STEPPENWOLF live DSD50075

The Wolf Unleashed: Steppenwolf’s ‘Live’ (DSD50075)

Today’s entry captures the raw power of one of the heaviest bands of the late 60s at the height of their powers. We are looking at the 1972 reissue of the double album Live by Steppenwolf, released on Dunhill/ABC Records with the catalog number DSD50075.

At The Height of Their Powers

Recorded at various concerts during early 1970, this double LP serves as a definitive document of the band’s arena-rock era. Unlike the pre-fame recordings found on Early Steppenwolf, this set features the band tearing through their biggest hits with the lineup of John Kay, Goldy McJohn, Jerry Edmonton, Larry Byrom, and Nick St. Nicholas. The tracklist is relentless, featuring the political epic Monster stretching to 10 minutes, the drug-culture anthem The Pusher, and the inevitable closers Magic Carpet Ride and Born To Be Wild. It is a heavy mix of psychedelic rock, hard rock, and blues that defined the biker-rock sound.

Format

This release is a substantial 2-LP set housed in a classic gatefold sleeve featuring photography by Tom Gundelfinger. A key feature for collectors to note is the record sequencing. The discs are “auto-coupled” (Record 1 contains Sides A and D; Record 2 contains Sides B and C). This was a common practice in the 70s designed for automatic record changers, allowing the listener to stack the records and flip the entire stack over halfway through.

Label Variations

While the album was originally released in 1970, this specific copy is a 1972 US reissue. It can be identified by the label variation which features a smaller string of rim text stating “(P) 1972 ABC Records, Inc.” compared to other pressings that include additional subsidiary and trademark text.