First Time Hearing Steppenwolf "Magic Carpet Ride" Reaction | Asia and BJ

[@gkiferonhs]

This is classic psychedelia. The intricacy of sounds, the quick tempo changes, etc. was especially enjoyable when on acid - the 'magic carpet ride'.

[@karenmandeville7116]

a hit of windowpane and let the music take you away for sure!

[@carlatruby6956]

Took me on a few rides.😋

[@dano9421]

Been there done that and definitely lived it

[@dano9421]

@@karenmandeville7116 you must have lived in the time, I know that I did and still do today, some habits never go away

[@briankorbelik2873]

@@karenmandeville7116 I found that a little Orange Sunshine or Purple Haze always went well with the "Wolf.;

[@gertrudelaronge6864]

It always pleases me to see another human connecting with a piece of music that resonates with me. Thanks.

[@latentgamer5762]

You could tell he was grooving like hell on this.

[@joannavasquez1220]

I was 8 yrs old when "Magic Carpet Ride" came out. A few minutes later it became my favorite song! 63 yrs old now and it's still my favorite song!!

[@stretchgilbert]

The crazy thing is this record was made in '68, I believe, yet the production sounds like it was recorded yesterday.

[@billhiggins1882]

Remastered

[@11dsw]

Definitely more of a 7os vibe…Dr John-ish…

[@davisworth5114]

Nobody rocks like this today.

[@autumnphillips151]

@@davisworth5114 What you mean is that you’re ignorant of the bands that are working today.

[@perrynelson4254]

Richard Podolor produced this track. He also produced 3 Dog Night

[@michaelakkerman407]

" Close your eyes girl, look inside girl, Let the SOUND take you away" Lyrics say it all...

[@bombasticbushkin4985]

Groovy, love your reactions. Steppenwolf's front man was German born John Kay who emigrated to Toronto, Canada and was known to play in the hippy Yorkville district. It was in 1967 John and Dennis Edmonton got drummer Jerry Edmonton, keyboardist Goldy McJohn, 17-year-old guitar prodigy Michael Monarch and bassist Rushton Moreve to create Steppenwolf. They cut their first album in 4 days. Great hits like Born to be Wild, Magic Carpet Ride, Rock Me and Pusher Man echoed a generation of "free love and psychedelic drugs" for some. Their songs have been licensed in about 50 motion pictures.

[@debbieplato5107]

This was the first "heavy " rock album I bought when I was 14.

[@daveguitarnowski4402]

My parents gave it to me for christmas when I was 10!

[@Code9]

Solid psychedelic groove. A veritable musical kaleidoscope of sounds, rhythms and textures. Listen to it while stoned. You'll get seriously lost in the tapestry. Great stuff.

[@cartercarter645]

Truth!! Such a vibe!!!!

[@sst3d]

Way underrated…

[@Quinctili]

No drugs were harmed in the making of this music.....

[@rossadams1405]

@@Quinctili 'thank god hahahah

[@Quinctili]

@@rossadams1405 no drugs have ever been harmed listening to this music...

[@eviekelpie1]

I'm 59 and I can't believe what great freaking music we had as little kids, and didn't even appreciate it at the time

[@user-hi6fx2bz8x]

This a much needed close your eyes and let the music take you away song to deeply appreciate it...Awesome song from my past...Thanks Again

[@MrMoon1953]

That would be Goldie McJohn on keyboard with his trademark Leslie speakers. RIP Godie.

[@DebieTaylor]

I use to dance to this song!!!!!! I am 69 years old. Thank yall for playing this!

[@shawn1432]

This is DNA I’m 70 and this song still rocks, and many happy memories !

[@theNOVEMBERman1116]

Y'all on a psychedelic rock trip today keep bringing the dope reactions

[@jenniferfoster1692]

This is one of the most iconic 60s songs...we were even rocking to this in college in the late 80s!!!

[@marthaz]

"Born to be Wild" is a must hear classic from this group. Love you two getting an incredible education in music - "between the sound machines" - could be speakers, could be headphones 🎧. I was in highschool, plenty of trippin' was the thing of the times. 💕 Love you two

[@cptrex]

Yes! At this point, to me, it's a little cheesey, but only because it's soooo good. If that makes sense. Though I'd dig a little "Don't Step on The Grass, Sam" heheh

[@lesschoenberger3070]

It was speakers, Kay had just bought a new hi-fi system and the line just came to him.

[@CBALLEN]

I wonder how many movies and commercials, BORN TO BE WILD was used in.

[@hays9008]

Writer John Kay said the song was about a new top-quality hi-fi system and he started writing lyrics "about how great our new stereo system sounded takes you away" He said the only drug in the room during recording was pot, he went on to say there is no reference to LSD and it's what music does to you

[@beeseewill2407]

You two are showcasing one of my favorites."Magic Carpet Ride". Check out" Born to be Wild", and "Screaming Night Hog."Steppenwolf knows how to take you to different places.That organ player had a 15 pound afro back in the 60s and made that organ smoke.But Don't forget the drummer.

[@Meyzen76]

“Transportation situation...” Had me dying!!!🤣

[@davidevans4535]

From the era when Lsd or more commonly known as Acid tabs were taken like sweeties trippy times indeed

[@stanleymyrick4068]

I like to dream / Right between the sound machine On a cloud of sound I drift in the night / Any place it goes is right Goes far, flies near, to the stars away from here

[@Sammylu-greenbeatsred]

Keyboards, rhythm guitar, bass, and drums were going crazy and then the vocals of John Kay to top it off. This song never gets old and I heard it when it first came out.

[@rickmcintosh5787]

When Steppenwolf broke up in the middle to late 70's, each band member stepped out to preform Steppenwolf music. In 1978, I booked the lead singer and his group to play one night at the Anchor Club in Cocoa Beach, Florida. We reduced the dress code to come to the club in jeans and what ever. We held 452 cases of beer alone and by 8:00 pm, we were sold out and Wolf hasn't even been on stage. I remember giving my staff money to go to all the ABC liquor stores and they returned with another more 400 cases beer, not to mention we had a full stocked bar as well. After the concert, Bill Proctor of "Proctor & Gamble" convinced them to come party at his house at Sabastian Inlet, after that night I never saw that group again, and I think that's a good thing.

[@rodhotrod4743]

I thought I heard that they were the first heavy metal band of the 60s. But it's really nice to see Asia and BJ grooving to the music of my era not to mention you other listeners out there! 😺

[@rogerkelly7988]

This was one of the first big Rock bands of the 60s and had a string of hit song's and they were one of the first bands that toured heavy in the late 60s but we also had CCR, Grand Funk Railroad and Lynrd Skynyrd

[@sharonpate5481]

The best Steppenwolf ever was “The Pusher” “Snowblind Friend “ and “Born To Be Wild” 😁☮️💙😎👍🏻

[@andreaschmall5560]

"Rock Me" is one that has been lost in the shuffle.

[@billhiggins1882]

Pusher is my pick

[@BobSoltis1]

The Pusher and Snowblind Friend were both anti hard-drug songs by Hoyt Axton who also wrote Joy To The World that Three Dog Night had huge success with. Hoyt's mom co-wrote Heartbreak Hotel for Elvis.

[@chriseggert7362]

you both make the BEST videos for reacting to music in the whole UNIVERSE. PEACE and LOVE from the Yay--Area

[@vivianphillips8519]

"I like to dream...right between the sound machine." This is how we listened.. eyes closed with our head between the speakers and let the music take us away. I was kind of sad to hear this song in a commercial yesterday but maybe it's a good way to introduce today's young people to good rock.

[@autumnphillips151]

I don’t know... I cringed pretty hard recently when I found out that someone had first heard a Black Pumas song in a commercial and _completely_ misunderstood the lyrics and never bothered to seek out the song. I’m afraid that songs featuring in commercials could cause people to have associations that degrade those songs. But, then again, sometimes I’m just glad to hear songs I love, in any context.

[@singluna888]

I have to straight out say they headlined the best concert I've ever been to. Guess Who was the opening act.

[@jimpatterson3286]

The man is John Kay. The band is Steppenwolf. Check out more of both.

[@zoegartham312]

One of the things I love so much about this song is how it goes from incredibly wild and psychedelic music to back to the melody in one beat. That transition is one of my all-time favorite transitions to listen to in music.

[@armadillotoe]

There is nothing like the sound of a Hammond B3 played through Leslies by somebody who knows how to play them. Close your eyes girl. Look inside girl. Let the sound take you away!

[@timothymyers6827]

Psychedelic time of my teenage years!!!!!!! This was a time when we got high closed our eyes and just grooved to it!

[@profanepersonality]

This was the song, that created the term "heavy metal", after a journalist used it to describe the intro.

[@daveguitarnowski4402]

Well, it was actually a line in "Born To Be Wild". That doesn't rule out your explanation though.

[@profanepersonality]

@@daveguitarnowski4402, no it was because the journalist (R.I.P.), thought the intro of this song sounded like "heavy metals crashing into one another."; but thanks for playing.

[@daveguitarnowski4402]

@@profanepersonality Gosh, thanks. Hope I get a prize. Of course, I'm sure you're aware that Born To Be Wild predates Magic Carpet Ride by an album.

[@neilpatrickhairless]

Steppenwolf is a killer band with a deep little gang of tunes. I feel like they are pretty underrated when it comes to their slower, less hard rock stuff.

[@lesschoenberger3070]

The song is over 50 years old and will be played for another 150 years as well as "Born to be wild". Goldy McJohn was the guy "killin" the keys", he was fantastic as was the rest of this original lineup. But it was Mars Bonfire (Dennis Edmonton) playing that rhythm guitar perfectly, he happened to be in the studio when they were recording and asked him to play on this song. He never sped up or slowed down, his timing was always perfect. For a real trip check out "The Sparrow", the band that they were right before becoming Steppenwolf, they really rocked but were more raw and bluesy!

[@luisrodriguez-mb7cc]

This song puts you in the mood to let yourself go, then comes the Psychodelic Rock Solo and....yYu're transported into a trance where you never seem to get off it.....Finally, it brings you back to reality...Quite a journey for you folks.

[@craighayes2263]

I had this song on a 45 rpm record and I played the crap out of it, Love Steppenwolf and of coarse Magic Carpet Ride.

[@davidmcdonald11]

You have just dipped your toe into Steppenwolf! This song will never get old or go out of style! I appreciate you bringing back the classics.

[@stevesmodelbuilds5473]

"I like to be dreamin' right between my sound machine." With some of the profits from their first album, John Kay bought a massive stereo system -- his Sound Machine... The change-ups of this band are unrivalled... 'Goldy' McJohn was the keyboardist, and the band was discovered by Peter Fonda in a Vancouver bar...

[@debbiejarvis5764]

Born To Be Wild ((( was one of their most famous songs.. need to watch the live version.

[@douglassellers7528]

16 yrs. old when this came out. Darn near 70 and still love it.

[@alexdrummer2175]

These guys have influenced so many bands. One of the first to really use the Hammond B3 with rock. Blows my mind that they're not in the Rock and roll Hall of Fame.

[@danielstorm8931]

1960's heavy psychedelic rock. Ended the 60's with this kind of stuff and it brought in the 70's... This song is basically a psychedelic rock song about the effects of the drugs . The word "Magic carpet Ride" relates to what the drug user feels when he or she is on these illegal drugs : flying as high as a kite ; or more likely , a carpet ride while being stoned .

[@1234uz]

Another tune our Band played every time we did a GIG back in the 1960's along with Born to be Wild by him

[@Catbytes]

Since you got hold of Steppenwolf, yall may as well do "Born To Be Wild!!"

[@ronaldmorgan7632]

Of course. How could they not?

[@huerosantos7563]

Hearing that groove, was supposed to be that magic carpet ride. That's how I listened to it when I was a kid. That song came out in 68, I was 7 back then. 63 now and still Rocking to that song. 😎✌🏽

[@vicprovost2561]

Thanks guys for trying this pioneering band who really Rocked in the late 60s & early 70s. Try Born To Be Wild, The Pusher and Monster and see how great a band they were. I was very lucky to see them front row in the early 70s in Waterbury CT, I was just to the left of lead singer / guitarist John Kay, I will never forget his snarl. Rock On. 🎸

[@alonzocoyethea6148]

I've only owned 1 keyboard that had that "Steppenwolf" sound, but it was too heavy, took 2 guys 2 move it, so I downsized to a yamaha 88 in "2002., but I still miss that thing, and haven't found another one since with that psychedelic sound.

[@zeppelinmexicano]

One of the great examples of the psychedelic era. Stoners in Vietnam loved this song. It would definitely put you OUT.

[@titusho2]

The mighty Steppenwolf 🐺! They Rapping in 68' .. Love them.

[@deannacrownover3]

You can actually see each sound in color on acid lol. This song was made for trips. That's what a Magic Carpet Ride was, lol.

[@paulamoya7956]

Yep. This was def about acid trips in the 60’s . This music was created while on it and written about it .

[@deannacrownover3]

@@paulamoya7956 I know, right? Mr Natural, microdot, window pane and sugar cubes... (dang, I've gotten old in there somewhere!)

[@corinnepmorrison1854]

Never did drugs but loved this music...❤️

[@robertherring9277]

"Don't Step on the Grass, Sam" is prolly one of my favorites from them!

[@user1952-e4g]

You two are so much fun! Great reaction to a classic sixties psychedelia rock genre song.

[@mcbeezee2120]

I vividly remember listening to this again and again on AM radio in 1968. I was only 11, but it always got me moving even then.

[@davisworth5114]

"Born to be Wild" is one to do next, all-time classic rock song.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

and source of the phrase "heavy metal."

[@MrJiminDallas]

and Pusherman

[@slimpickins9124]

This was used in the Star Trek film "First Contact' when Earthlings first achieved warp speed space flight. The inventor & pilot played this on takeoff.

[@Bogie3855]

I was hooked the first time I heard this. And later I heard Born to be Wild and I was done. Still a fave album. I lived with a bunch of mororcyclists and when it came on the radio we would get all fired up and jump on our bikes. Great inspiration and I still have a copy of this album.

[@dantean]

They're credited with introducing the expression "Heavy Metal" into the vocabulary of rock music in the song "Born to Be Wild" but THIS song is a lesson in FUNK ROCK!

[@kevincaulder9001]

You do realize that the organ solo is the Magic Carpet Ride. The only thing left for you to do is get your motor running to the heavy metal stomp of BORN TO BE WILD !! Go ahead you two. We've been rocking to it for 6o years. Now it's your turn.

[@mitchellberhoveren7638]

Seen these guys in the late 70's. During the distortion in the beginning of this song, which was already loud and strong enough that you could feel it, a speaker fell off the top of a stack of speakers. I remember the sound thumped my chest! Just a memory from the past!

[@AndrewA0927]

I use to rock to this song in my dads cassette player in his blazer when I was a little kid. Never really understood that this song was about drugs when I was 5. My dad use to laugh so hard when I would rock out to it haha good memories

[@Mymloch]

This was a necessity for every weekend I had between the ages of 15 and 20.... very special!!!

[@chuckmoseley3771]

53 years and still kickin. Drug's did play apart in music 🎵 during these years

[@jonlenihan4798]

"Steppenwolf" by Herman Hesse, a novel published in 1927. Hesse was popular in the 1960s.

[@chalieblairjr8452]

You guys are a great combo together and the music you can listen to is awesome I'm 63 years old and it takes me back to when I was 20 God bless you guys

[@marc2397]

I remember when this song came out..huge!! Les’ go!! I was 13 in 1968.

[@robertschiavone5159]

Love the 70's funk and groove..just sounds so much better than any generation...am I right..can't deny

[@djjonosborn1531]

Asia & BJ - In the 60's, groups like Steppenwolf wanted listeners to get lost in the music. That is how you know if a band is good then and now actually. This is a GREAT band. Magic Carpet Ride definitely has a funk element to it. Sly Stone comes to mind.

[@RaySawhill]

That long instrumental bit *was* the magic carpet ride. Trippin’!

[@ablesandoval4904]

Wow! The Dark tunnel, The dark Highway...Exactly what I though of way back in 1970s listening to this song.

[@sharonburris3873]

Yall need to listen to "For Ladies Only", "Tenderness", "Snowblind Friend", Monster/America", "The Pusher", and "It's Never Too Late". My favorite band of all time.

[@danhartman8582]

Got to see them in the 70s , fantastic band , check out The Pusher another one of their hits .

[@AliasMark69]

I saw Steppenwolf and Iron Butterfly together in 1969. I was 15 and smoking a pipe packed with some great stuff, This song, Born To Be Wild, Rock Me Baby and The Pusher, then IRON BUTTERFLY.... Extended long.....In-A-Gada-Da-Vida for 45 minutes.......AWESOME

[@ponymon4283]

The song has been used in many commercials. Currently Goodyear is using it in their commercial.

[@darlenemartinez817]

Love this from my high school days!

[@cindyv1401]

Holy Crap Very first concert I saw ‼️ I was only 16.....WOW

[@productivepenguin8865]

Great reaction! Real blast from the past. All that's missing for me is the black lights and psychedelic posters! Man, what a time it was to be alive!

[@oldmanghost219]

One of my favorites from back in the day. It is a live version video that I have in my library that starts with the keyboard doing a little jam.

[@mrsteeleye6907]

I have always loved the part where it sounds like a couple of guitars having a conversation with one another.

[@johncampbell756]

Very random and not very well known trivia. Before founding Steppenwolf, the bassist Nick St. Nicholas and keyboardist Goldie McJohn recorded a 1965 single for Columbia called The Mynah Bird Hop as part of the Canadian band The Mynah Birds. The singer was an America teen named James Johnson and was renamed Ricky James Matthews as he was AWOL from the US NAVY. The two Canadians left the band and eventually formed Steppenwolf. Nick was replaced by a guy named Bruce Palmer. This version of The Mynah Birds got signed to MOTOWN, but it was suddenly just Ricky and Bruce. One of the new additions was guitarist Neil Young. This new version of the band recorded an album, but Ricky git busted for being AWOL and MOTOWN dropped them and shelved the album. Bruce and Neil packed up Neil's hearse and drove to LA to find an American friend named Stephen Stills. They founded the band Buffalo Springfield. That band filed and Neil Young went solo and is still recording new albums and is a legend. Stills started Crosby Stills and Nash (later Crosby Stills Nash and Young) and got massive. Eventually Ricky James Matthews got out of the Navy and changed his name again and became famous as Rick James. So, yeah, half of this band was previously in a band with Rick James. Superfreak Rick James.

[@fairydust-weepthewildwinds]

Saw this band live with BOSTON, STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, and AIR SUPPLY. My love at the time, yelled out to the crowd, I LOVE THIS WOMAN…. GOOD TIMES

[@steveclarke4542]

Song with legs out, ropes beside. Drop on roof of target. Top-down assault. 160th SOAR are majick carpets. Huuaaahhh!

[@steveclarke4542]

The rope hurts, impact worse At least it's over... ...now the shootin' Hiuuuuaaahhhh!

[@lisar.6670]

Lordy .. this brings back memories. A few friends and I had just taken some shrooms and someone slapped SWolfs Greatest Hits onto the turntable .. I had to take a walk .. 😂 .. Ya have to check our their hit "The Pusher Man" next ..

[@chuckwilliams8015]

Thank you. Canada 🇨🇦 rocks. I saw them in 96 at a fair in Missouri, with Marshal Tucker band.

[@grosbeak6130]

The magic carpet is the music itself. p.s. I like that you give the date of the song.

[@MrNathan791]

I love this song ; it has so much energy and it’s a fun song. The long instrumental break at end was like a psychedelic trip. As a kid back in the 70’s we had so much fun dancing and moving to this classic rock song. The greatest era of music was the 60’s-80’s, nothing comes close. Great job guys. Peace ✌️ out.

[@dang2226]

Glad to see you youngens reacting to music i listened too...and i was born in 74😂😂😂 and i loved listening to this as a kid❤❤❤

[@ginakirby4434]

My aunt introduced me to this music when I was 7 years old lol. I loved it. Try out Tommy James and the Shondells.

[@paulkersey1007]

Steppenwolf was one of the first names to pioneer what many people call heavy metal. They are legends. I don't take drugs but man, I can imagine what kind of high you'll get when you hear this.

[@Mark-iv7np]

The first time I heard this fantastic song in 68 I knew it would be a huge hit and it was the short version for radio. This is so much better. John Kay is a very good singer hats off to all the band members. Rock Me is very good also.

[@joannedungan8381]

I love this song.

[@leslie8743]

In the movie Easy Rider in 1968. It was the generations free love and drugs and rock and roll. My older sisters played it over and over! "Don't Bogart that joint my friend," was another song. lol

[@royholley8325]

One of the first albums I bought was Stepinwolf Live, the best live album ever, drove my parents crazy playing it in my room

[@beeseewill2407]

John Kay lead singer of Steppenwolf said in an interview that he got some of his earlier music influence from church musicals and listening to black music on the radio.

[@williamscoggin1509]

Back in high school we used to blow this record up on the City Cafe jukebox while we were shooting pool in the back room.

[@steveferocious5184]

Ive loved this song for many years. My older brother had the single record they used to call them 45s. Was absolute joy to watch u 2 discover it and enjoy it the way I do.

[@colinpate3059]

My buddies and I hung out at this old pool hall when we were in Jr High. Smoked cigarettes, played pool, would drink Dr. Pepper and eat frozen candy bars. This place had a killer old Wurlitzer juke box that had bass that would kick you in the chest. This song on that juke box was amazing. To this day over fifty years later this song reminds me of that old pool hall and hanging out with my pals.

[@EyezenMediaProds]

I was in SE Asia in the US Army when this came out... hot hot hot... checkout Deep Purple's HUSH... you'll love it. What an era of great music.

[@paulamoya7956]

This should be assigned listening in school . The year I was born 68’ .. this is a Masterpiece I grew up hearing from the time I was born⭐️

[@jodiwilliams6616]

“Magic carpet ride” = drug trip 🤷🏼‍♀️ Loved watching you both groove to this golden oldie.!