- One Step Up
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"One Step Up" 
Single by Bruce Springsteen from the album Tunnel of Love B-side "Roulette" Released February 27, 1988 Format 7" single Recorded Between May and August 1987 at A&M Studios in Los Angeles Genre Rock Length 4:22 Label Columbia Writer(s) Bruce Springsteen Producer Jon Landau, Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Plotkin Bruce Springsteen singles chronology "Tunnel of Love"
(1987)"One Step Up"
(1988)"Tougher Than the Rest"
(1988)"One Step Up" is a song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1987 Tunnel of Love album. It was released as the third single from the album, following "Brilliant Disguise" and the title track. It reached position #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States.[1] It also reached #2 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[1] Since the previous two singles from the Tunnel of Love album went to #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart, this gave Springsteen three straight top 2 tracks from that album.[1] The song was only released as a single in America.[2]
Contents
History
Unlike much of the Tunnel of Love album, "One Step Up" was not recorded in Springsteen's home studio (Thrill Hill East). Rather, it was recorded at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California.[3] It was recorded between May and August 1987.[3] Springsteen plays all instruments, and future wife Patti Scialfa provided backing vocals.[3] No other members of Springsteen's usual backing group, the E Street Band, are present.
Like several other songs on the album, the song reflects the impending breakup of the marriage between Springsteen and then-wife Julianne Phillips.[4] The songs lyrics are poetic, understated, emotional and eloquent.[4] The song begins by describing a house with a broken furnace and a car that doesn't start, which serve as metaphors for the couple's relationship.[2][5] Similar metaphors in the song are a bird that won't sing and church bells that won't ring for a new bride-to-be. Although the couple has been together for some time, they haven't learned from their experiences and continue to fight and slam doors.[5] The lyrics refer to the couple's relationship as their "dirty little war."[2][5] Finally, the singer finds himself at a bar wondering whether to hook up with another woman there, while remembering a dream he had the night before about dancing with his wife.[5] The singer is self-aware enough to recognize his share of responsibility for the couple's difficulties, as demonstrated in particular by the line: "When I look at myself I don't see/The man I wanted to be". Dave Marsh describes the song as being "as miserable a cheating song as even Nashville ever knew."[6]
The music for the song has a bare arrangement, reflecting how personal the song is.[4] It is a quiet ballad with an ironically reassuring melody.[5] The backing vocal provides a haunting echo to the Springsteen's lead vocal.[2] Ironically, given the fact that this is a song about a marriage breaking up, these backing vocals were sung by the woman who would prove to be Springsteen's future wife, Patti Scialfa.[2]
Video
Like several other videos from the Tunnel of Love album, including "Brilliant Disguise", "Tunnel of Love" and "Tougher Than the Rest", the video for "One Step Up" was directed by Meiert Avis.[7] The video intersperses scenes of Springsteen singing the song with images reflecting the song's narrative. The video was later released on the VHS and DVD Video Anthology / 1978-88.[8]
Live performance history
Perhaps due to the personal nature of the song, it has been performed live only infrequently.[4] Between the Tunnel of Love Express Tour that supported the initial release of the album through July 2005, the song received 48 live performances in concert.[9]
Cover versions
A cover version of "One Step Up" was sung by Clive Gregson and Christine Collister for their album Love Is a Strange Hotel.[2][10]
A cover version of "One Step Up" was sung by Kenny Chesney. It is track #11 on his album No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems album.
A cover version of "One Step Up" was sung by Eddie Vedder for a demo tape of Bad Radio.
A Cover version of "One Step Up" was recorded by Martyn Joseph for his 2010 album "Under Lemonade Skies" (track #7).
External links
A cover version of "One Step Up" was sung by Kurt Ostbahn on the Album Liagn & Lochn - 08 - A SCHRITT VIRE (ZWA SCHRITT ZRUCK)
References
- ^ a b c "Bruce Springsteen Chart History". http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=5738&model.vnuAlbumId=943342. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
- ^ a b c d e f Patrick Humphries (1996). Bruce Springsteen. p. 81. ISBN 0 7119 5304 X.
- ^ a b c "Brucebase, On The Tracks: Tunnel of Love". http://brucebase.wikispaces.com/Tunnel+Of+Love+-+Studio+Sessions. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
- ^ a b c d "Allmusic One Step Up". http://www.allmusic.com/song/t356453. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
- ^ a b c d e June Skinner Sawyers (2006). Tougher Than the Rest 100 Best Bruce Springsteen Songs. pp. 117–118. ISBN 978-0-8256-3470-3.
- ^ Dave Marsh (1996). Glory Days. p. xxvii. ISBN 1-56025-101-8.
- ^ "Meiert Avis". imdb. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0043214/#director1980. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
- ^ "Internet Movie Database - Bruce Springsteen: Video Anthology 1978-1988". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096987/. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
- ^ "Bruce Springsteen Set List Page One Step Up". http://www.brucesetlists.com/townlist.php. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
- ^ "Allmusic Love is a Strange Hotel". http://www.allmusic.com/album/r96261. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Bruce Springsteen · Roy Bittan · Nils Lofgren · Patti Scialfa · Garry Tallent · Steven Van Zandt · Max Weinberg
Soozie Tyrell · Charles Giordano
Former members: Ernest Carter · Clarence Clemons · Danny Federici · Suki Lahav · Vini Lopez · David SanciousStudio albums Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973) · The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (1973) · Born to Run (1975) · Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) · The River (1980) · Nebraska (1982) · Born in the U.S.A. (1984) · Tunnel of Love (1987) · Human Touch (1992) · Lucky Town (1992) · The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995) · The Rising (2002) · Devils & Dust (2005) · We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006) · Magic (2007) · Working on a Dream (2009) · The Promise (2010)
Live albums Live/1975–85 (1986) · Chimes of Freedom (EP) (1988) · In Concert/MTV Plugged (1993) · Live in New York City (2001) · Hammersmith Odeon London '75 (2006) · Live in Dublin (2007) · Magic Tour Highlights (EP) (2008)Other albums Greatest Hits (1995) · Blood Brothers (EP) (1996) · Tracks (1998) · 18 Tracks (1999) · The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003) · Greatest Hits (2009)
Singles "Blinded by the Light" (1973) · "Spirit in the Night" (1973) · "Born to Run" (1975) · "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" (1976) · "Prove It All Night" (1978) · "Badlands" (1978) · "The Promised Land" (1978) · "Hungry Heart" (1980) · "Sherry Darling" (1980) · "Fade Away" (1981) · "The River" (1981) · "Cadillac Ranch" (1981) · "Point Blank" (1981) · "Atlantic City" (1982) · "Open All Night" (1982) · "Dancing in the Dark" (1984) · "Cover Me" (1984) · "Born in the U.S.A." (1984) · "I'm on Fire" (1985) · "Glory Days" (1985) · "I'm Goin' Down" (1985) · "My Hometown" (1985) · "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (1985) · "War" (1986) · "Fire" (1987) · "Born to Run" (live) (1988) · "Brilliant Disguise" (1987) · "Tunnel of Love" (1987) · "One Step Up" (1988) · "Tougher Than the Rest" (1988) · "Spare Parts" (1988) · "Human Touch" (1992) · "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" (1992) · "Better Days" (1992) · "Leap of Faith" (1992) · "Lucky Town" (1993) · "Streets of Philadelphia" (1994) · "Secret Garden" (1995) · "Murder Incorporated" (1995) · "Hungry Heart" (re-issue) (1995) · "The Ghost of Tom Joad" (1996) · "Secret Garden" (1997) · "Sad Eyes" (1999) · "The Rising" (2002) · "Lonesome Day" (2002) · "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" (2003) · "Devils & Dust" (2005) · "All the Way Home" (2005) · "Radio Nowhere" (2007) · "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" (2007) · "Working on a Dream" (2008) · "My Lucky Day" (2008) · "The Wrestler" (2009)Video releases Video Anthology / 1978–88 (1989) · In Concert/MTV Plugged (1992) · Blood Brothers (1996) · The Complete Video Anthology / 1978–2000 (2001) · Live in New York City (2001) · Live in Barcelona (2003) · VH1 Storytellers (2005) · Wings For Wheels (2005) · Hammersmith Odeon London '75 (2005) · Live in Dublin (2007) · Magic Tour Highlights (2008) · London Calling: Live in Hyde Park (2010) · The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town (2010)
Tours Born to Run tours (1974–77) · Darkness Tour (1978) · River Tour (1980–81) · Born in the U.S.A. Tour (1984–85) · Tunnel of Love Express (1988) · Human Rights Now! (1988) · "Other Band" Tour (1992–93) · Ghost of Tom Joad Tour (1995–97) · Reunion Tour (1999–2000) · Rising Tour (2002–03) · Vote for Change (2004) · Devils & Dust Tour (2005) · Seeger Sessions Band Tour (2006) · Magic Tour (2007–08) · Working on a Dream Tour (2009)
Related articles Discography · Mike Appel · Jon Landau · Brendan O'Brien · E Street Band · Jay Weinberg · The Max Weinberg 7 · The Sessions Band · The Miami Horns
Book:Bruce SpringsteenCategories:- English-language songs
- 1987 songs
- 1988 singles
- Bruce Springsteen songs
- Songs written by Bruce Springsteen
- Music videos directed by Meiert Avis
- Songs produced by Jon Landau
- Columbia Records singles
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