"The Closer You Get" is a song written by J.P. Pennington and Mark Gray and recorded by American band Exile in 1981.
[2] In addition, Rita Coolidge recorded the song for her 1981 album, Heartbreak Radio, and released her version as a single.
According to country music writer Tom Roland, the song featured "distorted guitars, a more elaborate arrangement and an altered vocal sound.
[6] A music video was filmed for the song, and has aired on CMT and Great American Country.
Country music band Little Big Town covered the song from the television special CMT Giants: Alabama.