Step by Step were a 12 piece soul group founded in the Brewery State of Wisconsin—Milwaukee to be precise. The title track off the album, I always Wanted To Be In The Band, became a rare and in demand Modern Soul single which has exchanged hands for large sums of money in recent years.

Newer generations will have heard it being played by Mafalda and Floating Points, certainly a track that the Melodies International crew would play at their parties and a lively, upbeat stepper that infuses sweet harmony vocals and chicken pickin’ guitar licks.

The album is a lovely excursion into modern soul and funk, a mixture of harmonies, breakbeats and rare soul. Initially recorded on Brunswick in 1977, it saw little commercial success upon it’s release and many of the original recording artists on the session faded into obscurity post-release.  Album highlights include the club classic title track, the undulating and bass-heavy funk of Cash Money—which sounds similar to other rare-midwestern funk and soul groups such as Split Decision band—and the luscious, string laden ballad I’m Glad, a great example of harmony soul.

So Very Near You is a strong modern soul dancer, while the contagious optimism of We Won This Time is a prime-time dance floor filler. I Ain’t Gonna Ever Let You Go is a strong modern soul dancer that not many people are aware of. Expect sultry vocal harmonies and superb mid-tempo grooves.