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Platter Chatter: albums from Steppenwolf, Jimi Hendrix et al

uncredited writer, Hit Parader, July 1968

STEPPENWOLF is a magnificent first album by a magnificent quintet of the same name. It's the conventional guitar, drums, organ line-up, but the best we've ever heard in a rock band context. This very tight unit is held together by a unique tension between organ sound and guitar sound: shrill, sustained organ and string bending. Even the marvelous, creative bass playing and crisp, hard drumming seem to lock the band into that tense direction. The lyrics by leader-vocalist John Kay hit home. His voice, as well as his words, match the tension of the band, especially on 'Desperation', 'The Ostrich' and 'Your Wall's Too High', the latter with great piano feels. (Dunhill-D50029)

Total word count of piece: 620

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