Iconic rock band Steppenwolf is celebrating a half-century of music with the release of Steppenwolf At 50 – due out today, Friday, March 16th on Rainman Records. Steppenwolf At 50 is a 3-CD retrospective album that covers the band’s storied career from their debut in 1968 through their 13 studio albums (billed as both Steppenwolf and John Kay & Steppenwolf).
The comprehensive 41-track collection features not only the band’s Top 10 hits “Born To Be Wild,” “Magic Carpet Ride” and “Rock Me” but also five rare or never before heard tracks. One of these recently unearthed gems, “Compared To What” was premiered by GuitarWorld.com, who proclaimed that “The song features the classic Steppenwolf sound – authoritative, scooped-but-solid guitars, growling vocals and – in this case – a satisfying jam section that’s punctuated by tight drumming and pulsating bass.”
Steppenwolf At 50 was personally overseen by frontman John Kay and longtime manager Ron Rainey. In the liner notes Kay thanks both past and present band members as well as their loyal “Wolfpack” fan base.
“After four days and nine thousand dollars in recording costs, we emerged with a finished album simply entitled Steppenwolf and after its release in 1968, we were off to the races. That was 50 years ago as of this writing and much transpired during that time of course,” writes Kay. “In between seemingly endless tours at home and abroad, we somehow managed to write, rehearse and record numerous subsequent albums, but the hectic pace sometimes took its toll; not only on the band but also on our home lives and families…it is particularly dedicated to those who never stopped being there when we needed their support the most. Every band member past and present, who is heard on these recordings, played an important role as musician, fellow singer or songwriter in the Wolf’s recording history and is accordingly acknowledged in the credits.”
After taking a few months off, John Kay & Steppenwolf kicked-off their 2018 tour schedule on March 10, in Ft. Pierce, FL. Thus far they have six more shows scheduled for the year – May 5 in Middletown, OH; May 12 in Coconut Creek, FL; May 24 in Worley, ID; June 9 in Dubuque, IA; July 27 in Detroit, MI and August 10 in Sturgis, SD.
Fans may be interested to note that Kay donates proceeds from all Steppenwolf shows to 13 NGOs that support the mission of the Maue-Kay foundation – a charitable organization that Kay and his wife of 50 years, Jutta Maue Kay, formed in 2004. “In recent years, whether at home in North America or through travels in other parts of the world, we’ve increasingly come in contact with people whose efforts to protect Wildlife, the Natural Environment and Human Rights are an inspiration to us. Providing financial assistance for their various projects is the primary mission of the Maue Kay Foundation. However, we also hope to enlist additional support for their exemplary work, through the information, images and video clips, featured on our various projects.”
Check out the complete track list below:
Disk #1:
1. Screaming Night Hog
2. From Here To There Eventually (alternate version)*
3. Angel Drawers*
4. For Ladies Only
5. You Win Again
6. My Sportin’ Life
7. Drift Away
8. Straight Shootin’ Woman
9. Caroline (Are You Ready For The Outlaw World)
10. Skullduggery
11. Hold Your Head Up
12. Hot Night In A Cold Town
13. Give Me News I Can Use
14. Ain’t Nothin’ Like It Used To Be
15. Magic Carpet Ride (Performed With Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five)
Disk #2:
1. Hold On (Never Give Up Never Give In)
2. Rock & Roll Rebels
3. Give Me Life
4. Rise & Shine
5. The Wall
6. Rock & Roll War
7. Feed The Fire
8. Rock Steady
9. Down In New Orleans
10. Business Is Business
11. Compared To What*
12. Labor Of Love*
13. For The Women In My Life
Disk # 3:
(All Tracks Recorded Live: 1992-1995)
1. Move Over
2. Rock Me
3. I’m Movin’ On
4. Sookie Sookie
5. I’m Your Hootchie Cootchie Man
6. Hey Lawdy Mama
7. Hey Lawdy Mama
8. Desperation
9. Ride With Me
10. Snowblind Friend
11. Monster/Suicide/America
12. Magic Carpet Ride
13. Born To Be Wild
14. The Pusher
* indicates previously unreleased
