"Just Because" by Step'in Out
Jazz meets funk, soul, and library music in this long-forgotten bit of buried treasure.
Less Than 1,000 Spins is a Micro-Chop side project, Spotify and YouTube playlist, daily newsletter, and a place to find great songs with less than 1,000 spins. You can support the project by sharing the newsletter, the playlists, and/or music from the playlists with other people.
Step'in Out (also identified as Step In Out in some places) was a short-lived trio from the UK that consisted of Phil Berry, Tony Lawson, and Chris Lazenby. Their collective credits outside their lone album are limited, though Lazenby has one solo effort with an unknown release date to his name.
In 1982 they dropped Another Happy Customer on self-released cassette tape. One year later the UK record label Monarch pressed up a vinyl version for distribution. Running eight songs in length, the project features an even split of vocal and instrumental tracks that drift between funk, jazz, library, and soul.
It’s an intriguing and somewhat uneven project, but it has several bright spots and makes for an enjoyable listen. I’m more drawn to the instrumental tracks, but I can’t complain about soft, smooth, imperfect but charming numbers like “Another Happy Customer.”
One of the instrumental highlights is the lush, sample-friendly “Just Because,” a calming number that provides an anchor in the middle of the project at song #4. Berry, Lawson, and Lazenby keep things interesting by incorporating stylistic changes throughout the track without losing the listener. This is perhaps the strongest example of group chemistry on the record as every element in the recording maintains a nice balance.
Another Happy Customer is worthy of rediscovery and modern listeners. Several songs would sit nicely on an instrumental playlist. With all the passionate online communities dedicated to unearthing obscure music, it doesn’t seem out of the question that it will find people eventually.
Listen to “Just Because” on any platform here. Make sure to check out Less Than 1,000 Spins on Spotify and YouTube. You can also check out Formerly On Less Than 1,000 Spins on Spotify and YouTube.
Thank you for your support - I’ll be in touch again tomorrow.