1986 Steps Ahead – Magnetic
Magnetic is an album by American jazz-fusion group Steps Ahead (originally known simply as Steps), brainchild of vibraphonist Mike Mainieri. Magnetic is the last Steps Ahead recording to feature Michael Brecker. The album finds the band exploring the use of electronic instruments and synthesis. Michael Brecker’s use of the Akai E.W.I. (electronic wind instrument) is astonishing.
Tracks
1 Trains (Mike Mainieri) 07:29
2 Beirut (Victor Bailey; Michael Brecker; Peter Erskine; Chuck Loeb; Mike Mainieri) 08:17
3 Cajun (Michael Brecker) 06:18
4 In A Sentimental Mood (Duke Ellington) 03:33
5 Magnetic Love (Mike Mainieri; Scott Martin) 05:34
6 Sumo (Michael Brecker) 05:50
7 All The Tea In China (Peter Erskine) 05:06
8 Something I Said (Peter Erskine) 04:13
9 Reprise (Magnetic Love) (Mike Mainieri; Scott Martin) 01:25
Biography
Musicians
1 Trains
| Bass | Victor Bailey |
| Drums | Peter Erskine |
| Guitar | Hiram Bullock |
| Guitar | Chuck Loeb |
| Acoustic Guitar | Chuck Loeb |
| Guitar (Synthesizer) | Chuck Loeb |
| Keyboards | Mike Mainieri |
| Synthesizer | Kenny Kirkland |
| Programming | Robbie Kilgore |
| EWI | Michael Brecker |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Vibes | Mike Mainieri |
| Percussion | Peter Erskine |
2 Beirut
| Bass | Victor Bailey |
| Drums | Peter Erskine |
| Guitar | Chuck Loeb |
| Guitar (Synthesizer) | Chuck Loeb |
| Keyboards | Mike Mainieri |
| Programming | Robbie Kilgore |
| EWI | Michael Brecker |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Vibes | Mike Mainieri |
| Percussion | Peter Erskine |
3 Cajun
| Bass | Victor Bailey |
| Drums | Peter Erskine |
| Guitar | Chuck Loeb |
| Guitar (Synthesizer) | Chuck Loeb |
| Banjo | Peter Schwimmer |
| Programming | Robbie Kilgore |
| EWI | Michael Brecker |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Vibes | Mike Mainieri |
4 In A Sentimental Mood
| Keyboards | Mike Mainieri |
| EWI | Michael Brecker |
| Programming | Phil Ashley |
5 Magnetic Love
| Drums (Programming) | Jimmy Bralower |
| Guitar | Paul Jackson Jr |
| Synclavier (sampling) | Andy Topeka |
| Synthesizer | Phil Ashley |
| Synthesizer | Scott Martin |
| Synthesizer | Mike Mainieri |
| Sequencer | Phil Ashley |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Background Vocals | Diva Gray |
| Background Vocals | Jocelyn Brown |
| Background Vocals | Janice Pendarvis |
| Vocals | Dianne Reeves |
6 Sumo
| Bass | Victor Bailey |
| Drums | Peter Erskine |
| Drums (Programming) | Jimmy Bralower |
| Guitar | Chuck Loeb |
| Guitar (Synthesizer) | Chuck Loeb |
| Piano | Robbie Kilgore |
| Programming | Robbie Kilgore |
| EWI | Michael Brecker |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Vibes | Mike Mainieri |
| Percussion | Peter Erskine |
7 All The Tea In China
| Bass | Victor Bailey |
| Guitar | Chuck Loeb |
| Synthesizer | Peter Erskine |
| Synthesizer | Mitchel Forman |
| Programming | Robbie Kilgore |
| EWI | Michael Brecker |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Vibes | Mike Mainieri |
| Percussion | Peter Erskine |
8 Something I Said
| Bass | Victor Bailey |
| Drums | Peter Erskine |
| Guitar | Chuck Loeb |
| Piano | Warren Bernhardt |
| Synthesizer | Warren Bernhardt |
| Synthesizer | Peter Erskine |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Vibes | Mike Mainieri |
Liner Notes
Producer – Steps Ahead (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8)
Producer – George Duke, Mike Mainieri, Scott Martin (Tracks 5, 9)
Coordinator – Dennis Alichwer
Engineer – James Farber (Tracks 2, 3, 8)
Engineer – Joe Barbaria (Tracks 4, 5)
Engineer – Jay Rifkin, Malcolm Pollack (Track 5)
Engineer – Neil Dorfsman, Rick Kerr (Track 6)
Engineer – Andrew Heermans (Track 7)
Engineer (Assistant) – Scott Ansell (Tracks 2, 3, 8)
Engineer (Assistant) – Bridget Daly (Tracks 4, 5)
Engineer (Assistant) – Jamie Chaleff, Robin Lane (Track 5)
Engineer (Assistant) – Tim Purvis (Tracks 6, 7)
Engineer (Assistant) – Kevin Killian, Rick Begin (Track 6)
Engineer (Assistant) – Ken Steiger (Track 8)
Mastered By – Greg Calbi
Mixed By – Malcolm Pollack (Tracks 1, 8)
Mixed By – James Farber (Tracks 2, 3)
Mixed By – Michel Sauvage (Track 4)
Mixed By – Tom Lord-Alge (Track 6)
Art Direction – Bob Defrin, Carol Bobolts
Design – Carol Bobolts
Photography – David Dimitri
Mastered At Sterling Sound
Mixed At Skyline Studios
Mixed At The Village Recorder
Mixed At Unique Recording
Mixed At Electric Lady Studios
Mixed At Power Station
Recorded At BearTracks Recording Studio
Recorded At Electric Lady Studios
Recorded At Skyline Studios
Recorded At Planet Sound Studios
Phonographic Copyright Elektra/Asylum Records
Copyright Elektra/Asylum Records