Monster is the fourth studio album by Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. The album was released in November 1969, by ABC Dunhill Records. It was their first LP with new lead guitarist Larry Byrom instead of Michael Monarch. The album was Steppenwolf's most political album, making references to prominent issues at the time, such as the Vietnam War.
The album was the first Steppenwolf album not to feature a US top ten hit, though two singles from the album entered the top 40: "Move Over" and "Monster".
Reception
Reviews for Monster have generally been negative. Rolling Stone commented that the playing of the individual performers is "top-notch", but that "[t]heir arrangements have become sloppy and crude, as the early-Zappa lyrics continuously clash with the music." Record World said of the single "Move Over" that "Steppenwolf are back in their best of bags."
Track listing
Personnel
Steppenwolf
- John Kay – vocals, harmonica, guitar
- Larry Byrom – lead guitar
- Nick St. Nicholas – bass guitar
- Goldy McJohn – Hammond organ, piano
- Jerry Edmonton – drums and lead vocals on "What Would You Do (If I Did That to You)"
Technical
- Gabriel Mekler – producer
- Bill Cooper – engineer
- Richard Podolor – engineer
Charts
Album
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Chart performance for Monster
!scope="col"|Chart (1970)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|US Billboard 200
|align="center"|17
|}
Singles
{| class="wikitable" width="400px"
|+Chart performance for singles from Monster
!align="left"|Year
!align="left"|Single
!align="left"|Chart
!align="left"|Position
|-
|align="left"|1969
|align="left"|"Move Over"
|align="left"|US Billboard Hot 100
|align="left"|31