... Steps were only meant to produce one single ("5,6,7,8") but after sales of that single went through the roof the producers obviously saw a big money making opportunity and so started the rise and rise of steps. Here's a step by step (you knew tht was coming) guide to the album.
1. Steptro ... Read review
When he split from his 1980s buddies Stock and Aitken, those who loved pop feared that ... more
there would never be another record to come from pop svengali Pete Waterman. Then, out of the blue, came Steps, a five piece who were shockingly group-by-numbers for...
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...rise of steps. Here's a step by step (you knew tht was coming) guide to the album.
1. Steptro - A boring and rather pointless intro that we really could have done without.
2. Last thing on my mind - This is a cover of Bananaramas classic and is ultra disco-friendly. It soared to no.6 in the charts and gave steps their first top ten hit.
3. 5,6,7,8 - The first single. Went on to no.14 in the charts and ... ...single not to reach the top ten. Ok then. Unashamedly europop meets line dancing! What were they thinking?!
4. One for sorrow - And when this one reached no.2, the UK realised it had found the new sensation of the 90's. Not as fast as the previous 2 and more effort was put on Claires' fantastic vocals. Just a point to make that this has been remixed for release in the U.S in the next couple of weeks.
This was the album that started it all off for Lisa, Claire, H, Lee and Faye. All those watches, posters, keyrings, backpacks and millions of other merchandise and thingies are the result of the success of this first album. Steps were only meant to produce one single ("5,6,7,8") but after sales of that single went through the roof the producers obviously saw a big money making opportunity and so started the rise and rise of steps. Here's a step by step (you knew tht was coming) guide to the album.
1. Steptro - A boring and rather pointless intro that we really could have done without.
2. Last thing on my mind - This is a cover of Bananaramas classic and is ultra disco-friendly. It soared to no.6 in the charts and gave steps their first top ten hit.
3. 5,6,7,8 - The first single. Went on to no.14 in the charts and claimed the rather unusual title of being the highest selling single not to reach the top ten. Ok then. Unashamedly europop meets line dancing! What were they thinking?!
4. One for sorrow - And when this one reached no.2, the UK realised it had found the new sensation of the 90's. Not as fast as the previous 2 and more effort was put on Claires' fantastic vocals. Just a point to make that this has been remixed for release in the U.S in the next couple of weeks.
5. Heartbeat - And they can do ballads too. This was their christmas effort teamed up with "tradegy" (not on the album, on steptacular album instead). Big swishy vocals for a big swishy song.
6. This heart will love again - Sooooo Abba. Infact Steps were constantly refered to as the new Abba during this album , a sentiment they have managed to shake off, and this song does resemble an old Abba song. Now which one was it?
7. Experienced - This is the only song on this album in which the boys take lead vocals and quite frankly, they shouldn't have bothered. tries to be too much of an epic ballad but falls flat on it's face. Celine Dion need not worry.
8. Too weak to resist - And yet another ballad. Zzzzzzz. They dont get much drippier than this one. Next track pur-lease.
9. Better best forgotten - Now were cooking with gas. This was the fifth single to be taken off the album (they miked it a little). It reached no.2 in the popular charts and is very fast with infectous vocals from the guys and gals. A bit of an all time favourite.
10. Back to you - This clearly takes the main beat and tune from Janet Jacksons "together again", but they altered the words a little. Not as effective but a worthy effort nonetheless.
11. Love U more - One of the stand out tracks from the album. A moody, atmospheric dance beat covered by great vocals from the whole group. Lyrics are particulary good on this one too with more of a message in it than any of the others. It was one of the most popular songs they performed on their tour.
12. Stay with me - For this dripsome ballad, Lisa takes to lead vocals and tries her best and, well the girl did good. just liven it up a little and it could be passable. It is one of the better ballads though.
So apart from a few dodgy ballads, the album is quite flawless in it's offerings. The disco friendly songs are ultra catchy and will have your 75 year old grandmother on that dancefloor, nevermind you. My favourite tracks are "love U more" and "last thing on my mind" although i will always have a place in my heart for "5,6,7,8"!
It's hard to tell you to go out and buy this album because it contains a bit of everything, but if you like either big arms-waving-in-the-air type ballads or sequined europop then you will be most happy with your perchase. Might be also worth mentioning that the album reached no.2 and has sold well over a million copies, so someone must have liked the bloody thing! Hey, who would have thought they would have made it all this way?
If you are expecting a dynamic, original piece of work then this is probably not going to count among you favorite albums. Equally if you are looking for some great guitar riffs and thunderous drums then look elsewhere. What we have here is the second album release from the squeaky-clean girls and boys from Steps which is nothing more than yet another pop-album. Re-hashes of old Stock, Aitken and Waterman tracks and Bee Gees songs for example are ... ...a tribute album rather than a band’s latest album release. Original it ain’t. But then this doesn’t necessarily make it a bad album, just a sad commentary on the music industry where it is easier to re-release old and tested songs rather than run the risk that new-one might not be as popular. Is songwriting really this bad now, or is the pursuit of greater profits stifling any of the song writing talent that is out there at the ...
wampyrii 08.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Step One - Steps
Advantages: A fantastic dose of cheesy pop! Disadvantages: A couple of slushy mushy ones!
...favourite bands!
I know Step One is a really old album, but I had it on today and it brought back loads of memories of my “Steps Days!” so I thought I’d have to write a review about it!
***Steps***
Steps were a chart-topping group of 5 pop stars, 2 boys, “H” and Lee, and 3 girls, Lisa, Faye and Claire. Steps were one of the most popular groups of the late 90’s. There music was classed as pop, although most people I know say it is cheesy pop! They ... ...released!
***Step One***
Step One was released in 1998; it was the first album to be released by Steps. This album introduces the band in a personal as well as musical way!
***How To Recognise This Album***
Step One is quite easy to recognise in the shops. The cover has a white background with the words “Steps, Step One” across the top and bottom, the words at the bottom are upside down and in blue and the words at the top are upright and a kind ...
gingelou 19.01.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Step One - Steps
Advantages: Fantastic classic pop songs Disadvantages: Some boring slow ones
This was an impressive debut from the Steptastic quintet. Definitely not s good as their second effort Steptacular, but there are definitely some classics on here. The album opens with the odd Steptro, an overlong intro to Last Thing On My Mind, track two. The other singles (5,6,7,8, One For Soorow and Heartbeat) are next. The first three are all amazing pop songs that Steps are known for. Heartbeat is one half of their million selling single (Tragedy ... ...comes the weaker part of the album. This Heart Will Love Again and Too Weak To Resist are nice and memorable slow songs, but Experienced, sung chiefly by the boys is a song I would imagine Steps would rather forget, in both the musical and lyrical sense. Better Best Forgotten starts off the last leg of the album with a fantastic pace, before leading into Back To You, your average (but fantastic) pop song. Love U More is an unusual pop song, and it ...
schizochico 08.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Step One - Steps
Steps first album Step One is a very very very very very very unoriginal album. Its songs are very similar and get very very boring after listening to them three or four times. It seems so long ago that five six seven eight was released and so buying it is a total waste of time. Unless the lyrics are any interest to you then keep your hands and ears off it. This album is so bad that Steps should pay people to listen to it. So please do not not not ...
somebodyrandom 18.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Step One - Steps
Advantages: Good pop songs Disadvantages: Might be difficult to get hold of this album now
Steps were formed in 1997 and this was their debut album, which was produced by Pete Waterman. Contrary to popular belief, the group weren't put together by him. He only started producing them after their debut single.
Always good value at parties and for listening to, Steps did terrible concerts without live bands so I refused to go and see them except at roadshows and one-off charity concerts. However, I enjoyed most of their songs and I especially ... ...Here's a track listing.
1. Steptro
2. Last Thing On My Mind
3. 5,6,7,8
4. One For Sorrow
5. Heartbeat
6. This Heart Will Love Again
7. Experienced
8. Too Weak To Resist
9. Better Best Forgotten
10. Back To You
11. Love You More
12. Stay With Me
Track 1 - Steptro
A quick and rather pointless little instrumental tune which leads into track 2.
Track 2 - Last Thing On My Mind
This is a cover of a Bananarama album track and it reached ...
Mel27 14.09.2004 (22.07.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Step One - Steps
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Quality and consistency...
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Advantages: cool songs , feel good , lots of dancing Disadvantages: one or two boring songs
Stepone was Steps' first album - released in August 1998.
The album includes :
Last thing on my mind - Great get up and dance song.Faye sings the first verse , claire 2nd verse and Lisa the 3 verse with everyone singing the chorus.
5,6,7,8 - Steps' first ever single! This is a country and western song with a Lee rapping. Probably my least favourite steps song ever!
One for sorrow - Great ballad starts of slow , builds up becomes more dancy towards the end. first verse sang by claire , second verse claire and third verse claire.Claire sings the choruses as well , with a faint joining in from the rest of the band.So pretty much the whole song sang by Claire.
Heartbeat was steps first number one! It's a great feel good song.
Claire sings the first verse , Faye the second and Lisa the third.The boys join in on the chorus ...
Advantages: Experimentation/ Some more Classic singles Disadvantages: Song structures/ Politics/Religion overload/ Indulgency
for Coldplay haters allover. Deep lyrics, piano dominated, slow, eerie, slightly reminiscent of 'Amsterdam' from 'A Rush of Blood To The Head'.
'Lovers in Japan - Reign of Love' is two songs in one and I'm not sure it really works yet it is what was promised - experimentation and new directions. Lovers in Japan is an upbeat 4 minutes followed by a slow paced piano number 'Reign of Love'. Stitched together like this just fills me with thoughts of indulgency really and I'm one of the bands biggest fans.
'Yes' is much like the previous track - two tracks in one although this one doesn't possess two names. The first seven minutes with it's latin american style strings give way to a Snow Patrol-esque guitar rock number. Completely contrasting in styles and again I'm not sure what really has been achieved.
'Viva La Vida' is the best song on the album ...
Advantages: A collection of wonderful songs & boppy tunes :-) Disadvantages: None
OneStep Beyond was released in 1979 & features their huge hits OneStep Beyond, My Girl & Night Boat To Cairo, all classics that stand the test of time so well & are still just as good these days as they were at the time ! The saxaphones, heavy beats & Suggs' chirpy tones all merge into a distinctive style which is so recognisable. My personal favourite track on this album is Swan Lake, based on the Tchaikovsky suite, but with a great rock beat, just wonderful ! The other tracks are good too, there really isn't a bad one. ENJOY :-) ...
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