By: William Clark
John Kay & Steppenwolf remain among the elite enduring forces in rock and roll. The iconic acid rock group broke out with their first two studio albums in 1968 – the self-titled ‘Steppenwolf,’ which spawned the psychedelic rock single “A Girl I Knew” and the mega hit cover of Mars Bonfire’s “Born To Be Wild,” and the aptly titled ‘The Second,’ which reinforced the group’s new founded reputation with anthems like “Magic Carpet Ride.”
Look forward five decades later and Steppenwolf continues to prowl forward, as highlighted in the new three disc compilation Steppenwolf at 50. The release encompasses 41 tracks, covering all of Steppenwolf’s 13 studio albums – listeners are offered a prime opportunity to listen to rare cuts like the title track off 1990’s ‘Rise and Shine,’ as well as newly unearthed tracks from the Steppenwolf vault.
In addition to the previously unreleased track “Angel Drawers,” Steppenwolf at 50 includes a complete disc’s worth of archived live material recorded between 1992 amd 1995. These tracks put Steppenwolf’s onstage energy on full display through a mix of manic fan favorite renditions like “The Pusher” and “Move Over.”
The Steppenwolf at 50 booklet includes a written memoir from Steppenwolf mainman John Kay detailing his long standing career in rock, thanking his ‘Wolfpack’ fanbase for their enduring support. “In between seemingly endless tours at home and abroad, we somehow managed to write, rehearse and record numerous subsequent albums,” recalls Kay.
Also included in the pages of Steppenwolf at 50 is a retrospective collection of Steppenwolf photos spanning their early grass root days to their polished 80s era. For fans looking to catch their fix of vintage rock nostalgia, this compilation is a knockout package.
Disc 1
Screaming Night Hog
From Here To There Eventually (alternate version)*
Angel Drawers*
For Ladies Only
You Win Again
My Sportin’ Life
Drift Away
Straight Shootin’ Woman
Caroline (Are You Ready For The Outlaw World)
Skullduggery
Hold Your Head Up
Hot Night In A Cold Town
Give Me News I Can Use
Ain’t Nothin’ Like It Used To Be
Magic Carpet Ride (Performed With Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five
Disc 2
Hold On (Never Give Up Never Give In)
Rock & Roll Rebels
Give Me Life
Rise & Shine
The Wall
Rock & Roll War
Feed The Fire
Rock Steady
Down In New Orleans
Business Is Business
Compared To What*
Labor Of Love*
For The Women In My Life
Disc 3 (Steppenwolf Live 1992-1995)
Move Over
Rock Me
I’m Movin’ On
Sookie Sookie
I’m Your Hootchie Cootchie Man
Hey Lawdy Mama
Desperation
Ride With Me
Snowblind Friend
Monster/Suicide/America
Magic Carpet Ride
Born To Be Wild
The Pusher
* previously unreleased
About William Clark: William Clark is the Editor-In-Chief of Music Enthusiast Magazine and a Staff contributor to Guitar International magazine.
