The Closer You Get (Alabama song)

Infobox Single
Name = The Closer You Get


Artist = Alabama
from Album = The Closer You Get...
A-side = "The Closer You Get"
B-side = "You Turn Me On"
Released = April 29, 1983 (U.S.)
Format = 7"
Recorded = 1982
Genre = Country
Length = 3:35 (single edit)
4:33 (album version)
Label = RCA Records 13524
Writer = J.P. Pennington, Mark Gray
Producer = Harold Shedd and Alabama
Chart position =

• #1 (Billboard Hot Country Singles)
  
• #38 (Billboard Hot 100)
  Last single = "Dixieland Delight"
  (1983)
  This single = "The Closer You Get"
  (1983)
  Next single = "Lady Down on Love"
  (1983)
  Misc = External music video|" [http://www.cmt.com/videos/alabama/26227/the-closer-you-get.jhtml The Closer You Get] " at CMT.com

  "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...".

  About the song

  "The Closer You Get" was written in 1980 by J.P. Pennington 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. [Roland, Tom, "The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits" (Billboard Books, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 1991 (ISBN 0-82-307553-2)), p. 349-350] In addition, Rita Coolidge recorded the song for her 1981 album, "Heartbreak Radio", and released her version as a single. [ [http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3ifwxqe5ldae All Music Guide — "Heartbreak Radio" by Rita Coolidge] ]

  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." [Roland.]

  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.

  ingle and album edits

  The single version is a minute shorter than the original album version; the first verse is deleted from the single.

  ources

  References

  ee also

  *Morris, Edward, "Alabama," Contemporary Books Inc., Chicago, 1985 (ISBN 0809253062)
  *Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.