Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride

I first noticed the stereo edit of Magic Carpet Ride on the MCA 45 reissues. It was odd that they did that. Most of the time they just put the stereo versions on those reissue 45s after the mono version were thrown out to save money on storage. Someone, apparently in the 1980s created a new edit for 45 re-issues. I noted to Andy McKaie at MCA that it wasn't very faithful but he said they felt it was fine. Does anybody have Magic Carpet Ride on a re-issue 45 that's the full length version? Or in stereo on the Goldies label? I also think it was re-issued on Roulette as MCA and Roulette had some kind of trade agreement in the 1980's. Tommy James and other Roulette artists were on MCA re-issue 45s (Crimson and Clover was the album version on 45), Steppenwolf and other MCA artists ended up on Roulette re-issue 45s. I think Roulette just folded down everything to mono on some of these 45 releases.

not only was Magic Carpet Ride a mono remix/edit but the 45 has an alternate lead vocal. VERY noticeable right away.

Edited by davidclark

As legend has it, the 45 vocal was an early take much like a "guide vocal". Reportedly, it was "accidently" used on the "mixdown" for the Mono 45 from the original 16-track multi-track tape. Further, John Kay prefers the vocal that was later cut for the Stereo LP mix and subsequent release. The Mono mix was tossed [as were many ABC/Dunhill Mono masters] when ABC purchased the Dot masters in the early 70's and they needed room in their vault. We lost these historic mixes for Pat Boone masters...

Bob

Bill Cahill wrote: I'm not sure if anybody knows the real reason for the difference in vocal. On one version he sings flies far, goes near, the other goes far, flies near. I figured one of them was wrong so John Kay re-did it. But the vocal is only different through the first chorus. And on the fade out chorus.(at the end, the 45 splices in the differently sung first chorus, the LP version splices a different chorus at the end) The second verse and chorus matches on both versions, that wasn't re-done. Dick Bartley told me he asked John Kay about it and Kay said he thought he did the song in one take, so it's doubtful even Kay remembers why it's different.

Bill,

I took my information from the ACE CD, "Chartbusters USA, Vol. #2" and from discussions that have taken place over at Steve Hoffman's forum over the years. ACE does not specifically list their sources of information but, it certainly makes sense, considering the vocal takes are obviously different. As you may recall, Hoffman mastered this track [Stereo mix] for the "Vintage Hits" series issued by MCA many years ago.

Bob

aaronk wrote: I mentioned this a while back, but the Varese compilation On The Radio has the song "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf mastered from vinyl. They didn't even bother to take out the clicks throughout their dub. The reason I mention this again is because the database does not note that it's a vinyl remaster. While it is the only CD that currently has the 45 version, the sound quality is so poor, it's not even worth picking up for this song.

   A little trip through Adobe Audition can help the sound, but, that version on the CD is very representative of the sound of the actual 45. In fact, it's very hard to find a clean-sounding 45. It was pressed on cheap vinyl. I have four copies, and they all sound bad.