Steps
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The now disbanded British dance-pop quintet Steps was composed of Claire Richards, Lee Latchford-Evans, Faye Tozer, Ian Watkins and Lisa Scott-Lee. They were active from 1997 to 2001.
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[edit] About
Originally intended to cover classics like ABBA tracks infused with a modern twist, Steps' first hit single was a country and west-line-dancing cross entitled, "5, 6, 7, 8." The carefully choreographed and easy to follow dance steps set to the wildly contagious and easy to sing-along-with tunes brought the single at the doorstep of the Top 10 Charts. After two more hit single releases, they released their debut album Step One - a remarkable repertoire of dance-pop songs and slow ballads. Steps was poised to come close to the sales records of legendary UK acts, such as the Beatles and Oasis.
Their successive efforts were a majority of remakes from music legends like the ABBA, Bee Gees, Kylie Minogue and Diana Ross, among others. But their covers were catchier and well tuned to modern taste.
After a series of tours, 14 consecutive top five hits in the UK, three albums and a few awards, the members decided to go on their separate ways. The announcement in December 26, 2001 came after months of rumours of a split up, and was met with uproar by fans. The group said that they wanted to end note when they were on top of their game and at the top of their class.
Claire Richards and Ian Watkins formed a duo, called H and Claire, after that but subsequently split up as well due to poor album sales. All five former members tried to pursue solo careers, but none could capture the stature they had when they were still together. Rumours of a reunion offer various labels were confirmed by some of the former members in 2006, saying that all five regularly meet and still cherish their connections, but that a reunion will come when the "time feels right."
[edit] Awards & Certifications
- Brit Awards for Best Selling Live Act (2000)
[edit] Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | UK | US | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 5, 6, 7, 8 | 14 | 1 | Step One |
| 1998 | Last Thing on My Mind | 6 | 5 | Step One |
| 1998 | One for Sorrow | 2 | 31 | Step One |
| 1999 | Better Best Forgotten | 2 | - | Step One |
| 1999 | Love's Got a Hold on My Heart | 2 | 25 | Step One |
| 1999 | After the Love Has Gone | 47 | - | Step One |
| 2000 | Deeper Shade of Blue | 4 | - | Step One |
| 2000 | Stomp | 1 | 66 | Buzz |
| 2001 | It's the Way You Make Me Feel | 2 | - | Buzz |
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
 Released: September 14, 1998 Label: Jive |
Released: October 26, 1999 Label: Jive |
 Released: October 30, 2002 Label: Jive |
[edit] Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 5, 6, 7, 8 | Jive |
| 1998 | One for Sorrow | Import, Mushroom |
| 1999 | Heartbeat | BMG International |
| 1999 | Better Best Forgotten | BMG International |
| 2000 | Tragedy | Jive |
| 2001 | Buzz | Jive |
| 2001 | Here & Now | Jive |
| 2002 | Baby Don't Dance | Jive |
[edit] Compilations & Live Releases
 Released: October 15, 2001 Label: Jive |
 Released: November 25, 2002 Label: Jive |
[edit] Other artists
[edit] Similar artists
[edit] Trivia
- "H" stands for Hyperactive
- Lee Latchford-Evans has appeared on UK reality shows The Games, The Match and Celebrity Fear Factor.
- Lisa will continue singing and promoting her music in countries such as Japan, Australia, and South Africa
- Since disbanding, Ian Watkins and Claire Richards (billed as 'H and Claire') released three top 10 UK singles before heading their separate ways.
