I'm presuming the Impressions but does anyone know for sure? I think they're both from '68 but I dunno which is the original. Hadn't ever even heard the Impressions until I started trawling Curtom for some Backbeats goodies.........

Ian D

I'm pretty sure the Five Stairsteps was released first. First of all, it's the only one released on single and it was a hit, Impressions was an LP-cut only. Second of all, this says the Impressions LP was released december of 68:

https://www.bsnpubs.c...dah/curtom.html

The five stairsteps single was released late in '68 but I'm pretty sure before december. Obviously the five stairsteps LP that had the track came out after the impressions LP though.

Edited October 28, 201113 yr by boba

Record of the Week - (Top Left of Article) BILLBOARD

>>> SOUL SAUCE - BEST NEW RECORD OF THE WEEK - 9th NOVEMBER 1968 <<<

Record of the Week - (Top Left of Article) BILLBOARD

>>> SOUL SAUCE - BEST NEW RECORD OF THE WEEK - 9th NOVEMBER 1968 <<<

Whoever proof-read that ad needs shooting! They missed off Cubie for God's sake!

Come to think of it, who the hell was Cubie anyway? What's her story I wonder?

I always felt a bit sorry for Cuby. It always felt like she was a bit of an add-on. The Five Stairsteps...and.....er...Cubie........

Anyone know what happened to her?

Ian D

cubie isn't a she, it's a he, he was the very young brother they added later, almost as a novelty thing. He's currently a dancer in the alvin ailey troupe.

The girl in the group was Alohe Burke

Got this off Wikpedia - Dunno about its accuracy

The group's second album, Family Portrait (complete with a montage of Burke family photos), was recorded and produced in Chicago by Clarence Jr. With the addition of their three-year-old brother, the group became The Five Stairsteps & Cubie.

The impressions did a version of We Must Be In Love which is another brill 5 Stairsteps tune. I also really like Don't Waste Your Time by them.

Oh - Beat Me to it Boba

Edited October 29, 201113 yr by autumnstoned

The lead singer of this song was Kenny Burke, he would have been 15 at the time

The lead singer of this song was Kenny Burke, he would have been 15 at the time

Keni (or Kenneth) Burke

Keni (or Kenneth) Burke

also, are you sure it's not clarence (who was the main lead of the group)?

I stand corrected about the spelling Bob, you're correct - sorry...

But I'm sure it was him who was lead singer on this song...

This Youtube page sort of confirms it as well:

Edited October 29, 201113 yr by John Benson

cubie isn't a she, it's a he, he was the very young brother they added later, almost as a novelty thing. He's currently a dancer in the alvin ailey troupe.

The girl in the group was Alohe Burke

Cubie isn't a she??? Dammit. What kind of a name for a bloke is Cubie?

No wonder it's confusung..........

In that case, I wonder how Alohe felt when Cubie butted in.........? Bloody kids stealing all the limelight and all that.....

But if I was Cubie I'd be wondering why the font on my name on the label is reduced to lower case and why did they leave my name off the Billboard ad?

Ian D

But I'm sure it was him who was lead singer on this song...

This Youtube page sort of confirms it as well:

thanks for confirming this

OK, that's 3 potential lead singers in the course of this one thread - Cubie, Clarence or Keni?

I'm gonna have to listen now 'cos I always thought it was a bird called Cubie......

........and if it was Keni I'll rib him about his balls not dropping when he sang that!

But it's Clarence right?

Ian D

In that case, I wonder how Alohe felt when Cubie butted in.........? Bloody kids stealing all the limelight and all that.....

They all were kids, they were all siblings. This is the one track that Cubie sings on:

Who was in and who was out when they went to "Second Resurrection" on Dark Horse then? I always wondered how come they signed to George Harrison's label as well. From Curtis to George Harrison is an interesting move.

Ian D

I think the stairsteps on dark horse was pretty much the same lineup (maybe without cubie?).

The Invisible Man's Band was the same group minus Alohe and Cubie.

I think the stairsteps on dark horse was pretty much the same lineup (maybe without cubie?).

The Invisible Man's Band was the same group minus Alohe and Cubie.

actually Alohe was also not in the stairsteps on dark horse. so the invisble man's band and the dark horse group are the same group.

More Wikpedia info:-

Billy Preston introduced The Stairsteps to The Beatles, and the group signed with George Harrison's Dark Horse label .

That's me done - off to the 100 Club

Edited October 29, 201113 yr by autumnstoned

Keni told me they were actually big beatles fans when they were kids and listened to a lot of rock music when they were driving around touring. It sort of explains their more rock / pop sound on the later LPs.

The Invisible Man's Band was the same group minus Alohe and Cubie.

Maybe they were just invisible.....?

Well, it was always a weird fit for Alohe and Cubie was a last minute add-on so if anyone was going to leave........

Ian D

I love the Stairsteps, one of my favourite groups. So many great tunes played on the northern scene. If they got together and came over it wouldn't be a five minute set.

Just some i've heard out:

Change of Pace

Playgirls Love

Stay Close To Me

You Can't See/Ain't Gonna Rest

We Must Be In Love

Don't Waste Your Time

The Girl I Love

All cheap as chips as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9bjGEv2UlA

Edited October 29, 201113 yr by Matt Male

Keni told me they were actually big beatles fans when they were kids and listened to a lot of rock music when they were driving around touring. It sort

of explains their more rock / pop sound on the later LPs.

Yep, that makes total sense.

Ian D

the stairsteps are possibly the greatest chicago soul group of all time, maybe next to the impressions

Got this off Wikpedia - Dunno about its accuracy

The group's second album, Family Portrait (complete with a montage of Burke family photos), was recorded and produced in Chicago by Clarence Jr. With the addition of their three-year-old brother, the group became The Five Stairsteps & Cubie.

The impressions did a version of We Must Be In Love which is another brill 5 Stairsteps tune. I also really like Don't Waste Your Time by them.

Oh - Beat Me to it Boba

Cool album,with gatefold cover.

We're using The Stairsteps "I'm The One Who Loves You" on a forthcoming Backbeats. We actually included the Impressions version of "Stay Close To Me" on another volume 'cos most people know the Stairsteps (and Cubie) version but not the Impressions which is

more straightforward and Curtis sings it beautifully........

Ian D

Edited October 29, 201113 yr by Ian Dewhirst

Includes some Information on >>> The Five Stairsteps & Cubie <<<

Somewhere in the upper reaches of Rounce Towers there's a Portuguese Buddah EP of the Impressions, which contains 'Stay Close To Me'.

I used to play the track off that particular item in the West Hampstead era of 6Ts...

From 'Love's Happening' CD release -

Clarence Burke, Jr, 18 years old

Aloaha, 19 years old

James, 17 years old

Dennis, 16 years old

Kenneth, 15 years old

& Cubie, 3 &1/2 years old

the stairsteps are possibly the greatest chicago soul group of all time, maybe next to the impressions

I would put the Impressions & The Dells before The Stairsteps + the Natural Fours Curtom records are better in my opinion.

Edited October 30, 201113 yr by John Siret

this was their big hit stateside...i just heard it on the radio a couple of times while driving round florida with the missus....i think they all have ago at singing....originally a `b` side to their beatles cover dear prudence.....enjoy

dave

From 'Love's Happening' CD release -

Clarence Burke, Jr, 18 years old

Aloaha, 19 years old

James, 17 years old

Dennis, 16 years old

Kenneth, 15 years old

& Cubie, 3 &1/2 years old

I would put the Impressions & The Dells before The Stairsteps + the Natural Fours Curtom records are better in my opinion.

I stand by my statement. The natural four (while a great group) aren't even from chicago. And the best stairsteps 45s are their windy c records, not even comparable to the natural four.

You also spelled Alohe wrong.

Just a difference of opinion.

I know the Natural Four aren't from Chicago which is why i wrote 'Curtom records' + my spelling mistake comes from what is copied from CD sleeve notes!

I love the Stairsteps, one of my favourite groups. So many great tunes played on the northern scene. If they got together and came over it wouldn't be a five minute set.

Just some i've heard out:

Change of Pace

Playgirls Love

Stay Close To Me

You Can't See/Ain't Gonna Rest

We Must Be In Love

Don't Waste Your Time

The Girl I Love

All cheap as chips as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9bjGEv2UlA

agree with you always buy there stuff when i can , this is a nice one,

Just a difference of opinion.

Sure. I was partly pointing out that the Windy C records are the best Stairsteps records. I'm assuming you know them. Thanks.

Record of the Week - (Top Left of Article) BILLBOARD

>>> SOUL SAUCE - BEST NEW RECORD OF THE WEEK - 9th NOVEMBER 1968 <<<

As an aside - what an eclectic mix in the R&B album chart - Cream, Hendrix, Big Brothers Holding Company, The Dells, Chambers Brothers , Wes Montgomery, eddie Harris, Bobby Taylor!!!!!!

I

'm pretty sure the Five Stairsteps was released first. First of all, it's the only one released on single and it was a hit, Impressions was an LP-cut only. Second of all, this says the Impressions LP was released december of 68:

https://www.bsnpubs.c...dah/curtom.html

The five stairsteps single was released late in '68 but I'm pretty sure before december. Obviously the five stairsteps LP that had the track came out after the impressions LP though.

But surely Curtis would have recorded it with the Impressions first wouldn't he? I presume that Curtis probably had it in the can ready to go and then gave it to the Five Stairsteps......and Cubie on the basis that it was a cute song and would probably fit the guys, gal & 3 year old kid better..........?

Ian D

But surely Curtis would have recorded it with the Impressions first wouldn't he? I presume that Curtis probably had it in the can ready to go and then gave it to the Five Stairsteps......and Cubie on the basis that it was a cute song and would probably fit the guys, gal & 3 year old kid better..........?

Curtis produced a lot of groups. He wasn't just a musician, songwriter, and singer; he was a record producer trying to get hits. A lot of the tracks that the Impressions did were first done by other groups. If Curtis had intended it to be mainly an impressions track he would have released it as a single.

Curtis produced a lot of groups. He wasn't just a musician, songwriter, and singer; he was a record producer trying to get hits. A lot of the tracks that the Impressions did were first done by other groups. If Curtis had intended it to be mainly an impressions track he would have released it as a single.

Yep, I guess so. What I was suggesting was whether the Impressions version acted as a kind of demo for the Stairsteps & Cubie one? I presume it's exactly the same backing track and they just re-recorded the vocals. It'd be interesting to know how far apart the recordings were? It may have been just days, since both versions came out at around the same time.

The Five Stairsteps (and Cubie) was undoubtably the more commercial of the two, that's for sure.

Ian D

THE IMPRESSIONS are most certainly the greatest Chicago group of all time....Both musically and in iconic terms..

THE STAIRSTEPS 45'S put them well near the top of the All Time -'Northern Soul value for money' chart though, that's for sure! I've always wondered why 'The Girl I love' was not much bigger, a lovely finger snapper, great tempo, verging onto DEON JACKSON territory in feel and melody, great record...

...A bit late I know but I finally unearthed my Portuguese Impressions EP this morning. This is a promo copy and it came without a pic sleeve, but I'm sure there must be a stock copy that has one. It came from a bunch of unplayed Portuguese EPs that I acquired for pennies from a South London junkshop in the late 70s, some of which had sleeves and some of which didn't...

I really like the Carl Smith penned "Your Love Has Changed" from the "Loves Happening" LP....I dont think it got a 45 release..its got an earlier Four Tops motowny feel to it....worth a spin at a venue mebbe......

THE IMPRESSIONS are most certainly the greatest Chicago group of all time....Both musically and in iconic terms..

THE STAIRSTEPS 45'S put them well near the top of the All Time -'Northern Soul value for money' chart though, that's for sure! I've always wondered why 'The Girl I love' was not much bigger, a lovely finger snapper, great tempo, verging onto DEON JACKSON territory in feel and melody, great record...

Maybe because it was the flipside of Ooh, Baby Baby, and the plug side just isn't as good, The Girl I Love probably never got any airplay.

Maybe because it was the flipside of Ooh, Baby Baby, and the plug side just isn't as good, The Girl I Love probably never got any airplay.

I know that mate...I meant on our scene....

I know that mate...I meant on our scene....

I've played it out.

But then again no one cares what I play.

Was available to the Radio Stations too as the DEMOs have A & B side.

...A bit late I know but I finally unearthed my Portuguese Impressions EP this morning. This is a promo copy and it came without a pic sleeve, but I'm sure there must be a stock copy that has one. It came from a bunch of unplayed Portuguese EPs that I acquired for pennies from a South London junkshop in the late 70s, some of which had sleeves and some of which didn't...

Nice one Tony!

What were the other tracks they put out on that EP then?