Recycled John Kay Band.... errr Steppenwolf - If you have Rock and Roll Rebels Pass this album up. This is essentually that album repackaged and dressed as a all new album.In my personal view, the other reviewer that objected to Give me some news I can use was dead on. There has been a propensity by Messrs Kay to recycle songs ever since he resurrected the band in the early 1980s.I don t consider any release post the Live in London from 1980 Steppenwolf. It is the John Kay Band. When Jerry Edmonton (RIP)stopped being a functioning member of the band any tie to the Steppenwolf name of old went away. The heart and soul of the original Steppenwolf died.Now, I m not besmirching the contributions of the current line up. They are able musicians.Its just the spirit and quality of the early era recordings there was something to say. There was an edge. The early 80s records Wolftracks and Paradox are especially bad. Fastfowarding to today, with the band its more we need more money and repackaged albums with only one or two new cuts.The upshot? The post 1980 records are a curiosity, but are nothing more than John Kay occasionally releasing a new record with hired guns to keep the name alive so he can make money.Proof just because you were the singer, make the band you don t.
Latest News - How many times is John going to include {Give me some news I can use} on an album?This is like the fourth or fifth time it appears on different releases...Why is he so fixated on this song???..This album is akin to {At Your Birthday Party} and is one of my least favorite albums in Steppenwolf s catalog.Instead of releasing this,John should have gravitated toward the original sound that made the name!!
Missing the original Stepponwolf - As a traditionalist who s into the older original sounds of Stepponwolf, it was hard for me to get into this. It took repeated listenings to finally start to appreciate John Kays message. The recording is just to modern for the kind of Stepponwolf I like. John Kays vocals are good but it sounds like he recorded his parts later after all the other parts were recorded first. He s not jamming with the band,instead it sounds as if he is singing over the top of everthing else. Many artist record that way now without the listener noticing it but they did a poor job with this one. There are a few good songs I liked but most I did not care for. The instruments are recorded well. The drums in particular were recorded nicely but he plays to basic in comparison to the original drummer who is excellent. Final thought: If your a John Kay fan Buy it! If your a Stepponwolf the group fan Skip it!
It s Never Too Late - Originally released in 1987 as Rock n Roll Rebels, this version from 1996 differs only in title and in the substitution of two songs. Either way, it is perhaps the best Steppenwolf album since their first. It has the trademark hard-rocking sound of the group, but the songs are directed at aging baby boomers, reflecting their doubts, their fears, and their rage at the world that has changed on them. The songs are inspirational without being sickly sweet, especially Hold On (Never Give Up, Never Give In), while still embracing the original rock ethic of rebellion. If you still believe, as I do, that Born to Be Wild is one of the best songs ever recorded, then you will love this album, because John Kay can still feed the fire.
Feed The Fire Excels - Once again John Kay has given us great music with meaningful and relevant lyrics. Every song on this CD is solid. In a world, particularly a genre (rock) where so much negativity abounds, Kay and partner Michael Wilk, write songs that address the human condition while containing positive and inspirational messages. And still, they rock with the best of them! Feed the Fire is outstanding!