Come a Little Closer (The Desert Rose Band song)

"Come a Little Closer"
Single by The Desert Rose Band
from the album A Dozen Roses – Greatest Hits
B-side "Everybody's Hero"
Released 1991
Format 7"
Genre Country, Country rock
Length 3:10 (edited version)
4:00 (album version)
Label Curb Records (under MCA)
Writer(s) Chris Hillman, Steve Hill
Producer(s) Ed Seay, Paul Worley
The Desert Rose Band singles chronology
"Will This Be the Day"
(1991)		 "Come a Little Closer"
(1991)		 "You Can Go Home"
(1991)

"Come a Little Closer" is a single by American country rock band The Desert Rose Band.[1] The song was released as the second of two singles released in early 1991 from the band's first compilation album A Dozen Roses – Greatest Hits, the first being "Will This Be the Day".[2]

Background

Continuing the band's commercial decline on the American and Canadian Country Singles Chart since the beginning of 1991, the single was the band's second single not to make the top 40 in America and Canada. "Will This Be the Day" peaked at number 65 on the American Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart[3] and number 67 on the Canadian RPM Country Singles Chart in late July 1991.[4][5] In Canada, the single debuted at number 99 in June 1991[6] and remained in the top 100 for a total of 10 weeks.[5]

The song was written by the band's frontman Chris Hillman and frequent collaborator Steve Hill. It was produced by both Paul Worley and Ed Seay who had produced all five of the band's albums, except for late 1991's True Love, whilst only Worley produced the band's self-titled 1987 debut.

Release

The single was released in America and Canada only, via Curb Records (under MCA), on 7" vinyl[1][7] and promotional CD.[8][9] For the single's release, "Come a Little Closer"'s original four minute long album version was edited and cut by almost a minute, where the new version was dubbed "Edited Version" on both releases of the single.[10][8]

Although the CD version of the single only included the one track, the 7" version of the single featured the Pages of Life album track "Everybody's Hero" as the B-Side, which was written by Hillman and Michael Woody.

The 7” vinyl single featured no artwork and was released in a plain sleeve,[11] whilst the CD single came with a basic plain sleeve with only basic black text.[12]

Promotion

No music video was created to promote the single, however a live performance of the song would later be professionally recorded in Aspecta, Kumamoto, Japan, on October 18, 1992.[13]

Since appearing on YouTube in September 2009, the live performance video has gained approximately 17,000 views.[13]

Track listing

7" Single
  1. "Come a Little Closer" - 3:10
  2. "Everybody's Hero" - 3:17
CD Single (American promo)
  1. "Come a Little Closer" - 3:10

Critical reception

In a 1991 review of the album A Dozen Roses – Greatest Hits, the publication CD Review, Volume 7, Issues 7-12 (published by WGE Pub.), spoke of the song, stating ""Come a Little Closer" ranks as one of Hillman and Hill's best compositions. Crafty and commercial, the Desert Rose Band offers a seamless blend of country and rock styles..."[14][15]

In a December 6, 1990 review of the compilation album, Randy Lewis for the Los Angeles Times stated ""Come a Little Closer," teeters too close to rock cliche for comfort, something this group avoids for the most part."[16][17]

In a December 5, 1990 article based on the band, again written by Randy Lewis for the Los Angeles Times, the article spoke of the compilation album, stating "Two new songs introduced were driving rockers; one, "Come a Little Closer" and two, "Will This Be the Day"."[18][17]

In a February 3, 1991, issue of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a review of the album described the track as a "country rock/reggae fusion tune."[19][17]

In a January 25, 1991, issue of Fresno Bee, a review of the compilation album wrote "The best of the bunch on this collection are "Come a Little Closer" and "Price I Pay"."[20][17]

Chart performance

Chart (1991) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[21] 67
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[22] 65

Personnel

Additional personnel

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Desert Rose Band - Come A Little Closer / Everybody's Hero (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  2. ↑ "Chris Hillman And The Desert Rose Band* - A Dozen Roses - Greatest Hits at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  3. ↑ Joel Whitburn (2002). Top Country Singles 1944-2001. Record Research. ISBN 978-0898201512.
  4. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  6. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  7. ↑ "The Desert Rose Band 7" 45 Come a Little Closer & Everbody's Hero: THE DESERT ROSE BAND: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 http://www.drb-fans.com/images/Come%20A%20Little%20Closer%20-%20front.jpg
  9. ↑ "Desert Rose Band - Come A Little Closer (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  10. ↑ "The Desert Rose Band 7" 45 Come a Little Closer & Everbody's Hero: THE DESERT ROSE BAND: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  11. ↑ "Images for Desert Rose Band - Come A Little Closer / Everybody's Hero". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  12. ↑ "Images for Desert Rose Band - Come A Little Closer". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 YouTube (2009-09-29). "The Desert Rose Band - Come A Little Closer". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  14. ↑ http://www.google.co.uk/#q=desert%20rose%20band%20come%20a%20little%20closer&hl=en&prmd=imvns&psj=1&bpcl=35277026&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbm=bks&source=og&sa=N&tab=wp&psj=1&ei=Amx8UIyzIKOy0QX9wYHAAw&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=4c9f4bbd916d9831&biw=1280&bih=560
  15. ↑ "CD Review - Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  16. ↑ "Los Angeles Times: Archives - Pop Music Reviews Business as Usual for Desert Rose". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 1990-12-06. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&tbs=ar:1&tbm=nws&sclient=psy-ab&q=desert+rose+band+come+little+closer&oq=desert+rose+band+come+little+closer&gs_l=serp.3...6479.6479.4.6670.1.1.0.0.0.0.142.142.0j1.1.0.cesh..0.0...1.1.3KchwaqVVvg&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=f9963b3d7fad10d&bpcl=35277026&biw=1280&bih=560
  18. ↑ "Los Angeles Times: Archives - O.C. POP MUSIC REVIEW Ex-Byrd's Feet on the Ground Chris Hillman's Desert Rose Band was too busy with today's country to be concerned with yesterday's rock. The often-dazzling band played at the Crazy Horse Steak House". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 1990-12-05. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  19. ↑ "JSOnline.com News Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. 1991-02-03. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  20. ↑ http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=FB&p_theme=fb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAE84E075BA15D2&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
  21. ↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1580." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. July 27, 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Desert Rose Band Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Desert Rose Band.