Step by Step
Studio album by
New Kids on the Block
ReleasedJune 5, 1990 (1990-06-05)
RecordedSeptember 1, 1989 – April 30, 1990
StudioUnique Recording Studios, New York City[1]
GenrePop
Length47:44
LabelColumbia
ProducerMaurice 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[3]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[4]
Rolling Stone[5]
Smash Hits8/10[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.

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 Wahlberg3:29
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
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[30] Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[41] Platinum 50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[43] Gold 500,000[42]
Canada (Music Canada)[44] 7× Platinum 700,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[45] Gold 50,100[45]
France (SNEP)[46] Platinum 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[47] Platinum 500,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[48] Platinum 200,000^
Malaysia — 25,000[49]
Netherlands (NVPI)[50] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[51] Platinum 15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[52] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden (GLF)[53] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[54] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[56] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^
United States (RIAA)[57]
Music videocassette 		Platinum 100,000^

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

References

  1. ^ https://www.facebook.com/UniqueRecordingStudios/photos/a.649655181769411/649656491769280/?type=3&theater[user-generated source]
  2. ^ a b c [1]
  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. 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. EMAP Metro Ltd (13–26 June 1990): 56.
  7. ^ a b c Holden, Stephen (June 6, 1990). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  8. ^ Tinoco, Pedro (October 1, 1991). "Um formato em espansão". Jornal do Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  9. ^ "New Kids On The Block - Step By Step". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
  10. ^ "Australiancharts.com – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  11. ^ "Austriancharts.at – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  12. ^ "Ultratop.be – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1284". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  15. ^ "Hits of the World - Eurochart". Billboard. 7 July 1990.
  16. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  17. ^ "InfoDisc : Tout les Titres par Artiste". Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
  18. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  19. ^ "Kereső - előadó/cím szerint - Archívum - MAHASZ - Magyar Hangfelvétel-kiadók Szövetsége". Zene.slagerlistak.hu. Archived from the original on September 24, 2012. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
  20. ^ "Tonlist Top 40". DV. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
  21. ^ "Home". irish-charts.com.
  22. ^ "Charts.nz – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  23. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  24. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  25. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  26. ^ "Swisscharts.com – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  27. ^ "New Kids on the Block | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  28. ^ "New Kids on the Block Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  29. ^ Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: albums chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  30. ^ a b "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums Chart 1990 (1–60) (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 50)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved December 17, 2016. N.B. the circle symbol indicates gold certification.
  31. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1990". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  32. ^ Top Albums/CDs - Volume 53, No. 6, December 22 1990 RPM. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  33. ^ "Jaaroverzichten - Album 1990". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  34. ^ "Les Albums (CD) de 1990 par InfoDisc". Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link). Infodisc.fr.
  35. ^ "Gli album più venduti del 1990". Archived from the original on October 1, 2005. Retrieved January 31, 2014.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link). Hitparadeitalia.it.
  36. ^ "New Zealand - End of Year Charts 1990". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  37. ^ "The Top 20 Albums of Sommer 1990". Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  38. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1990". Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link). Hitparade.ch.
  39. ^ "Gallup Year End Charts 1991: Albums". Record Mirror. London, England: Spotlight Publications: 37. 23 January 1988.
  40. ^ "Top Billboard 200 albums: Year End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  41. ^ "Austrian album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in German). IFPI Austria. 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. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  44. ^ "Canadian album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Music Canada. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  45. ^ a b "New Kids on the Block" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  46. ^ "French album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in French). InfoDisc. Select NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK and click OK. 
  47. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (New Kids on the Block; 'Step by Step')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  48. ^ "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
  49. ^ Leo, Christie (8 September 1990). "Malaysian Teens Catch New Kids Fever" (PDF). Billboard. p. 66. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  50. ^ "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".
  51. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  52. ^ "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1991–1995". Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano.
  53. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  54. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Step by Step')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  55. ^ "British album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  56. ^ "American album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  57. ^ "American video certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
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