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 Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
-
Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
-
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO
Featuring a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, precision-tuned motor, and a heavy steel platter with TPE damping, it ensures superior stability and sound quality.
-
Phono Preamps - Top Picks
A selection of the best phono preamps for your turntable setup
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Oh He Dead Ugly
Inkind Music
February 20, 2026 -
Joshua Burnside It's Not Going to Be Okay
Nettwerk Records
March 20, 2026 -
Tori Amos Strange Little Girls (Heart of Gold Version) [2xLP]
Atlantic Catalog Group
February 20, 2026 -
Joe Bonamassa B.B. King's Blues Summit 100 [3xLP]
Ktba Records
February 6, 2026 -
Silversun Pickups Tenterhooks
New Machine Recordings
February 6, 2026 -
Robyn Sexistential
Young
March 27, 2026 -
Tobias Jesso Jr. S H I N E (White)
R&R
February 6, 2026 -
MUMFORD & SONS PRIZEFIGHTER
Glassnote Music
February 20, 2026 -
Eximperitus Meritoriousness of Equanimity
Willowtip
February 6, 2026 -
Angel Du$T Cold 2 the Touch (Red)
Run For Cover
February 13, 2026 -
Chat Pile Masks
Sub Pop
February 5, 2026 -
Steve Porcaro The Very Day
Green Hill Prod.
February 27, 2026 -
Miguel All I Want Is You
Legacy Recordings
February 6, 2026 -
Steel Beans Steel Beans (White)
Apeshit LLC.
January 30, 2026