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Steppin' Out
Steppin' Out
	European cover
Studio album by Cleopatra
Released	21 June 2000
Recorded	1999–2000
Label	WEA; Maverick;
Producer	Jam & Lewis; Stargate; Dallas Austin; Daryl Simmons;
Cleopatra chronology
Singles from Steppin' Out
	"Come and Get Me"; Released: 17 July 2000; "U Got It"; Released: 25 July 2000 (US); "Yes, This Party's Going Right"; Released: 12 October 2000 (Japan);
Alternative cover
	US and Japanese cover

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[4]
Billboard	(favourable)^[5]
MTV	(favourable)^[6]
PopMatters	(favourable)^[7]
Vibe	(favourable)^[8]

Steppin' Out is the second studio album by British girl group Cleopatra, released on 21 June 2000 in Japan by Warner Music Japan.^[9] It was later released 22 August 2000 by WEA in the majority of the world and Maverick Records in the United States.^[10]

Overview

Cleo Higgins served was the main songwriter on the album, which was also co-written by her bandmates. As well the album features production from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin and Stargate.^[10]

Recording and production

After the success of their debut Comin' Atcha! and gaining attention in the US, including a Top 40 entry for "Cleopatra's Theme", the girls entered the studio to start work on their then-untitled second album. The girls decided the direction of this album would be R&B and not pop like their first album. Cleo again was the main songwriter, having penned the entire first album with her sister and bandmates credited as co-writers.

Employing a variety of production teams including Cutfather & Joe, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Stargate and bass guitarist and background vocalist Debra Killings, the album was recorded across the US and UK as well as in Norway and Denmark.

Cover artwork

Photography duo Markus and Indrani, best known for their work with Mariah Carey and Beyoncé, were brought in to shoot the album artwork.

Singles

"Come and Get Me" was released as the album's lead single in the UK on 17 July 2000.^[11] It is a pop song produced by Cutfather & Joe. The single charted at only number 29 on the UK singles chart.^[12]^[13]

"U Got It" served as the album's lead single in the United States, being serviced to contemporary and rhythmic contemporary radio stations on 25 July 2000.^[2]^[14] The song is an R&B-flavored pop track with "lush" guitar samples.^[15]^[16]

"Yes, This Party's Going Right" was released in Japan alongside the album's special edition on 12 October 2000.^[17]

Reaction

Upon release, the album earned favourable reviews from critics.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8] The lead single from the album, "Come and Get Me", reached No. 29 on the UK Singles Chart.^[4]^[18]

Track listing

"Press Here to Start"
"Come and Get Me"
"U Got It"
"Sweat Me"
"Who's Your Woman"
"Nobody Said"
"Number One Fan"
"Voo-Doo"
"Yes, This Party's Going Right"
"You Can't Be in My Life"
"Bingo My Love"
"Questions and Jealousy"
"Take Me Now (Stop, Stop...)"^[10]

US version

"Press Here to Start"
"U Got It"
"Take Me Now (Stop, Stop...)"
"Sweat Me"
"Nobody Said"
"Come and Get Me"
"Questions and Jealousy"
"Who's Your Woman"
"Bingo My Love"
"Voo-Doo"
"Yes, This Party's Going Right"^[10]

Bonus tracks

"All Talk No Action" (Japanese release)^[10]

Credits

Cleopatra Higgins: Lead vocals
Zainam Higgins: Backing vocals
Yonah Higgins: Backing vocals
Christine Higgins: Backing vocals
Jimmy Jam: Arranger, producer
Terry Lewis: Arranger, producer
Debra Killings: Producer
Daryl Simmons: Keyboards, programming, producer, vocals (Background)
Che Guevara: Producer
Markus Klinko and Indrani: Photography
Kenneth Hayes: Producer
Xavier Smith: Assistant engineer
Ivy Skoff: Production coordination
Bradley Yost: Assistant engineer
James Poyser: Producer
Warren Riker: Mixing
Kim Biggs: Package design
Joe Belmaati Keyboards, programming

Michael Norfleet: Keyboards, programming
Andrea Wright: Engineer
Lee Monteverde: Engineer
Vernon Mungo: Assistant engineer
Bradley Spalter: Keyboards, programming
David Harlan: Package design
Tue Roh: Fender Rhodes
Stargate: Producer
Amy Foster: Creative director
Tim Scrafton: Producer
Adam Kagan: Keyboards, engineer, programming
John Horesco IV: Engineer, mixing
Dorian Daniels: Bass, keyboards, programming
Leslie Brathwaite: Mixing
Rob Chiarelli: Mixing
Steve Hodge: Engineer, mixing
Kevin Lively: Assistant engineer

References

^ "New Releases – For Week Starting July 17, 2000: Singles". Music Week. 15 July 2000. p. 23.
^ ^a ^b "Crossover Nation: New Releases - Going For Adds 5/24" (PDF). Hits. 21 July 2000. p. 63. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via World Radio History.
^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1360. 21 July 2000. p. 46, 54.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Cleopatra: Steppin' Out". Allmusic.com.
^ ^a ^b "Cleopatra: Steppin' Out". billboard.com. 26 August 2000.
^ ^a ^b "RUFF ENDZ, JESSICA, CLEOPATRA COMING TO STORES". mtv.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Cleopatra: Steppin' Out". popmatters.com.
^ ^a ^b "Cleopatra: Steppin' Out". vibe.com. October 2000.
^ "ステッピン・アウト | クレオパトラ". ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Cleopatra: Steppin' Out. WEA/Maverick Records. August 2000.
^ "New Releases – For Week Starting July 17, 2000: Singles". Music Week. 15 July 2000. p. 23.
^ Jones, Desiree, ed. (5 August 2000). "R&B Artists & Music: Cleopatra Seeks to Rule the U.S." (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 32. p. 28, 54. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
^ "UK Singles". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1360. 21 July 2000. p. 46, 54.
^ Taylor, Chuck, ed. (12 August 2000). "Reviews & Previews: Singles - Pop" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 33. p. 21. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
^ Paoletta, Michael, ed. (26 August 2000). "Reviews & Previews: Albums - R&B / Hip-Hop" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 33. p. 21. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
^ "イエス・ディス・パーティーズ・ゴーイング・ライト | クレオパトラ". ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
^ "Cleopatra". officialcharts.com. Official Charts Company.