"Steppenwolf" is the eponymous debut studio album by the Canadian-American rock band of the same name, Steppenwolf. The group was led by John Kay, a German-Canadian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The album was released in late January 1968 on ABC Dunhill Records.
The album is a landmark in rock music, due to its fusion of rock and roll and blues, with some elements of folk and psychedelic music. It explored themes that resonated with the countercultural sentiments of the late 1960s.
The album is most famous for its two popular singles. The first, "Born to Be Wild," is an iconic rock and roll song that became an anthem for the counterculture and biker movements of the 60s and 70s. The single arguably invented the term 'heavy metal,' thanks to its reference in the second verse: "I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder." The second single, "The Pusher," is a strident anti-drug song that remains relevant today.
"Steppenwolf" succeeded commercially and, upon its release, peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It stayed on the charts for 62 weeks and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for over half a million copies sold. Despite critical reception being mixed at the time, it has since been recognized as a classic of 60s rock.
