The Second

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 Steppenwolf
Released	October 1968
Recorded	1968
Studio	American Recording Co., Studio City, CA
Genre	Psychedelic rock blues rock hard rock[1]
Length	40:25
Label	Dunhill
Producer	Gabriel Mekler
Steppenwolf chronology
Steppenwolf (1968) The Second (1968) At Your Birthday Party (1969)
Singles from The Second
"Magic Carpet Ride" Released: September 1968

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
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]

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

Track listing

All music is composed by John Kay, except where indicated.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Faster Than the Speed of Life"	Dennis Edmonton	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

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"28"	Mekler	3:12
7.	"Magic Carpet Ride"	Kay, Rushton Moreve	4:30
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, Mekler	0:43
Total length:			40:25

Personnel

Steppenwolf

• John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
• Michael Monarch – lead guitar
• Goldy McJohn – organ, piano
• Rushton Moreve – bass
• Jerry Edmonton – drums, vocals, lead vocals on "Faster Than the Speed of Life" and "28", co-lead vocals on "Don't Step on the Grass, Sam"

Technical

• Gabriel Mekler – producer
• Bill Cooper – engineer
• Richard Podolor – engineer
• Gary Burden – art direction, cover design
• Henry Diltz – photography

Charts

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

1. 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.

External links

• Steppenwolf: The Second at Discogs (list of releases)
• steppenwolf.com Steppenwolf: The Second album