The Closer You Get (Alabama song)
Encyclopedia
"The Closer You Get" is a song made famous by the country music
band Alabama
. Originally released in 1983
, the song was the title track and second single to Alabama's fourth album, The Closer You Get...
.
and Mark Gray, members of Exile
. However, the song was not immediately recorded by Alabama. Two earlier versions were released as singles - the first by Exile (which failed to gain much attention) and singer Don King, whose version reached No. 27 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in October 1981. In addition, Rita Coolidge
recorded the song for her 1981 album, Heartbreak Radio, and released her version as a single.
Alabama's version differed substantially from King's acoustic version. According to country music writer Tom Roland, the song featured "distorted guitars, a more elaborate arrangement and an altered vocal sound."
The end result was Alabama's 10th No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. In addition, "The Closer You Get" registered enough airplay on Top 40 radio stations to peak at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
A music video was filmed for the song, and has aired on CMT
and Great American Country
.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
band Alabama
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
. Originally released in 1983
1983 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1983.-Events:* March — In a span of two days, two major cable networks signed on the air. Country Music Television went on-the-air March 5, while The Nashville Network came on two days later on March 7...
, the song was the title track and second single to Alabama's fourth album, The Closer You Get...
The Closer You Get...
The Closer You Get... is the fourth album of country music band Alabama. It was released in 1983. All three singles from this album — "The Closer You Get", "Lady Down on Love" and "Dixieland Delight" — reached Number One on the Hot Country Songs charts in 1983...
.
About the song
"The Closer You Get" was written in 1980 by J.P. PenningtonJ.P. Pennington
James Preston "J.P." Pennington is an American musician, known primarily as a founding member of the country pop band Exile. Pennington was the founding member and lead singer of the group until departing in 1990. After his leaving Exile, he signed to MCA Records as a solo artist. There, he...
and Mark Gray, members of Exile
Exile (American band)
Exile, originally known as The Exiles, is an American band founded in Richmond, Kentucky by J.P. Pennington. They started by playing local clubs which led to touring with Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars opening shows and providing backup for major rock artists of the period.Their name was shortened...
. However, the song was not immediately recorded by Alabama. Two earlier versions were released as singles - the first by Exile (which failed to gain much attention) and singer Don King, whose version reached No. 27 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in October 1981. In addition, Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop, Country, Adult Contemporary and Jazz charts.-Career:...
recorded the song for her 1981 album, Heartbreak Radio, and released her version as a single.
Alabama's version differed substantially from King's acoustic version. According to country music writer Tom Roland, the song featured "distorted guitars, a more elaborate arrangement and an altered vocal sound."
The end result was Alabama's 10th No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. In addition, "The Closer You Get" registered enough airplay on Top 40 radio stations to peak at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
A music video was filmed for the song, and has aired on CMT
CMT
- Medicine :* California mastitis test* Certified Massage Therapist* Cervical motion tenderness, a sign of pelvic inflammatory disease* Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease* Chemically modified tetracyclines* Circus Movement Tachycardia...
and Great American Country
Great American Country
Great American Country , is a Nashville, Tennessee-based country music cable television network.-History:The station launched December 31, 1995 and Garth Brooks' video "The Thunder Rolls" was the first video to air on GAC....
.
Single and album edits
The single version is a minute shorter than the original album version; the first verse and the second chorus is deleted from the single.Chart performance
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 38 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 9 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |
See also
- Morris, Edward, "Alabama," Contemporary Books Inc., Chicago, 1985 (ISBN 0809253062)
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.