Farewell to Steps

They certainly looked like they were on top of the world. The award-winning five-member group named Steps of the vibrant happy sound, the sparkling smiles and boundless energy have sold over 12 million records worldwide with bouncy party tunes like 5,6,7,8, Tragedy, Stomp, It’s the Way You Make Me Feel and others. They have appeared in lots of record-breaking shows and had just been awarded a commemorative disc by legendary librettist Sir Tim Rice as one of the top 100 acts of all time. There was also the already triple-Platinum selling studio album Buzz, which still had a lot of prospects for the hit charts. Steps was certainly good for many more years at the top. Then all of a sudden Steps was no more.

The group sent out the announcement last Dec. 26, 2001. It said: "After five incredible years, we have all decided that it is time to move on to new challenges. We have always said that when the time came we would leave as good friends and go out while we’re on top, and although we are all very sad, that’s what we have done.

"We are all looking forward to announcing our next plans – but for now we just want to send our heartfelt thanks and love to all the people who have supported us – you truly are the best fans in the world!"

Here are the answers they gave to some of the questions that came in the wake of the news about the break up. Why? "Steps have always said they did not want to be a band who gradually declined and things could not really get better than they have been in the last few months." When? "Although the decision to part company was very well considered by all of the band, it was only made very recently. What now? "Everybody is taking a break with their families and friends now but they want to send a special thank you and love to all the fans who have been so supportive and understanding."

And now the update: When last heard from Lisa Scott-Lee has taken on the job of managing her brothers’ group 3SL and is also getting ready for her debut as a solo artist. Ian "H" Watkins and Claire Richards are now a duet called H and Claire. They have started work on their first album and they promise that their music will be very similar to that of Steps. Am still waiting to hear about what Faye Tozer and Lee Latchford Evans are currently doing.

While waiting for more announcements and the release of their new albums, you might want to check out the singles collection titled Gold Greatest Hits. This one captures Steps during the best parts of their five-year career. Included here are Tragedy, One for Sorrow, Stomp, Deeper Shade of Blue, Words are Not Enough, 5,6,7,8, It’s the Way You Make Me Feel, Love’s Got a Hold on My Heart, After the Love Has Gone and others.

While you’re at it, you might also want to check out Buzz. The group’s last recorded album has the hits It’s the Way You Make Me Feel and Stomp. But there are also lots more of pretty-sounding tunes that would have made excellent singles had Steps wanted to continue their ride in the hit charts. Among the best of this lot are Summer of Love, Paradise Lost and Never Get Over You.

Billboard’s top 10

Celine Dion’s comeback release A New Day Has Come is on top of the Billboard top 200 albums tabulation. Here are the top 10 albums in the list: A New Day Has Come by Celine Dion; Now 9, an all-hit compilation by various artists; WWF: Forceable Entry, another various artists collection; The Best of Both Worlds by R. Kelly & Jay Z.; O Brother, Where Art Thou? the Grammy winning soundtrack of bluegrass music from the movie of the same title; Ecstasy by Avant; M!ssundaztood by Pink; The Scorpion King, the soundtrack of the motion picture of the same title, [Hybrid Theory] by Linkin Park; and Drive by Alan Jackson.

The top 10 tunes in the Hot 100 hit list are the following: Ain’t It Funny by Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule; What’s Luv? by Fat Joe featuring Ashanti; Foolish by Ashanti; In the End by Linkin Park; Girlfriend by ‘N Sync featuring Nelly; U Don’t Have to Call by Usher; Blurry by Puddle of Mudd; Oops (Oh My) by Tweet; How You Remind Me by Nickelback and Wherever You Will Go by The Calling.