About The Song
Randy Owen’s tender delivery in “Close Enough to Perfect” captures the bittersweet nuance of love that is just shy of ideal, reminding us that sometimes the most profound connections are measured not by flawlessness, but by genuine feeling. Released in November 1982 as the second single from Alabama’s celebrated album The Closer You Get…, this song showcases Owen’s unmistakable baritone and the group’s skillful blending of country tradition with contemporary polish.
Penned by songwriter Carl Chambers, “Close Enough to Perfect” unfolds as an intimate confession. From the opening lyric—“She’s close enough to perfect for me”—we immediately sense Owen’s heartfelt vulnerability. The words paint a portrait of a relationship where small imperfections lend character rather than detract from affection. For listeners who have ever loved deeply, the line resonates: it’s not perfection we seek, but someone whose flaws feel like home.
The arrangement, produced by Harold Shedd alongside Alabama, underscores this emotional core with subtle instrumentation. Gentle steel guitar swells weave through a steady acoustic rhythm, while muted percussion keeps the tempo unhurried—much like a comfortable conversation between two souls. This restrained backdrop allows Owen’s voice to shine, giving each line the space to echo in the listener’s memory.
Upon its release, “Close Enough to Perfect” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, marking Alabama’s fourth consecutive chart-topper and affirming the band’s evolving influence in early 1980s country music. The single’s success also highlighted the era’s appetite for songs that balanced relatable storytelling with melodic sophistication—a hallmark of Alabama’s most enduring work.
For an audience seasoned in life’s joys and heartaches, “Close Enough to Perfect” remains both a comfort and a celebration. It reminds us that love thrives not in flawlessness, but in the warmth of shared moments—quiet mornings over coffee, reassuring embraces after a long day, and the gentle reassurance that being “close enough” can feel just right. Decades later, Randy Owen’s performance endures as a timeless classic, proving that true perfection often lies in the imperfect beauty of the human heart.
