1990's

This is my favorite Wolf album since Steppenwolf 7. Recorded at my new studio in Tennessee, it contains some of the best material written by the team of Michael Wilk, keyboards, Rocket Ritchotte, guitar, and myself. For me two standouts are “Rock and Roll War” which was to become a favorite of many Vietnam vets, and “The Wall” a song near and dear to me because of my early years behind the iron curtain. Both benefited from Rocket’s soaring guitar lines and Michaels’ imaginative keyboard work. Others include the title cut as well as “Do or Die”, “Sign on The Line” and “The Daily Blues”, although there isn’t a single dud on the on the whole album as far as I’m concerned. Overall the record conveyed the optimism and enthusiasm that we felt about our partnership with our new label IRS. Unfortunately IRS decided to switch distributors in the midst of “Rise & Shine’s” release and shortly thereafter sold the label altogether. Naturally we were disappointed under the circumstances, but that does not change the fact that it is one of our better records and that many fans who have discovered it agree.

Track list:

1. LET'S DO IT ALL (J. Kay / R. Ritchotte / M. Wilk)
2. TIME OUT (J. Kay / R. Ritchotte / M. Wilk)
3. DO OR DIE (J. Kay / M. Wilk)
4. RISE AND SHINE (J. Kay / M. Wilk)
5. THE WALL (J. Kay/M. Wilk/R. Ritchotte)
6. THE DAILY BLUES (J.Kay/R. Ritchotte/M.Wilk)
7. KEEP ROCKIN' (J. Kay / M. Wilk)
8. ROCK 'N ROLL WAR (J. Kay / M. Wilk / R. Ritchotte)
9. SIGN ON THE LINE (J. Kay / M. Wilk / R. Ritchotte)
10. WE LIKE IT WE LOVE IT (J. Kay / M. Wilk / R. Ritchotte)
11. LONELY DREAMERS (J. Kay / R. Ritchotte)
12. NOW AND FOREVER (J. Kay / M.Wilk / R. Ritchotte)

MCA records first remastered mini box set of Steppenwolf music. Very well done, consists of 2 disks with a total of 34 track selection range from the 1966 Sparrow recordings to “The Wall” of 1990, with numerous highlights throughout. An Excellent collection.

Track list:

1. TWISTED (by The Sparrow) (John Kay)
2. GOOD MORNING LITTLE SCHOOL GIRL (Sonny Boy Williamson)
3. SOOKIE SOOKIE (Don Covay/Steve Cropper)
4. EVERBODY'S NEXT ONE (John Kay/Gabriel Mekler)
5. BORN TO BE WILD (Mars Bonfire)
6. YOUR WALL'S TOO HIGH (John Kay)
7. DESPERATION (John Kay)
8. THE PUSHER (Hoyt Axton)
9. THE OSTRICH (John Kay)
10. DON'T STEP ON THE GRASS SAM (John Kay)
11. MAGIC CARPET RIDE (John Kay/Rushton Moreve)
12. ROCK ME (John Kay)
13. JUPITER'S CHILD (John Kay/Jerry Edmonton/Michael Monarch)
14. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE (John Kay/Nick St. Nicholas)
15. MONSTER-SUICIDE-AMERICA (J.Kay/J.Edmonton-J.Kay/N. St. Nicholas/L.Byrom/J.Edmonton-J.Kay/J.Edmonton)
16. MOVE OVER (John Kay/Gabriel Mekler)
17. HEY LAWDY MAMA (John Kay/Larry Byrom/Jerry Edmonton)
18. SNOWLIND FRIEND (Hoyt Axton)
19. WHO NEEDS YA (John Kay/Larry Byrom)
20. SCREAMING NIGHT HOG (John Kay)
21. FOR LADIES ONLY (John Kay/Jerry Edmonton/Kent Henry/Goldy McJohn)
22. TENDERNESS (Mars Bonfire)
23. RIDE WITH ME (Mars Bonfire)
24. I'M MOVIN' ON (recorded by John Kay) (Hank Snow)
25. MY SPORTIN' LIFE (recorded by John Kay) (John Kay)
26. CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT (John Kay)
27. STRAIGHT SHOOTIN' WOMAN (Jerry Edmonton)
28. CAROLINE (Mars Bonfire)
29. LIVE YOUR LIFE (recorded by John Kay with Lowell George) (John Kay)
30. AIN'T NOTHING LIKE IT USED TO BE (John Kay)
31. BORN TO BE WILD (live) (Mars Bonfire)
32. ROCK 'N' ROLL REBELS (John Kay/Michael Wilk/Rocket Ritchotte)
33. GIVE ME NEWS I CAN USE (John Kay)
34. THE WALL (John Kay/Michael Wilk/Rocket Ritchotte)

Track list:

1. TWISTED
2. GOIN’ TO CALIFORNIA
3. SQUARE HEADED PEOPLE
4. GOOD MORNING LITTLE SCHOOL GIRL
5. BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITY
6. HOOCHIE KOOCHIE MAN
7. THE PUSHER
8. KING PIN
9. GOIN’ UPSTAIRS
10. BABY PLEASE DON’T GO
11. TOMORROW’S SHIP
12. ISN’T IT STRANGE
13. GOIN’ TO CALIFORNIA
14. TWISTED
15. GREEN BOTTLE LOVER
16. TIGHTEN UP YOUR WIG
17. TOO LATE
18. CAN’T MAKE LOVE BY YOURSELF

Our 1987 “Rock n Roll Rebels” release contained some of our best material in many years. However it was just supposed to be a demo recording and for various reasons it wound up being released as a master. We always wished we could have recorded it the way we intended and in 1996 we had the opportunity to do so. Eight of the songs from “Rebels” plus two new tracks “Feed The Fire” and “Bad Attitude” were recorded and/or reworked and the results were far more satisfying. The central theme of this record is still “don’t let the bastards get you down” as exemplified by “Hold On”, “Rock Steady” and “Man On A Mission”, but there is also some humor in “Bad Attitude” and reflection in the title cut “Feed The Fire”. All together (along with the “Rise and Shine” album) my favorite studio recording of the 80’s and 90’s.

Track list:

1. ROCK & ROLL REBELS (Kay/Wilk/Ritchotte)
2. ROCK STEADY (I'M ROUGH AND READY) (Kay/Wilk)
3. HOLD ON (NEVER GIVE UP NEVER GIVE IN) (Kay/Wilk/Ritchotte)
4. EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU (Kay/Wilk)
5. GIVE ME NEWS I CAN USE (Kay)
6. REPLACE THE FACE (O'Day)
7. BAD ATTITUDE (Kay/Wilk)
8. MAN ON A MISSION (Kay/Wilk)
9. RAGE (Kay/Wilk/Ritchotte)
10. FEED THE FIRE (Kay/Wilk)

In 1976 Morgan Cavett and I produced these recordings, which were shelved and forgotten until the 90’s when they were rediscovered during the move to my new studio in Tennessee. Some of these songs were re-recorded in Muscle Shoals in ’78 on my “All In Good Time” album but with different musicians. What makes “Heritage Tapes” special to me is not only some of the previously unreleased material but also the contributions made by the fine musicians (Lowell George and Bill Payne of Little Feat, Nicky Hopkins, Jim Gordon, The Tower of Power Horns as well as Steppenwolf drummer Jerry Edmonton and others) several of whom are no long with us. Their mix of various styles combined with a broad range of songs resulted in this album of diverse musical textures and contrasts. Some of my favorites include “Business is Business,” “Captain of Your Destiny “,” Nothing But” and “Hurricane Maryann” among others.

Track list:

1. DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS (J. Kay)
2. BUSINESS IS BUSINESS (J. Kay)
3. CAPTAIN OF YOUR DESTINY (M. Cavett/J. Kay)
4. LIVE YOUR LIFE (J. Kay)
5. SWEET MEMORIES (J. Kay)
6. NOTHING BUT (J. Kay)
7. HEY I'M ALRIGHT (J. Kay)
8. SOUND OF THE CROWD (J. Kay)
9. YOU'VE HAD YOUR FUN (J. Kay/M. Palmer/S. Palmer)
10. HURRICANE MARYANN (J. Kay/M. Palmer/S. Palmer/W. Dee)

Released by Repertoire Records of Germany, known for its quality recordings. This is the most extensive “Wolf” collection to date. It consists of 2 disks with a total of 39 tracks: from 1967 through 1990 with diverse and interesting selections.

Track list:

1. BORN TO BE WILD ((M. Bonfire)
2. MAGIC CARPET RIDE ((J. Kay/R. Moreve)
3. ROCK ME ((J. Kay)
4. MONSTER ((J. Kay/J. Edmonton)
5. MOVE OVER ((J. Kay/G. Mekler)
6. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE ((J. Kay/N. St. Nicholas)
7. SOOKIE SOOKIE ((D. Covay/S.Cropper)
8. HEY LAWDY MAMA ((J. Jay/L. Byrom/J. Edmonton)
9. SCREAMING NIGHT HOG ((J. Kay)
10. WHO NEEDS YA ((J. Kay/L. Byrom)
11. RIDE WITH ME (M. Bonfire)
12. SNOWBLIND FRIEND (H. Axton)
13. FOR LADIES ONLY (J. Kay/J. Edmonton/K. Henry/G. McJohn)
14. A GIRL I KNEW (J. Kay /M. Cavett)
15. BERRY RIDES AGAIN (J.Kay)
16. TAKE WHAT YOU NEED (J. Kay/G. Mekler)
17. EVERBODY'S NEXT ONE (John Kay/Gabriel Mekler)
18. JUPITER'S CHILD (J. Kay/J. Edmonton/M. Monarch)
19. POWER PLAY (John Kay)
20. HAPPY BIRTHDAY (G. Mekler)
21. 28 (G. Mekler)
22. THE PUSHER (H. Axton)
23. TWISTED (by The Sparrow) (John Kay)
24. DOWN GOES YOUR LOVE LIFE (D. Edmonton/N. St. Nicholas)
25. CHASIN' SHADOWS (D. Edmonton)
26. DESPERATION (John Kay)
27. THE OSTRICH (John Kay)
28. SPIRITUAL FANTASY (J.Kay)
29. TENDERNESS (M. Bonfire)
30. CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT (John Kay)
31. STRAIGHT SHOOTIN' WOMAN (Jerry Edmonton)
32. Smokey Factory Blues (A.Hammond / M. Hazelwood)
33. CAROLINE (Mars Bonfire)
34. ALL I WANT IS ALL YOU GOT (John Kay)
35. AIN'T NOTHIN' LIKE IT USED TO BE (John Kay)
36. ROCK 'N' ROLL REBELS (John Kay/Michael Wilk/Rocket Ritchotte)
37. THE WALL (John Kay/Michael Wilk/Rocket Ritchotte)
38. I'M MOVIN' ON (H. Snow)
39. LIVE YOUR LIFE (J. Kay)

Digitally remastered utilizing state of the art technology. This is the best, most comprehensive single disk compilation of Steppenwolfs’ musical history so far. Its 18 selections capture most of the high points through 1974. Excellent liner notes and archival photos etc, round out this first rate release by MCA Records.

Track list:

1. BORN TO BE WILD (Mars Bonfire)
2. MAGIC CARPET RIDE (J. Kay/R. Moreve)
3. SOOKIE SOOKIE (D.Covay/S.Cropper)
4. DON'T STEP ON THE GRASS SAM (J.Kay)
5. THE PUSHER (H. Axton)
6. ROCK ME (J.Kay)
7. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE (J.Kay/N.St.Nicholas)
8. JUPITER'S CHILD (J. Kay/J. Edmonton/M. Monarch)
9. HEY LAWDY MAMA (J.Kay/L.Byrom/J.Edmonton)
10. SNOWBLIND FRIEND (H. Axton)
11. MOVE OVER (J. Kay/G. Mekler)
12. TENDERNESS (M. Bonfire)
13. WHO NEEDS YA (J. Kay/L. Byrom)
14. RIDE WITH ME (M. Bonfire)
15. FOR LADIES ONLY (J. Kay/J. Edmonton/K. Henry/G. McJohn)
16. SCREAMING NIGHT HOG (J. Kay)
17. MONSTER-SUICIDE-AMERICA (J.Kay/J.Edmonton-J.Kay/N. St. Nicholas/L.Byrom/J.Edmonton-J.Kay/J.Edmonton)
18. STRAIGHT SHOOTIN' WOMAN (Jerry Edmonton)

Track List

1. Born To Be Wild
2. Magic Carpet Ride
3. It's Never Too Late
4. Rock Me
5. Snowblind Friend
6. Hey Lawdy Mama
7. Ride With Me
8. Move Over
9. Who Needs Ya
10. The Pusher