Steppenwolf – The Epic Years 1974-1976 (Esoteric Records/Cherry Red Records, 2023)
Cherry Red Records has put together an exciting 3-CD set titled “The Epic Years 1974-1976” that brings together the second part of Steppenwolf’s career. The collection includes the albums “Slow Flux” (1974), “Hour Of The Wolf” (1975) and “Skullduggery” (1976).
Steppenwolf played engaging classic rock with hooks, incorporating elements of blues rock, early jam rock, occasional brass and even some Latin beats. This was a time when songwriting and musicianship were equally important. Thus, you will hear inventive instrumental passages with notable guitar and keyboard work, specially on “Flux,” the first album of the set. Additionally, the band introduced the latest tech at the time, like the mesmerizing vocoder.
In my opinion, “Slow Flux” is by far the best of the three. It was released by Epic Records in August 1974. Notably, the album included “Straight Shootin’ Woman,” the band’s final charting single.
It’s interesting to see how funk started to influence rock musicians by the mid 1970s, as you can experience on the last album of the set.
Steppenwolf was established in 1967 in Los Angeles by John Kay (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Goldy McJohn (organ, piano), and Jerry Edmonton (drums), who were previously affiliated with the Canadian band The Sparrows. Michael Monarch (lead guitar) and Rushton Moreve (bass) joined the band, and they signed with Dunhill / ABC Records. Their success was skyrocketed in 1968 by their hit single “Born To Be Wild,” which gained even more prominence when it was featured in the iconic 1969 counterculture movie Easy Rider.
Over the subsequent four years, Steppenwolf achieved enormous success, releasing eight albums. They disbanded in February 1972, and John Kay went on to record a solo album, but the band reemerged in 1974 and recorded three additional albums for Epic over the next three years.
Following the acclaimed boxed set of Steppenwolf’s first era, “Magic Carpet Ride,” Esoteric Records now presents “The Epic Years 1974-1976,” which brings together all the band’s albums from that time, as well as two rare bonus tracks. The set includes an illustrated booklet with a new essay by Steppenwolf enthusiast Jim Christopulos.
Disc One – Slow Flux
1 Gang War Blues
2 Children of Night
3 Justice Don’t Be Slow
4 Get into the Wind
5 Jeraboah
6 Straight Shootin’ Woman
7 Smokey Factory Blues
8 Morning Blue
9 A Fool’s Fantasy
10 Fishin’ in the Dark
Disc Two – Hour Of The Wolf
1 Caroline (Are You Ready for the Outlaw World)
2 Annie, Annie Over
3 Two for the Love of One
4 Just for Tonight
5 Hard Rock Road
6 Someone Told a Lie
7 Another’s Lifetime
8 Mr. Penny Pincher Bonus tracks
9 Angeldrawers (B-side of single)
10 Caroline (Are You Ready for the Outlaw World) (Mono promotional single mix)
Disc Three – Skullduggery
1 Skullduggery
2 (I’m a) Road Runner
3 Rock n’ Roll Song
4 Train of Thought
5 Life is a Gamble
6 Pass it On
7 Sleep
8 Lip Service