12 Steep Program, part two, chapter thirty
Whatever happened to: 12 Step Program.
Although it wasn’t a big hit, 12 Step Program became part of the rock lexicon and has stayed there.
It’s so simple anyone can play it, insidious enough to be hypnotic, has enough tension and release to be dramatic. Plus, you can sing along in the chorus, in other words release your own tension. And people do.
The song seems to exist all by itself. It’s always been there since 1966. Few people know that it was written by a guy called Bob Jansen. Those who do lost track of him long ago after he disappeared and don’t care. They don’t think about it; they just sing.
There were a few wilderness years when The Hi-Steppers became passe. It had none of the gravitas of progressive-rock, none of the tinsel of glam.
The revival began with a reappraisal. It became an example of garage-rock, a 60s artifact,
As such it had measurable credibility as 60s punk-rock. The 70s punk bands, such as Fast And Bulbous, started to do it
Occasionally, this new radio format called classic rock would air 12 Step Program.
Bar bands would include 60s hits such as Wild Thing, 96 Tears and especially Gloria and 12 Step in their sets. A few even covered it on record.12 Step became a standard. A surefire crowd pleaser.
It was used once as a closing song in a televised medical series.
It was featured in two films – one as a nostalgic interlude, another backdropping a chase scene. Neither was appropriate lyrically but the former evoked the 60s, which was the idea, while the latter’s tense car chase was made more tense by the sinewy, repetitive guitar riff.
Barb got paid.
Twelve Step Program was sampled and found its way into various remixes. A favourite segment for sampling was the guitar and organ riff after the solo. Another was the tag, “This is my 12 step program,” Tossed off originally as a way to resolve the song, it became a signature when repeated prominently in a dance remix.
Barb got paid.
Perhaps it’s shining moment as far as establishing its universal popularity came when it was picked up for an anti-smoking commercial. The advertising agency, and the manufacturer, were canny enough to realize that a song ostensibly about quitting a bad habit was fit commentary on their product, Stop Now!, Stop Now! could help those who wanted to break the smoking habit.
Barb got paid.
Twelve Step Program had turned into a regular moneymaker.
It was reissued on CD. Then as a download. Then for streaming. Then, back to vinyl. But you know that.
Barb continued to get paid.
So when offers started to come in to buy the rights to the song, Abe Jr. and Bob had no problem turning them down. 12 Step Program made money and, besides, they were obeying their father’s wish. They were good at doing nothing.
