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Steppenwolf the Second

 
Album Review: Steppenwolf the Second

  • Artist: Steppenwolf
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1968
  • Total Time: 41:03
  • Genre: Rock

Review

The group's second album was virtually a re-creation of its predecessor, only slightly more sophisticated in its range of songs and the manner of playing them, and the in-house writing had improved, though the latter also became highly derivative. Steppenwolf the Second embraces everything from hard rock to psychedelia to blues, and the band is in excellent form, playing very hard and edgy, except on the deliberately lyrical, reflective "Spiritual Fantasy," a rare acoustic number for the group. Much more to the point of the group was the single "Magic Carpet Ride," the ultimate psychedelic pop dance number of the decade, and the marijuana anthem "Don't Step on the Grass, Sam," the pounding "28," and the album-opener "Faster Than the Speed of Life." Side two of the original LP was a great achievement in its own right, opening with "Magic Carpet Ride," which leads into a nonstop extended array of hard-rocking numbers, mostly in a blues idiom: "Disappointment Number (Unknown)," "Lost and Found by Trial and Error," "Hodge Podge, Strained Through a Leslie," and "Resurrection." The playing was as good as the first album, and though there's nothing quite comparable to "Born to Be Wild" here in terms of cultural impact, the level of the surrounding numbers is higher. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Faster Than the Speed of Life (Lyrics) Mars Bonfire Steppenwolf (3:10)
Tighten up Your Wig (Lyrics) John Kay Steppenwolf (3:06)
None of Your Doing (Lyrics) John Kay, Gabriel Mekler Steppenwolf (2:50)
Spiritual Fantasy (Lyrics) John Kay Steppenwolf (3:39)
Don't Step on the Grass, Sam (Lyrics) John Kay Steppenwolf (5:43)
28 Gabriel Mekler Steppenwolf (3:12)
Magic Carpet Ride (Lyrics) John Kay, Rushton Moreve Steppenwolf (4:30)
Disappointment Number (Unknown) John Kay Steppenwolf (4:38)
Lost and Found by Trial and Error (Lyrics) John Kay Steppenwolf (2:20)
Hodge, Podge, Strained Through a Leslie John Kay Steppenwolf (2:42)
Resurrection (Lyrics) John Kay Steppenwolf (3:43)
Reflections (Lyrics) John Kay, Gabriel Mekler Steppenwolf (1:30)

Credits

Bill Cooper (Engineer), Gabriel Mekler (Producer), Richard Podolor (Engineer), Steppenwolf (Main Performer), Steppenwolf (?)
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Wikipedia: Steppenwolf the Second
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Steppenwolf the Second
Studio album by Steppenwolf
Released November 1968
Recorded 1968 at American Recording Co.
Genre Acid Rock
Hard rock
Psychedelic rock
Length 41:03
Label ABC Dunhill
Producer Gabriel Mekler
Professional reviews
Steppenwolf chronology
Steppenwolf
(1968)
Steppenwolf the Second
(1968)
At Your Birthday Party
(1969)

Steppenwolf the Second is the second studio album by Canadian acid rock band Steppenwolf, released in 1968 on ABC Dunhill Records. The album contains one of Steppenwolf's most famous songs, "Magic Carpet Ride".

Contents

Track listing

All tracks composed by John Kay; except where indicated

Side one

  1. "Faster Than The Speed Of Life" (Mars Bonfire) – 3:10
  2. "Tighten Up Your Wig" – 3:06
  3. "None Of Your Doing" (Kay, Gabriel Mekler) – 2:50
  4. "Spiritual Fantasy" – 3:39
  5. "Don't Step On The Grass, Sam" – 5:43

Side two

  1. "28" (Gabriel Mekler) – 3:12
  2. "Magic Carpet Ride" (Kay, Rushton Moreve) – 4:30
  3. "Disappointment Number (Unknown)" – 4:38
  4. "Lost And Found By Trial And Error" – 2:20
  5. "Hodge, Podge, Strained Through A Leslie" - 2:42
  6. "Resurrection" – 3:43
  7. "Reflections" (Kay, Gabriel Mekler) – 1:30

Personnel

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1969 Pop Albums 3

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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