Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 5, 2026

Step One

Step One is the debut album by British pop group Steps. It was released in the UK and Europe on 14 September 1998. The album charted at number two on the UK Albums Chart upon its release, going on to spend 64 weeks in the chart. It was beaten to number one by This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours by Manic Street Preachers, who also beat Steps' single "One for Sorrow" to number one on the UK Singles Chart with the song "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next". In February 2000, the album was re-released in the US, containing songs from both Step One and its successor, Steptacular. The tracks "5,6,7,8", "Last Thing on My Mind", "One for Sorrow", "Heartbeat" and "Better Best Forgotten" were released as the singles in UK. In 2000, the album was certified 5× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, and has sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.

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Step One
Studio album by
Steps
Released14 September 1998
Recorded1997–1998
StudioPWL Studios (London & Manchester)
Genre
Length39:08
LabelJive
Producer
  • Mark Topham
  • Karl Twigg
  • Pete Waterman
  • Andrew Frampton
  • Dan Sanders
  • W.I.P
Steps chronology
Step One
(1998) 		Steptacular
(1999)
Singles from Step One
  1. "5,6,7,8"
    Released: 27 November 1997
  2. "Last Thing on My Mind"
    Released: 17 April 1998
  3. "One for Sorrow"
    Released: 31 August 1998
  4. "Heartbeat" / "Tragedy"
    Released: 6 November 1998
  5. "Better Best Forgotten"
    Released: 8 March 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar1
Answers.comStarStarStarHalf star2
DooYoo.co.ukStarStarStarStar3

Step One is the debut album by British pop group Steps. It was released in the UK and Europe on 14 September 1998. The album charted at number two on the UK Albums Chart upon its release, going on to spend 64 weeks in the chart. It was beaten to number one by This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours by Manic Street Preachers, who also beat Steps' single "One for Sorrow" to number one on the UK Singles Chart with the song "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next". In February 2000, the album was re-released in the US, containing songs from both Step One and its successor, Steptacular. The tracks "5,6,7,8", "Last Thing on My Mind", "One for Sorrow", "Heartbeat" and "Better Best Forgotten" were released as the singles in UK. In 2000, the album was certified 5× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, and has sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.4

The album contains some covers; "Last Thing on My Mind" was originally released in 1992 as a single by British girl group Bananarama, while "Love U More" was originally recorded by techno/house band Sunscreem. "Experienced" was originally recorded by boybands The Bario Boys & Worlds Apart, and "Stay With Me" appears on Romeo's Daughters' self-titled début album. "Tragedy", which was recorded for a Bee Gees tribute album, was paired with "Heartbeat" as a winter holiday double A-side single (included on the group's second album, Steptacular), but is also featured as a bonus track on some international editions of this album.

The album was reissued on vinyl for the first time ever in February 2024.56 It debuted at number 6 on the UK Vinyl Albums Chart.7

Track listing

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Steptro"
  • Mark Topham
  • Karl Twigg
  • Waterman
0:56
2."Last Thing on My Mind"
  • Stock
  • Waterman
  • Dallin
  • Woodward
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Waterman
3:04
3."5,6,7,8"
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Waterman
3:22
4."One for Sorrow"
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Waterman
4:20
5."Heartbeat"Jackie James
  • Andrew Frampton
  • Waterman
4:24
6."This Heart Will Love Again"
  • Frampton
  • Waterman
  • Dan Sanders
  • Frampton
  • Waterman
3:48
7."Experienced" (H solo)
  • Stock
  • Waterman
  • Frampton
  • Waterman
3:27
8."Too Weak to Resist" (H solo)
  • Frampton
  • Waterman
  • Frampton
  • Waterman
3:50
9."Better Best Forgotten"
  • Frampton
  • Waterman
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Waterman
3:42
10."Back to You"
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Waterman
4:04
11."Love U More"
  • Lucia Holm
  • Paul Cannell
Work in Progress3:57
12."Stay with Me"
  • Sanders
  • Waterman
4:04
Australian bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."One for Sorrow" (W.I.P. remix)
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Ellington
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Waterman
  • W.I.P.
6:53
14."Tragedy" (Hidden track)
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Waterman
4:30
Japanese bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Tragedy"
  • B. Gibb
  • R. Gibb
  • M. Gibb
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Waterman
 
14."5,6,7,8" (W.I.P. remix)
  • Upton
  • Crosby
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Waterman
  • W.I.P.
 
15."One for Sorrow" (W.I.P. remix)
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Ellington
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Waterman
  • W.I.P.
 
16."Better Best Forgotten" (W.I.P. remix)
  • Frampton
  • Waterman
  • Topham
  • Twigg
  • Waterman
  • W.I.P.
 

American release

Steps’ North American debut album, released in 2000, was also (somewhat confusingly) titled Step One, yet it features a different song selection than their original album of the same name. At just eleven tracks, the American edition is primarily made-up of the group's “standout” singles, selected from both their debut album (Step One) and their second album (Steptacular).

“Better Best Forgotten" was not included and replaced with the album track “Stay with Me”. The American release essentially a "best-of" collection for the first two years of Steps’ career, 1998 through 2000. The American edition also utilises the cover artwork from their original second album, Steptacular. The original mix of "One for Sorrow" was omitted in-favour of Tony Moran’s remix, the same version to receive airplay on American radio.

Standard edition
No.TitleLength
1."Tragedy" (BeeGees)4:30
2."Say You'll Be Mine"3:33
3."One for Sorrow" (US Mix)3:30
4."Last Thing on My Mind"3:05
5."5, 6, 7, 8"3:23
6."Stay with Me"4:05
7."Love's Got a Hold on My Heart"3:20
8."After the Love Has Gone"4:35
9."Heartbeat"4:25
10."Deeper Shade of Blue"4:16
11."Better the Devil You Know" (Stock Aitken Waterman)3:48
US singles
  1. "One for Sorrow" (US Mix)
  2. "Tragedy"

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)27 Platinum 70,000^
Belgium (BRMA)28 2× Platinum 100,000*
Japan (RIAJ)29 Gold 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)30 Platinum 15,000^
Singapore (SPVA)31 Gold  
United Kingdom (BPI)32 5× Platinum 1,402,3034
United States — 200,00033
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)34 Platinum 1,000,000*
Worldwide — 2,500,00035

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

Release history

Country Release date Format Label Catalogue
United Kingdom36 14 September 1998 Standard edition (CD) Jive / EBUL 015911-2
Standard edition (cassette) 015911-4
Australia36 14 September 1998 Limited edition (CD + Dance routine booklet) Jive / Liberation MUSH33147-2
Hong Kong36 14 September 1998 Limited edition (CD + VCD) Rock (HK) ROD-9115
Indonesia36 14 September 1998 Standard edition (CD) Zomba Z-CD-0110798
Netherlands36 14 September 1998 Jive / EBUL 015911-2
Japan36 1 January 1999 Jive / AVEX AVCZ-95107
Germany36 2 March 1999 Jive / EBUL
Canada36 9 July 1999 01241-44149-2
United States36 8 February 2000 Jive 01241-41688-4
Brazil36 21 August 2000 01241-41635-2
Worldwide 23 February 2024 Vinyl
References

References

  1. AllMusic review
  2. Answers.com review
  3. DooYoo.co.uk review
  4. Gumble, Daniel (6 March 2017). "Steps confirm comeback album, tour and ABBA-penned new song". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  5. Smith, Carl (13 December 2023). "Steps to release Step One, Steptacular and Buzz albums on vinyl". Official Charts. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  6. Gotto, Connor (14 December 2023). "Steps announce long-awaited vinyl reissue series for classic albums". Retro Pop Magazine. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  7. "Steps - Step One". Official Charts. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  8. "Australiancharts.com – Steps – Step One". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Steps – Step One" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Steps – Step One" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  11. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. 3 October 1998. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  12. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Steps". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  13. "Oricon Style". www.oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 8 March 2010.
  14. "Charts.nz – Steps – Step One". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  15. "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 20/9/1998 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  16. "Swedishcharts.com – Steps – Step One". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  17. IFPI Taiwan - International Top 10 (1998/32)
  18. "Official Albums Chart on 20/9/1998 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  19. "Steps Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  20. "Official Vinyl Albums Chart on 1/3/2024 1 March 2024 - 7 March 2024". Official Charts. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  21. "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1998". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  22. "Ultratop Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  23. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  24. "Jaaroverzichten 1999". Ultratop. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  25. "Top Selling Albums of 1999". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  26. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1999". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  27. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  28. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1998". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  29. "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年3月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. March 1999 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 474. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 9. 10 May 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  30. "New Zealand album certifications – Steps – Seps One". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  31. "Next big Step: America". The Straits Times. 26 March 2001. p. 10. Retrieved 1 May 2026 – via National Library Board of Singapore and SPH Media. The group's 1998 debut album, Step One, went gold in Singapore
  32. "British album certifications – Steps – Seps One". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 September 2011. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Seps One Steps in the "Search:" field.
  33. "UK Pop Acts Have To Speak New Language". Billboard. 19 May 2001. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  34. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1999". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  35. "The Secret of Jive's Success". Billboard. 30 October 1999.
  36. "Release dates, editions, and chart positions of Step One". gensteps.co.uk Retrieved 5 March 2010