“Step By Step”
Eddie Rabbitt
Written by David Molloy, Eddie Rabbitt, and Even Stevens
Radio & Records
#1 (4 weeks)
September 18 – October 9, 1981
Billboard
#1 (1 week)
October 17, 1981
Eddie Rabbitt’s string of five consecutive No. 1 hits continues with this multi-format smash.
Coming off the massive success of “Drivin’ My Life Away” and “I Love a Rainy Night,” Eddie Rabbitt stuck to the familiar groove that had gotten him to the peak of his popularity.
“Step By Step” sounds like it was written that way, with a clear set of sequenced actions giving the chorus its structure. It’s pretty solid advice, even if the novelty wears off by the end of the song. It worked well enough for the New Kids On the Block” to borrow the conceit for their own pop hit a few years down the road.
I think the record would’ve benefitted from a slightly faster pace, as it lacks the kinetic energy of his two previous chart-toppers. It sounds a bit like the theme song for an early eighties sitcom that didn’t quite make it.
Pleasant enough, but not one of his most memorable efforts.
“Step By Step” gets a B.
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This is a real ear-worm for me despite the disconnected sound of the guitars and piano. I also can’t decide if the transition between the verses and chorus is clunky or funky. Rabbitt sounds like he might be a million miles away vocally. Maybe I just don’t like the step by step assembly of the song. Maybe I am missing the point?
It does, however, lend itself to strutting around while singing along.