Steppenwolf (Steppenwolf album)

Steppenwolf
Studio album by Steppenwolf
Released	January 29, 1968
Recorded	Fall 1967
Studio	American Recording Co. Studio (Calabasas, California, United States)
Genre	Hard rock psychedelic rock
Length	46:10
Label	ABC Dunhill
Producer	Gabriel Mekler
Steppenwolf chronology
Steppenwolf (1968) The Second (1968)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Rolling Stone	Positive [2]

Steppenwolf is the first studio album by American rock band Steppenwolf, released in January 1968 on ABC Dunhill Records.

The album was a successful debut for the band, featuring the songs "Born to Be Wild", as well as "The Pusher", both of which were used in the 1969 film Easy Rider. "Berry Rides Again" is a tribute to guitarist Chuck Berry. The spelling of track #4 on the vinyl is "Hootchie Kootchie Man". The album credits say it was recorded at American Recording Company in Studio City, California; however, the actual name of the studio was American Recorders.

The background color of the original ABC LP cover was a silver "foil", in contrast to later (MCA Records) LP issues and the modern CD sleeve in which it is replaced by off white. It is the only album by the band to have been released in both stereo and mono configurations. Although the latter is simply a 'fold down' of the stereo mix it is sought after as a collector's item.

Early editions of the "silver foil background" version credit "Mars Bondfire" with writing "Born to be Wild" on both the LP label and the back of the LP cover.

The earliest 1968 versions of the album did not have the black box with the wording: "Contains The Hit "Born To Be Wild".

Track listing

Side one

1. "Sookie Sookie" (Don Covay, Steve Cropper) –3:12
2. "Everybody's Next One" (Kay, Gabriel Mekler) –2:53
3. "Berry Rides Again" (Kay) –2:45
4. "Hoochie Coochie Man" (Willie Dixon) –5:07
5. "Born to Be Wild" (Mars Bonfire) –3:28
6. "Your Wall's Too High" (Kay) –5:40

Side two

1. "Desperation" (Kay) –5:45
2. "The Pusher" (Hoyt Axton) –5:43
3. "A Girl I Knew" (Morgan Cavett, Kay) –2:39
4. "Take What You Need" (Kay, Gabriel Mekler) –3:28
5. "The Ostrich" (Kay) –5:43

Personnel

• John Kay - lead vocals, guitars, harmonica
• Michael Monarch - guitars, backing vocals
• Goldy McJohn - organ, piano, electric piano
• Rushton Moreve - bass, backing vocals
• Jerry Edmonton - drums, backing vocals, percussion

Production

• Gabriel Mekler: Producer.
• Gary Burden: Cover design.
• Tom Gundelfinger: Photography.
• Bill Cooper: Engineer
• Henry Diltz: Photography.
• Richard Podolor: Engineer.

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1968	Pop Albums	6

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1968	"Born to Be Wild"	Pop Singles	2

References

1. Eder, Bruce. "Allmusic review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
2. "Steppenwolf: Steppenwolf : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". 27 April 1968. Retrieved 13 September 2012.