A&M Records decided to remove the extended coda and release it as a 3-minute, 40-second long single in May 1970, it became A&M's biggest hit since Alpert's "This Guy's in Love with You" from 1968. Billboard ranked it as the number two song for 1970. "(They Long to Be) Close to You" earned the Carpenters a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus in 1971. It became the first of three Grammy Awards they would win during their careers. The song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on August 12, 1970. Reaching number six on the UK Singles Chart in 1970, in a UK television special on ITV in 2016 it was voted fourth in "The Nation's Favourite Carpenters Song". Composition Richard had originally written the flugelhorn solo part for Herb Alpert, but when he was unavailable, Chuck Findley was brought in. Richard later commented: "Chuck didn't play it that way at first, but I worked with him and he nailed it. A lot of people thought it was Herb – Bacharach thought so, too. But it's the way Findley is playing it." The arrangement was completely different from the version Bacharach cut with Richard Chamberlain, with one exception. When Richard asked Bacharach for permission (as a courtesy) to redo the song, Bacharach requested that he keep the two "five note groupings" (piano ornaments) at the end of the first bridge. Bacharach recalled his initial reaction on hearing the finished product: "Man, this is just great! I completely blew it with Richard Chamberlain but now someone else has come along and made a record so much better than mine." Personnel Karen Carpenter – lead and backing vocals Richard Carpenter – backing vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electronic piano, harpsichord, orchestration Joe Osborn – bass Hal Blaine – drums Chuck Findley – trumpet Bob Messenger – flute uncredited – vibraphone Chart performance Weekly charts Year-end charts All-time charts Certifications Gwen Guthrie version In 1986, Gwen Guthrie released her version of the song, which could only partially build on the success of her hit Ain't Nothin' Goin' On but the Rent. Compared to the original, this version is very synthesizer-heavy and is adapted to the time. Music video In the music video, Gwen Guthrie sings the song on a stage while the crowd dances and papparazi crowd the stage. Track listing 12" Maxi' (They