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Plato

Sunday, August 23, 2026

rep>>> Steppenwolf - At Your Birthday Party (1969 us, classic third album, Japan SHM mini lp 2013 bonus tracks remaster)



The recording sessions for "At Your Birthday Party" started to show the wear and tear of the road on all of us. In addition, some band members for the first time, tried their hand at songwriting and I had run out of tunes to contribute. 

This album nevertheless includes some of my favorite Steppenwolf tracks such as "Happy Birthday", "Jupiter's Child" and "Rock Me". Nick St. Nicholas (who had replaced our original bassist Rushton Moreve) had an idea for a song titled "It's Never Too Late", which triggered me to work out the rest of the song. That one is an all time favorite of mine. Gabriel Mekler (our Producer) had his hands full trying to be fair to all band members and stay neutral to allow us to work out the difficulties on our own. 

The fact that the song "Rock Me" (which had been written for the soundtrack of the motion picture "Candy") had already been a hit single before it was included in the "Birthday album" may have reduced the impact of the album because the initial sales of the LP were not what we had hoped for, although over the years, it became quite popular with many of our fans.
by John Kay


Tracks
1. Don't Cry (Gabriel Mekler) – 3:11
2. Chicken Wolf (John Kay, Michael Monarch) – 2:58
3. Lovely Meter (Gabriel Mekler) – 3:10
4. Round And Down (Michael Monarch) – 3:19
5. It's Never Too Late (John Kay, Nick St. Nicholas) – 4:07
6. Sleeping Dreaming (Nick St.Nicholas) – 1:07
7. Jupiter's Child (Jerry Edmonton, John Kay, Michael Monarch) – 3:28
8. She'll Be Better (Jerry Edmonton, Gabriel Mekler) – 5:32
9. Cat Killer (John Goadsby) – 1:37
10.Rock Me (John Kay) – 3:45
11.God Fearing Man (Michael Monarch) – 3:55
12.Mango Juice (Jerry Edmonton, John Goadsby, Michael Monarch) – 3:01
13.Happy Birthday (Gabriel Mekler) – 2:16
14.Rock Me (J. Kay) - 3:41
15.Jupiter Child (J. Edmonton, J. Kay, M. Monarch) – 3:15
16.It's Never Too Late (J. Kay, N. St. Nicholas) - 3:10
17.Happy BirthdayIt's Never Too Late (G. Mekler) – 2:23
Tracks 14-17 Mono Single Versions

Steppenwolf
*John Kay - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
*Michael Monarch - Lead Guitar
*Goldy Mcjohn - Organ, Piano
*Nick St. Nicholas - Bass
*Jerry Edmonton - Drums, Vocals

1969  Early Steppenwolf (1967 Live, Japan SHM  2013)
1969  Monster (2013 japan SHM issue)
1970  Live (2013 Japan SHM edition)
Just Paste 
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rep>>> The Souther Hillman Furay Band - Trouble In Paradise (1975 us, fine country classic rock, 2017 japan SHM remaster)


With producer Tom Dowd, known for his work at Atlantic Records, at the helm, the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band seemed to be distancing itself a bit from its country-rock roots with its second release, the appropriately titled Trouble in Paradise. Here the band expands on the funkier aspects of its debut album, while at the same time slipping even closer to the middle of the road. On that record it was former Poco frontman Richie Furay who was responsible for the highlights, but this time out it's J.D. Souther, who penned four of the LP's nine tracks, who leads the way, with "Prisoner in Disguise" (recorded that same year by Linda Ronstadt) and the title cut the standouts. 

Still, Furay, whose two compositions were dominated by his recent conversion to Christianity, does connect with the lovely "For Someone I Love," which interestingly enough precedes the sleazy rationalizations of Souther's "Mexico." As was the case with the previous album, Chris Hillman's trio of selections, including "Love and Satisfy," which borrows the lyrics for the majority of its first two verses from his and Gram Parsons' "Train Song," are moderately successful, if in the long run somewhat forgettable.

Before the recording of the album, original drummer Jim Gordon had left and was replaced by Ron Grinel (Souther also played drums on a couple of tracks), and what must have seemed like a great idea in 1973 was showing signs of unraveling. The band was finished by 1976 following Trouble in Paradise's poor showing, with each of its primary members recording solo records for Asylum within the year. Originally released by Asylum Records in 1975 and reissued on CD in 2002 by Wounded Bird. 
by Brett Hartenbach


Tracks
1. Trouble In Paradise (John David Souther) - 5:06
2. Move Me Real Slow (Chris Hillman) - 3:03
3. For Someone I Love (Richie Furay) - 2:57
4. Mexico (John David Souther) - 3:14
5. Love And Satisfy (Chris Hillman) - 2:59
6. On The Line (Richie Furay) - 3:41
7. Prisoner In Disguise (John David Souther) - 4:52
8. Follow Me Through (Chris Hillman) - 3:50
9. Somebody Must Be Wrong (John David Souther) - 3:51

Personnel
*J.D. Souther - Vocals, Guitar, Drums On "Trouble In Paradise" And "Love And Satisfy", Bass On "Move Me Real Slow"
*Chris Hillman - Vocals, Bass, Mandolin, Guitar
*Richie Furay - Vocals, Guitar
*Al Perkins - Lead Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar, Dobro
*Paul Harris - Keyboards, Flute
*Joe Lala - Percussion
*Ron Grinel - Drums
*James William Guercio - Guitar
*Glenn Frey - Background Vocals
*Don Henley - Background Vocals

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