For many years I have felt that John Kay is an underated talent and that the Steppenwolf catalog consists of much more than "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride." Although the "Born To Be Wild Retrospective" doesn't sound too bad, and I have a copy of the BGO Records remaster of the first two albums, it sure would be great if Steve could work his magic by reissuing SACD hybrids a la CCR. Dr. Roberts
Steve knows where the master tapes are I agree that something from Steppenwolf in SACD would be both interesting, and a joy to listen to. Once you hear the Vintage series he did that included a couple of Steppenwolf songs, it'll make a believer atta you for that material.
...Or Steve's MCA Steppenwolf, or MFSL's Steppenwolf which Steve says is from the master tapes. Admittedly it would be very nice to see their whole catalogue done by Steve.
One of my all-time favorite albums is Steppenwolf's 2nd...THE SECOND.Would love to have a real good remaster of that one.
One of the early releases of "Steppenwolf" (the first album on CD) had a strange tape drag problem. I wrote Andy McKaie at MCA and he said it was where it was assigned to a staff employee, and the tape he used "caught" at the splices between songs, causing speed drag at the beginning of each song. Isn't it amazing that they did not even listen to the finished product! The only other one I have is "At Your Birthday Party" which sounds really bad--lots of hiss and muffled. I, too, would like to see the first, second, and "Monster" mastered by Steve.
If yours is this one Dob, it's Steves. MCA MCAD-31020 198? CD Steppenwolf Steppenwolf Came in a long-box. Copyright on CD says 1980.
Anyone want to spill their gut's out over Steppenwolf "Live"? Alway's thought the sound of this CD was too good to be 'true'. The band has a 'tight' sudio sound, IM,NS,HO, which make me believe the live audance sound was real, but added in. How could a party band at that time, play so well? Although, too me The Beatles Live at The Hollywood Bowl, also sounds like a goodifnotgreat preformance, and the band hated it.
I just did a home remaster of this album, and I thought the same thing. For sure, Hey Lawdy Mama is not only NOT live, it is identical to the studio version, except it has a few extra seconds left on at the end, which they segued into Magic Carpet Ride (which does sound like a live version). Many of the tracks may be live (especially the poorer sounding ones), but there's no telling how many studio overdubs were added later. Twisted is another track that sounds suspiciously good.
There has never been any doubt in my mind that "Corina, Corina", "Twisted", and "Hey Lawdy Mama" were recorded in the studio with some audience ambience overdubbed for the "live" LP. The Stones did the exact same thing on their first "live" long-player with "Fortune Teller" and "I've Been Loving You Too Long". Personally, "Twisted" is my favorite Steppenwolf track and the fidelity is exceptional considering how most of the catalog sounds. Dr. Roberts
MCA had notoriously pumped out CD product without listening carefully(?) When "Yer Album" by the James Gang went out, 'side two' of the album was ripped right from a horrible off-center pressing LP. What? Why would MCA put out the CD and 1/2 of it a vinyl rip? It came out in ICE/Watchdog, and then exchanges were made. This was the first appearence of the US CD.
Sckott, Are you referring to the "Yer Album" CD issue on One Way, that was licensed from MCA Special Products? I do remember reading about the poor sound quality of that CD. Ed Hurdle HeavyDistortion
Well, it's not so bad when the fake live recording is an UNRELEASED studio recording with a fake audience added (like Corinna, Corinna, or Twisted), but Hey Lawdy Mama is the previously released single, for cryin' out loud! At least they could have rerecorded it, or used an alternate take... Yeah, Twisted sounds pretty good, but...I don't think anything they did tops the sound quality of the first album. I love my MFSL copy!
I really like the '71 Steppenwolf album, "For Ladies Only". I've heard a couple different versions of the title track that was edited two different ways and I don't care for either one: I want to have this album remastered by Steve, and Steppenwolf 7 as well. "Earschplittenloudenboomer"
The BGO label has a Steppenwolf two fer of thier first two LP's. Has anybody heard this two fer? I'm curious about the sound quality.