The Doobie Brothers – One Step Closer

1980 U.S. Warner Bros. Monarch Pressing

Classic Rock / Michael McDonald Era LP

Features:

• Artist: The Doobie Brothers

• Title: One Step Closer

• Label: Warner Bros. Records – HS 3452

• Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Monarch Pressing

• Country: USA

• Released: October 1980

• Genre: Rock

• Style: Rock & Roll, Classic Rock

Tracklist:

• A1 Dedicate This Heart – 4:07 (feat. Nicolette Larson on backing vocals, co-written by Michael McDonald and Paul Anka)

• A2 Real Love – 4:18 (one of the band’s biggest 80s hits, arranged with full strings by Jimmie Haskell)

• A3 No Stoppin’ Us Now – 4:40

• A4 Thank You Love – 6:22 (written by saxophonist Cornelius Bumpus)

• B1 One Step Closer – 4:10 (title track, co-written by Carlene Carter, John McFee, Keith Knudsen)

• B2 Keep This Train A-Rollin’ – 3:29

• B3 Just In Time – 2:43

• B4 South Bay Strut (Instrumental) – 4:05

• B5 One By One – 3:47

Historical and Musical Significance:

Released in 1980, One Step Closer marked the Doobie Brothers’ final studio album of the Michael McDonald era. By this point, McDonald had transformed the group’s sound from its guitar-driven 70s rock roots into a sophisticated, keyboard-based style blending classic rock, R&B, and blue-eyed soul.

The album’s hit single “Real Love” reached the U.S. Top 5, cementing McDonald’s influence on the group’s direction. Other tracks like “Dedicate This Heart” and “One Step Closer” highlight the band’s evolving style, while “Thank You Love” showcases the contributions of new member Cornelius Bumpus.

This particular pressing, from Monarch Record Mfg. Co., is highly collectible for U.S. vinyl enthusiasts, noted by the △24836 Monarch delta symbol etched in the runouts. The LP was produced by longtime collaborator Ted Templeman (Van Halen, Little Feat) and recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders and Warner Bros. Studios.

Why Collectors Value This Album:

• Monarch Pressing (△24836) – a sought-after variation for audiophiles and collectors

• Michael McDonald Era LP – captures the Doobies’ shift toward a more soulful, polished sound

• Includes “Real Love” – one of the group’s most successful singles of the 1980s

• Classic Warner Bros. 1980 Packaging – art direction by Jim Welch with photography by Norman Seeff

• Produced by Ted Templeman – adds credibility and collectibility

Condition:

Original 1980 Monarch pressing. Vinyl and sleeve preserved in collectible condition. Specific grading details available upon request.

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