For the uninitiated, Steppenwolf could visually be a bit scary. They liked to encourage this very hard, tough exterior, backed up by their brand of driving Rock Music.
The band’s sound was supercharged, and direct, and took no prisoners. Their lyrics are always to the point. And what made them interesting is that they drew inspiration from multiple genres.
Steppenwolf recorded some great material over the years. Especially in the late 60s and early 70s when they produced what was probably their best. So, I decided to take a look back on a career that lasted decades and choose the Top 10 Steppenwolf Songs.
Arrival
They were a Canadian/American band formed in 1967, and their arrival coincided with a tumultuous period in American history. All the norms previously accepted as written in stone were being challenged.
Steppenwolf wasn’t slow to join in and become one of the flag-bearers of the new counterculture. The Vietnam War and its demonstrations were also an issue. And Steppenwolf became one of the most important bands of the period.
Authentic hard-driving Rock and Roll that became the soundtrack for those tumultuous times and much of what was going on. Steppenwolf’s music gave a voice to many people’s emotions of the time.
Not Just About John Kay
Born Joachim Fritz Krauledat, “John Kay,” as we came to know him, had what might be called a strained and threatened early life. He was born in East Prussia in 1944, which was then Germany but later became part of the Russian zone.
His father was killed a month before he was born fighting in Russia. And, with the Soviet army advancing, his mother fled with him to the West. After a few close shaves and a midnight escape into the west of Germany, they finally made it to and settled in the British sector in Hannover. Kay wrote a song called “Renegade” about the experience.
They finally moved to Toronto in 1958, and just over a decade later, he was one of the founding members of Steppenwolf.
Music Kept Coming
The band wasn’t just about him, even though he often took the plaudits. There were some member changes in the early years, but they didn’t cause too many problems. The music just kept on coming.
Kay always used to say Steppenwolf was a work in progress, and so it turned out. So, let’s take a listen to some great Steppenwolf songs that ruffled a few feathers in the establishment and endeared them to an army of fans.
Top 10 Steppenwolf Songs
10 Don’t Step On The Grass, Sam
As you may already have gathered, this is not someone asking a man to stay off of his pristine lawn. As the 60s progressed, the Bohemian counterculture became more closely associated with the use of marijuana. It is interesting how much of the lyrical content can be applied to issues today. In the song, they are talking about the spreading of lies and misinformation about marijuana.
It talks about false information given to the people, and how they put forth false quotations. Vietnam demonstrations were not the only thing that Nixon had to deal with. The American government was also being challenged on its position on marijuana.
This is a slow riff-based bluesy type of song with a complete change of style for the middle section. The idea of the song was to encourage social change, but it mostly fell on deaf ears. Nevertheless, a good place to start and a typical Steppenwolf song.
9 Desperation
This is a song that is very different from their normal body of work. Much more of a Rock ballad, but there are some interesting guitar figures involved. It is a track taken from their debut album from 1968, Steppenwolf, but was not released as a single. The album did quite well, reaching #6 in America and #59 in the UK.
The lyrics talk about wanting to change the important things in the world. A common theme of the time. It seems to be leaning toward more criticism of the government and the desperate state most people thought the country was in.
Therefore, it could be that the song was written as a call to action. A revolutionary statement that like-minded people could rally behind. It is a song that, in a way, demands change even when, at the time, there seemed little prospect of achieving it.
8 Sookie, Sookie
In their first steps, Steppenwolf took some influence from the early days of the British Rock band Deep Purple. This track can remind you of Deep Purple in the days of “Hush“. Not so much in the style of the song, but with that heavy distorted Hammond organ sound.
As always, they draw on different genres and ideas, but they give it that distinctive Hard Rock Steppenwolf-drive. For example, this was a song written by Soul and R&B singer Don Covay which they took and added their interpretation.
This was the opening track on their 1968 album, Steppenwolf, which was their breakthrough album. Some of the tracks you will find here on this list.
7 Rock Me
This was a track released from their third album in 1969, At Your Birthday Party, and was the follow-up to “Magic Carpet Ride.” It reached #4 in Canada and #10 in America.
An interesting change of pace for this track. It’s pretty much a Pop/Rock song with a catchy hook. However, it does show that they could change things up if they wanted to.
6 Monster
Here we have Steppenwolf getting angry and letting the government know it. It is a song that talks about the immigration from all over Europe that built America.
They don’t pull any punches with this one. He says they “bullied, stole, and bought.” To get the land and, in the process, began the “slaughter of the red man.”
In a very general sense, he traces the rise of the government, which has now become a monster that is out of control. He says that this monster will not listen to the people and “will not obey.” Many would say these emotions still apply today.
5 It’s Never Too Late
The year 1969 saw the release of this track. It lends itself to a combination of Acid Rock with a very Folk-type feeling to it. Similar, in some ways, to what Led Zeppelin produced with some of their Folk-based songs on Led Zep III and IV.
It is a song that has important lyrics that remind us of the “protest” singers of the 60s. Again, something you might not expect to hear from Steppenwolf, it has a nice range and depth to the song.
“It’s Never Too Late” reached #51 on the American chart and was released at a time when their star was beginning to fade a little. The days of the Top 10 Steppenwolf songs were now over.
4 The Pusher
Staying with Steppenwolf’s first album, this is a track that has often been misunderstood. Presumably, because of its rather controversial title. Another track that was used in the film Easy Rider.
Some seemed to think the song might be extolling the Pusher and what he did for them. In a world where drug use was becoming more familiar, it wouldn’t be too hard to think that.
But the song was doing the very opposite…
It is a look at the nasty side of addiction and the consequences of falling into that trap. The song emphasizes that, to The Pusher, it is all about money and has nothing to do with the risks to the user. The song talks about people that have “tombstones in their eyes.”
A typical blues riff provides the impetus. But, there is a little extra in the instrumentation that puts you in mind of Jefferson Airplane. A powerful performance by John Kay makes this one of the greatest Steppenwolf songs and a superb track overall.
3 Magic Carpet Ride
Having a huge hit record early in your career can be a great thing. But, it also has its downside. The success of “Born To Be Wild” created that situation for Steppenwolf. How on earth do you follow that?
Under normal circumstances, you can’t. But, they had a very good attempt when they released “Magic Carpet Ride” from their second album, Steppenwolf: The Second. Commercially, it was probably as successful as their first single. It reached #1 in Canada and #3 in America whilst also charting in Germany.
There is an interesting opening. Presumably, designed to get your attention. But then it breaks into a song that, once again, feels like it could have been recorded by Jefferson Airplane. A fairly basic song with an easy-to-remember riff that reaffirmed their position as one the leading rock bands of the time.
2 Hoochie Coochie Man
Here, you have a band that is quite capable of playing some great blues and a singer who sounds like he has never sung anything else. Add to that one of the greatest blues songs ever, and you can’t really fail, can you?
“Hoochie Coochie Man” was written by Willie Dixon, who influenced most of the blues greats that came after him. Muddy Waters released the first version in 1954.
One of the problems with covering a blues standard like this song…
The temptation to step away from the original to try and be creative. That doesn’t usually work. Steppenwolf’s version stays close to the original but with its unique sound. And, of course, John Kay letting rip.
If anything, it’s a bit heavier than the original. But, then, you might expect that. Some great guitar work added to the feel of their version. Would have been my top choice for the Top 10 Steppenwolf songs, if it wasn’t for the next track.
1 Born To Be Wild
There are songs that we hear that immediately define an era of music. They can take us back to the time when they made a statement, and it is almost like we can feel it all again, as if for the first time. As we moved toward the end of the 60s, some songs fit into that category.
“All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles would be one such song, “Mrs. Robinson“ by Simon and Garfunkel would be another. But, without a doubt, on that list would also be Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild.” It defined an era. Forever associated with Easy Rider and the motorcycle counterculture, it still raises the roof today over 50 years later.
It might be called the first Heavy Metal rock song. Furthermore, it coined the phrase in one of the verses, “Heavy Metal Thunder.” It reached #2 in America and #30 in the UK and was Steppenwolf’s most successful song.
Want More Great Rock Music From Days Gone By?
Well, check out our thoughts on the Best Classic Rock Songs, the Best 70s Rock Songs, the Best 80s Rock Songs, the Best 90s Rock Songs, the Best 90s Rock Bands, the Best 70s Rock Bands, and the Best 80s Rock Bands for more incredible song selections.
Top 10 Steppenwolf Songs – Final Thoughts
Never the same thing. I think that is what comes across from listening to their music. It has that same hard edge, but some differences make the tracks a bit different from each other.
I was fortunate enough to see them at the Royal Albert Hall in London in about 1970. We had gone to see Colosseum, and Steppenwolf was the supporting act that night. They were how you imagine they would be and put on a good show. Although I do have to say, the brooding, almost threatening presence of John Kay was a lasting memory.
I suppose they will always be associated with the film Easy Rider…
That’s because of the song “Born To Be Wild.” And, whilst it would not be right to think that is all they did, it isn’t a bad legacy to have, is it?
Okay, that is a list of Steppenwolf’s Top 10 songs. All subjective, of course, and I am sure to have missed someone’s favorite. Hearing some of them again for the first time in a while reminds us of how good they could be. Now, it’s time to get yer motor runnin’.
Until next time, happy listening.
