4/1/2023 0 Comments Steppenwolf magic carpet ride![]() ![]() ‘Magic Carpet Ride’, written by Kay and Moreve, opens with a wall of guitar and organ feedback, its familiar melody featuring chunky rhythm guitar and Hammond organ, before Monarch turns the heat up on his guitar with throbbing feedback, the band locked into a steady riff. The disc closes with eight single sides, all presented in mono, including ‘Born To Be Wild’, which reached #2 on the US charts, while the album peaked at #6, giving the band their first two gold records.ĭisc two centers around ‘The Second’ which hit record shops in October of 1968, a month after its hit single, the title track to this box set. ‘The Ostrich’ tells of the false hopes of the “great American dream” which plague many in their quest for financial security, while warning of the damage to the ecology mankind is capable of, with a reminder that freedoms, such as that of speech, are to be treasured as the threat of fascism is ever present. ![]() ‘Desperation’ reassures the listener that it’s normal to sometimes feel lonely, lost, even useless, reminding them that others will understand and help them, a timely topic with alienation and suicide so rampant in today’s society, while prompting us to remain ever vigilant, to not become complacent, and to remember that we needn’t repeat the mistakes of the past. The album also includes some excellent band originals. The band’s take on Hoyt Axton’s anti-drug anthem ‘The Pusher’ opens with the heavy riff of John Kay’s rhythm guitar and the driving beat of bassist Rushton Moreve and drummer Edmonton before Monarch’s lead guitar and Goldie McJohn’s Hammond organ join while Kay belts out a stern warning regarding hard drugs, especially heroin, and drives home the difference between marijuana dealers and the uncaring, greedy purveyors of deadly drugs. The Mars Bonfire (Dennis Edmonton, brother of Steppenwolf drummer Jerry Edmonton) penned ‘Born To Be Wild’ is famous for its inclusion of the term “heavy metal” in its lyrics, while its sound is dominated by Michael Monarch’s lead guitar line, as well as his feedback-drenched soaring solo and the Hammond organ work of Goldie McJohn. The LP contains two tunes which were immortalized by their inclusion in the 1969 motorcycle/counter culture cult film ‘Easy Rider. Steppenwolf – ‘Magic Carpet Ride-The Dunhill/ABC Years 1967-1971’ (2021) In the four year period between 19 California based hard rock band Steppenwolf released a series of best selling albums and singles, unique for their social and political commentary, garnering nine gold records and gathering an extremely loyal fan base that remains to this day.Ĭherry Red Records has gathered the six studio and two live LP’s, supplemented by twenty six single sides, in a new eight disc box set on the label’s Esoteric Recordings imprint.ĭisc one opens with the tracks from the band’s self-titled debut album originally released on January 29, 1968. ![]()
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