This was a nice find, even if it isn't particularly rare. My understanding is that at the time of this recording
Steppin' Razor were a Florida duo consisting of
Mike Rogers and
Kenny Lyon. You'd be forgiven if you mistook their moniker as
Studio Junkies given how the album jacket graphics are portrayed, but anyway. You can file this one loosely under 'new wave,' although the lead-off number, "Follow the Leader" is a delectably catchy slice of ska-pop with an indelible staccato syncopation. There's precious little more of where this came from at least as
Studio Junkies is concerned, but more regarding that after the jump. The remainder of the album traverses more traditional terrain, with whirring keyboards being a dominant factor yet not overpowering. Some of the comparatively introspective pieces ("Another Way to Live") never quite manage to climax, and further along, "I Really Wanna Dance With You" is just too vacant for my tastes. Steppin' Razor redeem themselves on the livelier "Ready to Break," while "Yellow Lights" dips back into the white-boy Rasta bag 'o tricks, but at five minutes is too lengthy for it's own good.
Shortly after Studio Junkies was issued, the duo of Rogers/Lyon made a break for L.A., teamed up with a rhythm section and rechristened themselves Steppin' Lazer. They took and ran with the ska-bent of the aforementioned "Follow the Leader," and cooked up one hell of an ep, Plain Wrap in '83, which included a rerecording of that song and another Junkies number, "Seeing What I Ain't Got." Per a blurb I read on YouTube, frontman Rogers has sadly passed on.
01. Follow the Leader
02. Seein' What I ain't Got
03. Another Pretty Face
04. You Don't Approve of Me
05. Another Way to Live
06. I Can't Afford it
07. I Really Wanna Dance with You
08. Ready to Break
09. Yellow Lights
10. Für Elise
Hear
2 comments:
Kenny Lyon went on to record and play with a bunch o' names, including stints touring with the Divinyls and Lemonheads.
Thanks billy. Bet Kenny has some wild stories to tell.
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