Steppenwolf - Gold Their GreatEST Hits 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Ride the thunder of Steppenwolf’s greatest era with explosive rock anthems, untold production secrets, and iconic vinyl imagery

STEPPENWOLF - Gold Their Greatest Hits 12" Vinyl LP Album front cover https://vinyl-records.nl

"Gold: Their Great Hits" is a definitive collection of some of Steppenwolf's most iconic and influential songs. The album helped solidify the band's legacy as one of the most innovative and exciting acts of the 1960s and 70s, and its impact on the wider music scene cannot be overstated. The album's hard-edged sound and rebellious themes continue to resonate with audiences to this day, and Steppenwolf's place in rock and roll history is secure.

Gold Their GreatEST Hits Album Description:

Steppenwolf was a band that played a significant role in shaping the sound and culture of the 1960s and 70s with their unique blend of rock and blues. Their album "Gold: Their Great Hits" is a compilation of some of their most iconic and influential songs. This web-page will examine the historical and musical context of the album, as well as its impact on the band's legacy and influence on the wider music scene.

Steppenwolf emerged in the mid-1960s as a powerful force in the counterculture music scene. Their debut album in 1968 was a critical and commercial success, and helped establish the band as one of the most innovative and exciting acts of the time. Steppenwolf was known for their hard-edged sound that incorporated blues, rock, and psychedelic influences. Their songs often dealt with themes of rebellion, freedom, and the struggles of youth culture.

"Gold: Their Great Hits" European release was released in 1971, a few years after the band's peak in popularity. The album features some of Steppenwolf's most famous and enduring songs, including "Born to be Wild," "Magic Carpet Ride," and "The Pusher." The album's tracklist spans their most popular period, from 1968 to 1970, and showcases the band's unique sound and style.

"Gold: Their Great Hits" was a commercial success and helped cement Steppenwolf's place in rock and roll history. The album has sold over 1 million copies in the United States alone, and its tracks continue to be featured in movies, television shows, and commercials. The album has become a definitive collection of Steppenwolf's greatest hits, and is often cited as a starting point for fans looking to discover the band's music.

The album also helped solidify Steppenwolf's legacy as one of the most influential and iconic bands of the 1960s and 70s. Their unique sound and style helped pave the way for future generations of rock and roll artists, and their themes of rebellion and freedom continue to resonate with audiences to this day.

"Gold: Their Great Hits" was released during a time of significant change in the music industry. The 1970s saw the rise of punk and disco music, and the album's hard-edged sound and rebellious themes helped establish Steppenwolf as a counterpoint to these trends. The album's tracks continue to be featured in popular culture, and their influence can be heard in the music of contemporary rock and roll artists.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

60s American Hard Rock

Label & Catalognr:

MCA Records 250 450 (250450)

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Gramophone Record

Year & Country:

1970 – Made in Europe

Producers:
  • Gabriel Mekler – Producer
  • Richard Podolor – Producer

Album Summary: This album "STEPPENWOLF - Gold Their Great Hits" was the first greatest hits collection released by Canadian rock band Steppenwolf.

Band Members / Musicians:

1967–1969 Line-up (with Steppenwolf during these periods):
  • John Kay – Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica (1967–1972, later returns)
  • Michael Monarch – Guitar (1967–1969)
  • Rushton Moreve – Bass (1967–1968, briefly 1969)
  • Goldy McJohn – Keyboards (1967–1975)
  • Jerry Edmonton – Drums (1967–1976)
1969–1970 Line-up (with Steppenwolf during these periods):
  • John Kay – Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica (1967–1972, later returns)
  • Larry Byrom – Guitar (1969–1971)
  • George Biondo – Vocals, Bass (1970–1976)
  • Goldy McJohn – Keyboards (1967–1975)
  • Jerry Edmonton – Drums (1967–1976)

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Born To Be Wild
    1967–1969 Line-up: John Kay (Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica), Michael Monarch (Guitar), Rushton Moreve (Bass), Goldy McJohn (Keyboards), Jerry Edmonton (Drums)
  2. It's Never Too Late
    1969–1970 Line-up: John Kay (Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica), Larry Byrom (Guitar), George Biondo (Vocals, Bass), Goldy McJohn (Keyboards), Jerry Edmonton (Drums)
  3. Rock Me
    1967–1969 Line-up
  4. Hey Lawdy Mama
    1969–1970 Line-up
  5. Move Over
    1969–1970 Line-up
  6. Who Needs Ya
    1969–1970 Line-up
Video: Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild (Easy Rider) (1969)
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Magic Carpet Ride
    1967–1969 Line-up
  2. The Pusher
    1967–1969 Line-up
  3. Sookie Sookie
    1967–1969 Line-up
  4. Jupiter's Child
    1969–1970 Line-up
  5. Screaming Night Hog
    1969–1970 Line-up
Video: Steppenwolf - The Pusher
Album Front Cover Photo
Front cover of Steppenwolf's compilation album Gold Their Great Hits (1970 European release). The artwork features a striking close-up portrait of a woman against a deep black background. Her face is painted with vivid tribal-style streaks in pink and gold, with dramatic eyeliner forming sharp winged shapes around her eyes. A delicate golden chain is draped across her forehead, while a multicolored headdress crowns the top of her head. Her expression is calm and regal, her lips set firmly. The minimal design highlights her face with almost no other visual distractions, emphasizing mystery and intensity. The band’s name and album title appear at the top in bold yellow letters, listing iconic tracks such as Born to Be Wild, Magic Carpet Ride, and The Pusher.

The front cover of Steppenwolf – Gold Their Great Hits captures attention with a bold, close-up portrait of a woman’s face, emerging from a pitch-black background. Her gaze is direct and steady, her expression both mysterious and commanding.

Her face is decorated with dramatic, theatrical makeup: sweeping black eyeliner extends far beyond the eyes, framed by vivid pink paint streaks across the forehead and upper cheeks. The strong contrast of dark and bright tones creates a striking mask-like effect. A delicate golden chain drapes diagonally across her forehead, adding a sense of adornment and mystique.

Above her head, a colorful headdress composed of layered fabrics in muted reds, greens, and gold rests like a crown, reinforcing the regal presence of the image. Around her neck is a metallic choker, giving a sense of tribal and futuristic symbolism at once.

At the very top of the cover, bold yellow typography spells out Steppenwolf Gold – Their Great Hits, with a row of song titles just beneath, including Born to Be Wild, Magic Carpet Ride, and The Pusher. The minimal layout ensures that the woman’s face remains the magnetic focal point, embodying both the raw edge and enigmatic spirit of Steppenwolf’s music.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of Steppenwolf's compilation album Gold Their Great Hits (1970 European release). The artwork features a bold two-tone design with the band silhouetted in solid black against a striking golden-yellow background. Five band members stand in a row, their figures stylized with minimal detail, emphasizing strong stances, long hair, and rock attire. On the far right stands another full-body figure with a detailed outfit, hands on hips, creating a balanced contrast. The tracklist is printed on the right side in black, organized into Side One and Side Two, with song durations listed. At the bottom, MCA Records logo and manufacturing details appear in white. The overall effect is graphic, modern, and emblematic of 1970s rock album aesthetics.

The back cover of Steppenwolf – Gold Their Great Hits presents a dramatic visual using a high-contrast, two-tone design. The entire background is a vivid golden-yellow, while the band members are rendered in stark black silhouettes.

Five figures stand side by side in classic rock postures, their long hair and casual clothing unmistakably 1970s. Their stances exude toughness and defiance, with fringed jackets, belts, and flared trousers faintly visible. On the far right, a more detailed figure with hands on hips and a cinched waistline outfit adds contrast, breaking the symmetry.

To the right, the album’s tracklist is neatly arranged in black text, split between Side One and Side Two, each with song titles and durations. Notable tracks such as Born To Be Wild, Magic Carpet Ride, and The Pusher stand out immediately. Production credits list Gabriel Mekler and Richard Podolor beneath.

At the bottom, the MCA Records logo appears in white, along with small print details noting manufacturing in Germany. The design achieves a bold, poster-like clarity, amplifying the band’s powerful image while keeping the focus on the music within.

Close up of Side One record’s label
Close-up of the record label on Steppenwolf's Gold Their Great Hits (1970 European MCA Records release), Side One. The label background is a sky-blue gradient with soft white clouds and a vivid rainbow descending diagonally from the top left. The MCA Records logo is printed at the top in bold blue lettering. Below it, the text identifies the album title Gold and the band Steppenwolf. The tracklist for Side One is listed in black text, featuring six songs including Born To Be Wild, It's Never Too Late, Rock Me, Hey Lawdy Mama, Move Over, and Who Needs Ya, with composer credits and timings. The label also shows Stereo format, GEMA/BIEM rights society, catalog number 250 450-1, ℗ dates 1968 and 1969/1970 for tracks, and manufacturing details in Germany. The outer edge carries fine copyright warnings in multiple languages, completing the professional MCA rainbow-label style of the early 1970s.

The Side One record label of Steppenwolf – Gold Their Great Hits features MCA’s iconic rainbow design. A brilliant rainbow arcs diagonally from the upper left across a soft blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds, creating a vivid and almost dreamlike background.

At the top center, the MCA Records logo stands out in bold blue. Just beneath, the text identifies the album and band name, followed by the complete Side One tracklist. The six tracks are neatly arranged in black text with songwriting credits and exact durations, starting with Born To Be Wild (3:28) and ending with Who Needs Ya (2:59).

Additional details include the “STEREO” designation on the left, GEMA/BIEM rights society box, and the catalog number 250 450-1. At the bottom center sits the pressing logo for 33 RPM, with small-print copyright and manufacturing notices circling the outer edge in German, French, and English. The label also notes ℗ 1968 ABC Records Inc. with later dates 1969 and 1970 for newer tracks, giving a precise legal record of the compilation’s sources.

The overall look is both functional and stylish: a balance of colorful sky imagery with meticulous typographic order, typical of MCA’s rainbow label pressings of the era.

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