Move Closer

"Move Closer"
"Move Closer"
Single by Phyllis Nelson
from the album Move Closer
B-side	"Somewhere in the City"
Written	1984
Released	28 January 1985
Length	5:54 (album version); 4:35 (single re-recording); 4:01 (radio version);
Label	Carrere
Songwriter(s)	Phyllis Nelson
Producer(s)	Yves Dessca
Phyllis Nelson singles chronology

"Move Closer" is a song by American singer-songwriter Phyllis Nelson that topped the UK Singles Chart in April 1985.

History

Nelson wrote the ballad in 1984. It was a complete departure from the type of music she had been recording; she had been recording dance and disco records, and decided to write her own record because, in her words, "not much music lets you dance close".^[1] The lyrics of "Move Closer" were based on a long-term love affair she had with a much younger man in Philadelphia, who was struggling to start his own computer business.

Chart performance

Although "Move Closer" failed to make an impact on the US Billboard Hot 100, the song was hugely successful in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at the top of the UK Singles Chart, making her the first black woman to top the charts in Britain with her own sole composition.^[2] The song was originally released in April 1984 but failed to chart, and was re-released in February 1985 after BBC Radio London started to play it. "Move Closer" also benefited from extensive airplay on the hugely successful offshore pirate station, Laser 558. The song began to climb the charts, taking 12 weeks to reach the top spot.^[3] "Move Closer" remained on the UK Singles Chart for just over five months during 1985, becoming Britain's seventh biggest-selling song of the year^[4] and the 82nd highest-selling single of the decade.^[5] In 1994, it was reissued and returned to the UK Singles Chart, this time peaking at number 34, on the back of it being featured in an anti-perspirant television commercial.^[3]

B-side

In the UK, on both the 7-inch and 12-inch formats, the B-side is "Somewhere in the City". Both versions contain the "New Mix" of "Move Closer" as an A-side, with the 7-inch version being an edit.^[6]^[7]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1985)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[8]	15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[9]	34
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[10]	42
Ireland (IRMA)^[11]	2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[12]	23
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[13]	47
UK Singles (OCC)^[14]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1985)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[15]	55
UK Singles (OCC)^[16]	7

Covers

Marilyn Martin, on her eponymous debut album.
The Bluetones, as a B-side to the single "Fast Boy/Liquid Lips". It was also included on the band's 2006 compilation album, A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-sides 95 - 03.
Tom Jones, (1989, No. 49 on the UK Singles Chart)^[3] on his album At This Moment.
Sammi Cheng, Cantonese version (titled "纏綿"), released in 1997.
Hinda Hicks, on her debut album Hinda (1998).
Upfront, 1990, Trio featuring Keith & Ronnie Lewis with lead singer Rachel

References

^ One-Hit Wonders at the BBC. 17 April 2015. BBC Four.
^ "Move Closer by Phyllis Nelson Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Move Closer - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
^ "1980s Singles Chart Archive". everyHit.com. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
^ "Official Biggest Selling Singles of The '80s". Buzzjack.com. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
^ Move Closer (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Phyllis Nelson. Carrere Records. 1985. CAR 337.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Move Closer (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Phyllis Nelson. Carrere Records. 1985. CART 337.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Phyllis Nelson – Move Closer" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
^ "European Hot 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 16. 22 April 1985. p. 8.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Move Closer". Irish Singles Chart.
^ "Phyllis Nelson – Move Closer". Top 40 Singles.
^ "Phyllis Nelson – Move Closer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "Phyllis Nelson: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
^ "Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 23 January 2023 – via Imgur.
^ "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England. 18 January 1986. p. 10.

[bbc-1] One-Hit Wonders at the BBC. 17 April 2015. BBC Four.

[2] "Move Closer by Phyllis Nelson Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 25 March 2014.

[occ-3] "Move Closer - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2016.

[4] "1980s Singles Chart Archive". everyHit.com. Retrieved 25 March 2014.

[5] "Official Biggest Selling Singles of The '80s". Buzzjack.com. Retrieved 25 March 2014.

[6] Move Closer (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Phyllis Nelson. Carrere Records. 1985. CAR 337.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[7] Move Closer (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Phyllis Nelson. Carrere Records. 1985. CART 337.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

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

[sc_Flanders_Phyllis_Nelson-9] "Phyllis Nelson – Move Closer" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.

[10] "European Hot 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 16. 22 April 1985. p. 8.

[sc_Ireland2_-11] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Move Closer". Irish Singles Chart.

[sc_New_Zealand_Phyllis_Nelson-12] "Phyllis Nelson – Move Closer". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Dutch100_Phyllis_Nelson-13] "Phyllis Nelson – Move Closer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Phyllis_Nelson-14] "Phyllis Nelson: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 June 2022.

[aus85-15] "Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 23 January 2023 – via Imgur.

[16] "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England. 18 January 1986. p. 10.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

v t e Tom Jones
Discography
Studio albums	Along Came Jones (It's Not Unusual) What's New Pussycat? A-tom-ic Jones From the Heart Green, Green Grass of Home Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings 13 Smash Hits Delilah Help Yourself This Is Tom Jones Tom I Who Have Nothing She's a Lady Tom Jones Close Up The Body and Soul of Tom Jones Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like Memories Don't Leave Like People Do Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow What a Night Do You Take This Man Rescue Me Darlin' Tom Jones Country Don't Let Our Dreams Die Young Love Is on the Radio Tender Loving Care At This Moment Carrying a Torch The Lead and How to Swing It Reload Mr. Jones 24 Hours Praise & Blame Spirit in the Room Long Lost Suitcase Surrounded by Time
Live albums	Tom Jones Live in Las Vegas Tom Jones Live at Caesar's Palace John Farnham & Tom Jones – Together in Concert
Compilation albums	Tom Jones' Greatest Hits 20 Greatest Hits: The Tenth Anniversary Album of Tom Jones
Songs	"All You Need Is Love" "Baby, It's Cold Outside" "Black Betty" "Burning Down the House" "Carrying a Torch" "Darlin'" "Daughter of Darkness" "Delilah" "Detroit City" "Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings" "Gimme Shelter" "Green, Green Grass of Home" "Help Yourself" "I (Who Have Nothing)" "I'm Coming Home" "It's Four in the Morning" "It's Not Unusual" "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" "Kiss" "Lady Lay Down" "Love Me Tonight" "Mama Told Me Not to Come" "Move Closer" "Puppet Man" "Rainin' in My Heart" "Resurrection Shuffle" "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow" "Sex Bomb" "Sixteen Tons" "She's a Lady" "Stoned in Love" "Thunderball" "Till" "What in the World's Come Over You" "What's New Pussycat?" "Without Love" "With These Hands" "The Young New Mexican Puppeteer"
Related articles	This Is Tom Jones (TV show) Tom Jones Tom Jones: The Right Time The Wexford Carols "The Ballad of Tom Jones" What's New Pussycat? (musical) Tom Jones impersonator

Move Closer

Hub talks

Move Closer

Move Closer

Hub rules

Move Closer

Hub overview

Add your contribution

Inside this hub

Media Collections

Timelines

Articles

Notes collections

Notes

Days in Chronicle

Root Wikipedia Article

Move Closer

History

Chart performance

B-side

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Covers

References

Add your contribution

Related Hubs