Steppenwolf

[C]

Born to be WILD....!

But did the put enough decent material to make a seminally robust album?

Too many weak tracks on each platter...?

So, that said - their strongest album? [studio only]

I tend to go for Monster.

You? [up to 1971 only]





.

[Matt Wilson]

It's between the first two for me, with the edge slightly going to the debut LP.

[GoogaMooga]

Don't step on the grass, Sam

[Charlie O.]

Much as I love Monster, I'd put the debut and 7 ahead of it. The Second is pretty strong, too.

[Flower]

I voted for Steppenwolf (debut) and like most of the above, I would second with Second.

[Six String]

Yes, first or second. I chose first as well. Monster and 7 are very good too.

[trans-chigley express]

I've never heard a Stepoenwolf album. I only know their few hits.

[robertff]

Got a few of their albums, bought cheaply, all of them totally unnoteworthy. Can't really say which one is best because I'm not sure I've played any of them more than once. If it hadn't been for the hit would they ever have even been a footnote in rock history?


.

[Rorschach]

I've never heard a Steppenwolf album. I only know their few hits.

Same here, except I'm only familiar with two hits. I'd always assumed they very much flash-in-the-pans so I was astonished to see their Wikipedia entry:

Steppenwolf sold over 25 million records worldwide, released eight gold albums and 12 Billboard Hot 100 singles, of which six were top 40 hits, including three top 10 successes: Born to Be Wild, Magic Carpet Ride, and Rock Me.

Rock Me? Never even heard of it...

[trans-chigley express]

^^^
Well that's a lot more hits than I thought they had. I only know Born To Be Wild, The Pusher and Magic Carpet Ride, and only one of them was written by the band.

[C]

Possibly their finest moment....?










.

[pcqgod]

Haven't listened for a while, but I recall 'Monster' being pretty solid.

[C]

Haven't listened for a while, but I recall 'Monster' being pretty solid.

Indeed my learned friend

Indeed

Clearly, more folk thought the eponymous debut was their finest moment but I don't see that.

Fucque democracy!











.

[C]

A convincing win for the debut....





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[toomanyhatz]

Listening to Monster now just to confirm my previous impression, which is basically 'overambitious mess'.

So far, yep. Still the debut for me, probably.

They did get well into the 70s with a decent amount of consistency in quality, I will give them that.

I'll listen more and see if any more thoughts occur...

[toomanyhatz]

I guess side one is the "political" side? I like side two better.

But why is there an instrumental called "Fag?"

[toomanyhatz]

Got a few of their albums, bought cheaply, all of them totally unnoteworthy. Can't really say which one is best because I'm not sure I've played any of them more than once. If it hadn't been for the hit would they ever have even been a footnote in rock history?


.

This is fair enough, and I'm not going to try to sell anyone on their importance.

That said, they actually have three hits that are pretty iconic (all on the debut). And, like I say, they maintained a fairly consistent level of quality.

That might be a footnote, but it's an impressive one.

[Charlie O.]

I guess side one is the "political" side? I like side two better.

But why is there an instrumental called "Fag?"

A terrible thing for them to do to one of the best pieces of music on the album.

Of course, being Canadian (sorta), maybe they meant it in the British sense...

[C]

I guess side one is the "political" side? I like side two better.

But why is there an instrumental called "Fag?"

A terrible thing for them to do to one of the best pieces of music on the album.

Of course, being Canadian (sorta), maybe they meant it in the British sense...

Indeed - cigarette





.

[Charlie O.]

... but I wouldn't bet on it.