CARPENTERS - WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN

Released: August 21, 1970

Charts:  UK: #28    US: #2 

"We've Only Just Begun" is a song by the Carpenters, written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams. It was initially created for a wedding-themed television commercial for a Bank in early 1970, aimed at attracting young couples and newlyweds. Paul Williams provided the vocals for the commercial. 

The ad was meant to show a couple getting married and driving off into the sunset, with the message, "You've got a long way to go, we'd like to help you get there." Williams and Roger Nichols were tasked with writing the song, but they were specifically asked not to create a jingle. Instead, they wrote what would later become a classic wedding song.

Initially, they composed just two verses and a bridge for the commercial, with no expectation that the song would be used again. When Richard Carpenter heard Williams' version on the commercial he inquired if there was a complete song. They had already written a third verse, which made it a full song, and the Carpenters turned it into one of their biggest hits. Williams humorously noted that if they hadn’t finished the song by the time Carpenter called, they would have quickly completed it.

The Carpenters chose "We've Only Just Begun" as their third single, including it on their “Close to You” album. Released in the summer of 1970, the single showcased Karen Carpenter's lead vocals with the duo's harmonized backing. It followed the success of their previous hit "(They Long to Be) Close to You," reaching No. 1 on the Cash Box singles chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, just behind the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" and the Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You." The song became their second million-selling gold single and contributed to the duo winning two Grammy Awards in 1971.

The music video for "We've Only Just Begun" featured a distinctive red background with the letters spelling out "you." Karen Carpenter is seen sitting inside the letter "U," while Richard stands beside her, departing from his usual role of playing the piano. This video was created as part of the 1971 television series Make Your Own Kind of Music.