The Closer I Get to You - wikipedia The Closer I Get to You `` The Closer I Get to You '' A-side label of U.S. vinyl single Single by Roberta Flack with Donny Hathaway from the album Blue Lights in the Basement B - side `` Love Is the Healing '' Released February 1978 Format 7 '' single Recorded 1977 Genre Soul, R&B Length 4 : 41 Label Atlantic Songwriter ( s ) Reggie Lucas James Mtume Producer ( s ) Joe Ferla Rubina Flake Gene McDaniels Roberta Flack singles chronology `` 25th of Last December '' ( 1977 ) 25th of Last December1977 `` The Closer I Get to You '' ( 1978 ) The Closer I Get to You1978 `` If Ever I See You Again '' ( 1978 ) If Ever I See You Again 1978 Donny Hathaway singles chronology `` Come Little Children '' ( 1974 ) Come Little Children1974 `` The Closer I Get to You '' ( 1978 ) The Closer I Get to You1978 `` You Were Meant for Me '' ( 1978 ) You Were Meant for Me1978 `` The Closer I Get to You '' is a romantic ballad performed by African American jazz, soul, R&B, and folk singer - songwriter Roberta Flack and African American soul musician Donny Hathaway. The song was written by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, two former members of Miles Davis 's band, who were members of Flack 's band at the time. Produced by Atlantic Records, the song was released on Flack 's 1977 album Blue Lights in the Basement, and as a single in 1978. It became a major crossover hit, becoming Flack 's biggest commercial hit after her success with her 1973 solo single, `` Killing Me Softly with His Song ''. Originally set as a solo - single, Flack 's manager, David Franklin, suggested a duet with Hathaway, which resulted in the finished work. `` The Closer I Get to You '' spent two weeks as number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart in April 1978, and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The song charted in the top ten spots for fourteen weeks in Canada and one week in France. It was eventually certified gold in the United States on May 1978, and became one of their most familiar duets. Contents 1 Background and composition 2 Reception 2.1 Critical reception and accolades 2.2 Chart performance 3 Music video 4 Chart performance and certification 4.1 Weekly charts 4.2 Year - end charts 4.3 Certification 5 Beyoncé and Luther Vandross version 5.1 Reception 5.2 Formats and track listings 5.3 Credits and personnel 6 Other versions 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Background and composition `` The Closer I Get to You '' was written by Reggie Lucas and James Mtume, who were members of Roberta Flack 's touring band and played on Blue Lights in the Basement. They wrote the song between tours and, during the sessions for the album, brought it to Flack 's producer Joe Ferla, who played it for Flack. Ferla, Rubina Flake and Gene McDaniels produced the song, and Ahmet Ertegun served as its executive producer. Flack and Donny Hathaway, good friends while attending Howard University, recorded a self - titled album of duets in 1972. Five years later, the duo collaborated again on `` The Closer I Get to You ''. One of the singers Roberta Flack in 1971 `` The Closer I Get to You '' was not originally written as a duet. Flack 's manager David Franklin, who had worked with Hathaway in the past, decided to re-write the song to include him. Hathaway had been suffering from severe bouts of clinical depression at the time, which often forced him to be hospitalized. The depression also caused mood swings, which adversely affected his partnership with Flack. After Flack and Hathaway were reconciled, the producers had to get permission from the hospital to fly Hathaway out for the recording sessions. Following Hathaway 's death in 1979, Flack revealed the importance of recording the song in an interview with Jet : I tried to reach out to Donny. That 's how we managed to do the song we did last year. I felt this need because I did n't know what to do. I could n't save him, I knew he was sick. But I knew when he sat down at that piano and sang for me it was like it was eight or nine years ago because he sang and played his ass off. Flack announced that `` The Closer I Get to You '' would forever be a dedication to Hathaway, and that all money made from the song would be donated to Hathaway 's widow and two children. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony / ATV Music Publishing, `` The Closer I Get to You '' is set in common time and moves at a tempo of 90 beats per minute. The song is written in the key of A major and follows the chord progression D -- C ♯ -- F ♯ -- A. Flack sings in the vocal range of C ♯ -- F ♯. `` The Closer I Get to You '' was released as a 7 '' single with `` Love is the Healing '' as its B - side. Reception Critical reception and accolades Critics described `` The Closer I Get to You '' as Flack at the top of her form. The song came in at number 40 on Billboard ' poll of `` The 40 Biggest Duets Of All Time '', where it was described a `` tender tune ''. Authors of All Music Guide To Rock : The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul described the song as ethereal. Alan Light of Vibe magazine characterized it as intimate and effortless as an overheard conversation. Author of 1001 Ways to Be Romantic, Gregory J.P. Godek, included the song in a list of `` Best Love Song Duets ''. A writer of Jet magazine described the song as a `` pop - soul classic ''. Carolyn Quick Tillery, author of Celebrating Our Equality, described the song as a lasting musical legacy. Devon Jarvis of Women 's Health included Flack and Hathaway 's version of `` The Closer I Get to You '' in `` Favorite Karaoke Duets ''. While opening the `` R&B Vault '', Gail Mitchell of Billboard praised the song as a 1970s - era classic. While reviewing Blue Lights in the Basement, Jason Elias of the website Allmusic wrote, `` The track easily attains the grace and gorgeous sound that a lot of the like - minded songs here just miss. '' Lewis Dene of BBC described `` The Closer I Get to You '' as a `` soul masterpiece ''. Both Hathaway and Flack were nominated for a Grammy Award for their duet. Chart performance The song became the duo 's second number one on the US R&B charts in 1978, and climbed to the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100. `` The Closer I Get to You '' also peaked at number three on the Adult Contemporary charts. Music video A music video for `` The Closer I Get to You '' was shot and directed by Roberta Flack herself. The video begins with Flack 's singing while sitting by a piano in a candle - lit room. Hathaway had died by the time the music video was shot, so as his verse plays, the camera zooms into a picture of Hathaway located on a table behind Flack 's shoulder. Flack performs the rest of the song sitting by the piano, and the camera 's direction occasionally looks over a candle flame during Hathaway 's verses. The video ends with Flack 's mouthing some of Hathaway 's lyrics as she fades into the camera 's view of the room lit by a single candle. A version of Flack 's performing the song live circulated as its promotional music video. Chart performance and certification Weekly charts Chart ( 1978 ) Peak position Canadian RPM Singles Chart New Zealand Singles Chart 16 French Singles Chart 10 UK Singles Chart 42 US Hot Soul Singles US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks US Cash Box Top 100 Year - end charts Chart ( 1978 ) Rank Canada 17 US Billboard Hot 100 38 US Cash Box 31 Certification Region ( provider ) Certifications ( sales thresholds ) United States ( RIAA ) Gold Beyoncé and Luther Vandross version `` The Closer I Get to You '' Promotional material by Beyoncé and Luther Vandross from the album Dangerously in Love and Dance with My Father Released June 13, 2004 Recorded The Hit Factory, New York City Right Track Studios, New York City Genre Soul R&B Length 6 : 25 ( Luther Vandross album version ) 4 : 57 ( Beyonce album version ) Label Columbia Songwriter ( s ) Reggie Lucas James Mtume Producer ( s ) Nat Adderley, Jr. Beyoncé and Luther Vandross 's 2003 cover version of the song appeared on both Vandross ' final album Dance with My Father and Knowles ' solo debut Dangerously in Love. Their version was recorded at The Hit Factory and the Right Track Studios, in New York City. It follows a tempo of 98 beats per minute, slightly faster than the original version. It is set in the key of E ♭ major, and follows the chord progression G -- C -- E ♭ -- A ♭. It was serviced to US urban contemporary and urban adult contemporary radio on June 13, 2004. Reception Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called the song `` dated '' and wrote that it felt out of place on Dangerously in Love. Erika Ramirez of Billboard magazine also noted that `` While the singer holds her own alongside the legend, the quiet storm duet feels out of place considering the electrifying feel of majority of the album. '' Neil Drumming of Entertainment Weekly said : `` A remake of ' The Closer I Get to You ' with Luther Vandross also sounds, sadly, a little dated. '' Spence D. of IGN Music commented `` By the time Beyoncé has teamed up with the granddaddy of contemporary love jams, Luthor Vandross, on ' The Closer I Get To You ', her album has descended into somewhat generic terrain. Sure, her vocals are on point and the music is adequately slick. '' Anthony DeCurtis of Rolling Stone wrote, `` While she oozes charisma and has a fine voice, Beyoncé is n't in a class with the likes of Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey as a singer, a fact that ' The Closer I Get to You ', her duet with the effortlessly smooth Luther Vandross, also makes clear. '' Jason King of Vibe magazine wrote that Knowles had some `` cojones '' to follow up a Jay - Z duet with a Luther Vandross duet on the album 's track - listing. Rob Fitzpatrick of NME stated that `` it 's the irredeemably cheesy ballad with 80s cornball Luther Vandross that will make the voices in your head demand hot, fresh blood. '' By contrast, Lewis Dene of BBC gave the song a positive review, stating that it is guaranteed the number one slot on the US R&B charts. Consequence of Sound 's Chris Coplan noted that the song contained `` unintentional cheesy vibe, ( which ) seems way more heart - wrenching now ( in 2013 ) than it did a decade ago '' and added that Knowles ' vocals contained a `` real sweetness and innocence ''. Pamelia S. Phillips, the author of Singing for Dummies, credited Knowles ' vocal performance on `` The Closer I Get to You '' as one of her best. Mark Anthony Neal of PopMatters gave Knowles and Vandross `` vocal props '' for their performance in the `` quiet storm '', but described the overall performance as flat. During the 46th Grammy Awards, this version of `` The Closer I Get to You '' won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Knowles and Vandross ' cover of `` The Closer I Get to You '' debuted at number 76 on the US Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Singles and Tracks chart dated July 24, 2004. The next week it moved up to number 68, and on August 7 it peaked at number 62. The track spent a total of twenty weeks on the chart. On the airplay component of this chart, the Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Airplay, `` The Closer I Get to You '' spent eight weeks and reached a peak of number 60. Formats and track listings US promotional CD single `` The Closer I Get to You '' ( Radio Edit ) -- 4 : 26 `` The Closer I Get to You '' ( Instrumental ) -- 6 : 28 `` The Closer I Get to You '' ( Call Out Hook ) -- 0 : 10 Credits and personnel Credits taken from Dangerously in Love liner notes. Lead Vocals : B. Knowles, L. Vandross Background Vocals : Cissy Houston, Tawatha Agee, Brenda White - King, Candace Thomas Writing : J. Mtume, R. Lucas Recording : Stan Wallace Vocal engineer : Nat Adderley Jr., Skip Anderson Mix engineer : Ray Bardani Drums : Ivan Hampden, Jr. Bass : Byron Miller Guitars : Phil Hamilton Percussion : Bashiri Johnson Electric piano : Nat Adderley, Jr. Sound programing and additional keyboards : Skip Anderson Strings : Al Brown String Arrangement : Nat Adderley, Jr. Concert Master : Sanford Allen Producing : Nat Adderley, Jr. Other Versions `` The Closer I Get To You '' has been covered many times. The first was released by Mtume on their 1978 album Kiss This World Goodbye, sung by James Mtume and Tawatha Agee. In 1990, Toshinobu Kubota and Lynn Davis performed a live duet rendition of the song. In 1994, a cover was recorded by the smooth jazz band Fourplay for their third studio album Elixir which featured R&B and smooth jazz singers Patti Austin and Peabo Bryson. Fourplay 's cover of the song was described as an `` undistinguished version '' of the original song by Allmusic 's Steven McDonald. In 1998, Dennis Brown covered the song with Janet Kay for his compilation album The Prime of Dennis Brown. This version of the song contains digital keyboards and slick production. The song was also included on Brown 's compilation album Money in My Pocket : Anthology 1970 - 1995. In 2005, Nina Girado covered the song with Thor for her album live album Nina Live !. A writer of The Philippine Star noted that Thor `` matches Nina note for note on their duet ''. Girado 's version of the song won in the category for Best Duet Award at the Awit Awards in 2006. It was covered by Filipino acoustic band MYMP on their 2005 album Versions, with lyrics separately sung by Chin Alcantara and Juris Fernandez. Contemporary jazz guitarist Peter White covered the song on his rendition - packed album Reflections. Saxophonist Kim Waters included a version of the song on his 2007 album You Are My Lady. It features the vocals by R&B singer Lisa Fischer. On an episode of New York Undercover, guest star singers Brandy and Tevin Campbell sang the duet at Natalie 's ( a club in the TV series owned by Jose Perez character Mike Torres ). On an episode of Martin, Gina ( played by Tisha Campbell - Martin ) and singer Keith Washington performed, `` The Closer I Get to You '' at a party Gina was hosting. In the film Rush Hour 3, when Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan are at the French theater and the play has stopped, the song is sung by Tucker and Chan, with Tucker singing it in a high - pitched voice. See also List of RPM number - one singles of 1978 List of number - one R&B singles of 1978 ( U.S. ) References ^ Jump up to : Hogan, Ed. `` The Closer I Get to You ''. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 29, 2011. Jump up ^ The Closer I Get To You / Love Is The Healing ( Media notes ). Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. Atlantic Records. 1977. Jump up ^ Easlea, Daryl ( 2011 ). `` Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway Review ''. BBC Music. 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All Music Guide to Rock : The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 0 - 87930 - 653 - X. Jump up ^ Light, Alan ( November 2006 ). `` By All Means Necessary - Essential Donny Hathaway ''. Vibe. Vibe Media. p. 162. ISSN 1070 - 4701. Jump up ^ J.P. Godek, Gregory ( 2000 ). 1001 Ways to Be Romantic. Sourcebooks, Inc. p. 174. ISBN 1 - 57071 - 481 - 9. Jump up ^ `` Donny Hathaway 's Daughter, Wins New Fans With CD, ' Outrun the Sky ' ''. Jet. Vol. 107 no. 1. Johnson Publishing Company. January 10, 2005. p. 28. ISSN 0021 - 5996. Jump up ^ Quick Tillery, Carolyn ( 2003 ). Celebrating Our Equality : A Cookbook With Recipes and Remembrances from Howard University. Kensington Books. ISBN 0806525088. Jump up ^ Jarvis, Devon ( May 2007 ). `` Our Favorite Karaoke Duets ''. Women 's Health. Rodale, Inc. p. 61. ISSN 0884 - 7355. Jump up ^ `` Flyte Tyme Records Take Flight At Arista ; ' Ladies Man ' Soundtrack Opens R&B Vaults ''. Billboard. Vol. 112 no. 37. Nielsen Business Media. September 9, 2000. p. 25. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Jump up ^ Elias, Jason. `` Blue Lights in the Basement : Roberta Flack ''. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 5, 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Music - Review of Beyoncé - Dangerously In Love ''. BBC Online. BBC. Retrieved August 9, 2011. Jump up ^ Michael Cheers, D. ( April 1979 ). `` The Mysterious Death of Donny Hathaway ''. Ebony. Vol. 34 no. 6. Johnson Publishing Company. p. 62. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2002 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 - 2001. Record Research. p. 92. Jump up ^ `` Videos : Roberta Flack : The Closer I Get To You ''. Country Music Television. Retrieved August 24, 2011. Jump up ^ `` The Closer I Get to You - Roberta Flack - Music Videos ''. MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved August 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles - Volume 29, No. 8, May 20, 1978 ''. RPM. RPM Publishing Inc. Retrieved July 5, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway - The Closer I Get to You ''. New Zealand Singles Chart. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Song artist 409 - Roberta Flack ''. Tsort.info. Retrieved August 9, 2011. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Top R&B / Hip - Hop Singles : 1942 - 2004. Record Research. p. 206. Jump up ^ `` Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada ''. Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 13. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1978 / Top 100 Songs of 1978 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 13. Jump up ^ http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1978YESP.html ^ Jump up to : Dangerously in Love ( Media notes ). Sony Music BMG Entertainment. 2003. Jump up ^ `` The Closer I Get to You sheet music ( Digital Download ) ''. Musicnotes.com. Scarab Publishing Corporation. Jump up ^ `` R&R Going for Adds : Urban ''. Radio & Records. June 13, 2004. Retrieved August 23, 2013. Jump up ^ `` R&R Going for Adds : Urban ''. Radio & Records. June 13, 2004. Retrieved August 23, 2013. 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Jump up ^ `` Luther Vandross ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 16, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Beyonce Knowles The Closer I Get To You USA Promo CD single ( CD5 / 5 '' ) ( 326185 ) ``. eil.com. Retrieved April 18, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Kiss This World Goodbye : Mtume ''. Amazon.com ( UK ). Amazon Inc. Retrieved July 5, 2012. Jump up ^ Hamilton, Andrew. `` Kiss This World Goodbye - Mtume ''. Allmusic. Robi Corporation. Retrieved July 5, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Music - Kiss This World Goodbye by Mtume ''. iTunes Store ( US ). Apple Inc. Retrieved July 5, 2012. Jump up ^ `` 久保田 利伸 &Lynn Davis ~ THE CLOSER I GET TO YOU ~ ''. Youtube. Retrieved November 17, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Elixir : Fourplay ''. Amazon.com ( UK ). Amazon Inc. Retrieved August 8, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Fourplay 's The Closer I Get to You cover of Roberta Flack feat. Donny Hathaway 's The Closer I Get to You ''. WhoSampled. Retrieved August 9, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Elixir - Fourplay ''. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. 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External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Roberta Flack Studio albums First Take ( 1969 ) Chapter Two ( 1970 ) Quiet Fire ( 1971 ) Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway ( 1972 ) Killing Me Softly ( 1973 ) Feel Like Makin ' Love ( 1975 ) Blue Lights in the Basement ( 1977 ) Roberta Flack ( 1978 ) Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway ( 1980 ) I 'm the One ( 1982 ) Born to Love ( 1983 ) Oasis ( 1988 ) Set the Night to Music ( 1991 ) Roberta ( 1994 ) The Christmas Album ( 1997 ) Holiday ( 2003 ) Live albums Live & More ( 1980 ) At Her Best -- Live ( 2008 ) Soundtrack albums Bustin ' Loose ( 1981 ) Compilation albums The Best of Roberta Flack ( 1981 ) Greatest Hits ( 1984 ) Softly with These Songs : The Best of Roberta Flack ( 1993 ) The Very Best of Roberta Flack ( 2006 ) Singles `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' `` Where Is the Love '' `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' `` Feel Like Makin ' Love ( Roberta Flack song ) '' `` The Closer I Get to You '' `` If Ever I See You Again '' `` Making Love '' `` Tonight, I Celebrate My Love '' `` Oasis '' `` Uh - Uh Ooh - Ooh Look Out ( Here It Comes ) '' Related articles Discography Donny Hathaway Donny Hathaway Studio albums Everything Is Everything Donny Hathaway Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway Extension of a Man Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway Live albums Live These Songs for You, Live ! Soundtrack album Come Back, Charleston Blue Singles `` The Ghetto '' `` This Christmas '' `` You 've Got a Friend '' `` You 've Lost That Lovin ' Feelin ' '' `` Giving Up '' `` Where Is the Love '' `` The Closer I Get to You '' Related articles Lalah Hathaway Beyoncé songs Discography Dangerously in Love `` Crazy in Love '' `` Naughty Girl '' `` Baby Boy '' `` Me, Myself and I '' `` The Closer I Get to You '' `` Dangerously in Love 2 '' `` Daddy '' Live at Wembley `` What 's It Gonna Be '' `` Wishing on a Star '' B'Day `` Déjà Vu '' `` Get Me Bodied '' `` Suga Mama '' `` Upgrade U '' `` Ring the Alarm '' `` Kitty Kat '' `` Freakum Dress '' `` Green Light '' `` Irreplaceable '' `` Resentment '' `` Check on It '' `` Beautiful Liar / Bello Embustero '' `` Welcome to Hollywood '' `` Flaws and All '' `` Still in Love ( Kissing You ) '' `` Listen '' `` Amor Gitano '' I Am... Sasha Fierce `` If I Were a Boy '' `` Halo '' `` Broken - Hearted Girl '' `` Ave Maria '' `` Single Ladies ( Put a Ring on It ) '' `` Radio '' `` Diva '' `` Sweet Dreams '' `` Video Phone '' `` Ego '' `` Honesty '' `` Why Do n't You Love Me '' `` Poison '' `` 1 + 1 '' `` I Care '' `` I Miss You '' `` Best Thing I Never Had '' `` Party '' `` Rather Die Young '' `` Start Over '' `` Love On Top '' `` Countdown '' `` End of Time '' `` I Was Here '' `` Run the World ( Girls ) '' `` Lay Up Under Me '' `` Schoolin ' Life '' `` Dance for You '' Beyoncé `` Pretty Hurts '' `` Haunted '' `` Drunk in Love '' `` Blow '' `` No Angel '' `` Partition '' `` Jealous '' `` Rocket '' `` Mine '' `` XO '' `` Flawless '' `` Superpower '' `` Heaven '' `` 7 / 11 '' `` Ring Off '' Lemonade `` Pray You Catch Me '' `` Hold Up '' `` Do n't Hurt Yourself '' `` Sorry '' `` 6 Inch '' `` Daddy Lessons '' `` Love Drought '' `` Sandcastles '' `` Forward '' `` Freedom '' `` All Night '' `` Formation '' As featured artist `` ' 03 Bonnie & Clyde '' `` Feeling Myself '' `` Fighting Temptation '' `` Hollywood '' `` Hymn for the Weekend '' `` I Got That '' `` Just Stand Up ! '' `` Lift Off '' `` Love a Woman '' `` Love in This Club Part II '' `` Part II ( On the Run ) '' `` Put It in a Love Song '' `` Runnin ' ( Lose It All ) '' `` Say Yes '' `` See Me Now '' `` Shining '' `` Telephone '' `` Until the End of Time '' `` What More Can I Give '' `` Family Feud '' `` Mi Gente '' Other songs `` A Woman Like Me '' `` All I Could Do Was Cry '' `` At Last '' `` Back to Black '' `` Crazy in Love ( Remix ) '' `` Die with You '' `` Fever '' `` God Bless the USA '' `` I 'd Rather Go Blind '' `` In da Club ( Sexy Lil Thug ) '' `` One Night Only '' `` Summertime '' `` Work It Out '' Book Template WikiProject Luther Vandross Studio albums Never Too Much Forever, for Always, for Love Busy Body The Night I Fell in Love Give Me the Reason Any Love Power of Love Never Let Me Go Songs This Is Christmas Your Secret Love I Know Luther Vandross Dance with My Father Compilation albums The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love One Night with You : The Best of Love, Volume 2 Love Is on the Way Always & Forever : The Classics Greatest Hits Super Hits Smooth Love The Ultimate Luther Vandross Stop to Love The Very Best of Love The Essential Luther Vandross Artist Collection Love, Luther Lovesongs Holiday Albums This Is Christmas Live albums Live Radio City Music Hall 2003 Live Video DVDs Luther Vandross : Live at Wembley ( 1989 ) Always and Forever : An Evening of Songs ( 1994 ) Other albums Luther ( Luther ) This Close to You ( Luther ) The Glow of Love ( Change ) Singles `` Never Too Much '' `` Do n't You Know That ? '' `` If This World Were Mine '' ( with Cheryl Lynn ) `` '' Bad Boy `` / '' Having a Party '' `` Since I Lost My Baby '' `` How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye '' ( with Dionne Warwick ) `` I 'll Let You Slide '' `` Superstar '' / `` Until You Come Back to Me ( That 's What I 'm Gonna Do '' ( medley ) `` ' Til My Baby Comes Home '' `` It 's Over Now '' `` Wait for Love '' `` Give Me the Reason '' `` Stop to Love '' `` There 's Nothing Better Than Love '' ( with Gregory Hines ) `` I Really Did n't Mean It '' `` Any Love '' `` She Wo n't Talk to Me '' `` For You to Love '' `` Here and Now '' `` Power of Love / Love Power '' ( medley ) `` Do n't Want to Be a Fool '' `` The Rush '' `` Sometimes It 's Only Love `` The Best Things in Life Are Free '' ( with Janet Jackson ) `` Little Miracles ( Happen Every Day ) '' `` Heaven Knows '' `` Never Let Me Go '' `` Endless Love '' ( with Mariah Carey ) `` Always and Forever '' `` Love the One You 're With '' / `` Going in Circles '' `` Your Secret Love '' `` I Can Make It Better '' `` Nights in Harlem '' `` Take You Out '' `` I 'd Rather '' `` Dance with My Father '' `` Think About You '' `` Buy Me a Rose `` Shine '' Related articles Luther Vandross discography Change ( band ) Luther ( group ) List of Luther Vandross tours Forever, for Always, for Luther So Amazing : An All - Star Tribute to Luther Vandross Forever, for Always, for Luther Volume II Book : Luther Vandross Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Closer_I_Get_to_You&oldid=806275030 '' Categories : 1970s ballads 1978 singles 2003 singles Roberta Flack songs Donny Hathaway songs Beyoncé songs Luther Vandross songs Songs written by Reggie Lucas Billboard Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs number - one singles RPM Top Singles number - one singles Vocal duets Pop ballads Rhythm and blues ballads Soul ballads 1977 songs Songs written by James Mtume Atlantic Records singles Hidden categories : Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from August 2013 Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Music infoboxes with unknown value for type Talk Contents About Wikipedia Français Македонски Polski Português Simple English Türkçe Edit links This page was last edited on 20 October 2017, at 22 : 13. 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Question: who wrote the closer i get to you
Answer: James Mtume