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"…Sookie Sookie..."
As you can see from this releases dull artwork and naff title, on the outside, this reissue has all the imagination and aesthetic appeal of a cold hamburger on a Monday morning. It's the kind of compilation you'd probably ignore in the rack of your local music emporium. "Gold" for God's sake!! So why review it - and why should you give it the time of day? Because of what's contained on the inside - especially audio-wise.
I've had various compilations throughout the years in order to have Steppenwolf tracks in my collection - both British and American issues and some like the 'Beat Goes On' British 2CD set of the first two albums are excellent. But they are all rendered redundant by this fantastic 2CD Anthology. To the technical details…
UK released September 2005 – "Gold" by STEPPENWOLF on UME/Geffen 0602498629468 (Barcode 602498629468) is a 31-Track 2CD Anthology of Remasters.
The difference lies in the stunning remastered sound engineered by ERICK LABSON. This is way better than anything else previously issued and the sheer numbers of tracks also make it seriously great value for money (you can pick it up for less than a fiver in certain places). Labson is one of those great unsung-heroes of CD reissues. Working on the huge and varied Universal catalogue - he amassed a monumental 1200+ credits to his name for Engineering, Mastering, Restoration and Digital Remastering stretching back to the early Nineties. So he knows his way around a master tape or two. Labson’s exceptional tape work is behind the following generic titled series you've probably seen across Amazon's vast store (most are from the Universal catalogue):
"20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection"
"Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited"
"Chess 50th Anniversary Collection"
"The Definitive Collection"
"Gold"
"Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary Edition"
His better-known mastering/remastering Rock credits include: The Who's "My Generation Deluxe Edition", Neil Diamond's "Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings", Joni Mitchell's "The Beginning Of Survival", Wishbone Ash's "Argus" and Three Dog Night's "The Complete Hit Singles". And as anyone who owns these will know - they are exceptional in their sound quality - carefully transferred - alive.
Back to "Gold". The set covers the first and better part of Steppenwolf's output from 1968 to 1974. For the uninitiated and prospective buyer, the albums are listed below and then after the discography, what track is from what album:
1. Steppenwolf (1968)
2. Steppenwolf The Second (1969)
3. At Your Birthday Party (1969)
4. Monster (1970)
5. Steppenwolf Live (1970)
6. Steppenwolf 7 ((1970)
7. For Ladies Only (1971)
8. Forgotten Songs & Unsung Heroes (John Kay Solo LP, 1972)
9. My Sportin' Life (John Kay Solo LP, 1973)
10. Slow Flux (1974)
DISC 1 (70:01 minutes, 15 Tracks):
1. Born To Be Wild (Steppenwolf)
2. Sookie Sookie (Steppenwolf)
3. Everybody's Next One (Steppenwolf)
4. Your Wall's Too High (Steppenwolf)
5. Desperation (Steppenwolf)
6. The Pusher (Steppenwolf)
7. The Ostrich (Steppenwolf)
8. Take What You Need (Steppenwolf)
9. Magic Carpet Ride (Steppenwolf The Second)
10. Don't Step On The Grass Sam (Steppenwolf The Second)
11. Tighten Up Your Wig (Steppenwolf The Second)
12. It's Never Too Late (Steppenwolf The Second)
13. Jupiter's Child (At Your Birthday Party)
14. Rock Me (At Your Birthday Party)
15. Monster: Suicide/America Medley (Monster)
DISC 2 (66:27 minutes, 16 Tracks):
1. Move Over (Monster)
2. Power Play (Monster)
3. Hey Lawdy Mama (1970 7" single)
4. Snow Blind Friend (Steppenwolf 7)
5. Who Needs Ya (Steppenwolf 7)
6. Renegade (Steppenwolf 7)
7. Foggy Mental Breakdown (Steppenwolf 7)
8. Hippo Stomp (Steppenwolf 7)
9. Screaming Night Hog (1970 US 7" single)
10. For Ladies Only (For Ladies Only)
11. Tenderness (For Ladies Only)
12. Ride With Me (For Ladies Only)
13. I'm Movin' On (John Kay solo - Forgotten Songs & Unsung Heroes)
14. My Sportin' Life (John Kay solo - My Sportin' Life)
15. Drift Away (John Kay solo - My Sportin' Life)
16. Straight Shooting Woman (Slow Flux)
Fans will note that 8 out of the 11 tracks on their Dunhill 1968 debut LP are on Disc 1, 4 from the 2nd album and a hunk off of 'Steppenwolf 7' too - all great news for die-hards and newcomers alike. The sound quality is glorious. If you can't play them through Media Player, then go to the iTunes Store and click a 25 second listen to "Sookie Sookie" and "Everybody's Next One" and you'll hear what I mean - just stunning! It would be a fan's dream if Labson could get to do "extended versions" of their 1st two classic albums "Steppenwolf" and "Steppenwolf The Second" - both of which deserve to be given as much status as anything that rocked out of the late sixties. I do wish Steppenwolf weren't forever attached to 'that' song - solely - almost as if it's all they ever did. The John Kay solo albums have always been a huge love of mine - great voice and a Rock swing that has elements of Soul even - a mix of originals and carefully adapted covers - they will surprise many as to how good they are. I've also reviewed a Beat Goes On compilation CD that puts both "My Sportin' Life" and "Forgotten Songs & Unsung Heroes" (from 1972 and 1973) on the same disc.
For a few dollars/handful of pound coins, you can acquire this great Steppenwolf 2CD set - and be like me - start searching second-hand vinyl stores again for good copies of their original LPs - because you've just rediscovered how bloody good they were and still are. "Sookie Sookie…" indeed! One to make you howl...buy a Harley and head out on the highway…thoroughly recommended…
From here (and for the full on Steppy experience) go to "Magic Carpet Ride: The Dunhill/ABC Years 1967-1971" issued November 2021 by Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red). That 8CD Clamshell Mini LP Sleeves Box Set (Amazon Purchase Link https://link.amazon/B0jfqWKao ) is the nuts for Steppenwolf - a fantastic overview of a great band - see my separate fully in-depth review…
