The Carpenters-Close To You (1970)

This famous American vocal duo was, for much of their career, one of the most successful pop-rock acts in the world, achieving nearly twenty platinum records and a similar number of gold records, in addition to numerous top positions on charts around the globe, and certified sales of over one hundred million records worldwide. Formed in Los Angeles by siblings Karen (lead vocals and drums) and Richard Carpenter (vocals and keyboards), they began their artistic career in the mid-1960s, although it wasn't until 1969, after signing with A&M Records, that they released their first album, "Ticket to Ride". Thanks to songs like "Get Together", "All of My Love", and "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing", they gained some recognition, which helped them achieve extraordinary commercial success a year later with their second album, "Close to You". On this second album, they continued in a similar vein to their debut: simple songs with perfect production, precise arrangements, idyllic and peaceful lyrics, and Karen's magnetic voice. Brilliant compositions like "We've Only Just Begun", "Baby It's You", "(They Long To Be) Close To You", and "Reason to Believe" gave them their first major hit, the first of many more that would follow throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. In 1983, Karen died from complications of anorexia, cutting short the meteoric career of this essential duo in American and international pop-rock.