#

Album Information:



Album ID: 9753

About Steppenwolf:

Steppenwolf is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1967. The band originally consisted of John Kay (vocals, guitar), Goldy McJohn (keyboard), Michael Monarch (guitar), Rushton Moreve (bass), and Jerry Edmonton (drums). They are best known for their hit songs 'Born to Be Wild,' 'Magic Carpet Ride,' and 'The Pusher.'

The band's name was inspired by the Hermann Hesse novel 'Steppenwolf,' which is about a man struggling to find his place in society. The band members, who were all initially from Canada, adopted the name Steppenwolf because they identified with the novel's themes of alienation and individuality.

Steppenwolf's debut album, 'Steppenwolf,' was released in 1968 and was an immediate success. The album contained the now-famous songs 'Born to Be Wild' and 'The Pusher,' which were both prominently featured in the 1969 film 'Easy Rider.' The band's second album, 'The Second,' was released later that year and contained the hit single 'Magic Carpet Ride.'

Over the next few years, Steppenwolf released several more albums, including 'At Your Birthday Party,' 'Monster,' and 'Steppenwolf 7.' However, the band's popularity began to wane in the early 1970s, and they disbanded in 1972.

John Kay, who was the band's lead vocalist and guitarist, continued to perform under the name John Kay & Steppenwolf after the band's breakup. He released several solo albums and continued to tour with various lineups of Steppenwolf.

In 1980, the original members of Steppenwolf reunited and released the album 'Skullduggery.' The band continued to tour and release albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s, although the lineup changed frequently.

As of 2021, John Kay is the only remaining original member of Steppenwolf. The band still performs and tours, although they have not released a new album since 1999's 'Feed the Fire.' Despite this, their music continues to be popular and influential, particularly among fans of classic rock.

About the album Steppenwolf 7:

Steppenwolf 7 is the seventh studio album by the Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. Released in 1970, the album was the band's first without founding member Michael Monarch, who had left during the recording of their previous album, 'Monster.'

The album opens with 'Ball Crusher,' a heavy, hard-driving song featuring aggressive guitar riffs and snarling vocals by lead singer John Kay. The track sets the tone for the rest of the album, which is characterized by its raw energy and gritty sound.

'Forty Days and Forty Nights' and 'Fat Jack' are two of the album's standout tracks, both featuring bluesy guitar work and a driving rhythm section. 'Snowblind Friend' is a more melodic and introspective track, with Kay's vocals reflecting on the dangers of drug addiction.

Another notable track is 'Earschplittenloudenboomer,' a tongue-twister of a song with a psychedelic feel. The title track, 'Steppenwolf 7,' is a seven-minute instrumental featuring intricate guitar work and a hypnotic rhythm.

Overall, Steppenwolf 7 is a solid album that showcases the band's hard-edged rock sound. The record is notable for its stripped-down production, which gives the songs a raw, live feel. While it may not be as well-known as the band's earlier hits like 'Born to Be Wild' and 'Magic Carpet Ride,' Steppenwolf 7 is a worthy addition to any classic rock collection.

Members:

Steppenwolf was a Canadian-American rock band that became popular in the late 1960s. The band went through several changes in its line-up, but some of the key members include:

1. John Kay - John Kay was the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter of Steppenwolf. He was born Joachim Fritz Krauledat in East Prussia (now Poland) in 1944 and grew up in post-World War II Germany. In 1958, he and his mother emigrated to Canada where he started his music career. He formed Steppenwolf in Los Angeles in 1967 and wrote some of the band's biggest hits including 'Born to be Wild,' 'Magic Carpet Ride,' and 'The Pusher.' John Kay is still performing and recording music today.

2. Michael Monarch - Michael Monarch was Steppenwolf's lead guitarist in their early years. He was born in Los Angeles in 1950 and started playing guitar at a young age. In 1965, he joined a band called The Bush, which later became Steppenwolf. Monarch played on the band's first two albums, Steppenwolf and The Second, before leaving the band in 1968. He went on to play with several other bands, including Detective and The New Order.

3. Goldy McJohn - Goldy McJohn was Steppenwolf's keyboardist and one of the original members of the band. He was born in Canada in 1945 and started playing piano at a young age. He joined Steppenwolf in 1967 and played on their first five albums. McJohn was known for his virtuosic keyboard solos on songs like 'Born to be Wild' and 'The Pusher.' He left Steppenwolf in 1974 and later played with bands like The Guess Who and Alice Cooper.

4. Nick St. Nicholas - Nick St. Nicholas was Steppenwolf's bassist from 1968 to 1970. He was born Klaus Karl Kassbaum in Germany in 1943 and grew up in Greece and Canada. He joined Steppenwolf in 1968 and played on their third and fourth albums, At Your Birthday and Monster. St. Nicholas left Steppenwolf in 1970 and went on to play with several other bands, including Steppenwolf Revisited and World Classic Rockers.

5. Jerry Edmonton - Jerry Edmonton was Steppenwolf's drummer and one of the band's founding members. He was born in Canada in 1946 and started playing drums at the age of 13. Edmonton co-wrote some of Steppenwolf's biggest hits, including 'Magic Carpet Ride' and 'Rock Me.' He played on all of the band's albums and was known for his powerful drumming style. Edmonton died in a car accident in 1993.

These are just a few of the key members of Steppenwolf, but there were many other musicians who played with the band throughout its history.

Track List for Steppenwolf 7:

Sure, here are all the tracks in the album Steppenwolf 7 by Steppenwolf along with their play time and a brief description of each:

1. Ball Crusher - 4:50
A hard-rocking track about a woman who's 'a ball-crushing, man-eating whore' and the narrator's desire to stay away from her.

2. Forty Days and Forty Nights - 3:01
A blues-influenced track with driving guitar riffs, about a man who's been on the road for forty days and nights and just wants to go home.

3. Fat Jack - 4:57
A funky track with a groovy bassline and horns, about a man named Fat Jack who's 'the king of the street' and knows how to party.

4. Renegade - 6:02
A longer track with a more psychedelic sound, about a man who's 'a renegade, a murderer' and doesn't care about the consequences of his actions.

5. Foggy Mental Breakdown - 3:23
A slower, more introspective track about a man who's having a breakdown and needs to get away from it all.

6. Snowblind Friend - 3:49
A haunting track with a repeating piano riff, about a friend who's addicted to drugs and how the narrator can't help him.

7. Who Needs Ya - 2:58
A catchy, upbeat track with a Latin-influenced rhythm, about a woman who thinks she can do better than the narrator but he knows she needs him.

8. Earschplittenloudenboomer - 3:55
A tongue-in-cheek track with a nonsensical title, featuring psychedelic guitar riffs and sound effects.

9. Hippo Stomp - 5:43
A funky track with a heavy bassline and horn section, with lyrics about a place where the party never ends.

Overall, Steppenwolf 7 is a mix of hard rock, blues, funk, and psychedelic sounds, with lyrics that touch on themes of rebellion, partying, and introspection. Each track brings something unique to the table, showcasing the band's versatility and creativity.

Discography for Steppenwolf:

Sure, here is the complete discography for Steppenwolf in chronological order:

Albums:
1. Steppenwolf (1968)
2. The Second (1968)
3. At Your Birthday Party (1969)
4. Monster (1969)
5. Early Steppenwolf (1969)
6. Steppenwolf 7 (1970)
7. For Ladies Only (1971)
8. Live (1971)
9. 16 Greatest Hits (1973)
10. The ABC/Dunhill Singles Collection (1978)
11. Skullduggery (1976)
12. Slow Flux (1974)
13. Hour of the Wolf (1975)
14. Wolftracks (1982)
15. Paradox (1984)
16. Rock & Roll Rebels (1987)
17. Rise & Shine (1990)
18. Feed the Fire (1996)
19. Live at 25 (1996)
20. Steppenwolf '97 (1997)

Singles:
1. 'A Girl I Knew' / 'Sookie Sookie' (1968)
2. 'Born to Be Wild' / 'Everybody's Next One' (1968)
3. 'Magic Carpet Ride' / 'Sookie Sookie' (1968)
4. 'Rock Me' / 'Jupiter Child' (1969)
5. 'It's Never Too Late' / 'Hey Lawdy Mama' (1969)
6. 'Move Over' / 'Power Play' (1969)
7. 'Monster/Suicide/America' / 'Draft Resister' (1969)
8. 'Screaming Night Hog' (1970)
9. 'Snowblind Friend' / 'Who Needs Ya' (1971)
10. 'Ride With Me' / 'I'm Movin' On' (1971)
11. 'Hey Lawdy Mama' / 'Twisted' (1972)
12. 'Caroline' (1972)
13. 'Straight Shootin' Woman' / 'Caroline' (1972)
14. 'For Ladies Only' / 'Sparkle Eyes' (1972)
15. 'Sookie Sookie' / 'Rock Me' (1973)

Other Releases:
1. The Second (1968) (Mono Version)
2. Steppenwolf Live (EP) (1970)
3. Gold (Compilation, 1971)
4. Steppenwolf, 1968-1971 (Compilation, 1972)
5. Rest in Peace (Compilation, 1972)
6. The Best of Steppenwolf (Compilation, 1977)
7. Born To Be Wild – A Retrospective (Compilation, 1991)
8. Steppenwolf Archives (Compilation, 1999)

I hope I was able to help you!