Step to the Rear (album)

Discovered by television personality Steve Allen, Marilyn Maye soon signed a recording contract with RCA Victor. Her debut studio album, Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye followed in 1965. The label would release a series of studio recordings of Maye's material during the 1960s.{{cite journal |last1=Loudon |first1=Christopher |title=Marilyn Maye |journal=JazzTimes |date=April 26, 2019 |url=https://jazztimes.com/features/columns/marilyn-maye/ |access-date=29 May 2023}} Maye's commercial popularity peaked during this period after recording songs that would be featured in Broadway shows. Among these Broadway tunes was "Step to the Rear", which was taken from the musical How Now Dow Jones.{{cite web |title=Maye Time |url=https://www.theatermania.com/news/maye-time_10314/ |website=Theater Mania |access-date=11 June 2023}} The song's popularity would inspire Maye's next studio album of the same name.{{cite journal |last1=Maye |first1=Marilyn |title=Step to the Rear (Disc Information) |journal=RCA Victor |date=November 1967 |id=LMP-3897 (Mono); LSP-3897 (Stereo)}}

Step to the Rear was produced by Joe René. The album project was recorded at RCA Studio A and RCA Studio B in New York City. It also featured arrangements by Jimmy Wisner and Don Sebesky.{{cite web |title=Cabaret Singer Marilyn Maye Discography |url=https://marilynmaye.com/marilyn-maye-discography.aspx |website=Marilyn Maye.com |access-date=21 June 2023}} The album was a collection of 11 tracks.{{cite web |title=Step to the Rear: Marilyn Maye: Songs, reviews, credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/step-to-the-rear-mw0003169118 |website=AllMusic |access-date=21 June 2023}} Along with its title track, several other tracks were taken from Broadway musicals. Among them were the title tunes from Golden Rainbow and Mame. Also included were covers of pop songs that had reached the Billboard top ten. Among them were Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe", Jackie DeShannon's "What the World Needs Now Is Love" and Petula Clark's "Don't Sleep in the Subway".{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn, Top Pop Singles 1955-1999 |date=2000 |publisher=Record Research |location=Menomonee Falls, WI |page=various}}

Step to the Rear was originally released by the RCA Victor label in November 1967. It was offered as a vinyl LP in both mono and stereo versions. Six tracks were included on "Side A" while five tracks were included on "Side B". It was Maye's fifth studio album in her career and the fourth released by RCA. In later years, it was re-released digitally and made available as either a music download or for streaming purposes.{{cite web |title=Step to the Rear by Marilyn Maye |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/step-to-the-rear/1270500052 |website=Apple Music |access-date=21 June 2023}} In its original release, Step to the Rear was among 22 albums issued by RCA Victor in the later half of 1967. Cashbox magazine named the album among the "most popular" releases of the year.{{cite magazine |title=RCJ% Marketing 22 Rlbums, 14 Tapes For December |magazine=Cashbox |date=December 2, 1968 |page=48 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/60s/1967/CB-1967-12-02-OCR-Page-0048.pdf#search=%22marilyn%20maye%20step%20to%20the%20rear%20lp%22 |access-date=21 June 2023}} Billboard magazine gave Step to the Rear its December 1967 review. "The music is class 'A' programming for radio and best of all, class 'A' listening," the publication concluded. The only single from the album was the title track, which RCA first issued in October 1967.{{cite journal |last1=Maye |first1=Marilyn |title="Step to the Rear"/"For Those in Love" (7" vinyl single) |journal=RCA Victor |date=October 1967 |id=47-9347}} It became Maye's third top ten single on the American Billboard adult contemporary chart, peaking at the number two position in January 1968.{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961-2006 |date=2007 |publisher=Record Research, Inc. |isbn=978-0898201697 |page=362}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Step to the Rear

| writer1 = {{hlist|Bernstein|Leigh}}

| length1 = 1:59

| note1 = from the musical production How Now Dow Jones

| title2 = Don't Sleep in the Subway

| writer2 = {{hlist|Hatch|Trent}}

| length2 = 2:59

| title3 = Ode to Billy Joe

| writer3 = Gentry

| length3 = 4:27

| title4 = What Now My Love

| writer4 = {{hlist|Bécaud|Delanoë|Sigman}}

| length4 = 3:31

| title5 = Sunny

| writer5 = Hebb

| length5 = 2:46

| title6 = Golden Rainbow

| writer6 = Marks

| length6 = 2:41

| note6 = from the Broadway musical production Golden Rainbow

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side two

| title1 = Mame

| writer1 = Herman

| length1 = 2:44

| note1 = from the Broadway musical Mame

| title2 = I Will Wait for You

| writer2 = {{hlist|Gimbel|Legrand}}

| length2 = 2:57

| note2 = from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

| title3 = What the World Needs Now Is Love

| writer3 = {{hlist|Bacharach|David}}

| length3 = 3:10

| title4 = Watch What Happens

| writer4 = {{hlist|Gimbel|Legrand}}

| length4 = 3:18

| note4 = from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

| title5 = A Certain Girl

| writer5 = {{hlist|Ebb|Kander}}

| length5 = 2:18

| note5 = from the musical production The Happy Time

}}

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Step to the Rear.

• Gregory John – Liner photos
• Martin Portley – Liner photos
• Joe René – Producer
• Don Sebesky – Arrangement
• Bob Simpson – Recording engineer
• Don Thomas – Cover photo
• Jimmy Wisner – Arrangement

{{reflist}}

{{Marilyn Maye}}

Category:1967 albums

Category:Albums arranged by Don Sebesky

Category:Marilyn Maye albums

Category:RCA Victor albums