Description
Getting Closer! is the eighth solo album by the American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Phil Keaggy, released on Nissi Records in June 1985, distributed by Lexicon. Also released by Myrrh Records in the UK the following year, distributed by Word. (A digital-only bonus album featuring outtakes, demos and alternative mixes from the Getting Closer! era, was independently released by Keaggy in 2020.) The album was recorded at Weddington Studios in North Hollywood, Whitefield Studios in Santa Ana, and Peace in the Valley Recording in Arleta, California; with Phil Keaggy and Smitty Price producing. All songs written by Phil Keaggy except track A4 co-written with Richard Souther and David Spurr, B4 co-written with Souther, A5 co-written with John Mehler of Love Song fame, and B5 co-written with wife Bernadette.
Featuring Phil Keaggy on guitars, bass, and vocals, backed by co-producer Smitty Price on keyboards (with Richard Souther of “a band called David” fame sitting in on one of the tracks he co-wrote; “Riverton”). Linn Drum Programming done by Price with Rhett Lawrence providing Fairlight Synth Programming. John Mehler provides background vocals on “Movie”, a song he co-wrote with Keaggy. In addition, three tracks (“Sounds,” “Passport,” and “I Will Be There”) feature a rhythm section consisting of bassist John Patitucci and drummer David Spurr (a.k.a. the rhythm section of the short-lived reggae-inflected pop band Tamarack).
Being a Phil Keaggy fanatic is hardly the least frustrating pursuit a music-lover could have undertaken over the past 10 or 12 years. Year after year, the Keaggy-phile would go to phenomenal concert after phenomenal concert and carry home the highest hopes for the next record only to find that, however outstanding, it would be somehow marred by weak production, watered-down instrumental support, awkward sequencing of rockers and ballads, or just not enough guitar soloing from the fretmaster.
Hallelujah! ‘Getting Closer’ is the album in which Keaggy finally hit full stride as a recording artist. Imagine a record which combines and balances some of the most remarkable attributes of, say, Paul McCartney and Pat Metheny, and you’ll get the big picture of what Keaggy finally managed to capture on vinyl.
In some ways, it’s his first real stride into the production of the ’80s. Synthesizers abound on a number of the tracks, but it’s the first time they’ve been used so subtly and tastefully throughout a Keaggy album. An exception might be the title track which is perhaps a little too self-consciously new wave for its own good, but it’s wonderful to hear him so aggressive. Although Keaggy is clearly more comfortable in ’70s rock idioms, he doesn’t shame himself when he tries something more contemporary.
He’s also branching out a bit lyrically. The heartfelt anti-abortion sentiments expressed in the opening «Where Has Our Love Gone» won’t come as any surprise to is followers, but this time he extends that concern beyond fetuses to immigrants (wonder how he feels about the sancturay movement) and others who suffer at the hands of an increasingly hard-hearted country. The blatant social commentary pretty much ends there, but familiar Christian themes are expressed – as in «Movie» – perhaps more creatively and compellingly than before, and in every track there’s an inevitable compassion and sweetness of spirit that is uniquely Keaggy.
The most immediate highlight and one of only a couple true ballads is «I Will Be There», a cut which out-McCartneys McCartney (you could swear you hear Linda ooh-oohing in the background) and, with its God-to-man promise of commitment, is sort of the Christian «You’ve Got a Friend». But the entire second side – which includes some material that strongly harkens back to his more “progressive” days with Glass Harp – makes such a smooth and beautifully flowing whole that singling out individual moments is somewhat futile.
Phil Keaggy’s ‘Getting Closer’ makes a nice witnessing tool, too. That someone can be this sweet yet play such a mean guitar can only be explained as a divine paradox. [Chris Willman, CCM, February 1986]
PK 2020 Notes for Remastered/Deluxe Edition of Getting Closer:
It was first released in 1985 on vinyl and cassette. In 1998 it was re-mixed and re-mastered for CD with a couple of bonus tracks. It seems like a good idea to finally make a beautifully remastered, true Deluxe Edition and make it available again through Keaggy’s Garage on Bandcamp. I’m delighted, as this project holds some very special memories.
My friends at team kegworth (Tom Gulotta, Steve Ashlock, Neal Williams, Paul Ruiz-Bueno & Dave Eastburn) have helped me choose some outtakes, demos and alt mixes from the time this project was being planned and recorded. Thanks to Alex Drizoz who transferred the original half inch 2 track analog master tapes. Alex actually played bass for me back in the 80s at a few festivals with Dave Spurr (drums) and Starr Parody (keys).. After Alex made the digital transfers, my son Ian re mastered the songs, and I believe the final audio master sounds very good. I listened through the 10 original songs remastered the other night and it brought to life once again those very special days.
I hope you enjoy the album again as well as the bonus tracks included on the separate Bonus Disc in this Deluxe Edition. One of the highlights is having Jim Keltner drumming on «Sunrise» and an early take of «Sounds» for you to hear. Again many thanks to Dave Spurr, Smitty Price, Richard Souther, John Patitucci and John Mehler for their musical contributions.
– Phil Keaggy, February 19th, 2020
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/getting-closer/1608042334)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Where Has Our Love Gone” – 3:40
A2. “Passport” – 4:13
A3. “I Will Be There” – 5:00
A4. “Getting Closer” – 4:09
A5. “Movie” – 4:59
Side Two
B1. “Sounds” – 6:05
B2. “Like An Island” – 3:50
B3. “Look Deep Inside” – 5:08
B4. “Riverton” – 3:54
B5. “Reaching Out” – 4:31
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Nissi Records. Also released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP in the UK by Myrrh Records. Re-issued on CD by Canis Major in October 1998 with different cover artwork (colorized version of a photo on the original album insert), re-arranged song order as well as two otherwise unreleased bonus tracks from the same era (“Get Up And Go” and “Sunrise”, the latter track featuring Jim Keltner on drums).
The original album, as well as a Deluxe-Bonus Disc, are available at Bandcamp:
https://philkeaggy.bandcamp.com/album/getting-closer-1985-2020-remaster
https://philkeaggy.bandcamp.com/album/getting-closer-deluxe-bonus-disc
CREDITS. Co-produced by Smitty Price and Phil Keaggy. Recorded at Weddington Studios, North Hollywood, CA, White Field Studio, Santa Ana, CA, Peace in the Valley, Arleta, CA. Executive Producer: Bob Cotton. All tracks written by Phil Keaggy, except track A4 co-written with David Spurr and Richard Souther, track A5 co-written with John Mehler, track B4 co-written with Souther, and B5 co-written with Bernadette Keaggy.
Musicians: Phil Keaggy (Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Drummulator Programming), Richard Souther (Keyboards on “Riverton”), Smitty Price (Keyboards and Linn Drum programming), Rhett Lawrence (Fairlight Synth Programming), John Patitucci (Bass on “Sounds,” “Passport,” and “I Will Be There”), David Spurr (Drums on “Sounds,” “Passport,” and “I Will Be There”).
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