Artist: Steppenwolf
Album: John Kay & Steppenwolf - Steppenwolf At 50
Label: Rainman
Release Date: 03.16.2018
John Kay, lead singer of Steppenwolf, barely escaped with his mother and his life from East Germany in 1945. The experience would mark him for life and influence much of his material. Kay began with a group called The Sparrow but later changed it to Steppenwolf, taken from the Herman Hesse novel of the same name, the solitary, howling wolf embodying a lust for freedom. The group became synonymous with hippiedom and provided the soundtrack to 1960s counterculture. Steppenwolf’s claim to fame was the biker anthem “Born to Be Wild,” featured in the 1968 film Easy Rider in which Kay coined the term “Heavy Metal” and invented a new musical genre. Steppenwolf would go on to score numerous hits including “Magic Carpet Ride,” “The Pusher” (also featured in Easy Rider), “Sookie Sookie,” “Rock Me” and many others.
John Kay’s genius as a pop musician is evident from his deep catalog of hits but also in lesser known tracks such as “Monster,” a raw critique of America’s role in the Vietnam War. Highlights from this collection include deep cuts like “For Ladies Only,” the alternate version of “From Here To There Eventually” and a surprisingly great rendition of Hank Williams “You Win Again,” proving that Kay is as adept at country as at blues-based rock. Essential to Steppenwolf’s sound are grinding, Hammond organs, amped up guitars, gritty vocals, and catchy choruses that sometimes belie Kay’s intelligence as a songwriter. Perhaps it is easy to write off a group that has been overplayed on classic rock radio but delve deeper and one finds lyrical and thematic richness. However, this particular set might not be the best place to start.
Steppenwolf At 50 is a three-CD collection that features some of their studio hits on part one and live versions of other hits from the ’70s through the ’90s on parts two and three. It is not a comprehensive retrospective but rather best suited for die-hard fans. If their ’60s style was drenched in acid and whipped by leather, one could say their ’70s sound was fueled by methamphetamine, the leather beginning to crack a bit. The ’80s & ’90s found them fading into “pleather.” The live concert recordings from CDs two and three have dated guitar tones that do not hold up so well over time, though the band still rocks as evidenced by the roar of the crowd. The best way to get to know Steppenwolf is to listen to their first six albums, beginning with John Kay & The Sparrow. Kay also released a well done solo album titled Heretics & Privateers. These are the essential recordings.
The “Wolf” is still going strong and currently on tour in the USA. “Get your motor running” and catch them while you can!
—Mike Cobb
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