Interesting. Written in a family sedan. Potentially first use of term “heavy metal” in rock music.
If the Easy Rider soundtrack had had the Band on instead of cover artists it would be my all-time favourite soundtrack album.
This article says Fonda went to the artists to get around record company resistance. The Band must have been real dumb fucks. didn’t they veto Woodstock movie too along with CCR ?
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/31/how-we-made-steppenwolf-born-to-be-wild
I never owned this song, or knew anybody else who did. However, I probably heard it more than almost any other song in my life. It was on the jukebox in my pub at home and played several times a night, and then when I went to university it was the same deal.
Bought Steppenwolf Live when 14. Favourite song was the traditional Corinna from a diff session. Paul Kunic stole it from my locker. Got it back a year later somewhat worse for wear.
Saw Steppenwolf live when they played Manchester Umist in the late 60’s. Memory is a bit hazy now but they played Born To Be Wild and Magic Carpet Ride.
John Fahey was also on the bill playing in a smaller side room with a tiny audience sitting crosslegged on the floor.
I loved Steppenwolf. Magic Carpet Ride was great, and this one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0l4p12bMK4
Another vote for Magic Carpet ride.
The Band were above such things as movie soundtracks and rock movies – they were pure (and poor)
The Band were on the film, just not on the soundtrack. My Mum had it so it was one of the very first albums I knew every note of. I still love it. I don’t think the covers are bad at all and in fact I didn’t hear The Band versions for years.
I agree.
The version of The Weight by Smith is a note for note copy. It hardly deviates from the original at all.
Agree they are acceptable covers. The Band’s versions are better.
I quite like Steppenwolf’s version of Hoyt Axton’s Snowblind Friend too.
Spot the Dalek on the Smothers show. Glittery one too.
Under-rated and unfairly ignored. They rock. BTBW is one of the pillars of driving music, and one of the few points of agreement I have with Jeremy Clarkson.
*peers at camera, trying to look enigmatic*
Which is a good thing.
Up !!
The other Steppenwolf track on the album, “The Pusher”, is brilliant too.