The 13th Floor -

The 13th Floor were an American soul-funk band from St. Louis that released the album Steppin’ Out on Blue Candle in 1976.

Members: Lionel Greene (vocals, saxophone), Vincent Martin (guitar), Mitch Wadley (bass), Donnell Wade (drums)

The 13th Floor were first discovered by Albert King, who enlisted them for backing on select mid-’70s northeast concert dates. The band’s popularity with New York audiences led to opening slots on tours by WAR, Funkadelic, Curtis Mayfield, and the Staple Singers.

In early 1977, the 13th Floor released their singular album Steppin’ Out on Blue Stone, a subsidiary of T.K. Productions. It was the second of only five albums issued on the label that had mostly been a singles press. The album features nine songs, eight of them originals, including “Rise” and “Leanin’.” A cover of the Chaka Khan/Tony Maiden composition “Sweet Thang,” originally performed by Rufus, opens the set.

Steppin’ Out was produced by studio-soul mastermind Oliver Sain, whose other credits from the period include recordings for Ike & Tina Turner, Swamp Dogg, and The Montclairs. The back cover features liner notes written by Red Wilford of The St. Louis APGUS. “Leanin'” was twice issued on 7″, backed with the non-album “Gina Lako Nani (What’s Your Name)” and the album track “Get Up Y’all” (re-titled “Get Up Y’all” for the single). The album was thrice reissued during the 2010s by archivists in Japan (Clinck, Solid) and the U.K. (a rebooted Blue Candle).

Discography: