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One Step Closer
One Step Closer
Studio album by the Doobie Brothers
Released	September 17, 1980
Recorded	1980 at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood; Warner Bros. Recording Studios, North Hollywood; United Sound Recorders, Detroit; and A&R Recorders, New York
Genre	Rock
Length	37:41
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Ted Templeman
The Doobie Brothers chronology
Singles from One Step Closer
	"Real Love" / "Thank You Love"; Released: August 21, 1980; "One Step Closer" / "South Bay Strut"; Released: November 5, 1980; "Keep This Train A-Rollin'" / "Just in Time"; Released: January 28, 1981;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Robert Christgau	B−^[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[3]
The Great Rock Discography	4/10^[4]
Rolling Stone	(mixed)^[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[6]

One Step Closer is the ninth studio album by American rock band the Doobie Brothers. The album was released on September 17, 1980, by Warner Bros. Records. The album included the hit "Real Love", which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. This album is the band's last studio album with Michael McDonald in the lineup until 2014's Southbound, and also the first studio album to feature John McFee as a member of the band.

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Vocals	Length
1.	"Dedicate This Heart"	Michael McDonald, Paul Anka	McDonald	4:07
2.	"Real Love"	McDonald, Patrick Henderson	McDonald	4:18
3.	"No Stoppin' Us Now"	Patrick Simmons, McDonald, Chris Thompson	Simmons	4:40
4.	"Thank You Love"	Cornelius Bumpus	Bumpus	6:22

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Vocals	Length
5.	"One Step Closer"	Keith Knudsen, Carlene Carter, John McFee	Bumpus, McDonald	4:10
6.	"Keep This Train A-Rollin"	McDonald	McDonald	3:29
7.	"Just in Time"	Simmons	Simmons	2:43
8.	"South Bay Strut"	Chet McCracken, McFee	instrumental	4:05
9.	"One by One"	Bobby LaKind, McDonald	Simmons, McDonald	3:47

Personnel

The Doobie Brothers

Patrick Simmons – guitars, lead and backing vocals
John McFee – guitars, backing vocals
Michael McDonald – keyboards, synthesizers, lead and backing vocals
Cornelius Bumpus – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, organ, lead and backing vocals
Tiran Porter – bass
Keith Knudsen – drums, backing vocals
Chet McCracken – drums, vibraphone, marimbas

Additional personnel

Bobby LaKind – congas, bongos, backing vocals
Nicolette Larson – backing vocals on "Real Love", "Dedicate This Heart", and "Just In Time"
Patrick Henderson – keyboards on "Real Love", "One By One", and "Keep This Train A-Rollin'"
Lee Thornburg – trumpet on "South Bay Strut" and "Keep This Train A-Rollin'", flugelhorn for "Dedicate This Heart"
Chris Thompson – backing vocals on "No Stoppin' Us Now"
Ted Templeman – tambourine, cowbell, maracas, backing vocals on "One Step Closer"^[7]
Jerome Jumonville – tenor saxophone, horn arrangements on "Keep This Train A-Rollin'"
Joel Peskin – baritone saxophone on "Keep This Train A-Rollin'"
Bill Armstrong – trumpet on "Keep This Train A-Rollin'"
Jimmie Haskell – string arrangements on "Real Love" and "South Bay Strut"

Production

Producer – Ted Templeman
Production Assistant – Joan Parker
Production Coordination – Susyn Schope
Engineer – James Isaacson
Second Engineer – Gene Meros
Mastering – Kent Duncan and Tim Dennan at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA).
Photography – Norman Seeff
Art Direction and Design – Jim Welch

Charts

Chart (1980–81)	Peak position
Australian (Kent Music Report)^[8]	18
Canada (RPM)^[9]	18
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[10]	42
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[11]	22
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[12]	32
UK (Official Charts)^[13]	53
US (Billboard 200)^[14]	3