South African band Step Ahead collaborated several times with Craig Beyrooti and 8th Avenue Studios in the late 80’s / early 90’s.  The band featured Blackie Sibisi on guitar, Phiri Motale and Buick Thwala on keyboards, Toto Moloantoa on bass, Veli Ramauwane on drums and Negro Mlotshwa on vocals.  Step Ahead performed many gigs throughout southern Africa and were the backing band for major artists like Brenda Fassie, Lazarus Kgagudi and Izzyboy Masedi. 

An extremely tight band, the talented Step Ahead musicians put on great performances at concerts and further developed their skills in the studio. The band worked several recording sessions at 8th Avenue Studios for artists such as Lazarus Kgagudi, Izzyboy Masedi, Max Masuluke and Willie Mohlala.  The band also released their own two albums, Things Are Changing (1987) and Sbarara (1988).   Craig toured as mixing engineer with the band when they supported Brenda Fassie and worked the live shows as well as recorded and mixed many of the Step Ahead sessions and their album Sbarara. 

In 1990, Craig arranged to record a jazz album that featured the guitar skills of Blackie Sibisi backed by Step Ahead. Craig and his production partner, Martin Mitchell of the band Rush Hour, co-produced the album. An excellent album that unfortunately was denied a proper release in 1991, the record was remastered by Craig and Jayden Beyrooti in 2024.  The song Woza Mtwana was recorded using only guitars played by Blackie.  All sounds including percussion were performed on six-string guitars.

Track Listing

1.     Fly With Me

Composer - Blackie Sibisi

Blackie Sibisi – Guitars, Drum and Synth Programming

Martin Mitchell – Bass Guitar, Percussion and Synth Programming

Vusi Thwala – Synths and Piano

Phiri Motale – Synths

Negro Mlotshwa – Backing Vocals

Craig Beyrooti – Vocal Arrangements

Emil Zoghby – Vocal Arrangements

2.     Amaqubu

Composer - Blackie Sibisi

Blackie Sibisi – Lead and Rhythm Guitars

Toto Moloantoa – Bass

Buick Thwala – Synths and Piano

Phiri Motale – Synths

Negro Mlotshwa – Backing Vocals

Veli Ramauwane – Drums

Emil Zoghby – Vocal Arrangements

Martin Mitchell – Percussion Programming

3.     Give A Little Love

Composers - Blackie Sibisi / Martin Mitchell (Lyrics)

Blackie Sibisi – Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Additional Synth Programming

Veli Ramauwane – Additional Synth Programming

Martin Mitchell – Bass, Lead and Backing Vocals, Additional Percussion Programming

4.     Candystik

Composer - Martin Mitchell

Blackie Sibisi – Lead and Rhythm Guitars

Martin Mitchell – Bass, Keyboard Programming

Andy Thomas – Hi-Hats

5.     Woza Mtwana

Composer - Blackie Sibisi

Blackie Sibisi – Guitars

Only guitars were used on this track

6.     Back Again

Composer - Blackie Sibisi

Blackie Sibisi – Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Percussion Programming

Toto Moloantoa – Bass

Buick Thwala – Synths and Piano

Phiri Matale – Synths

Negro Mlotshwa – Backing Vocals

Veli Ramauwane – Drums

Emil Zoghby – Vocal Arrangements

Martin Mitchell – Additional Percussion Programming

7.     Waiting For Tomorrow

Composer - Blackie Sibisi

Blackie Sibisi – Lead Guitar, Additional Synth Programming

Buick Thwala – Synths and Piano

Negro Mlotshwa – Backing Vocals

Veli Ramauwane – Drums

Martin Mitchell – Fretless Bass, Backing Vocals

8.     8th Avenue Jam

Composers - Blackie Sibisi / Toto Moloantoa / Buick Thwala / Phiri Motale / Veli Ramauwane

Blackie Sibisi – Lead and Rhythm Guitars

Toto Moloantoa – Basses

Buick Thwala – Synths and Piano

Phiri Motale – Synths

Veli Ramauwane – Drums

Martin Mitchell – Additional Percussion and Keyboard Programming

9.     Tiffany

Composer - Martin Mitchell

Blackie Sibisi – Lead Guitar

Martin Mitchell – Fretless Bass, Drums, Percussion and Synth Programming

10.  What’s It All About

Composers - Blackie Sibisi / Martin Mitchell

Blackie Sibisi – Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Additional Synth Programming

Martin Mitchell – Percussion Programming, Alto Recorder, Additional Keyboard Programming, Co-Arranging

Veli Ramauwane – Additional Synths

Craig Beyrooti – Additional Drum Programming and Co-Arranging

Give A Little Love Lyrics

I often wonder

Is it true what they say about love

So hard to find

So easy to say I love you

Yet all I want right now

Is someone to lean on

Someone like you

This feeling is so strong

I don’t know if it’s love

I just know that it’s true

Give a little love this time

Don’t talk about leaving

Don’t mention head games

Take it one step at a time

Give a little love this time

I think I know what you’re after

For me it’s the same

Looking for a simple sign

Bad dreams like thunder

I wake in the night and call your name

Nobody there

In distance and fear I need you

All I see right now

Is something to reach for

Something to gain

Nothing could go wrong

I don’t know if it’s love

I just know that it’s you

Give a little love this time

Take it one step at a time

What turns into anger

What turns into pain

Give a little love this time

Looking for a simple sign

Don’t turn back the pages

Just read between the lines

I call your name

Don’t hear the thunder

I often wonder

Love is the question not the game

So easy to ask

So easy to say I know you

And all I do right now

Is search for an answer

Search for your name

Who is the one

I don’t know if it’s love

I just know that it’s you

Give a little love this time

Take it one step at a time

What turns into anger

What turns into pain

Give a little love this time

Looking for a simple sign

Don’t turn back the pages

Just read between the lines

Give a little love this time

Don’t talk about leaving

Don’t mention head games

Take it one step at a time

Give a little love this time

Looking for a simple sign