Steppenwolf The Second – STEPPENWOLF****

Faster Than The Speed Of Life/Tighten Up Your Wig/None Of Your Doing/Spiritual Fantasy/Don’t Step On The Grass Sam/28/Magic Carpet Ride/Disappointment Number(Unknown)/Lost & Found By Trial & Error/Hodge Podge Strained Through A Leslie/Resurrection/Reflections

Quick follow up from heavy rockers Steppenwolf, Steppenwolf The Second became the group's highest placed album. Includes the US No. 3 hit single Magic Carpet Ride. (US:3)

"This album displayed the diversity and ambition of a very distinctive band definitely of their time. I was captivated by the medley on the second side."

"Anchored by the smash hit Magic Carpet Ride, a song that got relentless exposure on AM radio in 1968, Steppenwolf gathered a selection of tracks that varied from psychedelic pop to grungier blues."

"Besides the well known Magic Carpet Ride the first seven songs are more or less as appealing, although more simple. One exception is Don't Step On The Grass Sam, a fine example of protest in their time. But the best is yet to come. Starting with, Disappointment Number (Unknown), to the end is a medley that will slowly lift you off the ground and take you on a real carpet ride of rustic slide guitar and rippin' blues."

"This second album by Steppenwolf is the reason we look back and remember how melodic and easy-going and just really superb the rock and roll from the 60s was. I think the best thing about it is how the lead singer is in excellent shape with his amazing voice. When someone sings with this kind of emotion, you know it's totally real, and not an attempt to give the listener some bogus feelings like commercial bands out there do today."

"If Born To Be Wild is the ultimate biker anthem then Steppenwolf's next hit, Magic Carpet Ride, tries to achieve the same prominence as a psychedelic number. This album follows closely in the footsteps of its predecessor, although there is clearly a bit less of the blues this time around thrown into the hard rock mix. There is even an acoustic track, Spiritual Fantasy, which seems a bit out of place, especially compared to the funky guitar-organ groove of Magic Carpet Ride."

"This second outing shows their unique flair for defining and extending what was the beginning of heavy metal, all accomplished with their iconoclastic, staccato style."