Wolftracks

For other uses, see Wolf Tracks (disambiguation).

Wolftracks is an album by John Kay and Steppenwolf, released in 1982 by Wolf Records, with distribution by Nautilus Records in the U.S. and Attic Records in Canada.^[1] It was the first new studio album in six years for John Kay, featuring a new line-up of Steppenwolf and Kay renaming the group accordingly.

Wolftracks
Studio album by Steppenwolf
Released	1982
Recorded	1982
Studio	Ocean Way, Hollywood, California
Genre	Rock
Length	45:09
Label	Wolf
Producer	John Kay, Richard Podolor
Steppenwolf chronology
Skullduggery (1976) Wolftracks (1982) Paradox (1984)
Singles from Wolftracks
"Hot Night in a Cold Town" Released: 1981

Background

In 1980, John Kay reclaimed the Steppenwolf name, touring as “John Kay & Steppenwolf.” The album Wolftracks, the first after the band reformed, was recorded "live" in the studio on a 2-track digital recorder, which was then a new medium.^[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[4]

The Globe and Mail wrote that "the basic elements are all there: Kay's husky, Wilson Pickett singing style dominates the digitally processed mix, and Michael Wilk adds the familiar, fat organ sounds to the lurching, half-soul and half-rock beat."^[5]

Track listing

Side one

1. "All I Want Is All You Got" (John Kay) – 3:55
2. "Time" (Kay, Michael Palmer, Kevin Kern) – 3:31
3. "None of the Above" (Kay, M. Palmer, Steven Palmer) – 5:59
4. "You" (Kay) – 3:50
5. "Every Man for Himself" (Kay) – 3:19
6. "Five Finger Discount" (Kay) – 4:36

Side two

1. "Hold Your Head Up" (Rod Argent, Chris White) – 3:42
2. "Hot Night in a Cold Town" (Rick Littlefield, Geoffrey Cushing-Murray) – 3:20
3. "Down To Earth" (Kim Fowley, Ross Wilson) – 3:00
4. "For Rock-N-Roll" (Kay) – 3:42
5. "The Balance" (Kay) – 6:15

Personnel

John Kay and Steppenwolf

• John Kay – guitar, vocals
• Michael Wilk – keyboards, vocals
• Michael Palmer – lead guitar, vocals
• Welton Gite – bass
• Steven Palmer – drums, percussion, vocals

Additional musicians

• Brett Tuggle, George Biondo – backing vocals

Technical

• John Kay – producer
• Richard Podolor – producer (track 1)
• Kevin Kern – engineer, assistant producer
• Rich Feldman – engineer
• Mark Ettel, Steve Crimmel – assistant engineers
• Bruce Leek, Richard Donaldson – mastering
• Drennon Studio – art direction
• John Exley – photography

References

1. "Steppenwolf Biography by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
2. "Wolftracks-CD". Stepphenwolf.com. John Kay & Steppenwolf. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
3. "Wolftracks John Kay & Steppenwolf". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
4. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 670.
5. Lacey, Liam (11 Sep 1982). "Wolftracks Steppenwolf". The Globe and Mail. p. F6.