Steppin' S/D

What you have to understand is, steppin is a way of life.

excellent Pointer Sisters album!

Steppin' is a dance "scene" that's existed for decades and appeals to primarily lower-middle to middle class urban blacks of a certain age.
You don't hear much about it, since the demographic skews a bit old
and not nearly "street" enough to interest a lot of people. But it's
actually quite cool. Dressing up is a must; put on a subtle but sexy
dress, pearls and nice earrings if you're female, your jacket and tie and
watch if you're a guy and have a cocktail before stepping out on the
dance floor. It's not a flashy scene, it's built around etiquette and the
sophistication that comes with a sort of chilvalry. The music is tough
to describe because there's not an overt style. Something like the Chi-
Lites or Stylistics are pretty much standards - slower dance music, but
part of what's cool about the scene is that it will incorporate anything
that loosely fits the slightly subdued, romantic and melancholy mood;
I recall one of the bigger steppin' tunes for a long time was America's
"Horse With No Name!"

This is Chicago steppin', where the term evolved and where it's still
something some people go out and do on a Friday night. It can mean
different things in different places. For a while (in the late 80s / early
90s) there was even a "Steppin'" dance show late on Friday night which
was pleasurable to watch, so removed from silly trends and flashiness
as it was.

Dee's got it nailed. Check this site out too... http://www.mak3danceclub.com/

They talk about a lot of the key cuts on the Mak 3 site. Stuff like the Jeffree (amazing) and William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful For What You Got.". The cuts that are key are more down to the tempo and feel more than anything. Obviously, "Step In The Name of Love" by R. is a steppers cut but some other classics might surprise you. "Kashmir" by Zep gets 'em on the floor and "Pathway to Glory" (it's on iTunes, download it NOW) by Loggins and Messina is a dramatic delight. I heard a really good steppers mix of Ciara the other night when I was out. A lot of the modern cuts have that real, in the pocket, slow-not-quite-disco kick drum, like on "Step in the Name of Love."

You should check it out first hand if you're curious. They give lesson's down at the Dating Game on Stoney Island every Thursday and Sunday night. It's ten bucks to learn some hot moves and hear the best soul cuts you would never hear anywhere else. When you get yr moves together you can start heading out to the Stepper's sets that it sounds like those pluggers in your record bag are for.

Enjoy.

Dee's got it nailed. Check this site out too... http://www.mak3danceclub.com/

They talk about a lot of the key cuts on the Mak 3 site. Stuff like the Jeffree (amazing) and William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful For What You Got.". The cuts that are key are more down to the tempo and feel more than anything. Obviously, "Step In The Name of Love" by R. is a steppers cut but some other classics might surprise you. "Kashmir" by Zep gets 'em on the floor and "Pathway to Glory" (it's on iTunes, download it NOW) by Loggins and Messina is a dramatic delight. I heard a really good steppers mix of Ciara the other night when I was out. A lot of the modern cuts have that real, in the pocket, slow-not-quite-disco kick drum, like on "Step in the Name of Love."

You should check it out first hand if you're curious. They give lesson's down at the Dating Game on Stoney Island every Thursday and Sunday night. It's ten bucks to learn some hot moves and hear the best soul cuts you would never hear anywhere else. When you get yr moves together you can start heading out to the stepper's sets that it sounds like those pluggers in your record bag are for.

Enjoy.

Wow. Thanks.