Teddy Pendergrass, “Close The Door” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 64^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Close The Door” by Teddy Pendergrass.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 64^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Close The Door”, performed by 🎙 Teddy Pendergrass. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍

It’s an accomplishment when an R&B single can crossover to the pop charts.  There are some stellar R&B singles that merely dent or never come close to reaching the Billboard Hot 100.  🎙 Teddy Pendergrass, a soul musician firmly planted in the Philly soul movement, had some success on the pop charts both as a member of 🎙 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, and as a solo artist.  While Teddy never hit the top 20, he did peak at no. 25 with arguably his greatest of greatest hits, 🎵 “Close The Door”. Worth noting, “Close The Door” is Pendergrass’ sole gold single.

“Close the door / Let me give you what you’ve been waiting for,” Teddy sings, in the famous opening verse. He continues, romantically and sexily, “Baby, I’ve got so much love to give / And I wanna give it all to you.” It’s no secret Pendergrass was the ultimate sex symbol, further amplified by his commanding, soulful baritone.  Also enhancing this classic is none other than the superb songwriting and lush, refined production of 🎼 ✍ Kenneth Gamble and 🎼 ✍ Leon Huff.  These proponents of Philly soul are responsible for helming some of the great soul songs of the 1970s.  They were definitely a match made in heaven for Pendergrass, who excelled singing their masterworks.  Anyways, the reason why Pendergrass urges to ‘close the door’ is simple – S-E-X.  Sure, he has an emotional connection but it’s crystal clear that physical pleasure is a must as well.

“I waited all day long

Just to hold you in my arms

And it’s exactly what I thought it would be

Me loving you and you love me

Close the door, baby

And let me blow your mind

Plenty good lovin’ all through the night

And then again, and then again, when the morning comes.”

Final Thoughts 💭

🎵 “Close The Door” is an epic soul song that sits at the top of TP’s category.  It graces his platinum-certified sophomore album, 💿 Life Is a Song Worth Singing.  Gamble and Huff give a, dare I say, sex-positive Pendergrass a surefire bop that’s still fresh more than 40 years later. Let’s be honest – this is the perfect soundtrack for making love.

🎙 Teddy Pendergrass • 💿 Life is a Song Worth Singing • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 1978

Teddy Pendergrass, “Close The Door”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 64^th (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype, Sony Music Entertainment]