Chicago-born composer, producer and arranger Charles Stepney is known to some for his work with Earth, Wind & Fire, Deniece Williams, Ramsey Lewis, Rotary Connection, Minnie Riperton, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Terry Callier, and many more. In the decades since his untimely death in 1976, the presence of his name in liner notes has become a seal of quality for record collectors, while his sound has been sampled extensively by artists such as Kanye West, A Tribe Called Quest, The Fugees, MF Doom, and Madlib. Step on Step – which comes almost 50 years after Stepney’s passing – is the enigmatic producer's eponymous debut album. It's an album full of creative compositional seedlings – originally written, performed, and recorded by Stepney in the basement of his home in Chicago, between the late 1960s and early 1970s, using just primitive drum machines, early-gen Moog synthesizers, pianos, vibraphones, and a few other instrumental accessories. 1 Roll Tape 2 Gimme Some Sugar 3 Daddy's Diddies 4 Gotta Dig It To Dig It 5 No Credit For This 6 Roadtrip 7 On Your Face 8 That's The Way Of The World 9 Imagination 10 In The Basement 11 Business 12 Look B4U Leap 13 Around The House 14 Funky Sci-Fi 15 Mini Mugg 16 Chicago Independent 17 Surround Stereo 18 Black Gold 19 Denim Groove 20 Notes From Dad 21 Rubie & Charles 22 Greatness 23 Step on Step
Release date:
September 9, 2022
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.
Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
-
Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
-
Turntables - Top Picks
A selection of reliable record players you can buy today, for every budget
-
Technics SL-1500C Turntable
Features a direct-drive motor, a high-precision tonearm, and a premium MM cartridge, delivering exceptional sound quality
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Nunslaughter Satanic Chaos Legions
Frontiers New Recordings Physical Only
June 26, 2026 -
A Prang (Cream)
Cooking Vinyl
June 5, 2026 -
Nine Inch Nails TRON Ares: Divergence [2xLP]
The Null Corporation/Interscope
June 5, 2026 -
The Shires Bonfire Sunset
Big Machine
July 3, 2026 -
Fink The City Is Coming to Erase It All
R'coup'd
June 5, 2026 -
BARRY MANILOW WHAT A TIME (Amazon Exclusive) [2xLP]
Barney Property Trust
June 5, 2026 -
Lee Perry Scratch Spatial, No Problem.
Domino
June 5, 2026 -
Midrift Silhouette
Midrift Is a Band
June 12, 2026 -
Ash 1977 (30th Anniversary, Green/Black) [2xLP]
The Echo Label
October 16, 2026 -
Angus & Julia Stone Bar
Angus & Julia Stone
September 4, 2026 -
Baby Rose Yearnalism
Secretly Canadian
July 10, 2026 -
Beartooth Pure Ecstasy
Fearless Records
August 28, 2026 -
Grace Cummings Bloodhorse!
Ato Records
August 14, 2026 -
ROLE MODEL Chuck Timely & The Hourglass (Toffee Nut) (Amazon Exclusive)
Universal Music Group
August 7, 2026