At the time of release the group was very popular and was being heavily merchandised, with everything from pillowcases, marbles, dolls, to a Saturday morning cartoon with their name and likeness.

[7] Step by Step went to number one on both the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart, with the lead-off title track single topping the charts simultaneously and selling nearly three million copies, making it their highest selling single.

[8] Another top ten single, "Tonight", followed, as the group embarked on their most ambitious world tour to date.

After having earned success with Hangin' Tough, the group took a more active role creatively on this album, co-writing and producing several of its tracks.

By the end of 1990, despite the album having gone multi-platinum, the fourth and last single, "Let's Try It Again," was less successful and failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100 top fifty, and the album overall received lower certifications than Hangin' Tough in the United States.