5 Stars
Audio CD (paid link)
After inventing the heavy metal tag in the bikers’ anthem ‘Born To Be Wild’ and flying the anti-drug cause in ‘The Pusher,’ John Kay and the boys turned their attention to the anti-war campaign with their smash hit album “Monster.”
Coming out during America’s involvement in the Vietnam War, this group of songs proved very popular with the youth of America with its stance against the military war machine and is as relevant now as it was in 1970.
But casting aside all political intentions in this group of songs, Steppenwolf’s credibility was later thrown into contrast with albums such as “For Ladies Only” and Steppenwolf at your birthday party.
Nevertheless, “Monster” rose up the American Charts to Number 17.
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The musical ability and the arrangements shown on these songs are glaringly apparent from the opening chords of the trilogy, ‘Monster/Suicide/America’ slipping from country rock into hard rock bluster at the twinkling of an eye with its built for stadium choruses and cutting lyrics. The strong guitar work of Larry Byrom, who was making his debut performance as Steppenwolf’s lead guitarist, and Goldy McJohn’s keyboard work, in particular, support John Kay’s rants. The band also gets a chance to shine during the album’s only instrumental ‘Fag,’ a slide guitar/piano workout which comes in welcome contrast to some of this album’s heavier vocal songs.
That is not to say that all of the songs hit the spot. But they do with ‘Draft Resister’ – certainly being this Dog’s rallying call if somebody wanted to cart him off to be shot at (especially against cats).
My two big complaints though are against the record company. In the days of CDs, 33 minutes is plainly not long enough. Could they not have doubled it up with Steppenwolf 7 (an album of equal length) to make one CD or found some outtakes or live versions?
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My second major quibble is the transfer of “Monster” onto CD. This is appalling. Removing all the pomp and majesty of the original, this power package deserves far more.
So Five Stars for the Music. Zero to the record company.
Steppenwolf were
John Kay – Vocals, Harmonica, Guitar
Larry Byrom – Lead Guitar
Nick St Nicholas – Bass Guitar
Goldy McJohn – Hammond Organ and Piano
Jerry Edmonton – Drums (and Lead Vocals on What Would You Do)
Songs
Power Play
Move Over
Fag
What Would You Do (If I Did That To You)
From Here to There Eventually
Written by Mott the Dog
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