The disc is filled out by the mono single versions of the two hits and their b-sides.ĭisc four contains ‘Early Steppenwolf’ an album recorded live at The Matrix in San Francisco on May 14, 1967, by the group’s nucleus of Kay, McJohn and Edmonton, before their move to the US from Canada, while performing as the Sparrows, with Mars Bonfire (Dennis Edmonton) on lead guitar and the previously mentioned Nick St. The long player sold well, peaking at #7, but did not achieve gold record status. ![]() Nicholas, ‘It’s Never Too Late’, which made #51 on the charts. Containing more conventional hard rock and less commentary the album had the group’s third Top 10 single, the Kay penned ‘Rock Me’ and another sizable hit written by Kay and St. Nicholas, from the band’s earlier days in Canada as the Sparrows, on bass. The disc is filled out with two mono single takes, including ‘Magic Carpet Ride’.ĭisc three is built around the March 1969 LP ‘At Your Birthday Party’ with Moreve replaced by Nick St. ![]() ‘The Second’ charted even higher than the band’s debut, topping out at #3 and earning the group another gold album. John Kay takes a shot at Richard Nixon’s “Operation Intercept” with his ode to marijuana ‘Don’t Step On The Grass Sam’ which has more pyrotechnics from Monarch on guitar augmented by McJohn’s organ and its biting lyrics: “Well it’s evil, wicked, mean and nasty, (Don’t step on the grass, Sam), And it will ruin our fair country, (Don’t be such an ass, Sam), It will hook your Sue and Johnny, (You’re so full of bull, Sam), All will pay that disagree with me, (Please give up you already lost the fight alright).” Kay takes another shot at the closed mindedness of authority figures with the humorously titled ‘Tighten Up Your Wig’. Released as a single the tune hit #3 and gave the band their second gold single. ‘Magic Carpet Ride’, written by Kay and Moreve, opens with a wall of guitar and organ feedback, its familiar melody featuring chunky rhythm guitar and Hammond organ, before Monarch turns the heat up on his guitar with throbbing feedback, the band locked into a steady riff. The disc closes with eight single sides, all presented in mono, including ‘Born To Be Wild’, which reached #2 on the US charts, while the album peaked at #6, giving the band their first two gold records.ĭisc two centers around ‘The Second’ which hit record shops in October of 1968, a month after its hit single, the title track to this box set. ‘The Ostrich’ tells of the false hopes of the “great American dream” which plague many in their quest for financial security, while warning of the damage to the ecology mankind is capable of, with a reminder that freedoms, such as that of speech, are to be treasured as the threat of fascism is ever present. ‘Desperation’ reassures the listener that it’s normal to sometimes feel lonely, lost, even useless, reminding them that others will understand and help them, a timely topic with alienation and suicide so rampant in today’s society, while prompting us to remain ever vigilant, to not become complacent, and to remember that we needn’t repeat the mistakes of the past. The album also includes some excellent band originals. The band’s take on Hoyt Axton’s anti-drug anthem ‘The Pusher’ opens with the heavy riff of John Kay’s rhythm guitar and the driving beat of bassist Rushton Moreve and drummer Edmonton before Monarch’s lead guitar and Goldie McJohn’s Hammond organ join while Kay belts out a stern warning regarding hard drugs, especially heroin, and drives home the difference between marijuana dealers and the uncaring, greedy purveyors of deadly drugs. The Mars Bonfire (Dennis Edmonton, brother of Steppenwolf drummer Jerry Edmonton) penned ‘Born To Be Wild’ is famous for its inclusion of the term “heavy metal” in its lyrics, while its sound is dominated by Michael Monarch’s lead guitar line, as well as his feedback-drenched soaring solo and the Hammond organ work of Goldie McJohn. The LP contains two tunes which were immortalized by their inclusion in the 1969 motorcycle/counter culture cult film ‘Easy Rider. ![]() Steppenwolf – ‘Magic Carpet Ride-The Dunhill/ABC Years 1967-1971’ (2021) In the four year period between 19 California based hard rock band Steppenwolf released a series of best selling albums and singles, unique for their social and political commentary, garnering nine gold records and gathering an extremely loyal fan base that remains to this day.Ĭherry Red Records has gathered the six studio and two live LP’s, supplemented by twenty six single sides, in a new eight disc box set on the label’s Esoteric Recordings imprint.ĭisc one opens with the tracks from the band’s self-titled debut album originally released on January 29, 1968.
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