Record Reviews

STEPPENWOLF ~ AT YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY / 7 BGO 336 (Barcode: 5017261203366) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1969 - 1970 Released: 1996 3rd and 7th albums by US Rockers extraordinaire SteppenwolfFind albums by this artist, led by charismatic lead singer John KayFind albums by this artist, who also penned most of their material, presented here as a twofer. "At Your Birthday PartyFind albums with this title" was released following the two monster predecessors, which shaped the US Rock in many respects, and were truly impossible to follow. No wander the album was received coldly by critics, who considered it a much weaker release at the time, but in retrospect it is quite an excellent album in every respect. Rather that follow the pattern established by the two earlier albums, the band intentionally took a step back from the bluesy influences and expanded their repertoire to include Rock ballads, which worked out quite well. Considering the fact that the band was producing two albums yearly in the first phase of their existence, the entire output is truly amazing and definitely underappreciated. "7Find albums with this title" was the one before the last album recorded by the original incarnation of the band and is one of their strongest efforts, with excellent songwriting and perfect execution. It was their swan song in many respects, as the band would fall apart soon after, with just one more release up their sleeves. Although the band reformed later and in fact exists to this very day, the first glorious years and the first 8 albums are absolute Rock classics, sadly mostly forgotten and underappreciated. So here is a chance to re-examine their output and take another view at this great band, don´t miss it!

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