Released 1971 Length 4:24 | Format 7" 45rpm Label Fly
Ariola | |
B-side "Sometimes It's Not Enough" Writer(s) John Kongos
Christos Demetriou | ||
"He's Gonna Step On You Again" (a.k.a. "Step On") is a song co-written by Christos Demetriou and performed by John Kongos in 1971.
Contents
- 1987 Australian versions
- The Party Boys
- Chantoozies
- Exploding White Mice
- Happy Mondays version
- Other versions
- References
It was 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.
The song, released by Fly Records, entered the UK Singles Chart on 22 May 1971 and spent 14 weeks on the chart, peaking at No. 4. The band's song "Tokoloshe Man" also peaked at No. 4 later that year.
The song was featured on the soundtrack of the 2006 video game Test Drive Unlimited.
1987 Australian versions
In 1987 three Australian bands The Party Boys, Chantoozies and Exploding White Mice each released their own cover version of "He's Gonna Step On You Again". The Party Boys' single was issued in June, which peaked at No. 1, for two weeks, in late July on the Australian Music Report chart while the Chantoozies version reached No. 36.
The Party Boys
The Party Boys were an Australian rock band with a floating membership that mostly performed cover versions and existed from 1982 until 1992. By 1987, the members were Kevin Borich on guitar and backing vocals, John Brewster on guitar and backing vocals, Paul Christie on drums and backing vocals, Richard Harvey on drums, Alan Lancaster on bass guitar and backing vocals, and John Swan on lead vocals. Their version also reached No. 10 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. The Party Boys also recorded a 12" single, "He's Gonna Step On You Again (Stomp Mix)" with Nick Mainsbridge remixing, which was backed by "She's a Mystery".
Chantoozies
Chantoozies were a 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 on bass guitar, keyboards and programming, Scott Griffiths on keyboards and programming, Frank McKoy on lead vocals and guitar, and David Reyne on drums and backing vocals.
Exploding White Mice
Exploding White Mice were a pop punk band from 1983 and by 1987 had a line-up of Paul Gilchrist on vocals, Andy MacQueen on bass guitar, David Bunney on drums, Giles Barrow on rhythm guitar and Jeff Stephens on guitar. Exploding White Mice issued their version as the B-side of their "Blaze of Glory" single on Adelaide's Greasy Pop Records.
Happy Mondays version
Happy Mondays covered the song, retitling it "Step On" in 1990, with two different music videos. 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 No. 5 in the UK and even making it on to the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 57.
Other versions
Other artists have recorded cover versions of this song, including Def Leppard (on their 2006 cover album Yeah!). 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.