(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone

"(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" is a rock song by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. It was first recorded by Paul Revere & the Raiders and appeared on their album Midnight Ride, released in May 1966.

The song is simple musically, with a repeating verse chord progression of E major, G major, A major and C major, and a repeating bridge in cut time of E major, G major, A major, and G major.

Monkees version

It is best known as a hit for The Monkees (US #20), released in November 1966, (making it the first Monkees B-side to chart)^[1] Musicians featured on the Monkees recording are: lead vocal: Micky Dolenz, backing vocal: Tommy Boyce, Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton, Organ: Bobby Hart, Bass: Larry Taylor, Drums: Billy Lewis, Percussion: Henry Levy.

The Monkees' version differs between the single version, stereo album version and mono album version (though all three stem from the same recording). In the stereo version, the track's title is sung just before the second verse, whereas on the single and mono album versions, this segment is left instrumental. Additionally, the stereo version has an edit in the fadeout. The mono album version does not have this edit and therefore has a longer coda. The single also does not have the edit, but it fades the song earlier than the mono album. All Monkees hits compilations through the mid-1990s used the stereo version. Since the 1995 Greatest Hits collection on Rhino Records, most collections use the single version.

The Farm version

"Stepping Stone" was the first single by Liverpool-based pop group The Farm. It was based upon The Monkees' 1966 song "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone". The single was released in April 1990, having been produced by Graham "Suggs" McPherson of Madness and Terry Farley. It reached #58 on the UK charts.

The Monkees version had previously been covered by the Smack, Sex Pistols, Cardboard Brains, Johnny Thunders, Vicious White Kids, The Merton Parkas, Cryptic Slaughter, Kevin Kinney of Drivin' N' Cryin', and numerous Washington D.C. hardcore punk bands, including Minor Threat, Government Issue, Untouchables, and State of Alert. Brooklyn based punk band Consumer Feedback covers this song live very often. This track is also used as the basis of Irish band The Keepers's track "U & I Don't Belong" on their 2005 album Rock and Roll from the Lagan Delta.

Other versions

The song has been covered by many artists, such as the Sex Pistols, Vicious White Kids, Johnny Thunders, The Merton Parkas, Blutgräfin, Minor Threat, State of Alert, the Flies, The Farm, The Feminine Complex, D.S.-13, Six Feet Under, Trashmen, Hot Nasties, Per Gessle, Les Thugs and W.C. Fields Memorial String Band. It was also a hit for PJ & Duncan in 1996, when it reached number #11 on the British Singles Chart.^[2]

References