One Step Closer (The Doobie Brothers album)

One Step Closer
Studio album by The Doobie Brothers
Released	September 17, 1980
Recorded	19801977 at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CA, Warner Brothers Studios, North Hollywood, CA, United Sound Recorders, Detroit, MI and A & R Recorders, New York, NY
Genre	Rock
Length	37:41
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Ted Templeman
The Doobie Brothers chronology
Minute by Minute (1978) One Step Closer (1980) Farewell Tour (1983)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Rolling Stone	(mixed) [2]

One Step Closer is the ninth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 1980. The album included the hit "Real Love", which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Track listing

1. "Dedicate This Heart" (McDonald, Paul Anka) – 4:07
2. "Real Love" (McDonald, Henderson) – 4:18
3. "No Stoppin' Us Now" (Simmons, McDonald, Chris Thompson) – 4:40
4. "Thank You Love" (Cornelius Bumpus) – 6:22
5. "One Step Closer" (Knudsen, Carlene Carter, McFee) – 4:10
6. "Keep This Train A-Rollin" (McDonald) – 3:29
7. "Just in Time" (Simmons) – 2:43
8. "South Bay Strut" (McCracken, McFee) – 4:05
9. "One By One" (Bobby LaKind, McDonald) – 3:47

Personnel

The Doobie Brothers

• Patrick Simmons - guitars, vocals
• John McFee - guitars, backing vocals
• Michael McDonald - keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
• Cornelius Bumpus - tenor saxophone, organ, vocals
• Tiran Porter - bass
• Keith Knudsen - drums, backing vocals
• Chester McCracken - drums, vibraphone, marimbas

Additional personnel

• Bobby LaKind - congas, bongos, background vocals
• Nicolette Larson - vocals on "Real Love", "Dedicate This Heart", and "Just In Time"
• Rev. Patrick Henderson - keyboards on "Real Love", "One By One", and "Keep This Train A-Rollin'"
• Lee Thornburg - trumpet on "South Bay Strut" and flugelhorn for "Dedicate This Heart"
• Christopher Thompson - background vocals on "No Stoppin' Us Now"
• Ted Templeman - tambourine, cowbell, maracas
• Jerome Jumonville - tenor saxophone
• Joel Peskin - baritone saxophone
• Bill Armstrong - trumpet
• Jimmie Haskell - string arrangements

Production

• Producer: Ted Templeman
• Production assistant: Joan Parker
• Engineers: James Isaacson, Gene Meros
• Mastering: Kent Duncan
• Photography: Norman Seeff
• Design: Jim Welch
• Art Direction: Jim Welch
• Conductor: Bobby LaKind
• Horn arrangements: Jerome Jumonville (for "Keep This Train A-Rollin'")
• String arrangements: Jimmy Haskell (for "Real Love" and "South Bay Strut")

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1980	Black Albums	31
1980	Pop Albums	3

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1980	"Real Love"	Black Singles	40
1980	"Real Love"	Club Play Singles	70
1980	"Real Love"	Pop Singles	5
1981	"Keep This Train A-Rollin'"	Pop Singles	62
1981	"One Step Closer"	Pop Singles	24

References

1. ^ One Step Closer (The Doobie Brothers album) at Allmusic
2. ^ Rolling Stone magazine review