Come a Little Closer (The Desert Rose Band song) explained

Come a Little Closer
Cover:The Desert Rose Band Come a Little Closer 1991 Single.jpeg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:The Desert Rose Band
Album:A Dozen Roses – Greatest Hits
B-Side:Everybody's Hero
Released:May 1991[1]
Genre:Country, country rock
Length:3:10 (edited version)
4:00 (album version)
Label:Curb Records
Producer:Ed Seay, Paul Worley
Prev Title:Will This Be the Day
Prev Year:1991
Next Title:You Can Go Home
Next Year:1991

"Come a Little Closer" is a song by the American country rock band The Desert Rose Band, which was released in 1991 as the second and final single from their first compilation album A Dozen Roses – Greatest Hits. It was written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill, and produced by Ed Seay and Paul Worley.[2] [3]

"Come a Little Closer" marked a continuation of the band's commercial decline on both the American and Canadian Country Singles Chart. Earlier in 1991, "Will This Be the Day" had entered the US Top 40, but "Come a Little Closer" was the band's first single not to reach the Top 40 in either America or Canada. It peaked at No. 65 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart[4] and No. 67 on the Canadian RPM Country Singles Chart.[5] [6]

Release

"Come a Little Closer" was released by Curb Records in America and Canada only, on 7" vinyl[2] [7] and as a one-track promotional CD. For release as a single, the album version of "Come a Little Closer" was edited and reduced by almost a minute in duration. It was dubbed the "Edited Version". The B-side on the 7" vinyl, "Everybody's Hero", was taken from the band's Pages of Life album.[8]

Promotion

No music video was created to promote the single, however a live performance of the song would later be professionally filmed in Aspecta, Kumamoto, Japan, on October 18, 1992.[9]

Critical reception

Upon release, Cash Box listed the single as one of their "feature picks" during May 1991. They commented: "What a band, what a sound, what a song! The Desert Rose Band has successfully managed to create its own recognizable sound, and with its latest release, the sound undoubtedly sparks a best yet! With a driving hit-n-go pulse and a plead-of-love theme, the band delivers an unusual "live" approach with "Come a Little Closer". In addition to an expected fire-tinged harmony blend, this spicy number lends time for a commanding instrumental performance."[10] In a review of True Love, they said the song had a "traditional country sound with a modern day attitude".[11] Billboard commented: "Desert Rose Band leans in the direction of pop/rock with this crisply sung number. Rock guitar licks are showered throughout."[12]

In a review of A Dozen Roses – Greatest Hits, CD Review said: ""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..."[13] Randy Lewis of the Los Angeles Times described the song as a "driving rocker", but added ""Come a Little Closer," teeters too close to rock cliche for comfort, something this group avoids for the most part."[14] [15] The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel described the track as a "country rock/reggae fusion tune."[16] The Fresno Bee, said of the compilation album: "The best of the bunch on this collection are "Come a Little Closer" and "Price I Pay"."[17]

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

Personnel

The Desert Rose Band
Additional personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Desert Rose Band - Come A Little Closer / Everybody's Hero - MCA / Curb - USA - MCAS7-54107 . 45cat . 2018-03-09.
  2. Web site: Desert Rose Band - Come A Little Closer / Everybody's Hero (Vinyl) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 2013-02-07.
  3. Web site: Chris Hillman And The Desert Rose Band* - A Dozen Roses - Greatest Hits at Discogs . Discogs.com . 2013-02-07.
  4. Book: Top Country Singles 1944-2001. Joel Whitburn. 2002. Record Research. 978-0898201512.
  5. Web site: Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . 2013-02-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140224000643/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1580&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=11jq1uuicfbth860997u8p11q4 . 2014-02-24 . dead .
  6. Web site: Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . 2013-02-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140224000653/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=11jq1uuicfbth860997u8p11q4&q1=desert+rose+band+come+dozen+closer&q2=Country+Singles&interval=50 . 2014-02-24 . dead .
  7. Web site: The Desert Rose Band 7" 45 Come a Little Closer & Everbody's Hero: THE DESERT ROSE BAND: Music . Amazon . 2013-02-07.
  8. Web site: Desert Rose Band - Come A Little Closer (CD) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 2013-02-07.
  9. Web site: YouTube . The Desert Rose Band - Come A Little Closer . YouTube . 2009-09-29 . 2013-02-07.
  10. Cash Box newspaper - May 11, 1991 - Country: single releases, feature picks - page 23
  11. Cash Box newspaper - February 1, 1992 - Country music: retail rap - page 21
  12. Billboard magazine - May 11, 1991, - Single Reviews - Country: Desert Rose Band - Come a Little Closer - page 75
  13. Web site: CD Review - Google Books . 1991 . 2013-02-07.
  14. Web site: Los Angeles Times: Archives - Pop Music Reviews Business as Usual for Desert Rose . https://archive.today/20130411160758/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59986909.html?dids=59986909:59986909&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+06,+1990&author=RANDY+LEWIS&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Pop+Music+Reviews+Business+as+Usual+for+Desert+Rose&pqatl=google . dead . April 11, 2013 . Pqasb.pqarchiver.com . 1990-12-06 . 2013-02-07.
  15. Web site: 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 . https://archive.today/20130131203635/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59986381.html?dids=59986381:59986381&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+05,+1990&author=RANDY+LEWIS&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=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.&pqatl=google . dead . January 31, 2013 . Pqasb.pqarchiver.com . 1990-12-05 . 2013-02-07.
  16. Web site: JSOnline.com News Archives . Nl.newsbank.com . 1991-02-03 . 2013-02-07.
  17. Web site: Archived copy . 2013-02-07 . 2016-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122233/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 . dead .