Close to You (Maxi Priest song)

"Close to You"
Single by Maxi Priest
from the album Bonafide
B-side	"I Know Love" "Sure Fire Love"
Released	1990
Genre	Pop dance-pop R&B soul reggae new jack swing
Length	5:25 (album version) 3:59 (radio mix)
Label	10
Songwriters	Maxi Priest Gary Benson Winston Sela
Producers	Handel Tucker Geoffrey Chung Lowell "Sly" Dunbar
Maxi Priest singles chronology
"Goodbye to Love Again" (1988) "Close to You" (1990) "Peace Throughout the World" (1990)
Music video
"Close to You" on YouTube

"Close to You" is a song by English reggae singer Maxi Priest, released in 1990 by 10 Records as the lead single from his fifth album, Bonafide (1990). It was written by Priest with Gary Benson and Winston Sela, and produced by Handel Tucker, Geoffrey Chung and Lowell "Sly" Dunbar. "Close to You" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, and number seven on the UK Singles Chart. Its accompanying music video was directed by Geoffrey Barish.

Critical reception

Ron Wynn from AllMusic said the song "is more pop/R&B with a reggae touch than it is real reggae." ^[1] A reviewer from Music & Media commented, "After a tougher than normal start, this song quickly becomes another Maxi Priest single like all the others. Nice melody and well sung." ^[2] David Giles from Music Week wrote, "A discernible step in the soul direction from the reggae maestro. Though the emphasis is still firmly on melody and honeyed vocals, the rhythm leans dancefloor-wards. Very commercial." ^[3] Troy L. Smith of cleveland.com called it "the mellowest new jack swing song you'll ever hear", ^[4] while Tom Breihan of Stereogum classified it as dance-pop. ^[5]

Music videos

The music video for "Close to You", directed by Geoffrey Barish, ^[6] features Priest singing while the background features people in Egypt. There is also a second version, which takes place inside of a soundstage.

Track listings

• 7-inch single and cassette single

1. "Close to You" (Radio Mix) – 3:59
2. "I Know Love" featuring Tiger – 4:07

• 12-inch maxi-single

1. "Close to You" (Phil Bodger Main Body Mix) – 5:28
2. "Close to You" (Leo Grant Bad-Ass Mix) – 6:00
3. "Close to You" (Leo Grant Acappella & Drum Mix) – 5:56
4. "Close to You" (Phil Bodger Radio Mix) – 3:59
5. "Close to You" (Phil Chill's Rap Sensation) – 6:08
6. "Close to You" (Bodger's bonus beats) – 4:03
7. "I Know Love" – 4:07

• CD maxi-single

1. "Close to You"
2. "Close to You" (Extended Version)
3. "I Know Love"
4. "Close to You" (Phil Chill's Rap Sensation Mix featuring Darren Deere)

• CD maxi-single – Remixes

1. "Close to You" (Phill Chill's Rap Sensation) – 6:08
2. "Close to You" (Bodger's Radio Edit) – 4:06
3. "I Know Love" (Steven Stanley Jamaican Mix) – 5:06
4. "Sure Fire Love" – 3:55

• 12-inch maxi-single – Remixes

1. "Close to You" (Phill Chill's Rap Sensation) – 6:08
2. "Close to You" (Bodger's Radio Edit) – 4:06
3. "I Know Love" (Steven Stanley Jamaican Mix) – 5:06
4. "Sure Fire Love" – 3:57

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1990) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [7] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [8] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [9] 9 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [10] 6 Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) [11] 11 Canada Dance/Urban ( RPM ) [12] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [13] 18 France (SNEP) [14] 49 Germany (GfK) [15] 4 Greece (IFPI) [16] 2 Ireland (IRMA) [17] 26 Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg) [18] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [19] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [20] 5 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [21] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [22] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [23] 10 UK Singles (OCC) [24] 7 US Billboard Hot 100 [25] 1 US 12-inch Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [26] 9 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [27] 15 US Dance Club Play ( Billboard ) [28] 12 US Hot R&B Singles ( Billboard ) [29] 2 US Cash Box Top 100 [30] 4

Year-end charts Chart (1990) Position Australia (ARIA) [31] 36 Belgium (Ultratop) [32] 93 Canada Top Singles (RPM) [33] 67 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM) [34] 18 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [35] 38 Germany (Media Control) [36] 29 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [37] 20 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [38] 55 New Zealand (RIANZ) [39] 7 Sweden (Topplistan) [40] 21 US Billboard Hot 100 [41] 17 US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) [42] 30 US Cash Box Top 100 [43] 14

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [31]	Gold	35,000^
Sweden (GLF) [44]	Gold	25,000^
United States (RIAA) [45]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	1990	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD	10
Australia	11 June 1990	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl cassette	10 Virgin	[46]
Japan	21 July 1990	Mini-CD		[47]

Cover versions

In 2003, trance act Origene covered the song. In 2004, American boy band B3 covered the song on their album Living for the Weekend, which also features Maxi Priest on backing vocals. In 2006, Puerto Rican reggaeton group Pachanga covered the song on their album Recontra locos latinos and released it as their second single. In the same year, Dutch singer Jay Delano of hip hop duo R'n'G fame covered the song and released it as his debut solo single of his debut solo album Close to You, released in 2007. In 2014, US group the Uptown Band released a contemporary jazz version of the song which appears on the group's full-length CD Heart, Soul, Body & Mind.

References

1. Wynn, Ron. "Maxi Priest – Bonafide". AllMusic . Retrieved 4 November 2020.
2. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . 23 June 1990. p. 16. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
3. Giles, David (26 May 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week . p. 21. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
4. Smith, Troy L. (21 October 2020). "Every No. 1 song of the 1990s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
5. Breihan, Tom (6 October 2021). "The Number Ones: Maxi Priest's "Close To You". Stereogum . Retrieved 9 December 2023.
6. Bessman, Jim (12 May 1990). "Charisma to Emphasize Videos". Billboard . Vol. 102, no. 19. p. 64.
7. "Maxi Priest – Close to You". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
8. "Maxi Priest – Close to You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
9. "Maxi Priest – Close to You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1361". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
11. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7747". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
12. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 1350". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
13. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 40. 6 October 1990. p. 11. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
14. "Maxi Priest – Close to You" (in French). Le classement de singles.
15. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name.
16. "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 39. 29 October 1990. p. VII. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Maxi Priest". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
18. Radio Luxembourg Singles. 8 July 1990.
19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Maxi Priest" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
20. "Maxi Priest – Close to You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
21. "Maxi Priest – Close to You". Top 40 Singles.
22. "Maxi Priest – Close to You". Singles Top 100.
23. "Maxi Priest – Close to You". Swiss Singles Chart.
24. "Official Singles Chart on 7/7/1990 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
25. "Billboard Hot 100" . Billboard . 6 October 1990. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
26. "Dance Singles Sales" . Billboard. 20 October 1990. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
27. "Adult Contemporary" . Billboard. 3 November 1990. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
28. "Dance Club Songs" . Billboard. 8 September 1990. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
29. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" . Billboard. 20 October 1990. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
30. Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996
31. "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1990". ARIA . Retrieved 13 July 2020.
32. "Jaaroverzichten 1990" (in Dutch). Ultratop . Retrieved 13 July 2020.
33. "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM . Retrieved 3 March 2020– via Library and Archives Canada.
34. "Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1990". RPM. Retrieved 3 March 2020– via Library and Archives Canada.
35. "Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. 22 December 1990. p. 60. OCLC   29800226 . Retrieved 15 January 2020– via World Radio History.
36. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1990" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved 18 March 2021.
37. "Single top 100 over 1990" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
38. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). MegaCharts . Retrieved 13 July 2020.
39. "End of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 3 March 2020.
40. "Årstopplistan 1990, Singlar" (in Swedish). Grammotex. Archived from the original on 16 February 2001. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
41. "Billboard Top 100 – 1990". Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
42. "The Year in Music 1990: Top R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 51. 22 December 1990. p. YE-22.
43. "Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box . Vol. LIV, no. 22. 29 December 1990. p. 9. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
44. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
45. "American single certifications – Maxi Priest – Close to You". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 2 September 2024.
46. "New Release Summary: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 22. 10 June 1990. p. 19.
47. "マキシ・プリースト | クロース・トゥ・ユー" [Maxi Priest | Close to You] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 13 September 2025.