Great to read all your thoughts, spiceboy :wub: I’ll give Back to You another listen, seeing as you love it!

 

Looking forward to your contributions, PAJ! Maybe we could do a session for B sides :thinking:

B-Sides and non UK albums tracks might work? Otherwise we could just do The Last Dance as I think they’re all on the that.

Great to read all your thoughts, spiceboy :wub: I’ll give Back to You another listen, seeing as you love it!

 

Looking forward to your contributions, PAJ! Maybe we could do a session for B sides :thinking:

Def give back to you some more ear to time as I also think its brilliant. Spiceboy I think we have similar Steps taste especially when it comes to Neon Blue.

Steptro - A nice introduction into the album, solid with out being fantastic.

 

Last Thing On My Mind - The song that got me hooked. I remember watching this on Video Hits trying to learn the dance routine but never could. Also loved the part of the video where Lisa pushes the guy in the pool. Still a great song and a Steps essential, in Australia anyway. Also I remember back in 1998 Video Hits ran competitions and they had one to win this. The prize pack included, from memory. Step One, 5678, Last Thing On My Mind and print outs of the dance routine for the two singles. I’m sure a few other things were included but I can’t remember. And no I didn’t win it.

 

5678 - Where it all started and an Australian #1, Steps first ever #1! While yes it’s more of a novelty song it’s still very catchy and for me anyway very enjoyable.

One For Sorrow - This one took a while to grow on me, I hated that it was just Claire back in 1998. I remember being disappointed when this missed the top 10 in Australia (peaked at #34). It’s now one of my favourite Steps songs and probably one of my favourite Steps videos. This is their first single I remember buying. I bought it at me local Target store. I know I have Last Thing On My Mind but I don’t recall getting it.

 

Heartbeat - Oh how I loved the video back in 1998 and for me back then it elevated the song. I remember being sad Lisa got such a small part in the song. Looking at it with fresh eyes now it’s a decent song and probably the right choice for single #4.

 

This Heart Will Love Again - This was my absolute favourite when I got Step One for Christmas 1998, as time cold 11/10 in my mind. I use to imagine the music video being set in a hotel with the chorus and dance steps taking place in front of a fireplace. Whilst I don’t view it as an 11/10 anymore it’s still a very solid album track.

Edited May 16, 20214 yr by PAJ

Experienced - I was never a fan of this, it just seemed to ruin the flow of the album and didn’t seem very ‘Steps’. It’s not one I choose to go back to often.

 

Too Weak To Resist - Still not great but I’d choose this over Experienced. I wouldn’t have chosen to put any of these on the album but more on that a little later.

 

Better Best Forgotten - Along with This Heart Will Love Again this was my favourite album track when I first got Step One, I was really pleased when it became a single, less so when I realised it wasn’t getting a release in Australia. I still don’t know why, Heartbeat/Tragedy peaked at #10, which was 24 places better than One For Sorrow. I think it would’ve gone top 20. I remember watching Hitlist UK with Cat Deeley (I’m sure it was here) just so I could see the music video for this.

Back To You - I remember enjoying this back when I got the album but then I went off it for a while. I’m not sure why, it a great pop song and could’ve easily been a sixth and final double a with Love U More.

 

Love U More - I didn’t really like this initially but it has really grown on me. I think it was after seeing Roller Girl’s cover of it a year or two later that I realised how great Steps version was.

 

Stay With Me - I had no idea this was a cover until a few weeks ago and whilst I like it I don’t think it would’ve made a great single. Which goes against what I said a few weeks back. A great album closer but at the same time you could substitute this with Why? (Better Best Forgotten b-side) and it’d make an equally as good album closer.

My rank with the three b-sides included.

 

1. One for Sorrow

2. Last Thing on My Mind

3. Better Best Forgotten

4. Back to You

5. 5,6,7,8

6. This Heart Will Love Again

7. Love U More

8. Heartbeat

9. A Love To Last

10. Why?

11. Stay with Me

12. Words Of Wisdom

13. Steptro

14. Too Weak to Resist

15. Experienced

It is all fairly close though, so my rankings often change.

As a bonus:

 

Words Of Wisdom - a nice little mid-tempo/ballad song (is that what it is?). I never heard this until 2012 after I purchased 5678 on Amazon. I actually really like this and as my rank above shows I’d clearly have this on the album ahead of both H solos. It’s very 90’s to me which isn’t a bad thing.

 

A Love To Last - Another great b-side in my view, I remember liking it when I had the Last Thing On My Mind single, though I can’t remember getting. I use to imagine a music video to this. I imagined the Horus on something like a narrow boat going down a canal. Not quite sure why that image came to mind. I also quite like this one, the b-sides from Step One were quite good in. Y opinion. Again I’d replace the two H solos with this.

 

Why? - The last b-side, is the pretty much a Faye solo? I think I prefer this to Stay With Me, it would’ve made a nice album closer I think. The first time I heard this was when I got The Last Dance album in 2003. I got an import of Better Best Forgotten but I, pretty sure it was the one with the music video included. Again much better than the two H solos.

Edited May 17, 20214 yr by PAJ

Def give back to you some more ear to time as I also think its brilliant. Spiceboy I think we have similar Steps taste especially when it comes to Neon Blue.

 

 

Neon Blue is just amazing, my favourite track from the comeback definitely. :wub:

Last Thing On My Mind - Also loved the part of the video where Lisa pushes the guy in the pool.

 

 

The guy she pushes into the pool is Lee... I love this bit too especially as you see him swimming through and then getting out :wub:

As a bonus:

Why? - The last b-side, is the pretty much a Faye solo? I think I prefer this to Stay With Me, it would’ve made a nice album closer I think. The first time I heard this was when I got The Last Dance album in 2003. I got an import of Better Best Forgotten but I, pretty sure it was the one with the music video included. Again much better than the two H solos.

 

 

I LOVE this song it's probably my favourite track on The Last Dance, Faye sounds divine on it and I agree it would have been much better over the two H tracks. Still don't get why he get's 2 on the album? This should have replaced Experienced... to be fair any of the B-Sides should have done!

The guy she pushes into the pool is Lee... I love this bit too especially as you see him swimming through and then getting out :wub:

 

I thought it was but could never tell.

I LOVE this song it's probably my favourite track on The Last Dance, Faye sounds divine on it and I agree it would have been much better over the two H tracks. Still don't get why he get's 2 on the album? This should have replaced Experienced... to be fair any of the B-Sides should have done!

 

Just a thought could H’s secret relationship have had anything to do with it?

 

Yes, Experienced out, Why? in. Maybe as the album closer but then I’d shift Stay With Me up to track 7 or 8.

Just a thought could H’s secret relationship have had anything to do with it?

 

Yes, Experienced out, Why? in. Maybe as the album closer but then I’d shift Stay With Me up to track 7 or 8.

 

 

1. Stepto

2. Last thing on my mind

3. 5,6,7,8

4. One for sorrow

5. Heartbeat

6. Too weak to resist

7. This heart will love again

8. Stay with me

9. Back to you

10. Love u more

11. Why

 

I think that would work really well. I'm not familiar enough with the other B-sides to suggest those, will have to give them a listen at some point.

Steptro

Nothing too special, not bothered by it either!

 

Last thing on my mind

When Steps really took off! I was happy to see it become a hit, also in the Netherlands! It remains their biggest here ‘till this day. Fun, summery and Abba-esque! Some moments I enjoy this song, others I really love it. Right now I’m in the loving mood with this ❤️ And, Lee getting out of the pool deserves a special mention!

 

5,6,7,8

Yes, this is novelty. I don’t mind it that much nowadays. I had periods were I wasn’t a big fan of it. 7/10 for now! And, good to hear Lee!

One for sorrow

Classic! Abba in a 90’s version 🤩 I remember wanting to buy the single when it got released here. My mum wouldn’t allow me but got it anyway :P Maybe too much Claire on the vocals but I do think she carries the song in a good way!

 

Heartbeat

Cute video and the song is nice. I like the fact the vocals are more shared among the members (though Lee deserved more). This one I appreciate more nowadays. An 8/10-ish!

 

This heart will love again

They released the best songs of the album imo. This one is nice enough as an album track. Aww at Lisa!

Experienced

I got one word for this...cringe!! The vocals are too much and those lyrics...no, no, no!

 

Too weak to resist

This one is better! It’s a nice album track and around 6.5/10-ish.

 

Better best forgotten

Yes! Another slice of great pop! Still love this track ‘till this day ❤️ Lol at the ‘forced’ interaction between the boys in the video.

Great to read all your thoughts, spiceboy :wub: I’ll give Back to You another listen, seeing as you love it!

 

Looking forward to your contributions, PAJ! Maybe we could do a session for B sides :thinking:

 

Yeah I think a B side listen party would be hood as I think I don't know them, unless some have been included on other 'compilation' releases that I've heard.