Step by Step is the fourth studio album by American boy bandNew Kids on the Block, released in June 1990 via Columbia Records. The album followed the group's previous success with Hangin' Tough (1988) and marked an effort to maintain and expand their popularity through a mix of pop, dance, and ballad-oriented tracks. It was accompanied by a significant marketing campaign and supported by a worldwide tour.
The album was a commercial success, debuting at number one on both the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart. It produced several singles, including the title track "Step by Step", which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. The group also released a concert video under the same name, Step by Step, to further promote the album.
Despite its commercial performance, the album received mixed critical reception. While some reviewers acknowledged its production value and appeal to teen audiences, others criticized the album for its formulaic content and perceived lack of innovation. The group's marketing approach and image were also topics of discussion among critics.
Background and release
Following the massive success of Hangin' Tough, Step by Step was seen as an opportunity for New Kids on the Block to reinforce their dominance in the pop music scene. Columbia Records anticipated strong sales and reportedly ordered more than two million copies of the album prior to its release.[3] Simultaneously with the release of the album, CBS Music Video put out the group's third home video, also called Step by Step, which had more than 500,000 advance orders, becoming the largest initial shipment of home videos of the company.[3] In Brazil, the VHS sold over 10,000 copies, becoming a success in the country.[4]
The single "Step by Step" became the group's biggest hit, spending three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and helping propel the album to multi-platinum status in both the United States and internationally.
As part of a broad merchandising strategy, the album's release coincided with a wide range of branded products, including pillowcases, dolls, trading cards, and their Saturday morning cartoon with their name and likeness.[3] The group embarked on a major tour called The Magic Summer Tour to promote the album, aiming to solidify their global presence.
Musical style and themes
Musically, Step by Step includes a blend of upbeat pop tracks, dance songs, and ballads. The production incorporates elements such as disco strings, reggae inflections, and rock-inspired guitar riffs. Tracks like "Games" reflect a tougher edge, influenced by the group's Boston origins and their association with producers and musicians from the area. Other songs, such as "Tonight", draw inspiration from artists like Paul McCartney and explore themes of transition and maturity.[5]
The album features both group and solo performances. Members such as Jordan Knight and Donnie Wahlberg take lead vocals on various tracks, allowing for a more diversified vocal presentation.[6] Lyrics across the album address themes ranging from romantic longing to personal affirmation, with songs like "Baby, I Believe in You" and "Let's Try It Again" highlighting the group's emphasis on emotional expression.[5]
Despite the use of a wide array of musical styles—including ballads, reggae, and doo-wop-inspired songs like "Happy Birthday"—critics noted that the album's production maintained a strong focus on mainstream appeal. This focus, driven largely by marketing considerations, led to a sound that some described as synthetic or calculated.[5][6]
Step by Step received a mixed response from critics upon its release. According to AllMusic, some tracks were noted for their attempt at a more serious or harder-sounding tone, but the album as a whole did not replicate the success of previous hits like "Hangin' Tough". The title track achieved commercial success and topped the charts, yet reviewers expressed skepticism about the artistic direction of the overall project.[7]
Entertainment Weekly offered a more detailed critique, suggesting that the album was primarily structured around its commercial function rather than any particular musical innovation. The magazine noted the formulaic nature of the songs, which it argued were designed to appeal specifically to teenage girls, and criticized the superficial lyrical content and synthetic production techniques. The review highlighted "Stay With Me Baby" as an example of reggae influence but remarked that it lacked authenticity and grit.[5]
In a comprehensive review by Rolling Stone, the album was analyzed in the context of the group's image and industry strategy. The critic pointed out that New Kids on the Block relied heavily on pre-set roles and targeted marketing, with little variation in musical content. Songs such as "Call It What You Want" were described as attempts to introduce R&B and soul elements into the group's sound, though the review argued that these efforts felt forced and market-driven rather than organic. The same review acknowledged that while the group's vocal arrangements and harmonies were polished, they rarely strayed from a commercially safe formula.[6]
35th Anniversary edition
The group released a 35th Anniversary edition of the album on June 13, 2025. The album contains thirteen bonus tracks which include two unreleased songs along with live and remix versions of some of the songs. Some of the remixes can also be found on No More Games/The Remix Album. The album was also released on vinyl for the first time since the album's original release in 1990.[9]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Maurice Starr, unless otherwise noted.
↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1sted.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p.263. ISBN978-951-1-21053-5.
↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved May 15, 2025. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "New Kids On The Block".
↑ Assumpção, José Carlos (February 4, 1991). "Bastidores do Rock in Rio II". O Fluminense (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 31, 2020. Another glaring behind the scenes of Rock In Rio II was the delivery of two double platinum albums to the members of the group New Kids on the Block, for more than 500 thousand copies sold of the LP Step by Step.
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