Here’s a reissue that’s long overdue: an eight-disc set of Steppenwolf’s complete studio work and live releases from their time with the Dunhill/ABC label in the late ’60s and early ’70s.
Most rock fans remember “Born to Be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride,” both of which remain staples on classic-rock radio. A little prompting might also bring to mind other hits from this era including “The Pusher,” Rock Me” and “Hey Lawdy Mama,” to name a few.
In fact, Steppenwolf is often considered to be a singles band, as evidenced by their platinum-selling collection 16 Greatest Hits. But if one digs a little deeper, the band put together some really fine albums as well, including the politically charged Monster and the well-constructed blues rock effort Steppenwolf 7.
So, it’s great to hear all of these in their newly remastered glory on Magic Carpet Ride: The Dunhill/ABC Years (1967-1971). Frankly, it’s a vast improvement from the collection of 8-track and cassette tapes, secondhand vinyl and thin sounding nth-generation digital CDs that have peppered my collection over the years.
The other thing to note about Magic Carpet Ride: The Dunhill/ABC Years (1967-1971) is the 26 bonus tracks, taken from mono mixes and hard-to-find singles. Even hardcore Steppenwolf fans might be surprised by some of these. Sure, there are a couple of awkward splices that trim precious seconds from songs to get them AM radio playable, but those are offset by a couple of items that will likely make even the most obsessive collector sit up and smile.
As the Steppenwolf song says, “Let the sound take you away.”
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