Steppenwolf - Monster (1969/2015) [Hi-Res]

Steppenwolf is best known primarily for its party-hearty rock & roll anthems. But with 1969's Monster, the band's fourth release, Steppenwolf showed a political side. One of the first concept albums of the '70s.
While the album didn't contain any radio-ready top-40 hits, the album as a whole remains an impressive accomplishment. John Kay and company voice their opinions on the then-raging Vietnam War and the dark side of the judicial system and politics. 'Monster/Suicide/America,' a nearly ten-minute album-opening epic, is a good example of this new direction, as is the self-explanatory 'Draft Resister.'
With “Monster” came a fresh burst of energy with the addition of Larry Byrom (who replaced Michael Monarch on lead guitar) and his “let’s get to it” attitude. In my opinion the monster album was a stronger effort than anything since the second album. However, time was once again our enemy which made it necessary that we recorded this project in an unusual fashion. The guys came up with one track after another while I was trying to keep up with my vocal parts and lyrics. Since this was supposed to be a concept album, I had to write within certain guidelines so that the lyrics fit within the concept. During the recording of this album and “7”, which was to follow, I spent most of my time at my studio sometimes until 3 or 4 in the morning, working on the melodies and lyrics. I would join the guys at American Recorders where they continued to come up with new tracks, whenever I was ready to overdub my finished vocal parts on one of the previously recorded basic tracks. On “From Here To There Eventually” and “Power Play” I also played guitar on the basic tracks. The somewhat unusual method of recording notwithstanding I was nevertheless excited each time the guys brought me a newly recorded instrumental track, since Larry and the guys came up with one great musical idea after another. Consequently, we were all pleased with the results.