Bonus tracks on this first disc are (as is the theme elsewhere) mono-single versions of eight of the album’s eleven tracks and while, arguably, that hardly makes them essential listening, comparing and contrasting these sonically different offerings is good fun.Īppearing later the same year, it’s no great surprise that The Second didn’t veer far from the debut’s blueprint, although it did find the band ditching cover versions in favour of original material. Factor in the instantly memorable “Sookie Sookieâ€, a heartfelt cover of “Hoochie Coochie Man†and the much more psych-lite of “A Girl I Used To Know†and it’s easy to hear why this debut remains so revered. Now, some 53 years later, Steppenwolf, the album, still sounds ridiculously fresh, daring and vibrant, the John Kay penned “Berry Rides Again†strutting eagerly in its Chuck Berry adulation, while “The Ostrich†adds some fire in the belly. With “Born To BeWild†and the Steppenwolf version of the Hoyt Axton number, “The Pusher†(which was also to be a standard for the band across their career) both featuring in the era-defining film Easy Rider, it’s understandable that Steppenwolf found themselves not just as rock sensations but also figureheads in what would become a tumultuous time across The States. The self-titled debut itself arrived in 1968 and found a line-up of John Kay on lead vocals, guitars, harmonica, Michael Monarch (guitars), Goldy McJohn (keyboards), Rushton Moreve (bass) and Jerry Edmonton (drums) crafting a mixture of blues covers and originals into a quite remarkably coherent statement. Often seen as one of the originators of heavy metal alongside Blue Cheer and Vanilla Fudge, there’s little denying that the single “Born To Be Wildâ€, which featured on the band’s first, self-titled album, continues to be their calling card, but thanks to this eight disc and multi-bonus track housing set from Cherry Red/Esoteric, comes the welcome opportunity to discover that Steppenwolf dug much deeper than a handful of well remembered hits. However, for many it was their initial eight album run between ’ where they made their longest lasting mark. Morphing in 1967 from The Sparrows into Steppenwolf, this legendary band would continue on, in one shape or another, for just over 50 years. Steppenwolf: Magic Carpet Ride:The Dunhill / ABC Years (1967-1971)
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