

This was the title song of Claudine Longet's album released in January of 1969.

With no song in hand or commercial concept ready to go, Hal Riney sold Crocker National on the vague concept and took a risk (Art & Copy documentary). The bank didn't want a conventional jingle, and planned the song to play over footage of a couple, in a format similar to the modern day music video. The basic idea was "you've got a long way to go, and we'd like to help you get there." The song played over footage of a young couple getting married and just starting out. Direct reference to the bank was left out, in part to make the song more marketable. The song shot to the top of the Billboard charts, and Crocker National's business flourished.

Richard Carpenter saw the commercial and guessed correctly that it was Paul Williams (both of them were under contract to A&M records). Carpenter ran into Williams on the record company's lot and asked if a full-length version was available. Although it had only two verses and no bridge, Williams confirmed that there was a bridge and an additional verse, forming a complete song; he and Nichols went on to write them. Carpenter selected the composition for the duo's third single and included it on the LP Close to You.

Released in the late summer of 1970, the single featured Karen's lead vocals and the overdubbed harmonies of both siblings. Following their hit "(They Long to Be) Close to You" onto the charts, "We've Only Just Begun" reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming the pair's second gold single and was considered by both Karen and Richard to be their signature song. According to The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (6th edition), on the U.S. Adult Contemporary singles chart, it was the duo's best-performing tune, lasting seven weeks at #1 (beating the six-week stay at the top of "Close to You"). The song helped them to win two Grammy Awards in 1971. One was for the Best New Artist (The Carpenters), and the other was for Best Contemporary Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus (Close to You).

For Williams, the song was a personal victory... it was the first collaboration between him and Nichols that resulted in a hit single, and opened the door to many more thereafter. In 1998, the recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for recordings of lasting quality or historical significance.