Step to the Rear (1967 song)

Last updated
"Step to the Rear"
Song by Anthony Roberts and Charlotte Jones
from the album How Now, Dow Jones: The Original Broadway Cast Recording
Released1968 (1968)
Genre Stage and screen [1]
Length4:15
Label RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Step to the Rear" is a song written by Elmer Bernstein and Carolyn Leigh. It was originally performed in the Broadway musical How Now, Dow Jones between 1967 and 1968. It was first recorded on an official cast album in 1968. It was notably recorded by American singer Marilyn Maye, whose version was released as a single. Maye's version reached the top five of the American adult contemporary chart and was seen on televised advertisements for Lincoln and Mercury cars. It was adapted into the University of South Carolina’s fight song as The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way.

Contents

Background and original recording

"Step to the Rear" was composed by Elmer Bernstein and Carolyn Leigh for the musical How Now, Dow Jones . [2] In the show, the context of the song is centered on several widows who comfort a man who attempts suicide. [3] When the widows discover the man lacks confidence in himself, they proceed by performing "Step to the Rear". [4] In the original 1968 show, "Step to the Rear" was performed by Anthony Roberts and Charlotte Jones. The pair recorded it on the show's cast album in 1968, which was released by RCA Victor. [2] The show opened on Broadway on December 7, 1967, but only ran for several months. [4]

Marilyn Maye version

"Step to the Rear"
Single by Marilyn Maye
from the album Step to the Rear
B-side "For Those in Love"
ReleasedOctober 1967 (1967-10)
Studio RCA Studio, New York
Length1:58
Label RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)
  • Elmer Berstein
  • Carolyn Leigh
Producer(s) Joe René
Marilyn Maye singles chronology
"When We All Get Together"
(1967)		"Step to the Rear"
(1967)		"Till You Come Back"
(1968)

Background and recording

"Step to the Rear" was notably recorded by American singer Marilyn Maye. Signed to RCA Victor as a recording artist, Maye was becoming known for recording versions of songs from Broadway musicals. Producer Joe René routinely brought her songs that would later be recorded for Broadway productions. This included her version of "Cabaret", which became a commercial success. She would also be given "Step to the Rear" during this period. [5] With René serving as her producer, "Step to the Rear" was recorded in 1967 at RCA Studios in New York City. [6]

Release, chart performance and reception

"Step to the Rear" was released as a single by RCA Victor in October 1967. It was backed on the B-side by the song "For Those in Love". [6] It entered America's Billboard adult contemporary chart in November 1967 and spent a total of 13 weeks there. In January 1968, the song reached the number two position on the chart. It became Maye's highest-charting single and most commercially successful in her recording career. It was among three of her songs that reached the top ten on the adult contemporary chart. [7] In November 1967, "Step to the Rear" appeared on her studio album of the same name. [8]

Maye's version of "Step to the Rear" was subsequently heard by the Ford Motor Company, which used the song for several years in advertisements for their Lincoln and Mercury cars. [9] Maye became the spokesperson for the car company and re-recorded the song with lyrics to match the advertisements on television. [10]

Track listing

7" vinyl single [6]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Step to the Rear"
Chart (1967–1968)Peak
position
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [11] 2

Related Research Articles

RCA Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Newley</span> English actor, singer, songwriter, and filmmaker (1931–1999)

Anthony Newley was an English actor, singer, songwriter, and filmmaker. A "latter-day British Al Jolson", he achieved widespread success in song, and on stage and screen. "One of Broadway's greatest leading men", from 1959 to 1962 he scored a dozen entries on the UK Top 40 chart, including two number one hits. Newley won the 1963 Grammy Award for Song of the Year for "What Kind of Fool Am I?", sung by Sammy Davis Jr., and wrote "Feeling Good", which became a signature hit for Nina Simone. His songs have been sung by a wide variety of singers including Fiona Apple, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Ames</span> American singer and actor (1927–2023)

Edmund Dantes Urick, known professionally as Ed Ames or Eddie Ames, was an American pop singer and actor. He was known for playing Mingo in the television series Daniel Boone, and for his Easy Listening number #1 hits of the mid-to-late 1960s including "My Cup Runneth Over", "Time, Time", and "When the Snow Is on the Roses". He was also part of the popular 1950s singing group with his siblings, the Ames Brothers.

A cast recording is a recording of a stage musical that is intended to document the songs as they were performed in the show and experienced by the audience. An original cast recording or OCR, as the name implies, features the voices of the show's original cast. A cast recording featuring the first cast to perform a musical in a particular venue is known, for example, as an "original Broadway cast recording" (OBCR) or an "original London cast recording" (OLCR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Gary</span> American singer and performer

John Gary was an American singer, recording artist, television host, and performer on the musical stage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Home for the Holidays (song)</span> 1954 single by Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra

"(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" is a 1954 song commonly associated with the Christmas and holiday season. The lyrics detail the joys of being in your home community during the holidays and give examples of how some people will travel long distances to be with their loved ones. The music was composed by Robert Allen, with the lyrics written by Al Stillman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daydream Believer</span> 1967 single by the Monkees

"Daydream Believer" is a song composed by American songwriter John Stewart shortly before he left The Kingston Trio. It was originally recorded by the Monkees, with Davy Jones singing the lead. The single reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1967, remaining there for four weeks, and peaked at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. It was the Monkees' third and last No. 1 hit in the U.S.

<i>How Now, Dow Jones</i> American musical comedy

How Now, Dow Jones is a musical comedy by Academy Award winner Elmer Bernstein, Tony Award nominee Carolyn Leigh and Max Shulman. The original Broadway production opened in December 1967. A critically acclaimed revised version premiered off-Broadway in August 2009.

"Cabaret" is the title song of the 1966 musical of the same name, sung by the character Sally Bowles. It was composed by John Kander, with lyrics by Fred Ebb.

"You're Gonna Hear from Me" is a song written by André Previn and Dory Previn written for the 1965 movie Inside Daisy Clover and performed, among others, by Andy Williams. The song reached No. 13 on the adult contemporary chart in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marilyn Maye</span> American cabaret and jazz singer

Marilyn Maye McLaughlin is an American singer, musical theater actress and masterclass educator. With a career spanning eight decades, Maye has performed music in the styles of cabaret, jazz and pop music. She has received one nomination from the Grammy Awards and had commercial success as a recording artist.

"Sunrise, Sunset" is a song from the musical Fiddler on the Roof written in 1964 by composer Jerry Bock and lyricist Sheldon Harnick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marilyn Maye discography</span>

The discography of American singer Marilyn Maye contains 13 studio albums, two compilation albums, two live albums, 13 lead artist singles, two promotional singles and four additional album appearances. Her debut studio album appeared in 1961 called Marilyn...the Most. Signing with RCA Victor, her second studio album was released in 1965 titled Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye. It was followed in 1966 by the live album, The Second of Maye, and a studio album, The Lamp Is Low.

<i>Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye</i> 1965 studio album by Marilyn Maye

Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye is a studio album by American singer Marilyn Maye. It was released in August 1965 via RCA Victor and contained 12 tracks. It was the second album of Maye's career and her first with the RCA label. It contained songs from musicals and also featured covers of jazz vocal standards. It was reviewed positively by Billboard magazine following its release in 1965.

<i>The Second of Maye</i> 1966 live album by Marilyn Maye

The Second of Maye is a live album by American singer Marilyn Maye. It was released in April 1966 via RCA Victor and it contained 12 tracks. The project was recorded in a live format at The Living Room, a performance venue located in New York City. It was the second album of Marilyn Maye's issued by the RCA Victor label and her first live album. It was met with favorable reviews following its release.

"Sherry!" is a song composed by James Lipton and Laurence Rosenthal. It was first recorded in 1966 by American singer Marilyn Maye whose version was released as a single by RCA Victor. It later appeared in the Broadway musical also titled Sherry!. The show premiered in 1967, however, it was never recorded until 2004. "Sherry!" was then recorded for the cast album by American television actress Carol Burnett.

<i>A Taste of "Sherry!"</i> 1967 studio album by Marilyn Maye

A Taste of "Sherry!" is a studio album by American singer Marilyn Maye. It was released in February 1967 by RCA Victor and contained 12 tracks. The album featured Maye's first commercially successful singles: "Cabaret" and "Sherry". Both were featured in Broadway musicals of the same names and both reached the top ten on the American adult contemporary chart. A Taste of "Sherry!" received positive reviews from several publications following its release.

<i>Step to the Rear</i> (album) 1967 studio album by Marilyn Maye

Step to the Rear is a studio album by American singer Marilyn Maye. It was released in November 1967 via RCA Victor and contained 11 tracks. Its title song was taken from the Broadway musical How Now Dow Jones and was a single for Maye in 1967. It reached the top five of American adult contemporary chart. The album itself received a positive review from Billboard magazine following its release.

<i>The Happiest Sound in Town</i> 1968 studio album by Marilyn Maye

The Happiest Sound in Town is a studio album by American singer Marilyn Maye. It was released in September 1968 via RCA Victor and contained 11 tracks. It was the sixth studio album of Maye's career featuring songs that were categorized as easy listening material. It featured cover of popular recordings along with new material.

<i>Marilyn Maye, Girl Singer</i> 1970 studio album by Marilyn Maye

Marilyn Maye, Girl Singer is a studio album by American singer Marilyn Maye. It was released in April 1970 via RCA Victor and was the seventh studio album of her career. It was also her final album released by RCA Victor. Girl Singer contained a total of 11 tracks. Two tracks were originally singles. The 1968 single "Feelin'" became a top 20 song on the American adult contemporary chart. Girl Singer was given a positive review from Record World magazine following its release.

References

  1. ↑ " How Now, Dow Jones Original Cast Recording: Various artists: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 " How Now, Dow Jones (Album Cast Recording Liner Notes)". RCA Victor . 1968. LSO-1142 (LP Stereo).
  3. ↑ Tapp, Connor. "The second life of 'Step to the Rear'". To Thee, Forever Ago. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  4. 1 2 "How Now, Dow Wow?". Theater Mania. 3 November 2002. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "Maye Time". Theater Mania. March 16, 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Maye, Marilyn (October 1967). ""Step to the Rear"/"For Those in Love" (7" vinyl single)". RCA Victor . 47-9347.
  7. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961-2006. Record Research, Inc. p. 362. ISBN   978-0898201697.
  8. ↑ Maye, Marilyn (November 1967). "Step to the Rear (Disc Information)". RCA Victor . LMP-3897 (Mono); LSP-3897 (Stereo).
  9. ↑ Loudon, Christopher (April 26, 2019). "Marilyn Maye". JazzTimes . Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  10. ↑ Burns, Linda Amiel (23 June 2018). "Encompass Gala Features Marilyn Maye". Theater Pizazz. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Marilyn Maye Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.