STEPPENWOLF
''MONSTER''
1969
32:36
********************
1 Monster (John Kay, Jerry Edmonton); Suicide (John Kay, Nick St. Nicholas, Larry Byrom, Jerry Edmonton); America 09:17 (John Kay, Jerry Edmonton)
2 Draft Resister 03:18 (John Kay, Goldy McJohn)
3 Power Play 05:26 (John Kay)
4 Move Over 02:53 (John Kay, Gabriel Mekler)
5 Fag 02:51 (Larry Byrom, Nick St. Nicholas, Jerry Edmonton)
6 What Would You Do (If I Did That To You) 03:20 (Leno Francen, Nolan Porter)
7 From Here To There Eventually 05:28 (John Kay, Goldy McJohn, Jerry Edmonton)
********************
Bass – John Russell Morgan
Drums – Jerry Edmonton
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Michael Monarch
Guitar, Vocals – John Kay
Keyboards – Goldy McJohn
********************
ABOUT THE ALBUM/OFFICIAL
1970—One of the first concept albums of the '70s. A classic statement of those often turbulent times. Features the original ten minute title cut and more. An essential disc in your Wolf collection. Songs: Monster/Suicide/America, Draft Resister, Power Play, Move Over, Fag, What Would You Do (If I Did That To You), From Here To There Eventually.
------
With “Monster” came a fresh burst of energy with the addition of Larry Byrom (who replaced Michael Monarch on lead guitar) and his “let’s get to it” attitude. In my opinion the monster album was a stronger effort than anything since the second album. However, time was once again our enemy which made it necessary that we recorded this project in an unusual fashion. The guys came up with one track after another while I was trying to keep up with my vocal parts and lyrics. Since this was supposed to be a concept album, I had to write within certain guidelines so that the lyrics fit within the concept. During the recording of this album and “7”, which was to follow, I spent most of my time at my studio sometimes until 3 or 4 in the morning, working on the melodies and lyrics. I would join the guys at American Recorders where they continued to come up with new tracks, whenever I was ready to overdub my finished vocal parts on one of the previously recorded basic tracks. On “From Here To There Eventually” and “Power Play” I also played guitar on the basic tracks. The somewhat unusual method of recording notwithstanding I was nevertheless excited each time the guys brought me a newly recorded instrumental track, since Larry and the guys came up with one great musical idea after another. Consequently, we were all pleased with the results.
********************
ABOUT THE ALBUM/WIKIPEDIA
Monster is an album by Steppenwolf. Released in 1969, it was their first LP with new lead guitarist, Larry Byrom instead of Michael Monarch. The album was Steppenwolf's most political one, making references to important issues at the time, such as the Vietnam War.
The album was the first Steppenwolf album not to feature a US top ten hit, though two singles from the album cracked the top 40: "Move Over" and "Monster".
RECEPTION
Reviews for Monster have generally been negative. Rolling Stone commented that the playing of the individual performers is "top-notch", but that "Their arrangements have become sloppy and crude, as the early-Zappa lyrics continuously clash with the music."
Allmusic panned the album in their retrospective review, remarking that "these lumbering hard rock tunes were not an effective means to address [important political topics], politically or musically."
On the other hand, rock critic Robert Christgau gave the album praise. Christgau gave the album a B+ rating and called it "an excellent comeback", though he thought the preachy lyrics marred somewhat the final result.
********************
REVIEW/AMG
Richie Unterberger
The group's most political album, tackling then-current issues such as the Vietnam War, draft resisters, and the decay of justice in America. These were (and are) important topics, but these lumbering hard rock tunes were not an effective means to address them, politically or musically. It's hard to make agitprop and pop mix, but even judged simply within the context of Steppenwolf's records, it lacks memorable compositions, the unexceptional tunes burdened by lyrics that are too heavy-handed.
********************
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
Cub Koda
Led by John Kay (born Joachim Krauledat, April 12, 1944), Steppenwolf's blazing biker anthem "Born to Be Wild" roared out of speakers everywhere in the fiery summer of 1968, John Kay's threatening rasp sounding a mesmerizing call to arms to the counterculture movement rapidly sprouting up nationwide. German immigrant Kay got his professional start in a bluesy Toronto band called Sparrow, recording for Columbia in 1966. After Sparrow disbanded, Kay relocated to the West Coast and formed Steppenwolf, named after the Herman Hesse novel. "Born to Be Wild," their third single on ABC-Dunhill, was immortalized on the soundtrack of Dennis Hopper's underground film classic Easy Rider. The song's reference to "heavy metal thunder" finally gave an assignable name to an emerging genre. Steppenwolf's second monster hit that year, the psychedelic "Magic Carpet Ride," and the follow-ups "Rock Me," "Move Over," and "Hey Lawdy Mama" further established the band's credibility on the hard rock circuit. By the early '70s, Steppenwolf ran out of steam and disbanded. Kay continued to record solo, as other members put together ersatz versions of the band for touring purposes. During the mid-'80s Kay re-formed his own version of Steppenwolf, grinding out his hits (and some new songs) at oldies shows. Nevertheless, they'll be remembered for generations to come for creating one of the ultimate gas'n'go rock anthems of all time.
********************
BIOGRAPHY/WIKIPEDIA
********************
WEBSITE
********************
TO THE TOP
********************
''MONSTER''
1969
32:36
********************
1 Monster (John Kay, Jerry Edmonton); Suicide (John Kay, Nick St. Nicholas, Larry Byrom, Jerry Edmonton); America 09:17 (John Kay, Jerry Edmonton)
2 Draft Resister 03:18 (John Kay, Goldy McJohn)
3 Power Play 05:26 (John Kay)
4 Move Over 02:53 (John Kay, Gabriel Mekler)
5 Fag 02:51 (Larry Byrom, Nick St. Nicholas, Jerry Edmonton)
6 What Would You Do (If I Did That To You) 03:20 (Leno Francen, Nolan Porter)
7 From Here To There Eventually 05:28 (John Kay, Goldy McJohn, Jerry Edmonton)
********************
Bass – John Russell Morgan
Drums – Jerry Edmonton
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Michael Monarch
Guitar, Vocals – John Kay
Keyboards – Goldy McJohn
********************
ABOUT THE ALBUM/OFFICIAL
1970—One of the first concept albums of the '70s. A classic statement of those often turbulent times. Features the original ten minute title cut and more. An essential disc in your Wolf collection. Songs: Monster/Suicide/America, Draft Resister, Power Play, Move Over, Fag, What Would You Do (If I Did That To You), From Here To There Eventually.
------
With “Monster” came a fresh burst of energy with the addition of Larry Byrom (who replaced Michael Monarch on lead guitar) and his “let’s get to it” attitude. In my opinion the monster album was a stronger effort than anything since the second album. However, time was once again our enemy which made it necessary that we recorded this project in an unusual fashion. The guys came up with one track after another while I was trying to keep up with my vocal parts and lyrics. Since this was supposed to be a concept album, I had to write within certain guidelines so that the lyrics fit within the concept. During the recording of this album and “7”, which was to follow, I spent most of my time at my studio sometimes until 3 or 4 in the morning, working on the melodies and lyrics. I would join the guys at American Recorders where they continued to come up with new tracks, whenever I was ready to overdub my finished vocal parts on one of the previously recorded basic tracks. On “From Here To There Eventually” and “Power Play” I also played guitar on the basic tracks. The somewhat unusual method of recording notwithstanding I was nevertheless excited each time the guys brought me a newly recorded instrumental track, since Larry and the guys came up with one great musical idea after another. Consequently, we were all pleased with the results.
********************
ABOUT THE ALBUM/WIKIPEDIA
Monster is an album by Steppenwolf. Released in 1969, it was their first LP with new lead guitarist, Larry Byrom instead of Michael Monarch. The album was Steppenwolf's most political one, making references to important issues at the time, such as the Vietnam War.
The album was the first Steppenwolf album not to feature a US top ten hit, though two singles from the album cracked the top 40: "Move Over" and "Monster".
RECEPTION
Reviews for Monster have generally been negative. Rolling Stone commented that the playing of the individual performers is "top-notch", but that "Their arrangements have become sloppy and crude, as the early-Zappa lyrics continuously clash with the music."
Allmusic panned the album in their retrospective review, remarking that "these lumbering hard rock tunes were not an effective means to address [important political topics], politically or musically."
On the other hand, rock critic Robert Christgau gave the album praise. Christgau gave the album a B+ rating and called it "an excellent comeback", though he thought the preachy lyrics marred somewhat the final result.
********************
REVIEW/AMG
Richie Unterberger
The group's most political album, tackling then-current issues such as the Vietnam War, draft resisters, and the decay of justice in America. These were (and are) important topics, but these lumbering hard rock tunes were not an effective means to address them, politically or musically. It's hard to make agitprop and pop mix, but even judged simply within the context of Steppenwolf's records, it lacks memorable compositions, the unexceptional tunes burdened by lyrics that are too heavy-handed.
********************
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
Cub Koda
Led by John Kay (born Joachim Krauledat, April 12, 1944), Steppenwolf's blazing biker anthem "Born to Be Wild" roared out of speakers everywhere in the fiery summer of 1968, John Kay's threatening rasp sounding a mesmerizing call to arms to the counterculture movement rapidly sprouting up nationwide. German immigrant Kay got his professional start in a bluesy Toronto band called Sparrow, recording for Columbia in 1966. After Sparrow disbanded, Kay relocated to the West Coast and formed Steppenwolf, named after the Herman Hesse novel. "Born to Be Wild," their third single on ABC-Dunhill, was immortalized on the soundtrack of Dennis Hopper's underground film classic Easy Rider. The song's reference to "heavy metal thunder" finally gave an assignable name to an emerging genre. Steppenwolf's second monster hit that year, the psychedelic "Magic Carpet Ride," and the follow-ups "Rock Me," "Move Over," and "Hey Lawdy Mama" further established the band's credibility on the hard rock circuit. By the early '70s, Steppenwolf ran out of steam and disbanded. Kay continued to record solo, as other members put together ersatz versions of the band for touring purposes. During the mid-'80s Kay re-formed his own version of Steppenwolf, grinding out his hits (and some new songs) at oldies shows. Nevertheless, they'll be remembered for generations to come for creating one of the ultimate gas'n'go rock anthems of all time.
********************
BIOGRAPHY/WIKIPEDIA
********************
WEBSITE
********************
TO THE TOP
********************
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