Rahul Sharma (Editor)

The Second

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Released
  
October 1968

Label
  
ABC Dunhill

Length
  
40:25

Producer
  
Gabriel Mekler

Recorded
  
1968 at American Recording Co.

Genre
  
Rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, acid rock

The Second is the second studio album by Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf, released in 1968 on ABC Dunhill Records. The album contains one of Steppenwolf's most famous songs, "Magic Carpet Ride". The background of the original ABC LP cover was a shiny "foil", in contrast to later (MCA Records) LP issues and the modern CD sleeve.

Contents

Featuring a style that incorporates psychedelic music and hard rock, the release has received critical acclaim both when it came out as well as in later years. For example, Allmusic critic Bruce Eder stated that, though "highly derivative" of their first album, The Second had "very hard and edgy" tracks with the band "in excellent form".

The five tracks on Side Two after "Magic Carpet Ride" consist of a continuous medley.

Track listing

All tracks composed by John Kay, except where indicated.

Side one

  1. "Faster Than the Speed of Life" (Mars Bonfire) – 3:10
  2. "Tighten Up Your Wig" – 3:06
  3. "None of Your Doing" (Kay, Gabriel Mekler) – 2:50
  4. "Spiritual Fantasy" – 3:39
  5. "Don't Step on the Grass, Sam" – 5:43

Side two

  1. "28" (Mekler) – 3:12
  2. "Magic Carpet Ride" (Kay, Rushton Moreve) – 4:30
  3. "Disappointment Number (Unknown)" – 4:52
  4. "Lost and Found by Trial and Error" – 2:07
  5. "Hodge, Podge, Strained Through a Leslie" - 2:48
  6. "Resurrection" – 2:52
  7. "Reflections" (Kay, Mekler) – 0:43

Personnel

  • John Kay - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
  • Michael Monarch - lead guitar
  • Goldy McJohn - organ, piano
  • Rushton Moreve - bass
  • Jerry Edmonton - drums, backing vocals
  • Gabriel Mekler - producer
  • Bill Cooper - engineer
  • Richard Podolor - engineer
  • References

    The Second Wikipedia