Finally,
BGO completes its
Steppenwolf reissue program with this double disc. The second disc is
For Ladies Only, which is negligible at best. But it's disc one that counts, with the reemergence of
Early Steppenwolf, which was recorded in 1967 at San Francisco's
Matrix. The band was actually called
the Sparrow when this set was recorded, but the
Steppenwolf sound was already in place. Before
"Born to Be Wild" and the other hits, this band was a wild, woolly monster, and this set proves that in spades. It contains covers of classic
blues tunes --
John Lee Hooker's
"I'm Going Upstairs," Howlin' Wolf's
"Howlin' for My Darlin'," the traditional
"Corrina, Corrina" with the band's own greasy arrangement imprimatur, and
Hoyt Axton's
"The Pusher." It also features some key originals that would be recorded later in the studio, like
"Tighten Up Your Wig" and
"Power Play." It is
"The Pusher," however, that offers the greatest view of the band at the time. Over 20 minutes in length, it is a wild, scary
improvisational jam that never gives up the dark duende groove. Beginning as an
experimental sonic tapestry full of rumbling drums, some feedback, and slippery guitar
atonalism, it eventually begins to take shape until it roars to life like a great
rock & roll beast. The
blues come in along with
free improv, found sounds, acid-drenched vocals, and yes,
rock & roll crunch and thunder to take it out, leaving the band as exhausted as the audience. The sound quality's not great but it's far from dubious. There is so much in this package to enjoy that one will be tempted (rightfully) to forget disc two even exists. ~ Thom Jurek
![Black Mountain [Bonus Track]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0656605207025_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Black Mountain [Bonus Track]")
![Remote Control [Expanded Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0602537218707_p0_v3_s90x140.jpg "Remote Control [Expanded Edition]")
