Every Step Of The Way is a simple love song which has a basic beat and rhythm driving direct verses along with a rolling swath of pop-styled, synth-based choruses. One of the best quotes about this song comes from Ian himself who has said it is a "smutty, dumb, love song, but good dumb, like Woolly Bully" (the 1964 Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs song). It is totally commercial and not surprisingly The Monkees recorded their nearly identical version although with poppier vocals. It is really silly with a line such as "You sewed a button on my shirt one day" and then he follows the girl "every step of the way." Bassist Mark Clarke earned a co-writing credit on the song as well.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
was also later covered by The Monkees
Mark Clarke, bass/vocals
Every Step Of The Way
(Ian Hunter/Mark Clarke)
I used to see you on the avenue
You were the girl that let me follow you
You used to hang out in the alleyway
You sewed a button on my shirt one day
I asked around til I found your name
Then underneath the arches in the pourin' rain
I said you (yeah you)
I want you - every step of the way
Do you wanna, do you wanna, do you wanna dance
Take a chance baby - take a chance
I'll be with you every step of the way
I'll even show you how to strut someday
Ain't got a girl 'n' it's a cryin' shame
I can't figure out who's to blame
I want you (yeah you)
I want you - every step of the way
I know - things gettin' better
I know - it's gonna be O.K.
So don't go - I ain't gonna let ya
I wanna be with you - every step of the way
So take a walk down the avenue
Just you 'n' me baby - me 'n' you
Remember that night in the alleyway
You know something - you still look the same
This world is a mean old world
It don't mean nothin' without you girl
I want you (yeah you)
I want you - every step of the way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3t9gtPaokU
The Monkees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=270LOvTrxWg
Ian Hunter LP/CD: "All Of The Good Ones Are Taken"
Sleeve and track listing
Sony/Columbia 474780 2.
Review
Ian recorded this album at the end of 1982, and is a real mix of styles. Mick Ronson was absent, as he was seriously considering quitting the music business ("At one point I was even considering becoming a chef" - Mick). Strongest tracks are Speechless (later to be covered by Status Quo), and the title track. Every Step of the Way was also later covered by The Monkees on their Listen To The Band box set.
Side two closes with a slow version of All Of The Good Ones Are Taken, while side one opens with a fast version. The original version was "lost", but the record company persuaded Ian to re-record it ("But I couldn't get the feel back" - Ian). The fast version was released as a single, which was accompanied by a video which was shown for a while on MTV.
| Every Step Of The Way | 3:55 | Originally issued on All of the Good Ones Are Taken. |