Steps (album)

In 1984, the Carnival group was included in the “black list” of the Ministry of Culture, but acted as a group of Alexander Barykin, since the name was banned, and not the work of specific musicians. Problems still arose, and Barykin called David Tukhmanov asking for a few of his songs for processing and further performance. Tukhmanov said about the preservation of texts by Igor Kokhanovsky by combining not only the melody, but also the arrangements with the concept of the verse. The rest was for the musicians. They performed the arrangements with the use of electric guitars, keyboards, saxophone, flute and percussion. The bass part played on keyboards resembled the style of the game that left the band due to the personal problems of bass player Evgeny Kazantsev, which suggests that it was prepared by him ^[1] .

The songs of Tukhmanov and Barykin were recorded, and in the spring of 1985 they were replicated as the “Spare Player” magnetoalbum (there, in addition to the songs included in the record, Barykin’s song “Lifebuoy” was also included) . Mass audience heard the songs in six months, when the vinyl came out. The album was a great success; over five million copies were sold. . For this Tukhmanov received 1800 rubles, and Barykin - 800 .

Side 1

1. "Steps" ( D. Tukhmanov - I. Kokhanovsky ) - 4:30
2. Elegy ( D. Tukhmanov - I. Kokhanovsky ) - 5:19
3. “But still summer!” ( D. Tukhmanov - V. Kharitonov ) - 4:53
4. "Mona Lisa" ( D. Tukhmanov - I. Kokhanovsky ) - 4:24

Side 2

1. “Substitute player” ( A. Barykin - P. Zhagun ) - 5:12
2. “Stop the motor” ( A. Barykin - P. Zhagun ) - 6:15
3. “Two pennies” ( D. Tukhmanov - B. Dubrovin ) - 5:25

Additional Information

• "Steps". The necessity of combining arrangements with melody and verses began to be observed from the very first song; in the refrain, Tukhmanov achieved a remarkable melodic find. It is worth noting the extremely outstanding love lyrics of Igor Kokhanovsky ^[1] .

Here is the last trait

And the step beyond which

Continuing the conversation,

Like an abyss of emptiness.

As if I fall there

I'm in slow motion,

And cherished steps,

Like the road to nowhere.

• "Elegy". The song was also performed by Sophia Rotaru , Tamara Gverdtsiteli , Iosif Kobzon . In the performance of Barykina, the song sounded more expressive, but it also preserved the lyricism; became, of course, a rock composition ^[1] .
• "But still summer." The song is based on a poem by the poet Vladimir Kharitonov, who died four years before the release of “The Steps,” who was the main co-author of Tukhmanov during his lifetime. It fell out of the plate, reminded Barykin's performance in the VIA - rather not even in “Jolly Fellows” , but in “Gems” . At about the same time, it was recorded by academic pop tenor Gennady Belov , which speaks volumes. However, being sung in a rock manner, did not spoil the record (largely due to the luxurious arrangement), becoming a kind of synthesis of pop and rock ^[1] . Subsequently, she entered the first record of the Electroklub group (duet of Irina Allegrova and Igor Talkov ).
• "Mona Lisa". Satirical song. Written for Barykin, stylized Tukhmanov under the composer style of the artist. Recognized in the review of “Moskovsky Komsomolets” by Tukhmanov's best song on the record, despite a somewhat critical approach to stylization ^[2] . Differs also the most difficult guitar solos by Valery Gaina on this album ^[1] .
• "Substitute player." Barykin's original melody and the unusual poems of Pavel Zhagun, are not about sports at all, as it might seem. The topic of a person who does not have the opportunity to express themselves and benefit others, continues to be relevant ^[1] .

But again I hear: “Wait!

Where are you in a hurry, player? Wait! ”

And I stay again for the one

Such an alluring feature.

And the brain pierces like a current:

I am a substitute player

And just me -

Substitute player.

• "Stop the motor." Again the original melody Barykina. Pavel Zhagun combined the beautiful love lyrics of the couplets with an unexpected chorus text ^[1] . The reviewer of the Moskovsky Komsomol especially noted the poems of Zhagun ^[2] .

In the waves of purity

Everything is mixed up, the sky, the sea, me and you.

Now becoming a soul cleaner a hundred times,

Boldly glance back.

In the ghostly distance

You and I have found the real world,

Out of illusion come out of the water

Leaving footprints in the sand.

“Stop, motor!”

In the group again a heated argument,

And, if the operator is happy,

That dissatisfied with something the director.

“Stop, motor!”

And, in spite of everything,

I would repeat this scene

But you only play the role so far.

• "Two pennies." Again written for Barykin; the similarity of the melody with his song “You are so far away from me” strikes the eye, but Tukhmanov applied a characteristic move in those years — an atypical construction of a rhythmic pattern. The sound of the drums is in harmony with the imitation of the coin acceptor on the synthesizer several times. Barykin's appeals are spectacular with a request to give him two pennies - a charge for a call on a pay phone ^[1] . A video was made, shown in the spring of 1985 in the Morning Mail.

The completion of the record with the comic song “Two Pennies” gives the impression of some kind of under-playing. Inclusion in the “Steps” of the “Lifebuoy” and the completion of this song would solve the problem. But neither Tukhmanov, nor Barykin, nor even the editor Ivan Yotko are guilty here; guilty leadership of the company "Melody", constantly reducing the duration of the plates ^[1] .

Carnival :

• Alexander Barykin - vocals, guitar
• Alexey Smirnov - keyboards
• Valentin Ilyenko - saxophone, flute
• Alexander Akinin - drums

Also participated in the recording:

• Valery Gaina (“ Cruise ”) - lead guitar
• Boris Zosimov - synthesizer

• Sound producer - G. Lazarev
• Cover Design - S. Borisov, Y. Balashov
• Editor - I. Yotko

• The official website of D. Tukhmanov
• Alexander Barykin: Star Reggae
• The steps on the site Discogs