1969 MARS BONFIRE - FASTER THAN SPEED Psych Steppenwolf
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RARE 1969 Garage Psych & Poprock Grooves By STEPPENWOLF SONG WRITER!
((Steppenwolf))
MARS BONFIRE
== Faster Than The Speed Of LIFE ==
USA -360 Sound Columbia CS 9834
RARE ORIGINAL 1968 first pressing on the collected 360 Sound Columbis Records label of the sixties... This was the cat that wrote "BORN TO BE WILD" and was infact a member of early STEPPENWOLF when they were known as "THE SPARROW" ...his brother Jerry was the original Steppenwolf drummer...
Includes the original 360 Sound Columbia printed inner sleeve
Although generally acknowledged as the coiner of the phrase “heavy metal” via his “Born To Be Wild” song that he wrote for his former bandmates in Sparrow (who had renamed themselves Steppenwolf shortly after he left for a solo career) and whose own interpretation is included here, Canadian singer/songwriter Bonfire (born Dennis McCrohan and later changed to Edmonton, although he was born closer to Toronto) started out in the early 60s with his brother (Jerry, who died in a car crash in the late 90’s) in a band called Jack London & The Sparrows, that also included future Buffalo Springfielder, Bruce Palmer on bass. They released an album on Capitol and even had a Top 3 single before London went solo and was replaced by two German emigres, Nicholas St. Nicholas and John Kay. Now known simply as The Sparrow, they moved to New York, signed to Columbia and released the classic psych single “Tomorrow’s Ship” c/w “Isn’t It Strange” in 1966. The following year, Bonfire opted out and began a solo career. Columbia Records quickly released it in 1969 a year after it was written. Psych & Garage collectors should find plenty of interest as there are more than enough tracks to enjoy while spinning both sides of the platter...
Bonfire is a better writer than singer by comparison to Steppenwolf's John Kay, which is not really fair -- otherwise his voice is deep and effective (compare his original versions of “Tenderness,” “Ride With Me, Baby” and “Night Time’s For You” with their Steppenwolf counterparts on 1971’s “For Ladies Only” or the title track with the ‘wolf’s furious rendition on their second LP) although his own run “Born To Be Wild” through “heavy metal thunder” is a cooker, but can't top John Kay’s emotional grunting of those classic lyrics about freedom. “Sad Eyes” is a catchy poprock item that'll get stuck in ine's head all day long, if you let it.
The groovy organ backing on “Lady Moon Walker,” the rambling fuzz guitar licks and rolling keys of the Allman Brothers-ish “Tenderness” all suggest that Bonfire should have had a more successful songwriting career and amply demonstrate that there’s a whole lot more than heavy metal thunder lurking inside his pen. “Ride With Me, Baby” is the best of the future Steppenwolf tracks here, a hard-driving, chunky rocker with swirling organ, seering fuzz guitar licks and vestiges of “Sookie Sookie” and “The Pusher” bubbling in the background. Bonfire offers his sentimental side on “How Much Older Will We Grow?,” with his deep, raspy, gutter-level vocals reminding one of what Jim Morrison might’ve sounded like covering Dylan !
“So Alive With Love” and “In Christine’s Arms” are the most straightforward poprock groover tunes on the album and should have been selected as the singles that would have introduced the record to a wider audience.
Bonfire’s giddily delirious organ runs behind the latter also have a Steppenwolf aroma, but mainly suggest that his forte might have been charming infectious poprock songs, despite all the biker images that permeate his more well-known songs. In all, Bonfire’s solo album is more from the loosy-goosy, garage/pysch end of the spectrum, and while half the songs would later appear on Steppenwolf albums, their original versions here offer as much of an insight into Bonfire’s songwriting abilities as the ‘wolf’s arrangement skills. Give it a spin and you might be pleasantly surprised.
1.Faster Than The Speed Of Life
2.Born To Be Wild
3.Sad Eyes
4.Lady Moon walker
5.Tenderness
6.She
7.Ride With Me Baby
8.How Much Older Will We Grow
9.So Alive With Love
10.In Christine's Arms
11.The Night Time's For You
CONDITION: The cover is solid, VG++ to "EX" (excellent) hard to see tiny multi staple holes at top left corner where sales tag(s) were applied by retail stores (they use to do this in the sixties), otherwise solid and strong with bright original colors -- all despite just a very little bit of wear starting, remains in great collectible shape...no seam splits, no bends, no writing...
The vinyl is top level, M- which should provide complete audio enjoyment from start to end complete...clean 360 Sound labels as well....
keeper copy!
A GREAT ADDITION TO ANYONE'S COLLECTIBLES!
SEE: SELLERS OTher items for more & more of similar cool sounds for "head" people...
EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING
All imperfections are noted both cover & record
NOTE: All Items backed by money back guarantee! IF you have a problem PLEASE let us solve for you BEFORE leaving negative feedback. Thanks! >> GRADING SCALE: M, M-, EX, VG++,VG+, VG, VG- M Completely clean, no marks M- Carefully used, looks clean, plays clean, shiny gloss, no marks EX Faint scuff or superficial mark, near M-, high gloss, plays clean VG++ Glossy with minimal scuffing or light mark playing very nice, clean VG+ a bit more scuff or markls still plays well with very minimal surface at worse VG more marks/scratches only minor, nothing deep, no loud clicks or pops this grade is abused by many, VG here does not mean "trashed" VG- surface noise present, will not have skips or jumps MULTIPLE LP SETS COUNT EACH DISC FOR SHIPPING COST (double Lp count as 2-Lp, etc.) We Are Not Responsible For Uninsured Parcels Once They Are In Post Office Transit! Items In All Parcels Are Well Protected = The disc of an LP will always be separated from its cover (avoiding seam splits,etc) ALL PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 5 DAYS after ending of auction Do Not Bid If You Are Not Serious About Following Through The Transaction! ALL ITEMS GUARANTEED FOR WINNING BID LESS SHIPPING!price rating
