Step By Step / My Only Wish

Step by Step is the seventh studio album by Eddie Rabbitt, released July 31, 1981 on Elektra (later Liberty). It reinforced Rabbitt’s landmark country–pop crossover appeal, with the title track topping country charts and reaching the top of crossover formats; the album would eventually earn Gold status. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_by_Step_%28Eddie_Rabbitt_album%29))

Recording History

- Recording took place in early 1981 across multiple studios: Caribou Ranch (Nederland, Colorado); Woodland (Nashville, Tennessee); Sound Castle Recorders (Los Angeles, California); and Sunset Sound (Hollywood, California). ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_by_Step_%28Eddie_Rabbitt_album%29))
- Producer: David Malloy; engineers included Peter Granet (main) with Terry Christian, Mitch Gibson, David “Gino” Giorgini, and Russ Martin as second engineers; mastering by Greg Fulginiti at Artisan Sound Recorders. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_by_Step_%28Eddie_Rabbitt_album%29))
- The personnel feature Larry Muhoberac on string arrangements and Randy McCormick on keyboards and synthesizers, among a Nashville session lineup that complemented Rabbitt’s crossover pop sensibility. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_by_Step_%28Eddie_Rabbitt_album%29))
- The album’s track list includes 10 songs, notably “My Only Wish” as track 10, co-written by Rabbitt, Stevens and Malloy; it served as the B-side to the single “Step by Step.” ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_by_Step_%28Eddie_Rabbitt_album%29)) ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_by_Step_%28Eddie_Rabbitt_song%29?utm_source=openai))

Chart Performance & Recognition

- Album charted at No. 1 on the US Top Country Albums chart and reached No. 23 on the Billboard 200. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_by_Step_%28Eddie_Rabbitt_album%29))
- Singles: “Step by Step” hit No. 1 on US Country, No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 3 on the US Adult Contemporary chart; it also topped Canada’s Country chart. “Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight” also reached No. 1 on Country, with strong crossovers; “I Don’t Know Where to Start” peaked at No. 2 Country. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_by_Step_%28Eddie_Rabbitt_album%29))
- The album earned Gold certification, and AllMusic later gave it a 4.5/5 star rating. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_by_Step_%28Eddie_Rabbitt_album%29))

Cultural Impact & Legacy

- Step by Step solidified Rabbitt as a premier bridge between country and pop in the early 1980s; the title track remains a marquee example of that era’s crossover sound. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_by_Step_%28Eddie_Rabbitt_album%29))
- The title song has drawn covers and interest beyond its original release, with SecondHandSongs noting covers of the track and WhoSampled acknowledging later renditions (evidence of its enduring influence). ([secondhandsongs.com](https://secondhandsongs.com/release/124687?utm_source=openai))
- An additional bit of trivia: the album’s shared single/B-side pairing (“Step by Step” / “My Only Wish”) reflects the era’s emphasis on sleek, radio-friendly ballad-and-upbeat-track pairings. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_by_Step_%28Eddie_Rabbitt_song%29?utm_source=openai))