Customer Reviews

Steppenwolf Live

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There is a reason that the sixties rock group Steppenwolf still sells so strongly some thirty years after their arrival on the sixties rock scenes with a quick succession of powerful heavy rock hits like "Magic Carpet Ride" and "Born To Be Wild". I've always admired lead vocalist John Kay's singing style, songwriting and lyrical talents, and his outspoken personal warnings against the dangers of drug excess with songs like "The Pusher" and "Snowblind Friend". He was anti-drug when it was anything but fashionable to so cautious and careful. And Kay also knew his way around a melody, and whether he was making insightful social commentary in a number of songs like "Monster" and "Draft Resister" or just plain old wailing in terrific, edgy songs like "Never Too Late (To Start All Over Again)" or "Twenty Eight", he used the combination of his lovely lyrics, driving melodies, and wild rock improvisation to create a whole rafter of memorable, insightful and very appealing rock songs. Most of them are here, and those that aren't you can find in their other albums. Steppenwolf quickly earned the undying support and admiration of their original fans, and are finding new listeners through terrific compilation albums like this must-own collection of their hits. Enjoy

Steppenwolf have never gotten their due for releasing some of the finest records of the late sixties and early seventies that still hold up today just as well as they did 40 years ago.

In 1970, the band released the 2 LP, live album, and it's a stunner!
With the crazy crowd, fully a part of the show and the fantastic playing of this band, this album is the blueprint of what every live rock record of the 1970's SHOULD BE. The chaos and wild abandon of those times can be heard to full effect of this CD.

Of course the hits are on it: "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride", but if you only have heard the studio versions, listen and see what Steppenwolf can do live. Like live concerts of The Doors and Steppenwolf could and did have riots going on during some of these shows, and you can feel that vibe on this disc quite clearly. The: "Monster" LP, had given the band lot's of press as a political rock band (great for image but a target by Government) and that is when the crazy-factor went up to ten, on the ten scale.

But the reason "Live" is just so good are the songs: "Hey Lawdy Mama" "Corina, Corina" "Monster" "The Pusher" & "Don't Step On The Grass, Sam"... It's one classic, right after another. The guitars are loud, the organ is all over the place and Jerry's drums keep everybody in line. Steppenwolf, had been playing for years and years and it shows by just how tight they were on stage. Songs are way longer than their normal playing time just as you would expect them to be. It is simple, this band delivers here and thank goodness, they got it all down on tape!

If you want to hear a band at the peak of their performing powers that sweats: "Heavy Metal Thunder" this is the one to purchase.
FIVE STARS!!!

Steppenwolf Live, Allman Brothers at Fillmore East, and Rare Earth in Concert are the greatest live albums ever made. The previous commenters have about said it all as far as the music is concerned. It will never be matched. If you don't have this CD in your collection, get it now!

Close your eyes and it is 40 years ago ... we got high (a lot), we protested and fought back. This music was the anthem. It is one of those albums that you play over and over. I'm too old to fight and getting high would probably kill me but this DC let's me go back for a visit. If you have kids, let them hear the words - so true for today.

Super job remastering this classic live album by Steppenwolf. Didn't take original "feel" out of music, and the sound is outstanding.

Maybe the best live album of the era. I saw Steppenwolf in 1970. I was 11 and my sister took me without my parents knowledge. It was an epiphany. It is remarkable how well this album and the music stands up. Monster could well have been written about the state of our country today. Not withstanding the turmoil that this band went through, these are some great musicians and songwriters. This is a must have CD.

Yeah, it's not a real 'live' album but at least it was recorded live in a studio..it's great to here loose versions of these songs with different lead guitar..also you get 'Corina Corina' which they did when they were The Sparrow. The between song talk adds some Vietnam era vibe too. It'd be great if it was remastered..sound is a little muddy, wish i could hear the keyboards better. I wonder if the guys in the band ever listened to this record with the canned applause and all..must've made them cringe!

i first bought steppenwolf live as a teenager and remember being disappointed with it. After reading the reviews already posted here, i decided, all these many years later, to give it another shot. I still am disappointed. The music is good, loose, sloppy rock and roll, and 'Monster' is a great cut. I have a hard time believing 'Twisted' was recorded 'live'...maybe it was a rehearsal jam or leftover studio track as the applause leading into it sure sounds 'canned', as does some of the other audience parts. The editing/mixing sounds done on the cheap and having seen steppenwolf live believe this could have been much much better.

....as I recall I was just a kid spinning Beatles and Stones 45s on my old Panasonic record player when we took a family trip to my Aunt and Uncles house. As always I headed straight upstairs to my cousin's room, when halfway up the stairs I heard a thunderous sound down the hall. I opened my cousin's door and could't believe my ears. The guitar, the organ, the bass and that menacing growl that was supposed to be "singing". I had to know what it was that he was playing. He handed me a double album(I didn't have any albums yet)with a vicious looking wolf on the cover and it's been all down hill ever since. Steppenwolf Live was indeed my first LP and it was a hell of a place to start. Being young and naive I didn't notice things like canned crowd noise or studio tracks coupled with live ones in order to make a medley. I just loved the music, the awesome music. BGO did a fine job of remastering on this disc. The sound is full and the music still has plenty of kick. Sure, there was a little studio mischief done on this live recording, but who cares? I love the versions of Sookie,Sookie and The Pusher. The songs from Steppenwolf's Monster album like Draft Resister, From Here To There Eventually and the song Monster blow away the studio takes. In my opinion, this version of Monster stands as one of the Wolf's finest moments on record. There is more good stuff here like the lonesome Corrina,Corrina and the acidic Don't Step On the Grass,Sam, but don't buy this expecting versions of Born To Be Wild and Magic Carpet Ride that are even close to being faithful to the studio cuts. Once again, who cares? This record is a pretty good representation of where live Rock music was in the early seventies. It took John Kay and company until the year 2000 to put another great show on tape. If you enjoy this one then you probably find John Kay and Steppenwolf "Live In Louisville" of some interest. It is an excellent show and it comes in CD and DVD formats.

I was highly impressed with the product purchased from amazon. It got here quick and flawlessly.