Words & Music:
Paul Evans
Paul Parnes
Yesterday, I slipped away
The sun is welcoming the evening shadows
On a perfect day and the next step is love
The next step is love
We walked barefoot through the misty meadows
Laughing at each other in the rain
Made some faces at some people in the park
Didn't bother to explain
Fun, fun, look at us run
Going nowhere special really fast
But we've yet to taste the icing on the cake
That we've been baking with the past
And the next step is love
So what are we waiting for?
The next step is love
Girl, it's for sure
Love will be a place to run to
From the world they've built to you and me
We'll be closer than we've ever been
Though looking back it's so hard to believe
Hang it all out or bring it all in
The best we've picked upon the way tonight
Changes are coming but together
We can make it through somehow
Yes the next step is love
Recordingdate: 1970/06/07, first released on: That's the Way It Is (album)
Musicians
Musicians who contributed to the first recording of The Next Step Is Love:
(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)
(organ)
(harmonica)
Others*
(percussion)
(french horn)
(trombone)
(trombone)
(trombone)
(trombone)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
*Orchestra, overdubs
Availability
Find available albums with The Next Step Is Love.
This is a great Elvis track, one of my all time favourites, i never tire of hearing it.
Decent song. I like the song, especially the studio version, I have never cared for the live versions. But one thing has to be said. This song was never going to be hit. But compare the song to similar songs on the Memphis album, like "After Lovin´ You", "True Love Travels On A Gravel Road" or "Gentle On My Mind". That album was so much stronger than the TTWII album. How much bigger could Elvis have been if he had continued working with Chips Moman?
Different offbeat ballad which showed his maturity in voice and lyrics. Yes it prob was not hit material but it was a very good song and a great album cut. I much prefer a ballad like this then the morose ones he recorded later in the 70's.
The original TWII rehearsal version is one of my absolute highlights in EP's career...There's barely another Elvis song I enjoy more listening to...and watching of course...
Vocally and grove wise it's a grat song, the text is just a bit corny. "We have yet to taste the icing on the cake that we've been baking with the past" or "made some faces at some people in the park and didn't bother to explain". But his voice never sounded better. I love the 1970 sessions.
I like the song a lot. I do like the line "made some faces at some people in the park and didn't bother to explain". Its very playful. You do silly things when your in love. The studioversion is the best but the live versions got their serious treat also and is very pleasant to listen to.
There is nothing wrong with the lyrics and vocally Elvis was never better. An outstanding song from a truly great LP. This song was not really intended to be a hit as it was the B-side to "I've Lost You". It followed "My Little Friend" and "Mama Liked The Roses" as B-sides. These were very good tracks, but songs meant to not distract from their A-sides ("Kentucky Rain" and "The Wonder Of You"). Still this track was strong enough to be shown as charting with its A-side at #32 pop, #5 adult contemporary and #57 country).
"I've Lost you / The Next step is Love". This double "A" single should have been a huge hit. Love the studio (single) versions of both, of these songs.
Absolute perfection. I love it.
Outstanding track from an outstanding album. A favourite of mine.5 stars album and song.
Good song, very much in step with the times of 1970, but seems a bit dated to me now musically & lyrically. However, very good performance which I liked it better than the A side.
I like this song. It's one of those recordings that never age. As good today as the day it was recotded.
A good track, but I have a live version where Elvis sounds terrible off key. Even on the studio version he sounds shaky.
A well sung pleasant ballad that was unfortunately outdone by better songs of the same genre like Just Pretend, I Just Can't Help Believing, Twenty Days, Twenty Nights and Mary In The Morning all released at the same time. I like it when I play it but don't seek it out, as it just lacks that little bit of magic.
Love both sides of this single. The Next Step Is Love seems so unusual for an Elvis song, but it works.
Prefer "I've Lost You." This one is okay if I'm in the mood for it. 3 stars.
I've always liked this terrific, catchy and fun song and Elvis' renditions of it are all tremendous. Five stars from me.
5-stars. Like it as it reminds me if his initial 1970's foray into live shows.
Such a stellar song from a classic album. It makes me feel summery and happy. It’s up there with the best from the 1970 sessions. 5 stars easy.