Hour of the Wolf [Import]

Steppenwolf | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 23, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sbme Import
• ASIN: B0000087GH
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #604,414 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

SBM remastered reissue on Epic of their 1975 album for thelabel. Pressed on a full color picture disc, it contians alleight original tracks, including 'Caroline' and 'Annie,Annie Over'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hour Of The Wolf (An Unsung Classic), February 12, 2005

By 

Doc Rock - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hour of the Wolf (Audio CD)

Originally released in 1975, "Hour Of The Wolf", wasn't one of Steppenwolf's best selling albums. The reason being, it didn't feature a classic, signiture hit single, and the band's sound had changed from a gritty, hard-blues-rock to a more polished hard-pop-rock style. I'm not saying "Hour Of The Wolf", wasn't a good album, it has it's moments. Of the 8 songs featured on this release, there is only one clinker, "Annie, Annie Over", written by Alan O'Day who also wrote "Train Of Thought", that was featured on Steppenwolf's follow up album "Skullduggery". O'Day also wrote Helen Reddy's number 1 hit "Angie Baby', and scored a late 70's pop hit for himself, "Undercover Angel". While Alan O'Day is certainly a talented songwriter, musician, his style of writing just doesn't work for Steppenwolf. Now, let's look at the positive side of "Hour Of The Wolf". "Caroline (Are You Ready For The Outlaw World)", written by Mars Bonfire (who also wrote the Steppenwolf classic, "Born To Be Wild"), was released as a single but got no promotion whatsoever from the band's record label (Epic Records), and died a quick death. With no support for "Caroline...", (or the album) from Epic Records, "Hour Of The Wolf", lingered in Billboard's top 200. The one song that did get some airplay on the FM stations was "Mr. Penny Pincher", that remains to this day as a favorite by the hard core Wolf fans. Other highlights on this fine release include, "Hard Rock Road", "Just For Tonight", "Someone Told A Lie", and "Another's Lifetime". While it may not have sold a million copies, "Hour Of The Wolf", is a very good album that just didn't get the record company promotion it deserved.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must For Real Fans Of The Wolf, May 28, 2005

By 

sam the man - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hour of the Wolf (Audio CD)

"Hour Of The Wolf", is one of Steppenwolf's best albums ever and has since become a collector's item since it's now out of print. It rocks from start to finish with some blistering tunes, "Hard Rock Road", "Two For The Love Of One", and "Mr. Penny Pincher", just to name a few. There really isn't one bad song on the album. It is a bit different sounding than their earlier albums which had a bluesy sound. "Hour Of The Wolf", has more of a straight ahead rock sound which was the sound of the day when it was released in 1975. Joining original members John Kay, drummer Jerry Edmonton, and longtime bassist George Biondo on this fine release are new keyboardist Andy Chapin and guitarist Bobby Cochran, who had joined the band the previous year. Both had a lot to do with the band's fresh new sound. Bobby Cochran had proven himself to be an outstanding guitarist and songwriter on Steppenwolf's previous album "Slow Flux", and new keyboardist Andy Chapin was a much better keyboardist and over all musician than Goldy McJohn. Not enough credit has been given to Andy Chapin which is a shame because he played a major role in bringing that added punch, fresh new sound to the band. If one of the Steppenwolf greatest hits collections is the only cd you have by the band in your collection...do yourself a favor and check out "Hour Of The Wolf", you won't be sorry.

4.0 out of 5 stars should have done better, October 1, 2008

By 

Gordon Bailey Jr. "gb" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hour of the Wolf (Audio CD)

After a killer comeback with 'Slow Flux,' Steppenwolf shifted gears a bit with 'Hour of the Wolf.' John Kay has only one co-writing credit and seems content to interpret several other songwriter's material. The quality of the songs and performances are fine and I personally think nearly every song on here is good, a batting average comparable to that on 'Slow Flux,' which may have been the most consistent album Steppenwolf ever made. But musical tastes had changed and this is reflected in the album's poor sales and chart showing. If there were any justice in the world, the supremely catchy first single, "Caroline (Are You Ready for the Outlaw World)" would have at least been a Top 40 hit, but it failed to even chart. "Hard Rock Road" would have made a good second single; actually, there are several songs here you could say that about. 1974/1975 marked the death of sixties style rock, not just for Steppenwolf. Many other bands found their fortunes decline around this time as disco moved into the picture. Still, 'Hour of the Wolf' stands up to repeated listenings and is a 'must-have' in any Steppenwolf collection.