Stairsteps on Dark Horse Records compiled by Tom Brennan

Stairsteps
on Dark Horse Records
compiled by Tom Brennan
last updated: 04/24/2022

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STAIRSTEPS FROM THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS
The Five Stairsteps were an American soul group from Chicago who are best known for their 1970 hit "O-o-h Child." The flip side of this hit was a cover of The Beatles song "Dear Prudence," which was also an R&B hit, reaching number 49. Initially a teenage five-member brothers and sister vocal group made up of the children of Betty and Clarence Burke, The Five Stairsteps were named by Mrs. Burke because she thought her kids looked like stair steps when lined up according to their age, featured lead singer Clarence Jr., Alohe, James, Dennis, and Kenneth ("Keni"). They also had a baby brother named Cubie. The group was renamed The Stairsteps in the early 1970s even though sister Alohe was still part of the group, although she eventually quit in 1972, leaving the group with four members. Billy Preston introduced the group to George Harrison, which is how they ended up on the Dark Horse Records label.
"From Us To You," from this 2nd Resurrection album was their biggest hit since 1970, peaking at #10 on the Billboard R&B chart in early 1976 and #12 on the Cashbox R&B chart on March 13, 1976. On the Pop charts, it peaked at #110 on Cashbox. The follow-up single, "Pasado", also covered by the group Pockets, received airplay in Chicago, New York, and other markets. Later in 1976, the group disbanded, with Keni becoming a solo artist.

2nd Resurrection LP
Catalog #: Dark Horse SP 22004, released 1976 February 06 (U.S. promo) [ side 1 label | side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse SP 22004, released 1976 February 06 (U.S.) [ side 1 label | side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse SP 22004, released 1976 (Canada promo) [ side 1 label | side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse SP 22004, released 1976 (Canada) [ side 1 label | side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse SP 22004, released 1976 (Spain) [ side 1 label | side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse 27.095-I, released 1976 (Spain) [ side 1 label | side 2 label | back cover | back cover credits closeup | inner sleeve lyrics ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse AMLH-22004, released 1976 March 19 (U.K.) [side 1 label | side 2 label ]

2nd Resurrection CD
Catalog #: Solaris Sol-CD-1201, released 2013 [ CD label | tray card | outer booklet | inner booklet ]

Promotional press kit

2nd Resurrection and Attitudes album ad from Cash Box, 1976 February 14
2nd Resurrection album news from Cash Box, 1976 February 21

STAIRSTEPS:
Clarence Burke, Jr.
Dennis Burke
Kenneth (Keni) Burke
James Burke

Note: Click on Side 1 and Side 2 headings below for lyrics...

SIDE 1:
1. From Us To You [Music: Keni Burke; Lyrics: Keni and Clarence Burke, Jr.] (3:40)
lead vocal: Keni Burke
background vocals: Stairsteps with Ivory Davis
lead guitar: Keni Burke
guitar: Dennis Burke
bass guitar: Keni Burke
keyboards: Billy Preston
drums: Alvin Taylor

2. Pasado [Music: Keni Burke; Lyrics: Clarence Burke, Jr.] (3:10)
lead vocals: Clarence Burke, Jr.
background vocals: Stairsteps with Ivory Davis
acoustic guitars: Clarence Burke, Jr and James Burke
acoustic 12-string guitar: Steve Backmeier
bass guitar: Keni Burke [not credited]
keyboards: Billy Preston
drums: Alvin Taylor
percussion and univox horns: Ricardo Marrero

3. Theme Of Angels [James Burke] (3:20)
(instrumental)
background vocals: Stairsteps
acoustic guitar: James Burke
bass guitar: Keni Burke
keyboards: Billy Preston
drums: Alvin Taylor

4. Lifting 2nd Resurrection [Music: Clarence Burke, Jr.; Lyrics: Dennis and Clarence Burke, Jr.] (3:47)
lead vocals: Dennis Burke and Clarence Burke, Jr.
background vocals: Stairsteps
lead guitar: Steve Backmeier
guitar: Dennis Burke
bass guitar: Keni Burke
keyboards: Billy Preston
drums: Alvin Taylor
percussion: Clarence Burke, Jr. and Ricardo Marrero

5. Time [Music: Clarence Burke, Jr.; Lyrics: Clarence Burke, Jr. and Syreeta Wright] (3:49)
lead vocal: Clarence Burke, Jr.
background vocals: Stairsteps
guitar and mutron: Dennis Burke
guitar: James Burke
bass guitar: Keni Burke
keyboards: Billy Preston
drums: Alvin Taylor
sax solo: Stomach

SIDE 2:
1. Throwin' Stones Atcha [Clarence Burke, Jr.] (3:06)
lead vocals: Clarence Burke, Jr.
background vocals: Stairsteps and Ivory Davis
guitars: Clarence Burke, Jr. and Dennis Burke
bass guitar: Keni Burke
keyboards: Billy Preston
drums: Alvin Taylor

2. Far East [Clarence Burke, Jr.] (1:08)
(instrumental)
super phaser solo: Steve Backmeier
acoustic guitar: Clarence Burke, Jr.
bass guitar: Keni Burke
keyboards: Billy Preston
drums: Alvin Taylor
percussion: Clarence Burke, Jr. and Ricardo Marrero

3. In The Beginning [Clarence Burke, Jr.] (3:54)
lead vocals: Clarence Burke, Jr.
background vocals: Stairsteps and Ivory Davis
guitar: Dennis Burke
bass guitar: Keni Burke
keyboards: Billy Preston
drums: Alvin Taylor

4. Tell Me Why [Keni Burke] (4:30)
lead vocal: Keni Burke
background vocals: Stairsteps
lead guitar: Keni Burke
guitar: Dennis Burke
bass guitar: Keni Burke
keyboards: Billy Preston
drums: Alvin Taylor

5. Salaam [Keni Burke] (4:29)
(instrumental)
lead guitar: Dennis Burke
guitars: Keni Burke and Clarence Burke, Jr.
bass guitar: Keni Burke
keyboards: Billy Preston
drums: Alvin Taylor
percussion: Ricardo Marrero

Timings listed above are from the CD.
Highlights on the A&M Dark Horse album are: In The Beginning, Pasado, Time, and From Us To You.

T.O.N.T.O. programmed by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff and played by Billy Preston
"T.O.N.T.O.," The Original New Timbral Orchestra, consists of twelve synthesizers linked together and played simultaneously.

Published ©1976, except "From Us To You" and "Time" published ©1975
All selections published by Ganga Publishing B.V.
All administrative rights for the U.S. and Canada controlled by Screen Gems-Columbia Music Inc. (BMI),
except "Time" published by Jobete Music. Co., Inc. (ASCAP) and Ganga Publishing B.V.
All administrative rights for Ganga for the U.S. and Canada controlled by Screen Gems-Columbia Music Inc. (BMI).

Produced by Billy Preston, Robert Margouleff and Stairsteps

Engineered by Robert Margouleff
Assistant engineer: Geoff Gillette
Mastered by Rick Collins
Recorded, remixed and mastered at Kendun Recorders, Burbank, CA.

Billy Preston appears courtesy of A&M Records
Ricardo Marrero appears courtesy of Don King Productions

Resurrection Management: Clarence Burke, Sr. & David Fitzpatrick.
For making this possible W.D.M.: Chief of N.O.I.

All songs arranged by Stairsteps except "Theme of Angels" arranged by Stairsteps and Billy Preston.

Special thanks to: George Harrison, Mark Davis, Dino Atrali, Kumar Shankar, Dennis O'Brien, Julia Beere, Linda Arias, René Kelly, and all at Dark Horse Records.
Original LP Art direction: Roland Young
Original LP Design: Chuck Beeson
Photography: Fred Valentine

Album Reviews
Calgary Herald, Calgary, Alberta, CANADA: March 05, 1976
The Leader-Post, Regina, Saskatchewan, CANADA: March 26, 1976

SINGLES

Catalog #: Dark Horse DH 10005 (promo), released 1975 December 03 (U.S.) [ label A | label B ]

SIDE A:
From Us To You [single mix, mono promo] (3:03)
SIDE B:
From Us To You [single mix, stereo promo] (3:04)

Fade out early compared to the LP version - mono side is a fold down of the stereo mix.

Catalog #: Dark Horse DH 10005, released 1975 December 03 (U.S.) [ picture sleeve A | picture sleeve B | label A | label B ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse DH 10005, released 1975? (Canada) [ label A | label B ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse AMS 5505, released 1976 January 30 (U.K.) [ label A | label B ]

SIDE A:
From Us To You [single mix]
SIDE B:
Time

The Stairsteps seem to have a #1 r&b hit with "From Us To You." from CashBox, 1976 February 14

From Us To You was the highest charting USA single on the Dark Horse Records label, peaking at #12 on the Cash Box R&B charts on March 13, 1976. It stayed on the top 100 R&B chart for 12 weeks between January 24 and April 10, 1976. It peaked on the Cash Box Pop charts at #110 for 2 weeks on March 20 and March 27, 1976, appearing on the "looking ahead (101-120)" chart for only 4 weeks in March.

Catalog #: Dark Horse DH 10009 (promo), released 1976 June 14 (U.S.) [ label A | label B ]

SIDE A:
Tell Me Why [long edit] (4:08)
SIDE B:
Tell Me Why [short edit] (3:33)

The LP mix is 4:30.

Catalog #: Dark Horse DH 10009, released 1976 June 14 (U.S.) [ label A | label B | label B alt Loka TM]

SIDE A:
Tell Me Why [long edit]
SIDE B:
Salaam [instrumental] (3:58)

Salaam is 4:29 on the LP.

Catalog #: Dark Horse AMS 5507, released 1976 May 21 (U.K.) [ label A | label B ]

SIDE A:
Pasado
SIDE B:
Throwin' Stones Atcha

Catalog #: Dark Horse 16910 A, released 1976 (Spain) [ picture sleeve A | picture sleeve B | label A | label B ]

SIDE A:
Salaam
SIDE B:
Pasado

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