Al Ham
Move Closer To Your World [RELEASE DATE: 5/9/2025]

CATALOG: EHS-113
RELEASE DATE: 5/9/2025

This item is a pre-order. It will ship or be available for pickup near the street date. Some items (like exclusives third-party labels) do not arrive at our offices until near the release date, so please expect that pre-orders will NOT arrive by release date. For any orders that contain pre-orders, all items will be held until every item from the order is available to ship.

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“Move Closer to Your World” can only be described as an iconic anthem that has been beloved by Philadelphians for generations. Primarily known as the theme song to 6ABC Action News throughout the Philadelphia region, “Move Closer to Your World” is a stunning pop/soul production from the golden age of recording in its own right. The full theme, as well as several never-before-heard, hand selected alternate versions, are finally seeing commercial release for the first time ever courtesy of Eraserhood Sound.

Originally commissioned by ABC executive Walter Liss, he wanted to capture the spirit of the legendary “Buy the World a Coke” ad campaign. In 1974, he recruited the producer and composer behind the song, Al Ham, who set to work bringing Liss’s idea to life. Ham went on to record an entire news suite package, filled with a number of different arrangements and moods. He also enlisted the same singers from the “Buy the World a Coke” ads, The Hillside Singers. He would touch on pop, soul, orchestral, library, funk, lounge, and jazz. The stunning results speak for themselves.

“Move Closer to Your World” has been an unofficial anthem for Philadelphia since it was adopted by ABC in the 70s. Surprisingly, it has never seen either a physical or digital commercial release. That is, until now. Vincent John and Maxwell Perla of
Eraserhood Sound were able to connect with the late Al Ham’s son Sean, who was instrumental in tracking down the original master tapes. Sean was able to rescue the master tapes from destruction from an old barn in upstate New York where they were being stored. The first trip actually yielded the wrong master tapes, requiring a second trip that was made just in the nick of time before everything else in the barn was destroyed. From there, the EHS team brought the tapes to audio expert Toby Seay at Drexel University to extract the material. It was a true joy to listen through dozens of Al Ham’s arrangements in crystal clear definition for the first time. The

Eraserhood Sound team hand-selected the best, most moving alternate versions, and have included them in this long-overdue package. The selections were mastered by Grammy nominated Philadelphia mastering engineer Ryan Schwabe. Eraserhood Sound is enormously proud to share this music with the world for the first time. In addition to a digital release, an extremely limited edition 7” vinyl is also being offered. Featuring handmade artwork from local legend Perry Shall, you absolutely do not want to miss this one. Grab your copy while supplies last to show you are a real Philadelphia OG.  And while you are listening, be sure to listen extra close to the lyrics, which are all about coming together, seeing the good in each other, and loving humanity. Fifty years later, we need Al Ham and Walter Liss’ message more now than ever. 

SIDE A
Move Closer To Your World 

SIDE B 
Move Closer To Your World (Riviera Version)
Move Closer To Your World (Chamber Version)