Customer Reviews

Steppenwolf

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The group's still-ubiquitous 1968 anthem 'Born To Be Wild', with its "heavy metal thunder" lyric, helped usher in an entire genre of music which thrives to this day. Steppenwolf's pioneering "hard rock" sound was an altogether grittier and heavier beast than 60's rock audiences had generally heard before.

Music fans wanting to own some of Steppenwolf's work have mostly been content to have one of the band's countless "greatest hits" collections - a wise choice if your interest is merely casual. Steppenwolf's few original albums tend to be highly uneven efforts, but they did manage to make a couple of great ones. "Steppenwolf", their debut, remains arguably their best.

From an unpromising start came one of rock history's most breathtakingly punchy, sonically economic-yet-engaging works. Its combination of kickin' party-on rock and sophisticated adult socio-political viewpoint is truly an odd one.

In autumn of 1967, a touring Canadian band called Sparrow (fronted by East German escapee John Kay) found itself broke and stranded in Los Angeles. Not yet ready to be sent home by Immigration officers, some of the Sparrow-men renamed themselves Steppenwolf, added a couple of locals, and passed themselves off as a fledgling American band.

The new band's intitial distinctive sound was due largely to some very dodgy old gear they were using, including the cheap Lowery organ so memorably attacked in 'Born To Be Wild' and throughout this album. Their daunting technical deficiencies were ingeniously concealed behind loads of volume and tastefully-used distortion.

Steppenwolf's fortuitous choice to use L.A.'s little-known American Recording Studios resulted in their sophomore effort having the amazing near-live sound that it does: crystal-clear, in-your-face, and wonderfully gimmick-free. Bass lines sound fat yet nimble, the loud crack n' thump drums vastly surpass the usual "cereal box" tap-tapping found on most 60's records. With few effects but amps set firmly at '10', guitarists Kay and Michael Monarch fill the air with a pealing, harmonic-drenched soulfulness that still sounds fresh over four decades later. A Rolling Stones disc from the same year sounds woefully flat and dated in comparison.

Then there's That Voice, the unique and unforgettable singing of John Kay. (That Kay's voice impressed Little Richard speaks volumes.) Here, Kay differs from most of today's male rock singers in that he tries and succeeds at sounding far older and more worldly than a man just out of his teens has any right to! Shifting from pop balladeer to blistering blues shouter, John Kay is easily one of the finest singers the classic rock era ever produced.

"Steppenwolf" 's range of songs makes for a most entertaining listen. From the creepy chords of 'The Pusher' (wholly sampled to great effect on Neneh Cherry & Michael Stipe's 'Trout') to the rock-meets-funk sound of Don Covay's 'Sookie Sookie'; from the rollicking tribute (Chuck) 'Berry Rides Again', to the wry sexual observations of 'Everybody's Next One'; this is an album of unusual breadth and maturity. The idea of applying mildly-fuzzed guitars and organ to a Willie Dixon standard should horrify, but here it works curiously well. 'Desperation' 's chorus of over-driven guitars sound at once sweet, elegant and deafening. The album's most ascerbic political song, 'The Ostrich', takes the archetypal Bo Diddley rhythm, drives it a bit too fast, and mutates it into something both bleak and mesmerizing. Intricately dueling lead guitars make the song even more exciting.

The huge success of Steppenwolf's dubut (helped by 'Born To Be Wild' 's inclusion in the hit movie "Easy Rider") did not prove beneficial to the band for long. Other hits (and better gear) were to follow, but the band generally floundered until its first breakup in 1972 for the usual rock-star reasons. (Those believing that Steppenwolf eschewed drugs should read John Kay's memoirs.) Of their original albums, only 1971's "Seven" came close to recapturing this album's strength and clarity of vision.

Due to the possibility that some of the other reviews may have been a bit long-winded, I will state the essential. Along with Blue Cheer, Iron Butterfly, and at times Vanilla Fudge, Steppenwolf was an innovative hard rock group unfortunately not known today. On many songs, the organ, and fuzz create a unique massive sound that was before Zeppelin, and a full two years before Black Sabbath. My fiend of a friend likes calling this release "loud and dumb," but I certainly will not go that far. Although the lyrics would improve for Steppenwolf, this album is one of their best, and is essential for someone interested in the roots of heavy metal. It is a good listen, with none of what I would refer to as "obviously inefficient tracks." Particularly good are the covers - the Muddy Waters standard is one of the heaviest versions of slow blues ever recorded. John Kay's "Desperation" is a strong heavy rhythm and blues styled track. Hoyt Axton's "The Pusher" is also superb, with freaked out guitars, and a fierce vocal from Kay. This album also contains one of the most overplayed, though great songs, "Born to Be Wild." If you are the kind of person that buys albums, as opposed to best of compilations, this is one to get for sure.

To refute Mr. Rusty Humphrey's review: Snowblind Friend originally appeared on Steppenwolf 7, and Magic Carpet Ride on Steppenwolf the Second. Check them out too! And, the Ostrich is a great tune also.

How many times did I hear that? This album, along with "Truth" by Jeff Beck and Cream's "Wheels Of Fire" define '68 for me. While I can't crank this up like I used to, it's still a great disc. Plus, of course, it sounds one heck of a lot better through Yamaha, AR, & Grado gear than it did through Magnavox or Sears Silvertone "stereo" in 1968!

This is Steppenwolf's self-titled debut album which introduced the band's blend of hard rock, blues and politics to the world. In addition to the hits Sookie Sookie and Born To Be Wild, this album contains such great songs as The Pusher, Hoochie Coochie Man, and Your Wall's Too High. This wonderful album is a great place to being a Steppenwolf collection.

This is probably it, with Monster and The Second falling closely behind. Much better than the greatest hits album in my opinion.

As the owner of the vinyl version of this record I knew what to expect from the digital version and I'm not disappointed. In the contrary, listening to e.g. "the Pusher" is a new experience due to the superb recording quality. If you don't know Steppenwolf, this record is the best starting point.

I have this CD in my computer desk and I go "high" while I'm working in my engeneering reports. Beside from Born to be wild; Sookie Sookie and Hoochie Coochie Man, I love to listen to the rock piano on Berry Rides Again, the organ on Desperation and mostly The Pusher, wich I think coul be beter for represent the movie... It's funny to see how many artists of the 90's go "drink" (and eat) on musics of the 60's & 70's... JR, from PORTUGAL

Try to imagine the huge impression produced by this original band in the late Sixties with such innovative and original musical proposals.

The Pusher and Born to be wild were an authentic explossion of newness, filled of inspiration. In this sense I think this was the most solid and auspicious debut of a rock band until that date.

May be the exception would come a few years later with the First Album of Led Zepellin.

So the historical importance of this album surmounts by far, any other adjective. Go for this album and disclover the First Opus of that super band.

This is the "Greatest" Steppenwolf Album. The beginning of a hot legacy of big hits that would go from 1968 through a rather bumpy road to 1974. "Born to Be Wild" is included and was a Monster Hit that is still one of the defining songs of the 60's generation. "The Pusher", the wildly misunderstood, ANTI-DRUG song, that may be a bit hard for your mom or grandmother to listen to, but had a GOOD POINT. Other great songs such as "Sookie Sookie" (still don't understand that one), "A Girl I Knew", "Berry Rides Again" (an ode to Chuck Berry's songs) and "Take What You Need" define the Steppenwolf sound - White Blues. A great album and, like the "Doors" first album, it defines the best of their sound. Also, like "The Doors", it was their first and last album to hold fast to the sound before the blues and hard edge dwindled in their second and succeeding albums. Overall, it's outstanding. Nobody has sounded like this great Steppenwolf before or since - even Steppenwolf.