-- Steppenwolf - Steppenwolf: All Time Greatest Hits | (Audio CD) MSRP $ 18.98 Amazon Price $ 9.97 Savings $ 9.01 | |  Release Date: 23 November, 1999, Mca
TRACK LISTING - Born To Be Wild
- Magic Carpet Ride
- Sookie Sookie
- Don`t Step On The Grass, Sam
- The Pusher
- Rock me
- It`s Never Too Late
- Jupiter`s Child
- Hey Lawdy Mama
- Snowblind Friend
- Move Over
- Tenderness
- Who Needs Ya
- Ride With Me
- For Ladies Only
- Screaming Night Hog
- Monsters/Suicide/America
- Straight Shootin` Woman
Usually ships in 24 hours | | | steppenwolf | | great cd, all the songs i grew up with. some songs, i can remember what i was doing at that time. | | | | Steppenwolf: All Time Greatest Hits | | Very good piece of music history. I still like the LP`s sound a bit better then CD`s due to some of the characteristic noise flaws but unfortunately LP`s do not play in the car. | | | | Born to be Reflective.......... | Oh-What a weekend it has been. As you know-your beloved Seer is snowbound and has had to find worthy things to do. Seems, after a few hot toddys and relaxing (watching the glow in the fireplace), disaster struck! A wayward ember landed of my non-flame retardent Seer`s cape, and your mild Seer had to run screaming, into the snow, to remedy the situation. It was a classic "non-Metamorpho" moment. One that I`m not proud of. But, the good news is that the hot toddys kicked in and I forgot (almost) totally about that charlatan in the southern mid-west. And since I recently raided my archives to find another worthy selection- I decided that another review was in order.
Keeping on with rockin` selections - I have a most worthy biker fest celebration for all of you. Yes, it`s Steppenwolf and John Kay as the master of ceremonies! Even as we speak- Metamorpho is getting out his shades and revving up his magic carpet to take journeys into the unknown. (Some say "Stay in your own mind Metamorpho, that is unknown enough for you"). I scoff at that. Wouldn`t you?
So, what have we here? Gritty,husky,distictive vocals by John Kay. Motorcycles, motorcycle mamas, social commentary, political barbs and superb rock construction. Oh yes- and sex too. Guido would definitely approve. Steppenwolf was always a male-dominated dominion. However, political correctness aside - the music was just too damn good to give it a bad rap.
Of course we have here the great eternal staples of "Born to Be Wild" (is it really about riding a bike?) and "Magic Carpet Ride" (John Kay as house genie for sure). These songs reveal the elements which many songs afterwards would often employ. The musky organ grinding on one side and the guitar riffing on the other. All in the mix. All other instruments contribute- however, along with John`s vocals, this was the "sound" of Steppenwolf.
Also, don`t think that they weren`t diverse. They could do a rock stroll like "Don`t Step On the Grass, Sam" (anti-government) and "The Pusher" (anti-hard drug). Rock raves like "Rock Me" and "Hey Lawdy Mama". And soft rock ballads like "Snowblind Friend" (cocaine addiction) and "Tenderness" (abusive love relationships). Steppenwolf`s song topics were not shallow or void of diversity, as we can see. A song in this compilation that I find quite good is "Screaming Night Hog". Listen to the interplay of instruments on this song. Amazing. They hit a groove and never let up. Listen to the guitar riff- the mirroring of the organ, the harmonica riff. The see-saw effect of the mix. Listen to this one loud.
Last, but not least, the incredible tri-umphant "Monster/Suicide/America".
John Kay`s history lesson with tough questions indeed. An incredible work. One section seguing into another with their own distinctive pattern. The blend only adds to the urgency of the message. And, what about the message? Precise, clear, and as evident today as it was when it was written. Seems some things never change.
For anyone who loves rock - this collection is indispensible. Miss this one at your peril (mind you, stray embers are everywhere these days).
I guess that`s it for now children. I have to now get busy formulating my Seer`s lesson plan for T. He`s doing well on tests though- but getting a B+ on the last one gave your beloved Seer great concern.
Ah well--
Remembering the embering -------- Metamorpho
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-- zzzz
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