The Second is the second studio album by Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf, released in October 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.

The Second
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 1968
Recorded1968
StudioAmerican Recording, Studio City, California
Genre
Length40:25
LabelDunhill
ProducerGabriel Mekler
Steppenwolf chronology
Steppenwolf
(1968)
The Second
(1968)
At Your Birthday Party
(1969)
Singles from The Second
  1. "Magic Carpet Ride"
    Released: September 1, 1968
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Rolling Stone(favorable)[2]

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".[1] It became the band's highest-charting album on the Billboard 200, reaching number three.

The five tracks on side two after "Magic Carpet Ride" consist of a continuous medley.

Track listing

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All tracks are written by John Kay, except where indicated.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Faster Than the Speed of Life"Mars Bonfire3:10
2."Tighten Up Your Wig (melody from "Messin' with the Kid" by Junior Wells)" 3:06
3."None of Your Doing"Kay, Gabriel Mekler2:50
4."Spiritual Fantasy" 3:39
5."Don't Step on the Grass, Sam" 5:43
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."28"Mekler3:12
7."Magic Carpet Ride"Kay, Rushton Moreve4:30
8."Disappointment Number (Unknown)" 4:52
9."Lost and Found by Trial and Error" 2:07
10."Hodge, Podge, Strained Through a Leslie" 2:48
11."Resurrection" 2:52
12."Reflections"Kay, Mekler0:43
Total length:40:25

Personnel

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Steppenwolf

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Technical

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Charts

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Album - Billboard (United States)

Year Chart Position
1968 Billboard 200 3[3]

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year Single Chart Position
1968 "Magic Carpet Ride" Hot 100 2[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Bruce Eder. "Steppenwolf the Second - Steppenwolf". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
  2. ^ Butcher, David (November 23, 1968). "Records". Rolling Stone. San Francisco: Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.
  3. ^ "Billboard 200 - Steppenwolf". Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  4. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 - Steppenwolf". Retrieved September 1, 2017.
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