Plain and Fancy: 10/27/22

Skullduggery is the ninth studio album by Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. The album was released in May 1976, by Epic Records. It was the third of four released by Epic Records, and the last to feature keyboardist Wayne Cook, who left to join Player in 1977. The band broke up in 1971, and Kay pursued a solo career. Steppenwolf reformed in 1974 with the album Slow Flux, and disbanded in 1976. Afterward, several versions of the band toured North America until Kay reformed the official version of the group in 1980.

“The title song -while the mainstream Blue Oyster Cult-sounding chorus is pretty catchy and the verse melody is somewhat solid as well- really shows a band trying to fit in with the hard rock artists at the times and well, there really was no reason to.” “The title of the only slow song is Rock n roll song which is actually a nice ballad! It is smoothly played while maintaining a rock feel. “Rock and Roll Song” is a great commentary on how the political and societal changes had occured since Steppenwolf’s creation.”

“Life Is a Gamble” is generic -but decent- mid 70’s rock with the occasional touch of piano and is honestly a high point on an album like this. WHAT the… where did “Rock and Roll Song” come from? John Kay’s voice returns to fine classic form, and the sincerity in his voice is simply unmatched by anyone else”

RoR, December 28, 2021