Step One

{{For|the record label|Step One Records}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2011}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Step One

| type = studio

| artist = Steps

| cover = StepOne.jpg

| border = yes

| alt =

| released = 14 September 1998

| recorded = 1997–1998

| venue =

| studio = PWL Studios (London & Manchester)

| genre = {{hlist|Pop|dance-pop|techno-pop|disco}}

| length = 39:08

| label = Jive

| producer = {{hlist|Mark Topham|Karl Twigg|Pete Waterman|Andrew Frampton|Dan Sanders|W.I.P}}

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Steptacular

| next_year = 1999

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Step One

| type = studio

| single1 = 5,6,7,8

| single1date = 27 November 1997

| single2 = Last Thing on My Mind

| single2date = 17 April 1998

| single3 = One for Sorrow

| single3date = 31 August 1998

| single4 = Heartbeat" / "Tragedy

| single4date = 6 November 1998

| single5 = Better Best Forgotten

| single5date = 8 March 1999

}}

}}

{{Music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r462122|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]

|rev2 = Answers.com

|rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}[http://www.answers.com/topic/step-one-rock-album-1 Answers.com review]

|rev3 = DooYoo.co.uk

|rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}[http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/music-records/step-one-steps/1005812/ DooYoo.co.uk review]

}}

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 the UK Albums Chart upon its release, going on to spend 64 weeks in the chart. It was beaten to number one by This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours by Manic Street Preachers, who also beat Steps' single "One for Sorrow" to number one on the UK Singles Chart with the song "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next". In February 2000, the album was re-released in the US, containing songs from both Step One and its successor, Steptacular. The tracks "5,6,7,8", "Last Thing on My Mind", "One for Sorrow", "Heartbeat" and "Better Best Forgotten" were released as the singles in UK. In 2000, the album was certified 5× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, and has sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.

The album contains some covers; "Last Thing on My Mind" was originally released in 1992 as a single by British girl group Bananarama, while "Love U More" was originally recorded by techno/house band Sunscreem. "Experienced" was originally recorded by boybands The Bario Boys & Worlds Apart, and "Stay With Me" appears on Romeo's Daughters' self-titled début album. "Tragedy", which was recorded for a Bee Gees tribute album, was paired with "Heartbeat" as a winter holiday double A-side single (included on the group's second album, Steptacular), but is also featured as a bonus track on some international editions of this album.

The album was reissued on vinyl for the first time ever in February 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/steps-step-one-steptacular-buzz-vinyl/|title=Steps to release Step One, Steptacular and Buzz albums on vinyl|website=Official Charts|last=Smith|first=Carl|date=13 December 2023|access-date=29 February 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://retropopmagazine.com/steps-announce-long-awaited-vinyl-reissue-series-for-classic-albums/|title=Steps announce long-awaited vinyl reissue series for classic albums |website=Retro Pop Magazine|last=Gotto|first=Connor|date=14 December 2023|access-date=29 February 2024}} It debuted at number 6 on the UK Vinyl Albums Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/steps-step-one/|title=Steps - Step One|website=Official Charts|date=1 March 2024|access-date=9 March 2024}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Standard edition

| total_length =

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Steptro

| writer1 = {{flatlist|

}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Mark Topham|Karl Twigg|Waterman}}

| length1 = 0:56

| title2 = Last Thing on My Mind

| writer2 = {{flatlist|

  • Stock
  • Waterman
  • Dallin
  • Woodward

}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Topham|Twigg|Waterman}}

| length2 = 3:04

| title3 = 5,6,7,8

| writer3 = {{flatlist |

}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Topham|Twigg|Waterman}}

| length3 = 3:22

| title4 = One for Sorrow

| writer4 = {{flatlist |

}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Topham|Twigg|Waterman}}

| length4 = 4:20

| title5 = Heartbeat

| writer5 = Jackie James

| extra5 = {{hlist|Andrew Frampton|Waterman}}

| length5 = 4:24

| title6 = This Heart Will Love Again

| writer6 = {{flatlist |

  • Frampton
  • Waterman

}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Dan Sanders|Frampton|Waterman}}

| length6 = 3:48

| title7 = Experienced

| note7 = H solo

| writer7 = {{flatlist |

  • Stock
  • Waterman

}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Frampton|Waterman}}

| length7 = 3:27

| title8 = Too Weak to Resist

| note8 = H solo

| writer8 = {{flatlist |

  • Frampton
  • Waterman

}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Frampton|Waterman}}

| length8 = 3:50

| title9 = Better Best Forgotten

| writer9 = {{flatlist |

  • Frampton
  • Waterman

}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Topham|Twigg|Waterman}}

| length9 = 3:42

| title10 = Back to You

| writer10 = {{flatlist |

  • Topham
  • Twigg

}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Topham|Twigg|Waterman}}

| length10 = 4:04

| title11 = Love U More

| writer11 = {{flatlist |

  • Lucia Holm
  • Paul Cannell

}}

| extra11 = Work in Progress

| length11 = 3:57

| title12 = Stay with Me

| writer12 = {{flatlist |

}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Sanders|Waterman}}

| length12 = 4:04

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Australian bonus tracks

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title13 = One for Sorrow

| writer13 = {{flatlist |

  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Ellington

}}

| note13 = W.I.P. remix

| extra13 = {{hlist|Topham|Twigg|Waterman|W.I.P.}}

| length13 = 6:53

| title14 = Tragedy

| note14 = Hidden track

| writer14 = {{flat list |

}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Topham|Twigg|Waterman}}

| length14 = 4:30

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese bonus tracks

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title13 = Tragedy

| writer13 = {{flat list |

  • B. Gibb
  • R. Gibb
  • M. Gibb

}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Topham|Twigg|Waterman}}

| title14 = 5,6,7,8

| note14 = W.I.P. remix

| writer14 = {{flatlist |

  • Upton
  • Crosby

}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Topham|Twigg|Waterman|W.I.P.}}

| title15 = One for Sorrow

| note15 = W.I.P. remix

| writer15 = {{flatlist |

  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Ellington

}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Topham|Twigg|Waterman|W.I.P.}}

| title16 = Better Best Forgotten

| note16 = W.I.P. remix

| writer16 = {{flatlist |

  • Frampton
  • Waterman

}}

| extra16 = {{hlist|Topham|Twigg|Waterman|W.I.P.}}

}}

=American release=

Steps’ North American debut album, released in 2000, was also (somewhat confusingly) titled Step One, yet it features a different song selection than their original album of the same name. At just eleven tracks, the American edition is primarily made-up of the group’s “standout” singles, selected from both their debut album (Step One) and their second album (Steptacular).

Better Best Forgotten" was not included and replaced with the album track “Stay with Me”. The American release essentially a "best-of" collection for the first two years of Steps’ career, 1998 through 2000. The American edition also utilises the cover artwork from their original second album, Steptacular. The original mix of "One for Sorrow" was omitted in-favour of Tony Moran’s remix, the same version to receive airplay on American radio.

{{Track listing

| headline = Standard edition

| total_length =

| title1 = Tragedy

| note1 = BeeGees

| length1 = 4:30

| title2 = Say You'll Be Mine

| length2 = 3:33

| title3 = One for Sorrow

| note3 = US Mix

| length3 = 3:30

| title4 = Last Thing on My Mind

| length4 = 3:05

| title5 = 5, 6, 7, 8

| length5 = 3:23

| title6 = Stay with Me

| length6 = 4:05

| title7 = Love's Got a Hold on My Heart

| length7 = 3:20

| title8 = After the Love Has Gone

| length8 = 4:35

| title9 = Heartbeat

| length9 = 4:25

| title10 = Deeper Shade of Blue

| length10 = 4:16

| title11 = Better the Devil You Know

| note11 = Stock Aitken Waterman

| length11 = 3:48

}}

;US singles

  1. "One for Sorrow" (US Mix)
  2. "Tragedy"

Personnel

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

  • Producers:
  • Topham, Twigg and Waterman (for tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 13)
  • Frampton and Waterman (for tracks 5, 7 and 8)
  • Sanders, Frampton and Waterman (for track 6)
  • Work in Progress (W.I.P) (for tracks 11 and 13)
  • Sanders and Waterman (for track 12)
  • Engineers:
  • Chris McDonnell (for tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 and 13)
  • Dan Frampton (for tracks 5 and 7)
  • McDonnell and Frampton (for track 8 and 9)
  • Jason Barron, Martin Neary and Frampton (for track 6)
  • Paul Waterman (for track 11)
  • Barron (for track 12)

{{col-2}}

  • Mixing:
  • Work in Progress (W.I.P) (for track 1)
  • Les Sharma (for track 3)
  • Paul Waterman (for tracks 2, 11 and 12)
  • Waterman and Dan Frampton (for 4, 5, 6 and 10)
  • Frampton (for tracks 7, 8 and 9)
  • Work in Progress (W.I.P) (for track 13)
  • Assistant engineers: Bradlee/Al and Pete
  • All tracks were recorded and mixed at the PWL Studios in London and Manchester.

{{col-end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1998–2000)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{album chart|Australia|5|artist=Steps|album=Step One|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 August 2021}}
{{album chart|Flanders|1|artist=Steps|album=Step One|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 August 2021}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|33|artist=Steps|album=Step One|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 August 2021}}
{{album chart|Ireland2|8|artist=Steps|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 August 2021}}
scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web |title=Oricon Style |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/ |website=www.oricon.co.jp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308090707/http://www.oricon.co.jp/ |archive-date=March 8, 2010 |language=ja}}{{Full citation needed |date=July 2023}}

| 19

{{album chart|New Zealand|6|artist=Steps|album=Step One|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 August 2021}}
{{album chart|Scotland|4|date=19980920|album=Step One|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 August 2021}}
{{album chart|Sweden|46|artist=Steps|album=Step One|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 August 2021}}
scope="row"| Taiwanese Albums Chart[https://web.archive.org/web/19990503235158/http://ifpi.org.tw/chart/1998/intle32.htm IFPI Taiwan - International Top 10 (1998/32)]

| 9

{{album chart|UK2|2|date=19980920|album=Step One|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 August 2021}}
{{album chart|Billboard200|79|artist=Steps|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 August 2021}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2024)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| UK Vinyl Albums{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/vinyl-albums-chart/20240301/9/|title=Official Vinyl Albums Chart on 1/3/2024 1 March 2024 - 7 March 2024|website=Official Charts|date=1 March 2024|access-date=9 March 2024}}

| 6

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1998)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-1998.htm |title=ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1998 |publisher=Aria.com.au |accessdate=2012-03-10}}

| 35

scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/annualoverview.asp?year=1998 |title=Ultratop Belgian Charts |publisher=ultratop.be |accessdate=2012-03-10}}

| 4

scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19980104/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1998|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=13 August 2021}}

| 13

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1999)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1999&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 1999|publisher=Ultratop|accessdate=13 August 2021}}

| 28

scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1999-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 1999|publisher=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=13 November 2019}}

| 30

scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19990110/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1999|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=13 August 2021}}

| 16

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=Seps One|artist=Steps|type=album|award=Platinum|certyear=1998|access-date=2011-09-28}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|title=Seps One|artist=Steps|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=1998|relyear=1997|access-date=2011-09-28}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|title=Seps One|artist=Steps|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1998|certyear=1999|certmonth=3|certref={{cite journal |title=GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年3月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. March 1999 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199905.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=Japanese |location=Chūō, Tokyo |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |date=10 May 1999 |volume=474 |page=9 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122064612/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199905.pdf |archivedate=22 January 2014 |access-date=22 January 2014}}|access-date=2011-09-28}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Seps One|artist=Steps|type=album|award=Platinum|id=1999-04-09|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|refname=nzcer}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Seps One|artist=Steps|type=album|award=Platinum|number=5|id=6275-76-2|salesamount=1,402,303|salesref={{cite news|url=http://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/steps-confirm-comeback-album-tour-and-abba-penned-new-song/067712|title=Steps confirm comeback album, tour and ABBA-penned new song|last=Gumble|first=Daniel|date=6 March 2017|work=Music Week|publisher=Intent Media|access-date=6 March 2017}}|relyear=1998|access-date=2011-09-28}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Seps One|artist=Steps|type=album|relyear=1997|nocert=true|salesamount=200,000|salesref={{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BhQEAAAAMBAJ&q=s+club+7+sales&pg=PA85|title=UK Pop Acts Have To Speak New Language|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2012-04-09|date=19 May 2001}}}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|title=Seps One|artist=Steps|type=album|award=Platinum|certyear=1999|access-date=28 September 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|title=Seps One|artist=Steps|type=album|certyear=1999|nocert=yes|salesamount=2,500,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eAgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA72|title=The Secret of Jive's Success|magazine=Billboard |date=30 October 1999}}|nocat=yes|access-date=2011-09-28}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

Release history

class="wikitable"
Country

!Release date

!Format

!Label

!Catalogue

rowspan=2|United Kingdom"[http://gensteps.co.uk/archive/discography/stepone.php Release dates, editions, and chart positions of Step One]". gensteps.co.uk Retrieved 5 March 2010

|rowspan=2|14 September 1998

|Standard edition (CD)

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Jive / EBUL

|015911-2

Standard edition (cassette)

|015911-4

Australia

|14 September 1998

|Limited edition (CD + Dance routine booklet)

|align=center|Jive / Liberation

|MUSH33147-2

Hong Kong

|14 September 1998

|Limited edition (CD + VCD)

|align=center|Rock (HK)

|ROD-9115

Indonesia

|14 September 1998

|rowspan=7|Standard edition (CD)

|align=center|Zomba

|Z-CD-0110798

Netherlands

|14 September 1998

|align=center|Jive / EBUL

|015911-2

Japan

|1 January 1999

|align=center|Jive / AVEX

|AVCZ-95107

Germany

|2 March 1999

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Jive / EBUL

|

Canada

|9 July 1999

|01241-44149-2

United States

|8 February 2000

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|Jive

|01241-41688-4

Brazil

|21 August 2000

|01241-41635-2

Worldwide

| 23 February 2024

| Vinyl

References