Steptacular
Encyclopedia
Steptacular is the second studio album
by British pop
group
Steps, released in the United Kingdom
on 25 October 1999. It entered the UK Albums Chart
at number one, where it remained on the position for three weeks, selling 260,000 copies in the same time frame. "Tragedy", "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart", "After the Love Has Gone
", "Say You'll Be Mine", "Deeper Shade of Blue
" and "When I Said Goodbye
" were released as singles. Many of the songs also appeared on the track list of the US version of their debut album Step One
.
Like the group's debut album, Steptacular also contains covers, including a song originally released by female pop group Bananarama
, entitled "Movin' On" and "Deeper Shade of Blue
", originally recorded by Tina Cousins
. Unlike in Step One, their version of the Bee Gees
' "Tragedy
" was recorded in this album as a main track and not a bonus track.
It entered the UK Albums Chart at number one, selling 84,000 units in its first week—only 1,000 copies ahead of Westlife
's debut album, Westlife
, beating the Irish manband. Early UK copies of the album featured a holographic silver "STEPS" logo on front. It was also released in cardboard
and tin boxed sets, internationally.
Canadian bonus tracks
Japanese bonus tracks
, Malaysia and Taiwan
in a boxed set limited edition, containing the UK tracklist of the album and the CD single for "After the Love Has Gone".
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by British pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Steps, released in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 25 October 1999. It entered the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
at number one, where it remained on the position for three weeks, selling 260,000 copies in the same time frame. "Tragedy", "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart", "After the Love Has Gone
After the Love Has Gone
"After the Love Has Gone" is a 1979 hit single for Earth, Wind & Fire, written by David Foster, Jay Graydon, and Bill Champlin for the album I Am. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.-Reception:...
", "Say You'll Be Mine", "Deeper Shade of Blue
Deeper Shade of Blue
"Deeper Shade of Blue" is a song by British group Steps, released as the band's ninth single. The song is an uptempo pop song about the darker side of life and an attempt to break free. It was the fifth song to be released from the group's second album Steptacular...
" and "When I Said Goodbye
When I Said Goodbye
"When I Said Goodbye"/"Summer of Love" is a double A-side single, the tenth single released by Steps. "When I Said Goodbye" is a ballad taken from the album Steptacular, while "Summer of Love" is a previously unavailable track. The latter is a Latino-flavoured uptempo pop song, which later appeared...
" were released as singles. Many of the songs also appeared on the track list of the US version of their debut album Step One
Step One
Step One is the debut album by British pop group Steps. It was released in the UK and Europe on 14 September 1998. The album charted at number two on UK Albums Chart upon its release. In 2000, the album was re-released in the US, containing songs from both Step One and its successor, Steptacular...
.
Like the group's debut album, Steptacular also contains covers, including a song originally released by female pop group Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
, entitled "Movin' On" and "Deeper Shade of Blue
Deeper Shade of Blue
"Deeper Shade of Blue" is a song by British group Steps, released as the band's ninth single. The song is an uptempo pop song about the darker side of life and an attempt to break free. It was the fifth song to be released from the group's second album Steptacular...
", originally recorded by Tina Cousins
Tina Cousins
Tina Cousins is an English singer-songwriter and former fashion model. She has had five singles in the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with others. She has also achieved popularity in Australia. She started her career as a model...
. Unlike in Step One, their version of the Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
' "Tragedy
Tragedy (song)
"Tragedy" is a song recorded by the Bee Gees, included on their 1979 album Spirits Having Flown. The single reached number one in the UK in February 1979 and repeated the feat the following month on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100...
" was recorded in this album as a main track and not a bonus track.
It entered the UK Albums Chart at number one, selling 84,000 units in its first week—only 1,000 copies ahead of Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
's debut album, Westlife
Westlife (album)
Westlife is the Irish boyband Westlife's debut studio album. It was released on 1 November 1999 in the UK, and contains five singles - "Swear It Again", "If I Let You Go", "Flying Without Wings", the double A-side "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" and "Fool Again", all of which peaked at #1...
, beating the Irish manband. Early UK copies of the album featured a holographic silver "STEPS" logo on front. It was also released in cardboard
Paperboard
Paperboard is a thick paper based material. While there is no rigid differentiation between paper and paperboard, paperboard is generally thicker than paper. According to ISO standards, paperboard is a paper with a basis weight above 224 g/m2, but there are exceptions. Paperboard can be single...
and tin boxed sets, internationally.
Track listing
- "Tragedy" (Barry GibbBarry GibbBarry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
, Robin GibbRobin GibbRobin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
, Maurice GibbMaurice GibbMaurice Ernest Gibb, CBE was a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He was born on the Isle of Man, the twin brother of Robin Gibb, and younger brother to Barry. He is best known as a member of the singing/songwriting trio the Bee Gees, formed with his brothers...
) — 4:30 - "After the Love Has GoneAfter the Love Has Gone (Steps song)"After the Love Has Gone" is a song by Steps, released as their seventh single, and the third from their second album Steptacular.-Music video:...
" (Mark Topham, Karl Twigg, Lance Ellington) — 4:35 - "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" (Andrew FramptonAndrew FramptonAndrew James Ker Frampton is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back and who also has the ability to play at full-back. He currently plays for Gillingham.-Early career:...
, Pete WatermanPete WatermanPeter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
) — 3:19 - "Say You'll Be Mine" (Frampton, Waterman) — 3:33
- "I Think It's Love" (Topham, Twigg, Ellington) — 4:28
- "Make It Easy on Me" (Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, WatermanStock Aitken WatermanStock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
) — 3:34 - "Deeper Shade of BlueDeeper Shade of Blue"Deeper Shade of Blue" is a song by British group Steps, released as the band's ninth single. The song is an uptempo pop song about the darker side of life and an attempt to break free. It was the fifth song to be released from the group's second album Steptacular...
" (Topham, Twigg) — 4:16 - "Movin' On" (Stock, Waterman, Sara DallinSara DallinSara Elizabeth Dallin is an English musician mostly noted for her membership of the group Bananarama, which she co-founded with her childhood friend Keren Woodward.Dallin was born in Bristol, England...
, Keren WoodwardKeren WoodwardKeren Woodward is an English pop singer and songwriter of British girl group Bananarama, co-founded by her long time school friend Sara Dallin and Siobhan Fahey....
) — 3:29 - "Never Say Never Again" (Frampton, Waterman) — 3:51
- "When I Said GoodbyeWhen I Said Goodbye"When I Said Goodbye"/"Summer of Love" is a double A-side single, the tenth single released by Steps. "When I Said Goodbye" is a ballad taken from the album Steptacular, while "Summer of Love" is a previously unavailable track. The latter is a Latino-flavoured uptempo pop song, which later appeared...
" (Topham, Twigg) — 3:30 - "I Surrender" (Topham, Twigg) — 3:42
- "Since You Took Your Love Away" (Frampton, Waterman) — 4:35
- "My Best Friend's Girl" (Topham, Twigg, Ellington) — 3:40
- "You're Everything That Matters to Me" (Jackie James) — 4:23
Canadian bonus tracks
- 15. "Last Thing on My Mind" (Stock, Waterman, Dallin, Woodward) — 3:04
- 16. "5, 6, 7, 8" (Barry UptonBarry UptonBarry Upton is an English songwriter, arranger, musician and producer of various forms of pop music. He is also a audio engineer and stage performer having appeared around the world in various capacities.-Career:...
, Steve Crosby) — 3:22
Japanese bonus tracks
- 15. "Just Like the First Time" (Frampton, Waterman) — 3:28
- 16. "One for Sorrow" (Tony Moran's 7-inch Remix) (Topham, Twigg, Ellington) — 3:30
Australian edition
Steptacular was released in Australia with a revised track listing, including two bonus tracks.- "After the Love Has Gone" — 4:35
- "Say You'll Be Mine" — 3:33
- "Tragedy" — 4:30
- "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" — 3:19
- "I Think It's Love" — 4:28
- "Make It Easy on Me" — 3:34
- "Deeper Shade of Blue" — 4:16
- "Movin' On" — 3:29
- "Never Say Never Again" — 3:51
- "When I Said Goodbye" — 3:30
- "I Surrender" — 3:42
- "Since You Took Your Love Away" — 4:35
- "My Best Friend's Girl" — 3:40
- "You're Everything That Matters to Me" — 4:23
- "Just Like the First Time" — 3:28 (bonus track)
- "One for Sorrow" (Tony Moran's 7-inch Remix) — 3:30 (bonus track)
Limited edition boxed set
Steptacular was released in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Malaysia and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in a boxed set limited edition, containing the UK tracklist of the album and the CD single for "After the Love Has Gone".
- "After the Love Has Gone" — 4:35
- "After the Love Has Gone" (W.I.P. Mix) — 5:37
- "To Be Your Hero" (Frampton, Waterman) — 3:50
- "One for Sorrow" (Tony Moran's 7-inch Remix) — 3:30
B-sides and remixes
- "To Be Your Hero" is a B-side to "Love's Got a Hold on My HeartLove's Got a Hold on My Heart"Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" is a song by Steps, which became a hit in the United Kingdom. It was actually written in 1991 by Pete Waterman but never surfaced as a single until Steps released it eight years later in 1999.-Music video:...
". - "My Best Friend's Girl" is a B-side to "After the Love Has GoneAfter the Love Has Gone"After the Love Has Gone" is a 1979 hit single for Earth, Wind & Fire, written by David Foster, Jay Graydon, and Bill Champlin for the album I Am. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.-Reception:...
". - "Just Like the First Time" is a B-side to the double a-side "Here and Now / You'll Be SorryHere and Now / You'll Be Sorry"Here and Now"/"You'll Be Sorry" was the 13th single released by Steps, a pop group from the UK. It was their fourth double A-side release. Both tracks are taken from their third album, Buzz. It was released 28 May 2001...
". - The Tony Moran Remix of "One for Sorrow" is the US mix that appears on the US version of Step OneStep OneStep One is the debut album by British pop group Steps. It was released in the UK and Europe on 14 September 1998. The album charted at number two on UK Albums Chart upon its release. In 2000, the album was re-released in the US, containing songs from both Step One and its successor, Steptacular...
.
Personnel
- Producers:
- Topham, Twigg & Waterman (for tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11 & 13)
- Frampton & Waterman (for tracks 2, 4, 9 & 12)
- Work in Progress (W.I.P) (for tracks 6 & 8)
- Sanders & Waterman (for track 14)
- Engineers:
- Chris McDonnell (for tracks 1, 3, 5, 10 & 11)
- McDonnell & Tim "Spag" Speight (for tracks 7 & 13)
- Dan Frampton (for tracks 2, 4, 9 & 12)
- Paul Waterman (for tracks 6 & 8)
- Speight & Al Unsworth (for track 14)
- Mixing:
- Tim "Spag" Speight (for tracks 1, 5 & 7)
- Dan Frampton & Paul Waterman (for track 3)
- Frampton (for tracks 2, 4, 9, 12 & 14)
- Waterman (for tracks 6 & 8)
- Chris McDonnell (for tracks 10, 11 & 13)
- Backing vocals: Mary Carewe, Mae McKenna, Andrew FramptonAndrew FramptonAndrew James Ker Frampton is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back and who also has the ability to play at full-back. He currently plays for Gillingham.-Early career:...
, Lance Ellington, Bernadette Barlow - Assistant engineers: Al Unsworth & Roe Waterman
- Photography: Mike Owen
- Mastered by Richard DowlingRichard DowlingRichard Dowling or Dick Dowling may refer to:*Richard W. Dowling , commander at the Second Battle of Sabine Pass in the American Civil War*Dick Dowling , Irish Fine Gael politician, former TD and senator...
at Transfermation - All tracks were recorded and mixed at PWL studios in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
Chart positions and certifications
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Charts ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
25 |
| Belgian Ultratop Charts Ultratop Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts... (Flanders) |
2 |
| Irish Albums Chart Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
32 |
| Netherlands MegaCharts MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
46 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
1 |
| Country | Provider | Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
BPI British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... |
4× Platinum | 1,227,000+ |
| Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... |
IFPI | Platinum | 1,500,000+ |
End-of-year charts
| End of year chart (1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
7 |
Release history
| Country | Release date | Format | Label | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 13 October 1999 | Standard edition (CD Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... + bonus tracks) |
Jive Jive Records Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African... / AVEX |
AVCZ-95126 |
| United Kingdom | 25 October 1999 | Standard edition (CD) | Jive / EBUL EBUL EBUL is a record label belonging to Pete Waterman Ltd and Jive/Zomba.EBUL was established by Pete Waterman from the ashes of his Eastern Bloc Records and Unity record labels... |
051994-2 |
| Standard edition (cassette) | 051994-4 | |||
| Australia | 25 October 1999 | Limited edition (CD + collector card and sticker) | Jive / Zomba | 051956-2 |
| Netherlands | 25 October 1999 | Standard edition (CD) | Jive / EBUL | 051994-2 |
| Hong Kong | November 1999 | Limited edition (2 CD + cardboard boxed set) | ROD | 9145-4 |
| Taiwan | November 1999 | Limited edition (2 CD + tin boxed set) | ||
| Canada | 22 February 2000 | Standard edition (CD + bonus tracks) | Jive / EBUL | 01241-44167-2 |
| Germany | 20 March 2000 | Standard edition (CD) | ||