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Getting Closer (1985​/​2020 Remaster)

by Phil Keaggy - Deluxe Studio vocal albums

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Craig Opal
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Craig Opal Another classic Phil Keaggy album where it’s hard to pick just one favorite song. Too many good ones. Sounds, Movie, and Riverton are the backbone however and are must hears. Favorite track: Sounds.
sgocking
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sgocking Thank you for making this album available for purchase. I have enjoyed and been blessed by your music since I saw you in concert back in the late 1980’s at my uncles’ church. I have purchased many of your albums over the years but missed out on this one until now. God bless!
mukfire
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mukfire I have this and all of Phil's oldest albums on vinyl, but wanted them on CD or digitally as well. 'Getting Closer' was particularly hard to find which is one of my favorites of Phil's. I'm so happy to now have this remastered version through Bandcamp in so many excellent digital formats! PTL! Favorite track: Sounds.
mandr8ke
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mandr8ke I was a fan of Phil Keaggy's playing and voice, but this is the first album I owned by him. The melody of "Like and Island" is so alluring to me. Then when I heard, "Passport", I was hooked. Some lyrical sentiments shared here aren't my perspectives anymore, but for the most part the music still speaks. So great to have this album again. Favorite track: Like An Island.
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Passport 04:14
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Movie 05:01
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Sounds 06:07
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Riverton 03:55
10.
Reaching Out 04:33

about

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 teamkegworth (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 on the 1985 release.
Special thanks also to Randy George (for his co production work, bass, keys and additional lyrics on Passport 2008 which concludes Disc 2 of the Deluxe Edition) and drummer Dan Lile as well as Gene Crout (mixing and production!)
Phil Keaggy Feb 20th, 2020

1 Where Has Our Love Gone
Keys- Smitty Price
Written-By – Phil Keaggy

2 Passport
Keys -Smitty Price
Bass – John Patitucci
Drums – Dave Spurr
Written-By – Phil Keaggy

3 I Will Be There
Keys- Smitty Price
Bass – John Patitucci
Drums – Dave Spurr
Written-By – Phil Keaggy

4 Getting Closer
Keys- Smitty Price
Written-By – Dave Spurr, Phil Keaggy, Richard Souther

5 Movie
Keys- Smitty Price
Backing Vocals – John Mehler
Written-By – John Mehler, Phil Keaggy

6 Sounds
Keys- Smitty Price
Bass – John Patitucci
Drums – Dave Spurr
Written-By – Phil Keaggy

7 Like An Island
Keys- Smitty Price
Written-By – Phil Keaggy

8 Look Deep Inside
Keys- Smitty Price
Written-By – Phil Keaggy

9 Riverton
Keyboards – Richard Souther
Written-By – Phil Keaggy, Richard Souther

10 Reaching Out
Music By – Phil Keaggy
Words By – Bernadette Keaggy

Liner notes to the 1998 CD re-issue:

MEMORIES OF GETTING CLOSER 1984-1985
The years of 1980-1983 were those of slow growth, discovery, fatherhood, and in a sense, a new­found freedom. Our daughter, Alicia, was born in March of 1980. Now she is soon to be in college. The songs that l wrote reflected this turning of a corner in my life. Though the albums from the early to mid-eighties had their strengths and high points, they also revealed some musical uncertainties.

"Let Everything Else Go" was a complete musical/spiritual expression, possibly a high moment for me in 1981. Of course, by 1984 there were a number of songs that continued to express my love for Bernadette and Alicia. Olivia was born on February 1984, and by the winter of 1984, I'd written her song “Olivia” for Way Back Home.

In 1983, the album UNDERGROUND came about, a collaboration of demos recorded on a Teac 44 PortaStudio. The album, though lacking in professional recording technique, filled me nonetheless with a new confidence in the area of songwriting.

This led to the recording of GETTING CLOSER. 1984 was a busy year of touring. Spring, Summer, and Autumn tours joined me with some great brothers and players: Dave Spurr (drums), Rick Cua (bass), Richard Souther (keys), Peter York and me (guitars). Dave and Richard played on the album Getting Closer.

I remember writing the title song on the bus and demoing the tune into a Fostex X-15 four-track with Dave playing "his fingers on the pads of the drum machine, and Richard on his little practice keyboard. I'd play through a RockMan and later on the trip, Richard and I wrote RIVERTON in a hotel room.

There were various co-writers on this album: John Mehler (former drummer for Love Song-who also played on two Paul Clark and Friends albums) co-wrote MOVIE. Bernadette and I wrote REACHING OUT after she'd viewed a World Hunger program on the tele. She was so moved about the plight of innocent children and for those who suffer, that the conviction had
to be put into a song; I arranged her thoughts into melody.

WHERE HAS OUR LOVE GONE is a commentary on the state of a nation that has allowed its heart to grow cold to the stranger/immigrant, the feeble/elderly, the unwanted/the
unborn. We could still—and should—continue to ask these questions. Philip Yancey, as well as Charles Colson say it better than any short tune could ever say it.

PASSPORT was influenced by, believe it or not, a combination of Stevie Wonder and some of the fusion music of the day, like that of Bill Bruford. I was also listening a lot to Alan Holdsworth, who I believe is possibly the most fascinating guitarist I've ever heard. I have tried to balance all the influences of players into my own style, which is one of limitations, but also of adventurous exploration.

I WILL BE THERE was originally a song to Bernadette's mom, encouraging her after a surgical operation. That song also deeply affected my dear brother David, and encouraged his faith in Jesus. David is primarily responsible for getting me started on guitar back in 1961-62.

SOUNDS became a high point in the session. John Patitucci played bass on this, and two other songs, I WILL BE THERE and PASSPORT.
Along with my co-producer and keyboardist/genius Smitty Price, the jam at the latter part of the song just had this great energy. I was tracking the rhythm guitar, then kicked-in the overdrive without any stopping of the tape and played my solo live. From a sitting position to standing up, I felt as free as ever, forgetting I was in a recording studio. Again, this album was a bold musical and lyrical statement for me in the midst of the eighties.

LIKE AN ISLAND is my trying again to imitate Sir Paul. When I was young, I got quite a boost when folks would say, "You sound like ... "

LOOK DEEP INSIDE was written by way of inspiration from reading Edith Schaffer. I think her book was called Everybody Can Know. It asked a lot of questions regarding suffering in this world, but laid the responsibility on man's will and choice, not God's.

RIVERTON was written in a hotel room in Wyoming in 1984 while on tour with my friend Richard Souther.

There are a couple of bonus tracks on the Bonus Disc, both recorded at the time of the Getting Closer sessions. The first, GET UP AND GO, was written for Bernadette's aerobics class. Her voice is on the tune. Believe it or not, Ghostbusters wasn't out yet!

The second, SUNRISE, is another tune that didn't make the original album. It is a song addressed to the young, and to those disenchanted with life's troubles—a plea to not give up. Jim Keltner plays drums on this one. Well I hope you'll like this 80s offering.
It had been "out of print" for a long time now, and I'm glad it's back.
Phil Keaggy - 1998

credits

released February 20, 2020

Recorded At – Weddington Studios
Recorded At – Whitefield Studios
Recorded At – Peace In The Valley Recording
Mastered At – Future Disc

Credits
Art Direction – Ed Rother
Engineer – Bob Cotton, Bob Lockhart (2), Chris Taylor (11), Joe Bellamy, Mike Ross*, Peter Haden, Smitty Price, Terry Lang, Walter Grant*
Executive-Producer – Bob Cotton
Guitar, Bass, Drum Programming [Drumulator], Vocals – Phil Keaggy
Keyboards, Drum Programming [Linn] – Smitty Price
Management – Proper Management
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Photography By [Cover] – Lisa Powers
Producer – Phil Keaggy, Smitty Price
Programmed By [Fairlight Synth Programming] – Rhett Lawrence
Original masters baked and restored by Alex Drizos
2020 remaster by Ian Keaggy

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Phil Keaggy - Deluxe Studio vocal albums Nashville, Tennessee

Phil Keaggy is one of the most admired guitarists in music today. A master of both electric rock and acoustic finger style, he has been honing his craft for over 50 years.
He continues to sell out concerts all over the United States, with his ever-changing style, ranging from rock-and-roll to fully orchestrated instrumental compositions.
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