January 26Jan 26 I do agree with steptacular going out now, i do like the album and still enjoy parts of it but it hasnt held up aswell for me as other albums over thee years especially from their old catalogue.
January 27Jan 27 Steptacular fly's the flag for their sole studio album number 1. The reality is, most of their other studio albums would have been more deserving but, the album has it's highs and was a huge success for them.
January 28Jan 28 Ya i always feel out of their studio albums step one was the most deserving one that lost out, it was a huge seller for them and it was the album that got everyone coming back for more. Tears on the Dancefloor just to seal the comeback off would also have been lovely to see have seen gone number 1 but to be fair to it, it did far far better than anyone expected. From the older albums Buzz was probably the one that was seen as the one that underperformed even though it still did well.
January 29Jan 29 It is a fair critiscism of Buzz as it sold half of what their first two albums achieved.
January 29Jan 29 I never really know why but my memory of buzz at the time was i didnt like it as much as the first 2 albums but nowadays i really enjoy the album and while i still prefer step one its way better than steptacular, while sales were down they did bounce back nicely with Gold which was a big seller.
February 8Feb 8 Author #6 What the future holds This was actually a tie with Steptacular but What the future holds got less votes in the previous rounds so it ends up at #6. This is Steps sixth studio album and was their first to be released with their new record label BMG on 27 November 2020. They had originally intended to release the project in the Spring, however the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and imposing of lockdown resulted in a temporary delay of promotion. What the Future Holds debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart on December 4, 2020, with first-week sales of 37.394 copies sold. Sadly it was another studio album missing the top spot. This time they lost the battle to Gary Barlow with a difference of 9.000 in the end. Current sales stand at 83.000 getting Steps another certified album. On a global scale the album hit the charts in Scotland (#2), Australia (#26), Ireland (#26) and Belgium Flanders (#59). Yes, I’m happy we got more Steps material after their 2017 comeback. This is a very solid album and I adore the first two singles. Something in your Eyes is in my opinion their best single from their new material. Your thoughts?
February 8Feb 8 Author Our Steps album top 12 (this far) 12. Light up the world 11. The last dance 10. Tears on the dancefloor: Crying at the disco 09. The ultimate collection 08. The Platinum collection 07. Steptacular 06. What the future holds 05. ? 04. ? 03. ? 02. ? 01. ? Any top 5 predictions? Edited February 8Feb 8 by Lee_his_cheeks
February 9Feb 9 What the future holds is a very solid album and i really enjoyed it and still do but equally i think its placed right in the countdown. 83,000 sales means the the wait is long for it become another gold album for them, with them so inactive aswell at the moment doesn't help its cause.
February 16Feb 16 Author I’m curious what the exact current sales are and how far gold status is for this one. Top 5 coming soon!
February 17Feb 17 Author I think so too sadly. Their streaming numbers aren’t great and I don’t think they are selling a lot of physical copies after the first weeks of release. I’m going to continue the countdown in a minute or 15 :cheer:
February 17Feb 17 Author #5 Buzz Kicking off our top 5 is Buzz! It was Steps third studio album and was released on 30 October 2000. This album saw the group starting to move away from the PWL sound to a more mature sound. They worked with producers from Sweden and songwriters such as Cyndi Lauper. This more mature sound was also echoed in the new material from Gold. Each member of the group also co-wrote a track on the album, consequently doing lead vocals on their respective track. The lead single Stomp got them their second #1 single (and sadly their last). Buzz received favourable critical response from different music magazines and websites. Everyone noticed the group's departure from the ‘ABBA sound’ into their own musical style. AllMusic stated: ‘They do in fact have their own sound, and it has revealed itself here, crystal clear’. However, on a commercial level the album is said to be less successful than their first releases, peaking at number four on the album chart and achieving double platinum status. It did hang around the album top 100 for 32 weeks and current sales stand at 711.000 copies. On a global scale their succes was fading as well. Buzz manager to reach the charts in Scotland (#4), Belgium Flanders (#11), Ireland (#23), Japan (#53) and Australia (#112). This is actually my favorite album as it has a more mature sound. Personally I do think it deserved a top 3 placing. It also features the single that got away, Paradise lost. The only thing I don’t enjoy is H’s solo track and the UK cover is a bit tacky. I wonder what would happen if they didn’t split and we got a 4th album though? Your thoughts? Edited February 17Feb 17 by Lee_his_cheeks
February 17Feb 17 Author #4 What the future holds pt. 2 With an extra round What the future holds pt. 2 ends at #4. This album started as a deluxe version. However, on April 2021 Steps announced there wouldn’t be a what the Future Holds deluxe but a full seventh studio album, What the Future Holds Pt. 2. Claire said: ‘We see What the Future Holds Pt. 2 as the perfect companion piece to the original album’. ‘The new record is classic Steps but also explores some brand-new sounds’. The album was released on 10 September 2021 in the end by BMG Rights Management. What the Future Holds Pt. 2 was another album that got close to the top spot. It debuted at number 2 in the album charts with 20.000 (only 4.000 copies behind Manic Street Preachers). This was the second time the two groups competed for number-one position, after their albums This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours and Step One also charted at number 1 and 2, respectively, way back in 1998. In the end it charted for 7 weeks inside the top 200 selling around 37.000 copies. Light up the world and this album are the only studio albums without a certification in the UK. It also reached the charts in Scotland (#2), Australia (#11), Ireland (#22) and Belgium Flanders (#99). Though part one had the better singles in my opinion, I enjoy this album more as a whole body of work. I’m happy we got so much more material after their 2017 reunion. And, finding a way to sound like Steps with a modern twist. Maybe not a smart move commercially but I’m not that bothered to be honest. Thoughts? Edited February 17Feb 17 by Lee_his_cheeks
February 18Feb 18 Good to see both of these top 5 which is where they belong, Buzz went a little over my head when originally released but i do really appreciate the album now and it has some great songs especially outside the singles such as Paradise Lost and Happy Go Lucky, its also the album that has Stomp which is a massive fave of mine. WTFH Part 2 like above also has great songs outside the singles especially living in a lie which is a massive fave of mine that i would have liked to have been a single, i also love their cover of the slightest touch which if handled a little better would have saw them make the top 100 as it managed a midweek position. Its a pitty the album didnt sell better but i do look forward to it going silver whenever that will be.
February 20Feb 20 Author Glad Buzz grew on you :heart: HGL is great as well! Yes, LIAL. And the Slightest was a missed oppertunity indeed. Could’ve reached top 100 with some promo/physical release.
February 20Feb 20 Author #3 Gold Taling the bronse in our countdown is their last remaining Greatest Hits, Gold. Steps announced the release of their greatest hits album in May 2001. Shortly after, rumours started surfacing that the group would be splitting up following the release, although these rumours were continuously denied by the group during TV shows and interviews. The album was released 15 October 15 that year and reached number one on the albums chart. The lead single ‘Chain Reaction’, a cover of the Diana Ross hit reached number 2 and was their highest selling single since ‘SayYou'll Be Mine/Better The Devil You Know’. To support the release of the album the group embarked on their fifth concert tour (Gold Tour) on 24 November 2001. The tour ended on 22 December 2001 and it was revealed on the TV show Steps Reunion that band members H and Claire had announced their resignation to the rest of the group two hours before going on stage for the last show. Lisa and Faye stated that the concert was difficult to perform, while Lee said that he felt the concert cheated the audience. Back to the release and chart succes of the album. It got to the top spot, 2 weeks after the album was released and spent 2 weeks at the top of the chart. It has sold over a million copies, giving the album a certification of x4 Platinum. Current UK sales stand at 1.140.928 copies. In the UK it was a big succes and got them back on the map as UK’s biggest pop act. Internationally it reached the charts in Ireland (#1), Scotland (#1), NZ (#17), Japan (#92) and Australia (#155). I love this one as it’s so nostalgic! It perfectly sums up the best of Steps and the new tracks are good as well. The only thing I don’t enjoy is the cover and ofcourse the break-up..I was really devastated back then. Luckily they gave us much more many years later so the bitter after taste is gone. Thoughts? Edited February 20Feb 20 by Lee_his_cheeks
