He's Gonna Step on You Again

"He's Gonna Step on You Again" (also known as "Step On") is a song originally performed by John Kongos, co-written by Kongos and Christos Demetriou, and first released in 1971 by Fly Records. It entered the UK Singles Chart on 22 May 1971 and spent 14 weeks on the chart, peaking at No. 4.[1] Covers of the song have been chart successes several times, including for the Happy Mondays in 1990.

"He's Gonna Step on You Again"
Single by John Kongos
from the album Kongos
B-side"Sometimes It's Not Enough"
Released1971
Length4:24
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gus Dudgeon
John Kongos singles chronology
"He's Gonna Step on You Again"
(1971)		 "Tokoloshe Man"
(1971)

It was cited in the Guinness Book of Records as being the first song to have used a sample.[2] However, according to the sleeve note of the CD reissue of the Kongos album, it is actually a tape loop of African drumming,[2] and the use of tape loops and instruments using prerecorded samples such as the Mellotron and Optigan were well established by this time.

Chart performance
Chart (1971) Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set National Top 40)[3] 2
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] 77
France (IFOP)[5] 9
Germany (Official German Charts)[6] 26
Italy (FIMI)[7] 51
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 27
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 22
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[10] 2
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 70

Cover versions
"He's Gonna Step on You Again"
Single by The Party Boys
from the album The Party Boys
B-side"Small Talk"
Released18 May 1987[13]
Length4:08
LabelCBS
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Party Boys singles chronology
"Kashmir"
(1984)		 "He's Gonna Step on You Again"
(1987)		 "Hold Your Head Up"
(1987)

1987 Australian versions

In 1987 three Australian bands (The Party Boys, Chantoozies and Exploding White Mice) each released their own cover version of "He's Gonna Step on You Again". The Party Boys' single was issued in May, and peaked at No. 1, for two weeks, in late July on the Australian Music Report chart while the Chantoozies version reached No. 36.[14]

The Party Boys

The Party Boys were an Australian rock band with a floating membership that mostly performed cover versions and existed from 1982 until 1992.[15] By 1987, the members were Kevin Borich on guitar and backing vocals, John Brewster on guitar and backing vocals, Paul Christie on drums and backing vocals, Richard Harvey on drums, Alan Lancaster on bass guitar and backing vocals, and John Swan on lead vocals.[15] Their version also reached No. 10 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.[16] The Party Boys also recorded a 12" single, "He's Gonna Step on You Again" (Stomp mix) with Nick Mainsbridge remixing, which was backed by "She's a Mystery".

Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[17] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 10

Chantoozies
"He's Gonna Step on You Again"
Single by Chantoozies
from the album Chantoozies
B-side"Twenty Six 02"
Released8 June 1987[18]
StudioPlatinum Studios, Melbourne
LabelMushroom
Producer(s)David Courtney
Chantoozies singles chronology
"Witch Queen"
(1987)		 "He's Gonna Step on You Again"
(1987)		 "Wanna Be Up"
(1988)

The Chantoozies released a version in 1987 as the second single from their debut studio album Chantoozies. The song peaked at number 36 on the Australian Kent Music Report.[14]

Track listings

7" single (K301)

  • Side A "He's Gonna Step on You Again"
  • Side B "Twenty Six 02"

12" single (X 14504)

  • Side A "He's Gonna Step on You Again" (12" version)
  • Side B1 "He's Gonna Step on You Again" (7" version)
  • Side B2 "Twenty Six 02"
Charts
Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[14] 36

Happy Mondays version
"Step On"
Single by Happy Mondays
from the album Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches
A-side"Step On" (Stuff It In mix edit)
B-side"Step On" (One Louder mix edit)
Released1990
GenreMadchester[19]
Length
  • 4:20 (7" single edit)
  • 5:19 (album version used in most compilation albums)
LabelFactory FAC 272/7
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Happy Mondays singles chronology
"WFL (Wrote for Luck)"
(1989)		 "Step On"
(1990)		 "Kinky Afro"
(1990)

Happy Mondays covered the song, retitling it "Step On" in 1990, with two different music videos. It was originally intended as a contribution to the Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th Anniversary compilation for their US label Elektra, but they decided to keep it to release as a single, and instead covered Kongos's "Tokoloshe Man" for the compilation. The Happy Mondays version incorporates a short sample of three guitar notes from the original.[20]

It became their biggest-selling single, peaking at No. 5 in the UK and even making it on to the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 57. The repeated phrase in the song "you're twisting my melon, man" was later reused for the title of Shaun Ryder's autobiography Twisting My Melon.[21]

Chart (1990–1991) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[22] 157
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[23] 64
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 46
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 5
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 57
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[26] 13
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[26] 46
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[26] 9

In other media

The song was featured on the soundtrack of the 2006 video game Test Drive Unlimited.[27]

See also

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 306. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. Unterberger, Richie. "John Kongos "Kongos" Liner Notes". Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  3. "Go-Set Australian Charts – 16 October 1971". Go-Set. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  4. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5322." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  5. "Le Détail par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "John Kongos" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  6. "Offiziellecharts.de – John Kongos – He's Gonna Step on You Again". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  7. "Indice per Interprete: K" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – John Kongos - He's Gonna Step On You Again" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  9. "Dutchcharts.nl – John Kongos – He's Gonna Step On You Again" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  10. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (K)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  12. "John Kongos – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  13. "Australian Music Report No. 669 – 18 May 1987 > Singles: New Releases". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 4 December 2019 – via Imgur.com.
  14. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  15. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Party Boys'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  16. "Charts.nz – The Party Boys – He's Gonna Step on You Again". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  17. "Australia No. 1 hits -- 1980's". World Charts. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  18. "Australian Music Report No. 672 – 8 June 1987 > Singles: New Releases". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 4 December 2019 – via Imgur.com.
  19. Reynolds, Simon (2013). Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture. Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-28914-1.
  20. Berry, Mark "Bez" (1998). Freaky Dancin' (1st ed.). London: Pan. p. 285. ISBN 0-330-37054-5.
  21. "Review: Twisting My Melon by Shaun Ryder". M. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  22. "Fw: ARIA chart peaks". Imgur. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  23. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1552." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  24. "Dutchcharts.nl – Happy Mondays – Step On" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  26. "Happy Mondays – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  27. "Test Drive Unlimited – Credits". AllGame. Archived from the original on 12 December 2014.

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