Step by Step (New Kids on the Block album)

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

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 Hits(8/10)[6]

Background

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 third 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.

No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."Step by Step"Jordan 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 Wood5:07
Total length:47:44

Charts

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31] Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[42] Platinum 50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[43] Gold 500,000[44]
Canada (Music Canada)[45] 7× Platinum 700,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[46] Gold 50,100[46]
France (SNEP)[47] Platinum 456,900[48]*
Germany (BVMI)[49] Platinum 500,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[50] Platinum 210,480^
Malaysia — 25,000[51]
Netherlands (NVPI)[52] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[53] Platinum 15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[54] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden (GLF)[55] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[56] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[57] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[58] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[59] Platinum 1,000,000*

*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
  3. Carpenter, Bil. "Review: New Kids on the Block - Step by Step". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  4. Sandow, Greg (June 22, 1990). "Review: Step by Step (1990) - New Kids on the Block". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  5. Berger, Arion (August 9, 1990). "Review: New Kids on the Block - Step by Step". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. 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. 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. Steffen Hung. "New Kids On The Block - Step By Step". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
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  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. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 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.
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    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: albums chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
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  47. "French album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
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  51. Leo, Christie (8 September 1990). "Malaysian Teens Catch New Kids Fever" (PDF). Billboard. p. 66. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  52. "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.
  53. "New Zealand album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  54. "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1991–1995". Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano.
  55. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  56. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (New Kids on the Block; 'Step by Step')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  57. "British album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 15, 2012. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Step by Step in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  58. "American album certifications – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 15, 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  59. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1991". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Missing or empty |url= (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
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