Just a Step from Heaven

"Just a Step from Heaven" is a song by British girl group Eternal, released as the third single from their debut album, Always & Forever (1993). Released on 18 April 1994 by EMI and 1st Avenue, the single was well received by music critics, entering at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart on 24 April. It climbed to its peak of number eight three weeks later and spent a total of 11 weeks on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the top 30 in Ireland and New Zealand and experienced minimal success in North America. The song was written by Wayne Cohen and Sheppard Solomon, and produced by Dennis Charles and Ronnie Wilson. Its accompanying music video was directed by Matthew Rolston.[2]

"Just a Step from Heaven"
Single by Eternal
from the album Always & Forever
B-side"I've Got to Be with You", "Fantasy"
Released18 April 1994 (1994-04-18)[1]
StudioRoundhouse (London, England)
GenrePop, R&B
Length3:57
LabelEMI, 1st Avenue
Songwriter(s)Wayne Cohen, Sheppard Solomon
Producer(s)Dennis Charles, Ronnie Wilson
Eternal singles chronology
"Save Our Love"
(1994)		 "Just a Step from Heaven"
(1994)		 "So Good"
(1994)

Critical reception

Jon O'Brien from AllMusic complimented the song as an example of "perfect R&B-infused pop".[3] Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "A glowing moment from the noteworthy Always & Forever album, this midtempo jam chugs along with rich harmonies, a diva-driven lead vocal, and an arrangement that pads a hip-hop foundation with sweet retro-soul nuances and a killer chorus. Juicy."[4] The Stud Brothers from Melody Maker praised the song as "glorious", adding, "With that song and that video, Eternal — a band hitherto known for ersatz soul and the mildest of swingbeat — prove that Brit R&B can be as exhilarating and stylish as its American counterpart."[5]

Sam Steele from NME remarked, "An innocuous uptempo luurve ballard, 'Just a Step...' drapes its perfect soul curves over some barely audible hip-hop scratching, swells into one of those swoonsome string laden choruses and generally sounds stunning in a superfluous supermodel kind of way."[6] Mark Frith from Smash Hits gave it five out of five and named it Best New Sngle, commenting, "At first I wasn't very sure about this. Not as sultry and soully as "Stay", missing the great infectious pop energy of "Save Our Love". After listen number five it strikes you — this has the best of both and is the pick of the bunch. Sassy, well-sung and a little bit funky, "Just a Step from Heaven" is another big hit. And the video, directed by the person behind the Salt N Pepa/En Vogue "Whatta Man" promo, is meant to be a little special too. We've probably lost them to America but Eternal are a jewel well worth keeping."[2]

Music video

The music video for "Just a Step from Heaven" was directed by American artist, photographer, director and creative director Matthew Rolston.[2] The Stud Brothers from Melody Maker commented, "Have you seent that video? The one that accompanies Eternal's "Just a Step from Heaven". The one that quite literally kicks off with a gang of kids tearing through an urban wasteland, then cuts to an anthracite-haired goddess, standing at a university podium, delivering a gospel-tinged sermon on self-love, beneath the intimidating clenched-fist of the Black Panther movement. Now that is one serious f*** video. Packaged rebellion, for sure, but what packaging."[5] Easther Bennett of Eternal told in an interview, "Without that video, the song could easily been interpreted as some boy/girl thing. With the video, we stress a greater kind of love and pride. We ask people to see strength in themselves and use it in a positive way."[5]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Always & Forever album booklet.[14]

Studios

  • Recorded at Roundhouse Studios (London, England)
  • Mixed at RG Jones Studios (London, England)

Personnel

  • Wayne Cohen – writing
  • Sheppard Solomon – writing
  • Dennis Charles – production
  • Ronnie Wilson – production
  • Johnny Douglas – additional production and remix

Charts

References
  1. "Just a Step from Heaven". Amazon. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. Frith, Mark (13 April 1994). "New Singles: Best New Single". Smash Hits. p. 59. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  3. O'Brien, Jon. "Louise — Changing Faces: Best of Louise". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  4. Flick, Larry (21 May 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 51. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  5. The Stud Brothers (28 May 1994). "Forever Our Girls". Melody Maker. p. 6. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  6. Steele, Sam (16 April 1994). "Singles". NME. p. 39. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  7. Just a Step from Heaven (UK CD single liner notes). Eternal. EMI Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1994. CDEM 311, 7243 8 81249 2 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Just a Step from Heaven (Australian CD single liner notes). Eternal. EMI Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1994. 8812492.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Just a Step from Heaven (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Eternal. EMI Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1994. EM 311, 7243 8 81249 7 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Just a Step from Heaven (UK cassette single sleeve). Eternal. EMI Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1994. TCEM 311, 7243 8 81249 4 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Just a Step from Heaven (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Eternal. EMI Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1994. 12EM 311, 8812496.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Just a Step from Heaven (US cassette single sleeve). Eternal. EMI Records. 1994. 4KM-58183.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Just a Step from Heaven (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Eternal. EMI Records. 1994. TODP-2468.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Always & Forever (UK CD album booklet). Eternal. EMI Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1993. CDEMD 1053, 7243 8 28212 2 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart week ending 12 Mar 1995". Australian Record Industry Association Ltd. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  16. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2523." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  17. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 7 May 1994. p. 11. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  18. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 18 June 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Just a Step from Heaven". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  20. "Eternal – Just a Step from Heaven" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  21. "Eternal – Just a Step from Heaven" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  22. "Eternal – Just a Step from Heaven". Top 40 Singles.
  23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  25. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 7 May 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  26. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 9 April 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  27. "Bubbling Under Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 26. 25 June 1994. p. 35.
  28. "Top 100 Singles 1994". Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 9.
  29. "The RM Club Chart of the Year" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 24 December 1994. p. 10. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
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