One Step Closer (The Doobie Brothers album)

One Step Closer
One Step Closer
Studio album by the Doobie Brothers
Released	September 17, 1980
Recorded	1980 at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood; Warner Bros. Recording Studios, North Hollywood; United Sound Recorders, Detroit; and A&R Recorders, New York
Genre	Rock
Length	37:41
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Ted Templeman
The Doobie Brothers chronology
Singles from One Step Closer
	"Real Love" / "Thank You Love"; Released: August 21, 1980; "One Step Closer" / "South Bay Strut"; Released: November 5, 1980; "Keep This Train A-Rollin'" / "Just in Time"; Released: January 28, 1981;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Robert Christgau	B−^[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[3]
The Great Rock Discography	4/10^[4]
Rolling Stone	(mixed)^[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[6]

One Step Closer is the ninth studio album by American rock band the Doobie Brothers. The album was released on September 17, 1980, by Warner Bros. Records. The album included the hit "Real Love", which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. This album is the band's last studio album with Michael McDonald in the lineup until 2014's Southbound, and also the first studio album to feature John McFee as a member of the band.

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Vocals	Length
1.	"Dedicate This Heart"	Michael McDonald, Paul Anka	McDonald	4:07
2.	"Real Love"	McDonald, Patrick Henderson	McDonald	4:18
3.	"No Stoppin' Us Now"	Patrick Simmons, McDonald, Chris Thompson	Simmons	4:40
4.	"Thank You Love"	Cornelius Bumpus	Bumpus	6:22

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Vocals	Length
5.	"One Step Closer"	Keith Knudsen, Carlene Carter, John McFee	Bumpus, McDonald	4:10
6.	"Keep This Train A-Rollin"	McDonald	McDonald	3:29
7.	"Just in Time"	Simmons	Simmons	2:43
8.	"South Bay Strut"	Chet McCracken, McFee	instrumental	4:05
9.	"One by One"	Bobby LaKind, McDonald	Simmons, McDonald	3:47

Personnel

The Doobie Brothers

Patrick Simmons – guitars, lead and backing vocals
John McFee – guitars, backing vocals
Michael McDonald – keyboards, synthesizers, lead and backing vocals
Cornelius Bumpus – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, organ, lead and backing vocals
Tiran Porter – bass
Keith Knudsen – drums, backing vocals
Chet McCracken – drums, vibraphone, marimbas

Additional personnel

Bobby LaKind – congas, bongos, backing vocals
Nicolette Larson – backing vocals on "Real Love", "Dedicate This Heart", and "Just In Time"
Patrick Henderson – keyboards on "Real Love", "One By One", and "Keep This Train A-Rollin'"
Lee Thornburg – trumpet on "South Bay Strut" and "Keep This Train A-Rollin'", flugelhorn for "Dedicate This Heart"
Chris Thompson – backing vocals on "No Stoppin' Us Now"
Ted Templeman – tambourine, cowbell, maracas, backing vocals on "One Step Closer"^[7]
Jerome Jumonville – tenor saxophone, horn arrangements on "Keep This Train A-Rollin'"
Joel Peskin – baritone saxophone on "Keep This Train A-Rollin'"
Bill Armstrong – trumpet on "Keep This Train A-Rollin'"
Jimmie Haskell – string arrangements on "Real Love" and "South Bay Strut"

Production

Producer – Ted Templeman
Production Assistant – Joan Parker
Production Coordination – Susyn Schope
Engineer – James Isaacson
Second Engineer – Gene Meros
Mastering – Kent Duncan and Tim Dennan at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA).
Photography – Norman Seeff
Art Direction and Design – Jim Welch

Charts

Chart (1980–81)	Peak position
Australian (Kent Music Report)^[8]	18
Canada (RPM)^[9]	18
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[10]	42
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[11]	22
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[12]	32
UK (Official Charts)^[13]	53
US (Billboard 200)^[14]	3

References

^ Bruce Eder. "One Step Closer - The Doobie Brothers". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
^ Christgau, Robert. "The Doobie Brothers: One Step Closer". Robert Christgau.com. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0857125958.
^ Strong, Martin Charles (2002). "The Doobie Brothers". The Great Rock Discography. The National Academies. ISBN 1-84195-312-1.
^ Don Shewey (1980-11-13). "The Doobie Brothers: One Step Closer". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2007-12-01. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 253. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
^ Templeman, Ted; Renoff, Greg (2020). Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life in Music. ECW Press. p. 311. ISBN 978-1770414839.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 92. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "RPM Search Engine" (PHP). Library and Archives Canada. March 31, 2004.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Doobie Brothers – One Step Closer" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
^ "Charts.nz – The Doobie Brothers – One Step Closer". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Doobie Brothers – One Step Closer". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
^ "Artist Chart History: Doobie Brothers". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
^ "The Doobie Brothers Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2021.

[1] Bruce Eder. "One Step Closer - The Doobie Brothers". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-08-25.

[Christgau_Review-2] Christgau, Robert. "The Doobie Brothers: One Step Closer". Robert Christgau.com. Retrieved September 10, 2012.

[3] Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0857125958.

[4] Strong, Martin Charles (2002). "The Doobie Brothers". The Great Rock Discography. The National Academies. ISBN 1-84195-312-1.

[5] Don Shewey (1980-11-13). "The Doobie Brothers: One Step Closer". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2007-12-01. Retrieved 2018-08-25.

[6] Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 253. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.

[7] Templeman, Ted; Renoff, Greg (2020). Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life in Music. ECW Press. p. 311. ISBN 978-1770414839.

[aus-8] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 92. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[RPM-9] "RPM Search Engine" (PHP). Library and Archives Canada. March 31, 2004.

[ac_Netherlands_The_Doobie_Brothers-10] "Dutchcharts.nl – The Doobie Brothers – One Step Closer" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 10, 2024.

[ac_New_Zealand_The_Doobie_Brothers-11] "Charts.nz – The Doobie Brothers – One Step Closer". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 10, 2024.

[ac_Norway_The_Doobie_Brothers-12] "Norwegiancharts.com – The Doobie Brothers – One Step Closer". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 10, 2024.

[UK-13] "Artist Chart History: Doobie Brothers". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 1, 2021.

[BBA-14] "The Doobie Brothers Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2021.

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v t e The Doobie Brothers
Tom Johnston Patrick Simmons Michael McDonald John McFee John Hartman Dave Shogren Michael Hossack Tiran Porter Keith Knudsen Jeff "Skunk" Baxter Chet McCracken Cornelius Bumpus Bobby LaKind Willie Weeks
Studio albums	The Doobie Brothers Toulouse Street The Captain and Me What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits Stampede Takin' It to the Streets Livin' on the Fault Line Minute by Minute One Step Closer Cycles Brotherhood Sibling Rivalry World Gone Crazy Southbound Liberté
Live albums	Farewell Tour Rockin' Down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert Live at Wolf Trap
Compilations	Best of The Doobies Best of The Doobies Volume II Listen to the Music: The Very Best of The Doobie Brothers Greatest Hits Divided Highway The Very Best of The Doobie Brothers
Singles	"Listen to the Music" "Jesus Is Just Alright" / "Rockin' Down the Highway" "Long Train Runnin'" "China Grove" "Another Park, Another Sunday" / "Black Water" "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" "Takin' It to the Streets" "Wheels of Fortune" "It Keeps You Runnin'" "Little Darlin' (I Need You)" "Echoes of Love" "What a Fool Believes" "Minute by Minute" "Dependin' on You" "Real Love" "Wynken, Blynken & Nod" "You Belong to Me" (live) "The Doctor" "Dangerous"
Related articles	Discography Band members Southern Pacific