100 Greatest Songs of the 60’s #45 Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild

Released: 1968

According to Discogs Steppenwolf have appeared on 1,605 compilations between 1968 and now. Going through what was included where can be somebody else’s rainy day job, but there’s something dispiriting about giving up the right to have your work interpreted alongside that of others; nestling up to Kid Rock or Mumford And Sons is a peril well worth avoiding.

You can also bet that a very high proportion of those included one of a handful of their songs, such is the format’s nature. But one was far more important than all the rest, as Born To Be Wild joined Monster on the soundtrack album to Easy Rider, Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper’s generation defining touchstone for those pursuing a different American dream.

Joining the likes of Hendrix, The Byrds, Roger McGuinn and The Electric Prunes, Steppenwolf singer John Kay would often recount that they received no payment from Fonda for the song’s use. They were handsomely rewarded anyway, it’s unravelling psychedelia and Kay’s gutsy voice bringing Hell’s Angels into everyone’s front room. Now it can also be found in uncle Derek’s car as he goes to the Post Office, but don’t blame the band. Everyone needs to get paid somehow.