Although "Move Closer" failed to make an impact on the US Billboard Hot 100, the song was hugely successful in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at the top of the UK Singles Chart, making her the first black woman to top the charts in Britain with her own sole composition. The song was originally released in April 1984 but failed to chart, and was re-released in February 1985 after BBC Radio London started to play it. Move Closer also benefited from extensive airplay on the hugely successful offshore pirate station, Laser 558.
Although "Move Closer" did not achieve success in the US, it achieved significant chart success in the UK, becoming a landmark achievement for the artist as the first black woman to top the charts solo with her own composition. The song's initial release was unsuccessful but was re-released after BBC Radio London began playing it, and benefited from extensive airplay on the pirate radio station Laser 558.