Released: August 19
Steps celebrate their legacy as Britain’s premier pop act as they showcase 25 years of hits with their ‘Platinum Collection’.
Coinciding with the milestone anniversary of the group’s line-dancing debut 5,6,7,8, the album boasts 21 tracks and commemorates a landmark moment that not even the group themselves saw coming.
Opening with the group’s 2017 comeback hit Scared of the Dark, the tracklist covers Steps’ complete repertoire – sans 2012 festive collection ‘Light Up The World’ – and offers the most comprehensive collection of their work to date.
Featured are 11 UK Top 5 hits – including the No. 1 singles Tragedy, Heartbeat and Stomp – along with Steps’ best-loved recordings from recent years, such as What The Future Holds, Neon Blue, Something In Your Eyes, and Heartbreak in this City (feat. Michelle Visage).
Furthermore, the album boasts two brand new recordings that showcase different sides of the group, who have become masters of the cover version over the past two decades. This time around, they tackle VINCINT’s Hard 2 Forget for a contemporary dance pop sound, before tapping into the disco revival with one of the movement’s originals – Three Degrees’ The Runner – for a sparkling slice of pop nostalgia.
Both are worthy additions to the group’s catalogue, complementing new and classic hits alike, while for those who can’t get enough of Steps’ pop gold, expanded editions of ‘Platinum Collection’ come complete with a second disc of additional singles, album tracks, remixes and rarities – several of which are previously unreleased.
Alongside the singles that didn’t make the cut the first time around, there are also album tracks (Paradise Lost, Happy), B-sides (Just Like The First Time) and four new remixes, including the Flashmob edit of Deeper Shade of Blue and Steps 25 Revisited versions of One For Sorrow, Stomp and Tragedy.
It’s an added bonus for fans, along with individual member CDs which each include a further three tracks, which have been personally selected by Claire Richards, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Faye Tozer, Lee Latchford-Evans and Lisa Scott-Lee.
It once again demonstrates the group’s commitment not only to their music, but also to their fanbase, who remain as loyal today as they did two decades ago. While it would have been easy for the group to flog alternate, signed covers to increase their sales, the personal curation of the individual member editions of ‘Platinum Collection’ is symbolic of the attitude and ethos that’s resulted in Steps’ continued popularity after all this time.
The selections are varied and, while highlighting some of each member’s favourite cuts, also demonstrate their songwriting abilities, with Claire (Hand On Your Heart), Lisa (Never Get Over You), Faye (If You Believe), H (Learn to Love Again) and Lee (Turn Around) each selecting a co-write for their personal version of the album.
Coming off a two-year campaign that saw the group release two albums back-to-back at the height of a global pandemic, and embark on a full-scale arena tour across the UK, their current celebration rounds out one of the most exciting and prolific eras in Steps history.
The complete ‘Platinum Collection’ is a testament to the band’s history, showcasing their work and commitment that, 25 years on from their debut, continues their legacy as one of the most successful pop groups in chart history.
Long may their reign continue!
‘Platinum Collection’ is available now.
