One Step Closer (Gavin Christopher album)

One Step Closer
Studio album by Gavin Christopher
Released	1986
Recorded	Unique Recording (NYC) Music Grinder (LA) Right Track Recording (NYC) Good Earth Studios (London)[1]
Genre	Soul, R&B, Dance music, Pop, Electronic
Length	43:15
Label	EMI Manhattan Records
Producer	Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, Gavin Christopher (co-producer)
Gavin Christopher chronology
Gavin Christopher (1979) One Step Closer (1986) Gavin (1987)

One Step Closer is an album by renowned R&B/Hip hop singer-songwriter/keyboardist/record producer Gavin Christopher. Released in 1986, this album contained Christopher's biggest solo hit, with the title track, "One Step Closer to You" reaching number 22 on the pop charts, number 25 on the R&B chart, and number 9 on the Dance chart.^[2] The follow-up single, "Back in Your Arms" could not duplicate this success, and the album fell off the charts.

The album also includes Christopher's own version of "Once You Get Started," a tune he had originally written for Rufus and Chaka Khan that became a top-ten Pop, R&B, and Dance hit for the group in the 1970s.

One Step Closer remains Gavin Christopher's most successful solo album to date, having peaked at number 74 on the Billboard 200 and number 36 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on August 9, 1986.^[3]

Track listing

1. "One Step Closer to You" (Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken, Jeff Pescetto, David Grant)^[4] (5:10)
2. "Are We Running From Love" (Gavin Christopher, Paul Pesco) (4:46)
3. "In the Heat of Passion" (Rogers, Sturken) (5:07)
4. "Back in Your Arms" (Rogers, Sturken, Christopher) (5:36)
5. "Once You Get Started" (Christopher) (4:18)
6. "Love is Knocking at Your Door" (Rogers, Sturken, Nick Mundy,^[4] Christopher) (5:09)
7. "Sparks Turn Into Fire" (Rogers, Sturken) (4:30)
8. "Could This Be the Night" (Christopher) (4:29)
9. "That's the Kind of Guy I Am" (Christopher, Pesco) (4:10)

^[1]

Credits

• Gavin Christopher: Lead vocals on all tracks
• Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers: Drum programming

Additional track-by-track personnel

"One Step Closer to You"

• Carl Sturken: Keyboards and Guitar
• Tom Mandell (sic): Additional Keyboards
• Evan Rogers: Background vocals

"Are We Running From Love"

• Robbie Kilgore: Keyboards
• Tony Maiden: Guitar
• Evan Rogers, Bunny Hill, Clydene Jackson: Background vocals

"In the Heat of Passion"

• Carl Sturken: Keyboards
• John Nevin: Bass
• Evan Rogers, Audrey Wheeler: Background vocals

"Back in Your Arms"

• Carl Sturken: Keyboards and Guitar
• Evan Rogers, Siedah Garrett: Background vocals

"Once You Get Started"

• Carl Sturken: Keyboards and Guitar
• Tony Maiden: Guitar, Background vocals
• Roger Byam: Sax solo
• Evan Rogers, Toni Smith: Background vocals

"Love is Knocking at Your Door"

• Carl Sturken: Keyboards
• Paul Pesco: Guitar, Background vocals
• Evan Rogers, Gavin Christopher: Background vocals

"Sparks Turn Into Fire"

• Carl Sturken: Keyboards and Guitar
• Paul Pesco: Guitar solo, Background vocals
• Evan Rogers: Background vocals

"Could This Be the Night"

• Gavin Christopher: Keyboards, Synthesizer soloing
• Carl Sturken: Keyboards
• Keith Andès: Keyboards, Background vocals
• Evan Rogers: Background vocals

"That's the Kind of Guy I Am"

• Paul Pesco: Keyboards and Guitar
• Carl Sturken: Keyboards
• Robbie Kilgore: Keyboards
• Gary Wallace: Drum Programming
• Evan Rogers, Gavin Christopher: Background vocals

^[1]

References

1. Gavin Christopher- One Step Closer vinyl album liner notes. Accessed 12-17-2011.
2. Gavin Christopher- Chart History @Billboard.com (click on pull-down menu to access placements on various charts) Retrieved 12-17-2011.
3. Gavin Christopher- One Step Closer chart placement on album charts @Billboard.com Retrieved 12-17-2011.
4. Gavin Christopher- One Step Closer @Discogs.com Retrieved 12-17-2011.