Charles Stepney : Step On Step (LP, Vinyl record album) -- Dusty Groove is Chicago's Online Record Store
Skip navigation
Scripting is disabled or not working. dustygroove.com requires JavaScript to function correctly.
Style sheets are disabled or not working. dustygroove.com requires style sheets to function correctly.
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Enlarge       Note

Step On Step

LP (Item 146709) International Anthem, Early 70s — Condition: Near Mint-
2LP Gatefold
Maybe the first-ever album to be issued under the name of the great Charles Stepney – even though the artist/musician/producer/songwriter had a huge role in the careers of Chicago contemporaries like Minnie Riperton, Ramsey Lewis, and Earth Wind & Fire! This set brings together recordings that Stepney made on his own, often in his home studio – many of which are songs that never saw the light of day on some of his bigger-name projects, next to others that feature melodies you might recognize, but done in these sweet jazzy instrumentals that are totally great! Most of the set features Charles on a variety of keyboards Rhodes, piano, and even some cool moogy bits – plus some vibes from time to time – often set to spare early electric drum machine rhythms – in a style that makes you feel like you've stumbled upon Timmy Thomas doing an all instrumental jam session in the early 70s. Given that Stepney first got his start as a jazz musician – playing piano and vibes on some great early 60s sessions – the keyboard work is superb, and the record stands as a completely different testament to his genius – with titles that include "Funky Sci Fi", "Gotta Dig It To Dig It", "Daddy's Diddies", "Rubie Charles", "Notes From Dad", "Black Bold", "Gimme Some Sugar", "No Credit For This", "Imagination", "Look B4U Leap", "Mini Mugg", "Denim Groove", and "That's The Way Of The World".  © 1996-2024, Dusty Groove, Inc.
(140 gram gold vinyl pressing. Includes the obi and International Anthem inner sleeves.)

Near Mint - (minus)

  • Black vinyl that may show a slight amount of dust or dirt.
  • Should still be very shiny under a light, even with slight amount of dust on surface.
  • One or two small marks that would make an otherwise near perfect record slightly less so. These marks cannot be too deep, and should only be surface marks that won't affect play, but might detract from the looks.
  • May have some flaws and discoloration in the vinyl, but only those that would be intrinsic to the pressing. These should disappear when the record is tilted under the light, and will only show up when looking straight at the record. (Buddah and ABC pressings from the 70's are a good example of this.)
  • May have some slight marks from aging of the paper sleeve on the vinyl.
  • Possible minor surface noise when played.

Additional Marks & Notes

If something is noteworthy, we try to note it in the comments — especially if it is an oddity that is the only wrong thing about the record. This might include, but isn't limited to, warped records, tracks that skip, cover damage or wear as noted above, or strictly cosmetic flaws.



You might be interested


Timmy Thomas

Touch To Touch
TK/Glades, 1977. Near Mint-
A massive groover from Timmy Thomas – really hitting here on all burners, and moving with a groove that's much fuller than the drum machine fills of his early years! The sound is Miami club at its best – wickedly uptempo rhythms that are played with razor-sharp intensity – still ... LP, Vinyl record album

Undisputed Truth

Down To Earth
Gordy, 1974. Near Mint-
Undisputed Truth at the height of their powers – still working in the psychedelic soul style they forged with Norman Whitfield at the end of the 60s – but with a groove that's tighter and sharper than ever before! We might well call the record the funkiest the group ever cut – as ... LP, Vinyl record album
Atco, 1974. Near Mint-
Tight funky work from Dr John – a second collaboration with producer Allen Toussaint, and a set that follows strongly on their Right Place record of the year before! The groove's not as messed-up as on the first few Atlantic records by the Doctor – but in it's place is a sweet electric ... LP, Vinyl record album
Philadelphia International, 1978. Near Mint-
Great grooves from MFSB – a set that shows the continuing sophistication that Gamble & Huff were bringing to their music – even at a time when they could have just laid back and kept on churning out the same sort of sound! The style here is similar to the early MFSB – an ... LP, Vinyl record album

Trammps

Disco Inferno
Atlantic, 1976. Near Mint-
A landmark album from The Trammps – and a record that broke the group firmly out of the Philly ghetto, yet still carried all the best touches of the Sigma scene! Sure, the title track was a super-huge hit – thanks to a plug in Saturday Night Fever – but the record itself is ... LP, Vinyl record album

Whispers

Love For Love
Solar, 1983. Near Mint-
A pretty groove-heavy set – one that continues the mix of "dancin and romancin" The Whispers served up on their previous album! Side one is heavy on "dancin" – and features some bass-heavy tunes that are very much in the best mainstream LA soul modes of the time ... LP, Vinyl record album
Atlantic, 1976. Very Good+
A classic 70s soul soundtrack – and a dream of a combination! Curtis Mayfield wrote the soundtrack and produced the album – and the result is a killer batch of 70s soul tracks that matches Aretha's strong vocals with the hip Curtom sound of Chicago! Aretha was still doing pretty well ... LP, Vinyl record album

Ruby & The Romantics

Our Day Will Come
Kapp, Mid 60s. Very Good+
Sublime work from Ruby & The Romantics – a completely unique vocal group that took the one girl/four boys approach to a whole new level! Ruby Nash's sweet vocals drift over the top of the deeper harmonies of the male singers – in a way that's completely transcendent, and which ... LP, Vinyl record album

Rotary Connection

Rotary Connection
Cadet, 1967. Near Mint-
One of the best Rotary Connection albums for Cadet – with an incredible baroque spacey soul sound that still feels very fresh today! The group's vocals are especially eerie – and float around these wild arrangements by Charles Stepney, peppered with strings, soul, fuzzy guitars, and ... LP, Vinyl record album

Cleveland Eaton & The Garden Of Eaton

Keep Love Alive
Ovation, 1979. Very Good+
A mixture of funky jazz, soul, and disco – recorded with a host of studio players and a smooth jazzy finish. The record's trying to keep the groove going from Eaton's Instant Hip LP – which was quite a minor hit for him – and although we love the bassist as a jazz player, most of ... LP, Vinyl record album

John Coltrane

Soultrane
Prestige, 1958. Sealed
A bold early statement from a young John Coltrane – and an album that really has him expanding his talents as a tenor soloist! Coltrane's working here in open-ended quartet format – with backing from the Red Garland trio that includes Paul Chambers and Art Taylor – on a set of ... LP, Vinyl record album

Gene Ammons

Boss Tenor
Prestige, 1960. Near Mint-
A soul jazz classic from Gene Ammons – the kind of session that easy made him "boss" on tenor – with a tone and conception that few other players could touch! The set is done in a style that's laidback, but never too loose – bouncing along in that "with conga" ... LP, Vinyl record album
 



⇑ Top