Dreamgirls was one of the top musicals on Broadway in the eighties. Its memorable music was composed by Henry Krieger while the lyrics and book were written by the late Tom Eyen (1940-1991). The show debuted in December 1981 and went on to become a smash hit. Dreamgirls gained thirteen Tony Awards nominations with six wins. Dreamgirls was also the springboard for Jennifer Holliday’s career. Holliday’s performance of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” became the musical’s show-stopper and a much-loved evergreen.

David Foster was the producer of the Original Broadway Cast Album that became a best-seller reaching #11 on Billboard’s Top 200 and #4 on the R&B Albums Chart. That recording of Dreamgirls was the highest charting Broadway Cast Album in history. Holliday’s aforementioned “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” was a R&B chart topper and a solid pop hit. The song also brought the singing star a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance Female while the album won a Best Musical Show Album and was eventually certified gold in the US. Previous reviews of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and the other hit from the album, Holliday’s “I Am Changing” can be found in the archives.

This week, the spotlight is on “Steppin’ To The Bad Side” that features great performances by male cast members including Ben Harney, Cleavant Derricks, Obba Babatundè and Tony Franklin.

“Steppin’ To The Bad Side” was a catchy mid-tempo that sported an irresistible beat that shows it was influenced by famous black acts like The Miracles or The Temptations. Foster’s production was as good as it gets sonically and, as usual, he got amazing vocal performances by all the singers. The Hitman kindly sent a few lines recollecting his involvement in that recording:

“David Geffen, who was one of show’s financers, called me and simply asked if I would be interested producing the cast album.  I accepted and flew to New York. I loved the show and its great music, but I especially loved Jennifer Holliday! I watched the show probably twenty times and got to know the late Michael Bennett (1943-1987), the director, pretty well. Bennett, who was an amazing talent, also choreographed and directed A Chorus Line. I handled the production on Dreamgirls while the music arrangements were done before my involvement.”

Listen

• Vocals: Ben Harney, Obba Babatundé, Tony Franklin, Cleavant Derricks, Loretta Devine, Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph, The Company
• Keyboards: Myles Chase
• Drums: Brian Brake
• Bass: Eluriel Tinker Barfield
• Guitar:Andrew Schwartz & Peter Strode
• Percussion: Nick Cerrato

• Arranged by Harold Wheeler
• Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

They stole our hit
I never thought
You got me to think for you now
I’ve tried to make good without much success
You’ve got me to think for you now
Every time I try for more, I wind up with less
You gotta put your soul on a moral break
Get to the point, you just gotta
Take

Steppin’ to the bad side
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Gonna take a mean ride
Mean ride
The smile I had is gone away
Those that steal are gonna pay
Steppin’ to the bad side
Today

Steppin’ to the bad side
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Gonna take a mean ride
Ooh, ooh, ooh
The smile I had is gone away
Those that steal are gonna pay
Steppin’ to the bad side today

I tell you now, it’s got to end
No more trustin’ them, my friend
Change our style, change our tone
Make the songs we sing our own
Steppin’ to the bad side
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Gonna take a mean ride
Ooh, ooh, ooh
I got you all the breaks you need
In just two years, we’ll be in the lead
Just sit back, it’s plain to see
Open your eyes and trust in me
Steppin’ to the bad side
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Gonna take a mean ride
Ooh, ooh, ooh

I was a man who tried to be good
I was always misunderstood
I played fair, I played too meek
You gotta get way down and show
Your danger streak
Steppin’ to the bad side
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Gonna take a mean ride
Ooh, ooh, ooh

Steppin’ (Steppin’)
Steppin’ (Steppin’)
Steppin’ (Steppin’)
Steppin’ (Steppin’)
Steppin’ (Steppin’)
Steppin’ (Steppin’)
Steppin’ to the bad side
Steppin’ to the bad side
Steppin’ to the bad side
Steppin’ to the bad side
Steppin’ to the bad side

Steppin’ to the bad side
Steppin’ to the bad side
Steppin’ to the bad side
Steppin’ to the bad side
Steppin’ to the bad side
Steppin’ to the bad side
Steppin’ to the bad side

Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome
To the Appollo theatres legendary stage
James Early and the Dreamettes
Singing their #1 hit, “Stepping to the Bad Side”

Stepping to the bad side
Stepping to the bad side
Stepping to the bad side
Stepping to the bad side
Stepping to the bad side
Stepping to the bad side
Stepping to the bad side
Stepping to the bad side

I had to step into the bad side
I had to take myself a mean ride
You know that smile I had has gone away
Those that steal are gonna pay

Steppin to the bad side today

Man just stole my woman from me
Took her down to Tennessee
She was the best girl I ever knew
If it wasn’t for him, she’d still be true
I’ve always been a good man, it’s been said
But if I touch that man, he’d wish he were dead
Men like him make good men mad
Starting today I’m gonna be bad

Steppin’ to the bad side
Ooh, ooh, ooh
I had to take myself a mean ride
Ooh, ooh, ooh

You know that smile I had has gone away
Those that steal are gonna pay

Stepping to the bad side
Stepping to the bad side
Stepping to the bad side
Stepping to the bad side today

Step step to the bad side
Step step to the bad side
Step step to the bad side
Step step to the bad side
Step step to the bad side
Step step
Gotta step to the bad side