Step by Step (New Kids on the Block album)

Last updated
Step by Step
Stepbystep album cover.jpg
Studio album by
New Kids on the Block
ReleasedJune 5, 1990 (1990-06-05)
RecordedSeptember 1, 1989 – April 30, 1990
Studio Unique Recording Studios, New York City [1]
Genre Pop
Length47:44
Label Columbia
Producer Maurice Starr
New Kids on the Block chronology
Merry, Merry Christmas
(1989)		Step by Step
(1990)		 Face the Music
(1994)
Singles from Step by Step
  1. "Step by Step"
    Released: May 10, 1990 [2]
  2. "Valentine Girl"
    Released: June 18, 1990
  3. "Tonight"
    Released: July 26, 1990 [2]
  4. "Let's Try It Again"
    Released: September 20, 1990 [2]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Entertainment Weekly C+ [4]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Smash Hits 8/10 [6]

Step by Step is the fourth studio album by American boy band New Kids on the Block, released in June 1990 via Columbia Records.

Contents

Background and release

At the time of release the group was very popular and was being heavily merchandised, with everything from pillowcases, marbles, dolls, to a Saturday morning cartoon with their name and likeness. [7]

Before the album release Columbia Records received advance orders of more than two million copies of the album, and the demand put the company's pressing plants into overtime production. [7]

Step by Step went to number one on both the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart, with the lead-off title track single topping the charts simultaneously and selling nearly three million copies, making it their highest selling single.

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. [7] In Brazil, the VHS sold over 10,000 copies, becoming a success in the country. [8]

Another top ten single, "Tonight", followed, as the group embarked on their most ambitious world tour to date. After having earned success with Hangin' Tough , the group took a more active role creatively on this album, co-writing and producing several of its tracks. They also started playing instruments on most of their songs.

By the end of 1990, despite the album having gone multi-platinum, the fourth and last single, "Let's Try It Again," was less successful and failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100 top fifty, and the album overall received lower certifications than Hangin' Tough in the United States.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Maurice Starr, unless otherwise noted

Step by Step track listing
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."Step by Step"Jordan Knight with Danny Wood, Donnie Wahlberg, Joe McIntyre, and Jonathan Knight4:29
2."Tonight" (Al Lancellotti/Starr)New Kids on the Block3:28
3."Baby, I Believe in You"Jordan Knight4:42
4."Call It What You Want"Jordan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Joe McIntyre4:12
5."Let's Try It Again"Danny Wood, Jordan Knight3:53
6."Happy Birthday" (Starr/Michael Jonzun)Jonathan Knight2:48
7."Games" (Donnie Wahlberg/Starr)Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre3:29
8."Time Is on Our Side" (Lancellotti/Starr)Donnie Walhberg3:49
9."Where Do I Go from Here?"Joe McIntyre3:50
10."Stay with Me Baby"Donnie Wahlberg4:21
11."Funny Feeling"Joe McIntyre, Jordan Knight3:50
12."Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" (Danny Wood/T. Ra/Taharqa Aleem/Starr)Danny Wood, Donnie Wahlberg5:07
Total length:47:44

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Step by Step
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [29] Gold35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria) [40] Platinum50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [41] Gold500,000 [42]
Canada (Music Canada) [43] 7× Platinum700,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [44] Gold50,100 [44]
France (SNEP) [45] Platinum300,000*
Germany (BVMI) [46] Platinum500,000^
Japan (RIAJ) [47] Platinum200,000^
Malaysia—25,000 [48]
Netherlands (NVPI) [49] Gold50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [50] Platinum15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [51] Platinum100,000^
Sweden (GLF) [52] Gold50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [53] Platinum50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [54] Platinum300,000^
United States (RIAA) [55] 3× Platinum3,000,000^
United States (RIAA) [56]
Music videocassette 		Platinum100,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/UniqueRecordingStudios/photos/a.649655181769411/649656491769280/?type=3&theater [ user-generated source ]
  2. 1 2 3
  3. ↑ Carpenter, Bil. "Review: New Kids on the Block - Step by Step". AllMusic . Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  4. ↑ Sandow, Greg (June 22, 1990). "Step by Step". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on October 10, 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  5. ↑ Berger, Arion (August 9, 1990). "Review: New Kids on the Block - Step by Step". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  6. ↑ Benson, Julie. "Review: New Kids on the Block - Step by Step". Smash Hits (13–26 June 1990). EMAP Metro Ltd: 56.
  7. 1 2 3 Holden, Stephen (June 6, 1990). "The Pop Life". The New York Times . Retrieved September 9, 2020.
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  40. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  41. ↑ "Brazilian album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  42. ↑ 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.
  43. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Music Canada . Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  44. 1 2 "New Kids on the Block" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland . Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  45. ↑ "French album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in French). InfoDisc.Select NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK and click OK. 
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  47. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved 25 July 2012.Select 1992年3月 on the drop-down menu
  48. ↑ Leo, Christie (8 September 1990). "Malaysian Teens Catch New Kids Fever" (PDF). Billboard. p. 66. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  49. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved July 15, 2012.Enter Step by Step in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1991 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
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  51. ↑ "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1991–1995". Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano.
  52. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  53. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Step by Step')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  54. ↑ "British album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  55. ↑ "American album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  56. ↑ "American video certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 15, 2012.
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