Steppenwolf - Gold Their Great Hits Pink Probe 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Raw psychedelic blues hard rock firestorm with iconic anthems and cult collector vibes

STEPPENWOLF - Gold Their Great Hits Pink Probe 12" LP Vinyl Album front cover https://vinyl-records.nl

"Gold: Their Great Hits" is a definitive collection of some of Steppenwolf's most iconic and influential songs. The album helped solidify the band's legacy as one of the most innovative and exciting acts of the 1960s and 70s, and its impact on the wider music scene cannot be overstated. The album's hard-edged sound and rebellious themes continue to resonate with audiences to this day, and Steppenwolf's place in rock and roll history is secure.

"Steppenwolf - Gold Their Great Hits" Album Description:

Steppenwolf was a band that played a significant role in shaping the sound and culture of the 1960s and 70s with their unique blend of rock and blues. Their album "Gold: Their Great Hits" is a compilation of some of their most iconic and influential songs. This web-page will examine the historical and musical context of the album, as well as its impact on the band's legacy and influence on the wider music scene.

Steppenwolf emerged in the mid-1960s as a powerful force in the counterculture music scene. Their debut album in 1968 was a critical and commercial success, and helped establish the band as one of the most innovative and exciting acts of the time. Steppenwolf was known for their hard-edged sound that incorporated blues, rock, and psychedelic influences. Their songs often dealt with themes of rebellion, freedom, and the struggles of youth culture.

"Gold: Their Great Hits" German release was released in 1971, a few years after the band's peak in popularity. The album features some of Steppenwolf's most famous and enduring songs, including "Born to be Wild," "Magic Carpet Ride," and "The Pusher." The album's tracklist spans their most popular period, from 1968 to 1970, and showcases the band's unique sound and style.

"Gold: Their Great Hits" was a commercial success and helped cement Steppenwolf's place in rock and roll history. The album has sold over 1 million copies in the United States alone, and its tracks continue to be featured in movies, television shows, and commercials. The album has become a definitive collection of Steppenwolf's greatest hits, and is often cited as a starting point for fans looking to discover the band's music.

The album also helped solidify Steppenwolf's legacy as one of the most influential and iconic bands of the 1960s and 70s. Their unique sound and style helped pave the way for future generations of rock and roll artists, and their themes of rebellion and freedom continue to resonate with audiences to this day.

"Gold: Their Great Hits" was released during a time of significant change in the music industry. The 1970s saw the rise of punk and disco music, and the album's hard-edged sound and rebellious themes helped establish Steppenwolf as a counterpoint to these trends. The album's tracks continue to be featured in popular culture, and their influence can be heard in the music of contemporary rock and roll artists.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

Psychedelic Blues Hard Rock

Label & Catalognr:

Pink Probe 1C 062-92 322

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

1971 – Made in Germany

Producers:
  • Gabriel Mekler – Producer
  • Richard Podolork – Producer

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Line-up:
  • John Kay – Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
  • Larry Byrom – Guitar
  • Michael Monarch – Guitar
  • George Biondo – Vocals, Bass
  • Rushton Moreve – Bass
  • Goldy McJohn – Keyboards
  • Jerry Edmonton – Drums

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Born To Be Wild
  2. It's Never Too Late
  3. Rock Me
  4. Hey Lawdy Mama
  5. Move Over
  6. Who Needs Ya
Video: Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild (1969)
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Magic Carpet Ride
  2. The Pusher
  3. Sookie Sookie
  4. Jupiter's Child
  5. Screaming Night Hog
Video: Steppenwolf - The Pusher
Album Front Cover Photo
Front cover of Steppenwolf's compilation album Gold Their Great Hits, Pink Probe 12-inch LP Vinyl Album released in Germany in 1971. The artwork features a close-up portrait of a woman with dramatic face paint in bold red and black tones forming angular mask-like patterns around her eyes, accentuated by a golden chain draped across her forehead, colorful headscarf, and a black choker with a square white ornament. The overall mood is dark, theatrical, and mysterious against a deep black background.

The front cover of the Pink Probe pressing of Gold / Their Great Hits presents a striking, highly stylized portrait. A woman’s face fills the frame, painted with bold mask-like patterns in red and black that extend across her eyes and forehead. The makeup is angular, dramatic, and intended to give a sense of ritual or mystique.

She wears a thin golden chain draped across her brow, with a multicolored headscarf partly visible behind. Her gaze is direct, almost confrontational, emphasizing a mood of intensity and strength. The stark black background enhances the theatrical impact, allowing the face and painted details to dominate the viewer’s attention.

Around her neck is a black choker with a square white ornament at its center, completing the exotic and enigmatic appearance. This artwork captures the rebellious and dramatic spirit associated with Steppenwolf’s music of the early 1970s, using visual symbolism to reinforce the band’s raw power and countercultural identity.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of Steppenwolf's compilation album Gold Their Great Hits, Pink Probe 12-inch LP Vinyl Album released in Germany in 1971. The design is predominantly white with the title 'Steppenwolf Gold' in large type at the top, followed by a central black panel listing all tracks for Side One and Side Two along with songwriter credits. Around the panel are seven small black-and-white reproductions of Steppenwolf's earlier album covers, including Born To Be Wild, Monster, Steppenwolf Live, At Your Birthday Party, Early Steppenwolf, and others. A catalog code appears in the upper right corner. At the bottom, fine print credits to Electrola Gesellschaft m.b.H. Köln with distribution and legal notes in German are included.

The back cover of the Pink Probe edition of Gold / Their Great Hits is stark and informational, designed against a white background. At the top, the large text Steppenwolf Gold dominates the layout, lending a clean yet bold presentation.

Centered is a black panel detailing the complete tracklist, separated into Side One and Side Two, with songwriter credits for each song. The list includes classics such as Born to Be Wild, Magic Carpet Ride, and The Pusher.

Surrounding this panel are seven smaller album cover reproductions in black and white, referencing the band’s earlier releases like Monster, Steppenwolf Live, At Your Birthday Party, and Early Steppenwolf. The inclusion of these visuals reinforces the compilation’s retrospective purpose.

In the upper right corner, the catalog number C 062-92322 is printed, while the bottom margin features legal and distribution notes attributed to Electrola Gesellschaft m.b.H. Köln, Germany. The overall design communicates authority and completeness, serving both as an index and as a showcase of the band’s discography.

Close up of Side One record’s label
Close-up of Side One label of Steppenwolf's Gold Their Great Hits Pink Probe 12-inch LP Vinyl Album released in Germany in 1971. The label is pale pink with the large stylized PROBE logo at the top and the note 'A Great Name From ABC/Dunhill Records, U.S.A.' printed below it. The catalog number 1C 062-92 322 is printed on the upper right. Along the left, standard record markings such as 'ST 33', 'Stereo', and the GEMA logo are shown. The center hole reveals the black vinyl around the pink label. Track listing for Side One is printed in black, listing six songs with their respective songwriters and durations: Born To Be Wild, It’s Never Too Late, Rock Me, Hey Lawdy Mama, Move Over, and Who Needs Ya. The outer rim contains legal text in German.

The Side One label of the Pink Probe pressing of Gold / Their Great Hits is designed in a pale pink tone, contrasted with bold black print. At the top, the stylized PROBE logo dominates, accompanied by the slogan “A Great Name From ABC/Dunhill Records, U.S.A.”

The catalog number 1C 062-92 322 appears on the upper right, while to the left are technical markers including ST 33, Stereo, and the GEMA logo. The vinyl’s spindle hole punctuates the center of the label.

Below, the title Steppenwolf Gold / Their Great Hits is printed, followed by the Side One tracklist: Born To Be Wild (3:28), It’s Never Too Late (3:59), Rock Me (3:35), Hey Lawdy Mama (2:54), Move Over (2:50), and Who Needs Ya (2:58). Each includes songwriter credits.

Around the edge of the label, fine print in German details legal rights, covering reproduction, performance, and distribution. The visual design is minimalist yet authoritative, reflecting both German pressing standards and the branding identity of Probe Records.

Born to Be Wild: The Definitive Steppenwolf Discography (1960s-1970s)

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STEPPENWOLF - Gold Their Great Hits (European and German Versions) album front cover vinyl record
STEPPENWOLF - Gold Their Great Hits (European and German Versions)

- Gold Their Great Hits (1970, Europe)

- Gold Their Great Hits (1971, Germany)

"Gold: Their Great Hits" is a definitive collection of some of Steppenwolf's most iconic and influential songs. The album helped solidify the band's legacy as one of the most innovative and exciting acts of the 1960s and 70s, and its impact on the wider music scene cannot be overstated.

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Steppenwolf's self-titled debut album is a landmark recording in rock and roll history, and remains a powerful statement of the band's raw energy and rebellious spirit. The album helped establish Steppenwolf as a major force in rock and roll, and its impact on the wider music scene cannot be overstated.

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