Steppenwolf was an American-Canadian rock band that was prominent from 1968 to 1972. The group
was formed in late 1967 in Los Angeles by lead singer John Kay, keyboardist Goldy McJohn, and drummer Jerry Edmonton, all formerly of the Canadian band the Sparrows. Guitarist Michael Monarch and bass guitarist Rushton Moreve were recruited via notices placed in Los Angeles-area record and musical instrument stores.
In the late 1960s, Steppenwolf embodied that era's social, political and philosophical restlessness, building an impressive body of edgy, uncompromising rock 'n' roll that retains its emotional resonance
more than three decades after the band's formation. Such Steppenwolf standards as "Born to Be Wild," "Magic Carpet Ride," "Rock Me" and "Monster" stand amongst Rock's most indelible anthems. Steppenwolf's remarkable resilience is largely a reflection of the fierce determination and never-say-die tenacity that's driven Kay for much of his life. He was born Joachim Fritz Krauledat in 1944 in the section of Germany then known as East Prussia.
Steppenwolf soon emerged as one of the few bands of the late '60s to successfully straddle the pop-oriented AM mainstream and the hip FM underground, scoring substantial success on both the single
and album charts without tailoring its approach to pander to either constituency. "Born to Be Wild"-written by ex-Sparrow member Dennis Edmonton, aka Mars Bonfire-became Steppenwolf's first major hit, and was subsequently featured prominently (along with the band's pointed reading of Hoyt Axton's anti-hard-drug composition "The Pusher") in the seminal '60s film Easy Rider, cementing Steppenwolf's status as counterculture icons as well as earning the group a hardcore biker following.
"For the times, Steppenwolf was an uncharacteristically tight band," Kay notes. "In San Francisco, The Sparrow had been allowed to stretch out and experiment. But when Steppenwolf was created, I think Jerry and I had both come to the conclusion that the strong rhythmic element was what we really
valued. Our philosophy was 'Hit 'em hard, make your point and move on.'"
Steppenwolf's aggressive image co-existed with a thoughtful lyrical stance that challenged mainstream values and counterculture platitudes alike. "That idea of speaking your mind in the lyrics is something I had picked up in the folk-music community, and from growing up in post-World War II Germany," Kay states. "We didn't see why you couldn't have music that worked on a gut level but still offered some food for thought."
The band's career momentum and musical progression continued with such best-selling albums as Steppenwolf The Second (which yielded another Top Five classic in "Magic Carpet Ride"), At Your
Birthday Party (which spawned the Top Ten hit "Rock Me"), the ambitiously conceptual Monster (whose politically provocative title track became a surprise hit), Steppenwolf Live (which featured studio single "Hey Lawdy Mama"), Steppenwolf 7 and For Ladies Only. Along the way, various members came and went, with bassist Moreve leaving in late 1968; he was initially replaced by former Sparrow member Nick St. Nicholas, before being supplanted in early 1970 by George Biondo. Guitarist Monarch exited in 1969, replaced first by Larry Byrom and subsequently by Kent Henry.
In 1980 Kay launched an all-new lineup, now billed as John Kay and Steppenwolf, virtually starting from scratch to restore his band's good name. The new group spent the next several years working a
punishing touring regimen, playing anywhere and everywhere it could to rebuild Steppenwolf's reputation as a class act. In 1994, on the eve of Steppenwolf's 25th anniversary, Kay returned to the former East Germany for a triumphant series of Steppenwolf concerts; that trip reunited him with friends and relatives he had not seen since his early childhood. The same year, Kay published his autobiography, Magic Carpet Ride, which compellingly related the ups and downs and his and his band's history.
Steppenwolf's dramatic and sometimes turbulent history became the subject of an episode of VH-1's documentary series Behind the Music. That much-talked-about broadcast underlined the band's ongoing
stature and influence, but John Kay, having completed his fifth decade with Steppenwolf and retiring the band, remains focused on the legacy and their accomplishments. "There's a lot of truth in that old cliché about whatever doesn't kill you making you stronger," Kay concludes. "Looking back, I realize it was those struggles that taught us how to gain our independence and live the rock 'n' roll of life on our own terms."
Original line-up:
Jerry Edmonton (real name: Gerald Michael McCrohan) – drums (1967–1976)
John Kay (real name: Joachim Krauledat) – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica (1967–1972, 1974–1976, 1980–present)
Goldy McJohn (real name: John Raymond Goadsby) – keyboards, organ (1967–1974)
Michael Monarch – guitar (1967–1969)
Rushton Moreve (real name: John Russell Morgan) – bass (1967-1968)
Current line-up:
Ron Hurst – drums (1984–present)
Danny Johnson – lead guitar, backing vocals (1996–present)
John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica (1967–1972, 1974–1976, 1980–present)
Gary Link – bass (1982–1984, 2009–present)
Michael Wilk – keyboards (1982–present)
Performer: Steppenwolf - 8 Albums Mini LP SHM-CD Collection
Albums: 1968 Steppenwolf; 1968 The Second; 1969 At Your Birthday Party; 1969 Early Steppenwolf; 1969 Monster; 1970 Live; 1970 Steppenwolf 7; 1971 For Ladies Only
Label: Universal Music Japan, Dunhill Records / Geffen Records
Cardboard Sleeve (Mini LP) / SHM-CD / Limited Release
Catalog CDs: UICY-75554~61
Release: 2013
Genere: Rock
Style: Classic Rock
1968 - STEPPENWOLF (Time: 00:59:46)
01. Sookie Sookie 03:15
02. Everybody's Next One 02:58
03. Berry Rides Again 02:49
04. Hoochie Coochie Man 05:12
05. Born To Be Wild 03:30
06. Your Wall's Too High 05:45
07. Desperation 05:44
08. The Pusher 05:49
09. A Girl I Knew 02:38
10. Take What You Need 03:27
11. The Ostrich 05:46
Bonus Tracks:
12. Sookie Sookie (Mono Single Version) 03:14
13. Take What You Need (Mono Single Version) 03:34
14. Born To Be Wild (Mono Single Version) 03:06
15. Everybody's Next One (Mono Single Version) 02:52
MP3 @ 320 Size: 139 MB
Flac Size: 332 MB
1968 - THE SECOND (Time: 00:42:30)
01. Faster Than The Speed Of Life 03:12
02. Tighten Up Your Wig 03:04
03. None Of Your Doing 02:50
04. Spiritual Fantasy 03:40
05. Don't Step On The Grass, Sam 05:40
06. 28 03:10
07. Magic Carpet Ride 04:26
08. Disappointment Number (Unknown) 04:52
09. Lost And Found By Trial And Error 02:08
10. Hodge, Podge, Strained Through A Leslie 02:49
11. Resurrection 02:53
12. Reflections 00:47
Bonus Track:
13. Magic Carpet Ride (Mono Single Version) 02:53
MP3 @ 320 Size: 100 MB
Flac Size: 246 MB
1969 - AT YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY (Time: 00:54:07)
01. Don't Cry 03:10
02. Chicken Wolf 02:58
03. Lovely Meter 03:10
04. Round And Down 03:19
05. It's Never Too Late 04:07
06. Sleeping Dreaming 01:09
07. Jupiter Child 03:28
08. She'll Be Better 05:31
09. Cat Killer 01:37
10. Rock Me 03:44
11. God Fearing Man 03:56
12. Mango Juice 03:00
13. Happy Birthday 02:21
Bonus Tracks:
14. Rock Me (Mono Single Version) 03:41
15. Jupiter Child (Mono Single Version) 03:15
16. It's Never Too Late (Mono Single Version) 03:10
17. Hapy Birthday (Mono Single Version) 02:23
MP3 @ 320 Size: 125 MB
Flac Size: 260 MB
1969 - EARLY STEPPENWOLF (Time: 00:44:00)
01. Power Play 02:56
02. Howlin' For My Baby 04:52
03. Goin' Upstairs 07:17
04. Corina, Corina 03:57
05. Tighten Up Your Wig 03:17
06. The Pusher 21:39
MP3 @ 320 Size: 104 MB
Flac Size: 236 MB
1969 - MONSTER (Time: 00:44:53)
01. Monster-Suicide-America 09:15
02. Draft Register 03:22
03. Power Play 05:27
04. Move Over 02:52
05. Fag 03:12
06. What Would You Do (If I Did That To You) 03:23
07. From Here To There Eventually 05:33
Bonus Tracks:
08. Move Over (Mono Single Version) 02:59
09. Power Play (Mono Single Version) 04:50
10. Monster (Mono Single Version) 03:55
MP3 @ 320 Size: 106 MB
Flac Size: 230 MB
1970 - LIVE (Time: 01:14:43)
01. Sookie Sookie 03:10
02. Don't Step On The Grass Sam 06:07
03. Tighten Up Your Wig 04:14
04. Monster 09:54
05. Draft Resister 03:46
06. Power Play 05:43
07. Corina-Corina 03:48
08. Twisted 05:02
09. From Here To There Eventually 06:51
10. Hey Lawdy Mama 02:58
11. Magic Carpet Ride 04:15
12. The Pusher 05:58
13. Born To Be Wild 05:45
Bonus Tracks:
14. Hey Lawdy Mama (Mono Single Version) 03:20
15. Twisted (Mono Single Version) 03:44
MP3 @ 320 Size: 174 MB
Flac Size: 439 MB
1970 - STEPPENWOLF 7 (Time: 00:50:34)
01. Ball Crusher 04:53
02. Forty Days And Forty Nights 03:04
03. Fat Jack 04:52
04. Renegade 06:07
05. Foggy Mental Breakdown 03:54
06. Snowblind Friend 03:55
07. Who Needs Ya' 02:59
08. Earschplittenloudenboomer 05:00
09. Hippo Stomp 05:45
Bonus Tracks:
10. Screaming Night Hog 03:17
11. Snow Blind Friend (Mono Single Version) 03:20
12. Hipop Stomp (Mono Single Version) 03:22
MP3 @ 320 Size: 118 MB
Flac Size: 275 MB
1971 - FOR LADIES ONLY (Time: 00:57:40)
01. For Ladies Only 09:15
02. I'm Asking 04:27
03. Shackles & Chains 04:59
04. Tenderness 04:54
05. The Night Time's For You 02:58
06. Jaded Strumpet 04:43
07. Sparkle Eyes 04:31
08. Black Pit 03:48
09. Ride With Me 03:25
10. In Hopes Of A Garden 02:14
Bonus Tracks:
11. For Madmen Only 08:49
12. For Ladies Only (Single Version) 03:31
MP3 @ 320 Size: 135 MB
Flac Size: 328 MB
(BOX TOTAL TIME: 07:08:24)
