He's Gonna Step On You Again
Encyclopedia
"He's Gonna Step On You Again" (aka "Step On") was a hit single
, co-written by Christos Demetriou
and performed by John Kongos
in 1971.
It is cited in the Guinness Book of Records
as being the first song to have used a sample
, however, according to the sleeve note of the CD reissue of the Kongos album, it is actually a tape loop of African drumming, and the use of tape loops and instruments using prerecorded samples such as the Mellotron
and Optigan
were well established by this time.
On 22 May 1971, the song entered the UK Singles Chart
, reached Number 4, and spent 14 weeks on the charts
(the follow-up release in the same year, "Tokoloshe Man", also peaked at number 4). It was released on the Fly Records
label
.
The song was featured on the Soundtrack of the 2006 video game Test Drive Unlimited
.
covered the song, retitling it "Step On" in 1990. It was originally intended as a contribution to the Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th Anniversary
compilation for their US label Elektra, but they decided to keep it to release as a single, and instead covered Kongos's Tokoloshe Man for the compilation. The Happy Mondays version incorporates a short sample
of three guitar notes from the original.
It became their biggest-selling single, peaking at Number 5 in the UK and even making it on to the Billboard Hot 100
chart at Number 57.
Other artists
who have recorded
cover version
s of this song
, including Def Leppard
(on their 2006 cover album Yeah!) and Australian bands The Party Boys
, Chantoozies
and The Exploding White Mice
(a B side to the Blaze of Glory single) who released them all in 1987. Although probably never recorded, the song was also a staple of Canada's MacLean & MacLean
live act where its percussion rhythms and topical lyric made it popular with their audiences.
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, co-written by Christos Demetriou
Christos Demetriou
Chris Demetriou born in Paphos, Cyprus, is a musician, songwriter, record producer and entrepreneur. He spent his informative years in South Africa, moving in 1969 to the United Kingdom, where he now lives with his wife and daughter.- Music career :...
and performed by John Kongos
John Kongos
John Kongos is a singer-songwriter. He is best known for his 1971 Top 10 hit single, "He's Gonna Step On You Again".-Career:...
in 1971.
It is cited in the Guinness Book of Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
as being the first song to have used a sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
, however, according to the sleeve note of the CD reissue of the Kongos album, it is actually a tape loop of African drumming, and the use of tape loops and instruments using prerecorded samples such as the Mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
and Optigan
Optigan
The Optigan was an electronic keyboard instrument designed for the consumer market. The name stems from the instrument's reliance on pre-recorded optical soundtracks to reproduce sound...
were well established by this time.
On 22 May 1971, the song entered the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, reached Number 4, and spent 14 weeks on the charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
(the follow-up release in the same year, "Tokoloshe Man", also peaked at number 4). It was released on the Fly Records
Fly Records
Fly Records is a British independent record label, established in 1970 by the independent music publisher David Platz, and initially managed by Malcolm Jones from the offices of Essex Music in London.-History:...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
.
The song was featured on the Soundtrack of the 2006 video game Test Drive Unlimited
Test Drive Unlimited
Test Drive Unlimited is an arcade-style racing game, the 9th game of the Test Drive series, it features over 125 licensed sports cars and motorcycles and a terrain modeled after the Hawaiian island of Oahu that features some 1000 miles of roads and highways. Test Drive Unlimited is the ninth main...
.
Cover versions
Happy MondaysHappy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
covered the song, retitling it "Step On" in 1990. It was originally intended as a contribution to the Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th Anniversary
Rubáiyát
Rubáiyát is a compilation album, released in 1990 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Elektra Records record label. The concept was to feature present-day Elektra artists covering songs from the historic catalogue of recordings of Elektra Records and its sister label Asylum Records.Two...
compilation for their US label Elektra, but they decided to keep it to release as a single, and instead covered Kongos's Tokoloshe Man for the compilation. The Happy Mondays version incorporates a short sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
of three guitar notes from the original.
It became their biggest-selling single, peaking at Number 5 in the UK and even making it on to the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart at Number 57.
Other artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who have recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of this song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, including Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
(on their 2006 cover album Yeah!) and Australian bands The Party Boys
The Party Boys
The Party Boys was an Australian rock band with floating membership that existed from 1982 until 1992. Initially established by Mondo Rock bass player Paul Christie as a part-time venture for professional musicians with downtime from other projects, the group has boasted members from acts such as...
, Chantoozies
Chantoozies
Chantoozies were an Australian pop group active from 1986 to 1991. The band featured four female singers: Eve von Bibra, Angie La Bozzetta, Ally Fowler and Tottie Goldsmith; and four male musicians: Brett Goldsmith , Scott Griffiths , Frank McKoy and David Reyne...
and The Exploding White Mice
Exploding White Mice
Exploding White Mice were a punk-pop band from Adelaide, Australia in the 1980s.Their name was taken from a scene in the film Rock 'n' Roll High School, in which a laboratory mouse spontaneously explodes upon being exposed to the music of The Ramones, the band's foremost influence...
(a B side to the Blaze of Glory single) who released them all in 1987. Although probably never recorded, the song was also a staple of Canada's MacLean & MacLean
MacLean & MacLean
MacLean & MacLean were a popular Canadian Juno nominated musical-comedy duo who performed regularly in Canada between 1972 and 1998 and also recorded seven albums. The duo consisted of brothers Gary MacLean and Blair MacLean...
live act where its percussion rhythms and topical lyric made it popular with their audiences.