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Steppenwolf — Magic Carpet Ride
Album: The Second
Avg rating:
7.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 729









Released: 1968
Length: 4:17
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I like to dream
Yes, yes, right between my 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

Well, you don't know what we can find
Why don't you come with me, little girl, on a magic carpet ride?
You don't know what we can see
Why don't you tell your dreams to me? Fantasy will set you free

Close your eyes, girl
Look inside, girl
Let the sound take you away

Last night I held Aladdin's lamp
And so I wished that I could stay
Before the thing could answer me
Well, someone came and took the lamp away
I looked around
A lousy candle's all I found

Well, you don't know what we can find
Why don't you come with me, little girl, on a magic carpet ride?
Well, you don't know what we can see
Why don't you tell your dreams to me? Fantasy will set you free

Close your eyes, girl
Look inside, girl
Let the sound take you away

You don't know what we can find
Why don't you come with me, little girl, on a magic carpet ride?
Well, you don't know what we can see
Why don't you tell your dreams to me? Fantasy will set you free
Comments (93)add comment
Ah the memories, indeed.  I think it was 1980 or 81...they played at a farm in rural PA...outdoors, next to an above ground pool by the farmhouse.  It was muddy all around and I had a full plaster cast on my leg...but the sun was shining and they sounded great. Fun, fun.
 apd wrote:
You know you're a Star Trek dork when your first association with this song is...
 
...riding an ICBM mod into orbit with a hungover James Cromwell.
Ah the memories!  What I love here is that you can see all the lyrics that we used to fake, poorly.  There is nothing like a B3 and Leslie in the right hands.  
 von_Hayek wrote:
Star Trek: First Contact  {#Cool}
 
good lord. the use of this song in that film was so friggin' cheesy.
 dziebell wrote:
The rule in my car is:  Crank this one up!  Always.  Stop talking and roll the windows down.
Wisecrowe wrote:

I think this is an actual law on the books. At least I've always been under that impression. I always obey!
 
Triple the agreement...and windows down EVEN if it's cold outside.  This is a 9 for me, almost a 10...Long Live RP!!
 dziebell wrote:
The rule in my car is:  Crank this one up!  Always.  Stop talking and roll the windows down.
 
I think this is an actual law on the books. At least I've always been under that impression. I always obey!
The rule in my car is:  Crank this one up!  Always.  Stop talking and roll the windows down.
To me only a weak 7 
To me, musically, this classic is a 7. But as a vital track to the music of its time and my own personal journey in those years (and Steppenwolf's others handful of other timeless deep cuts), it's an 8. Should we have two separate rating scales? 
I shouldn't rate it so highly, but this song has one of my silliest, glory-days memories associated with it, and it never fails to make me grin like a maniac.
Bill usually does brilliant segues but that one doesn't work for me.
 jasonv wrote:
Man, I don't come to RP to hear something like this when it's a staple of classic rock radio.
 
What you said
Man, I don't come to RP to hear something like this when it's a staple of classic rock radio.
 DigitalJer wrote:
Gotta be among the top 10 penultimate classic rock / rock songs out there.  Gritty, pointed, mystical, determined, and unapologetic.  Love it.
 
Great tune, but is it really the next-to-last classic rock song?
Mars Bonfire
i had one of the releases of this 16 greatest hits on vinyl (i think it would have been the 1980 release), and if my memory is still there the "magic carpet ride" version on my release had at least a minute chopped off making it barely longer than three minutes.  obviously the version cut down for the 7" 45.
When are organs going to make a re-entry into music?  I miss that percussive, slapping keyboard.  Let's start a band!
 Blaggart wrote:
It's a description of the Lambda Chi Alpha secret college fraternity initiation. At least, that's what John Kay says - although not publicly. Any article you read will refute this followed by dozens of comments providing support. The video (no longer on You Tube) nails it.

 

Yeah, I remember hearing that from another Lambda Chi. I always figured it for an urban legend, the same way everyone who went to a suburban high school in Ohio in 1988 said their school was the model for the movie "Heathers."  We used to say that at my school, too, of course.


You know you're a Star Trek dork when your first association with this song is...
 superfido wrote:


Those guys do (did) far too many drugs for sure.  Especially caveman to the far left.
 
Rogaine.
another shot of Bill Brilliance....I have always loved this song (in 4th grade when it came out)(Born to be Wild was our anthem)(when the Parents were not within earshot, we cranked up The Pusher)
Love Steppenwolf... Sherman, set the way-back machine to summer 1968...
DigitalJer wrote:
Gotta be among the top 10 penultimate classic rock / rock songs out there. Gritty, pointed, mystical, determined, and unapologetic. Love it.
It's a description of the Lambda Chi Alpha secret college fraternity initiation. At least, that's what John Kay says - although not publicly. Any article you read will refute this followed by dozens of comments providing support. The video (no longer on You Tube) nails it.

Have not heard this for awhile. Did not think I would here this on RP.   Nice

Gotta be among the top 10 penultimate classic rock / rock songs out there.  Gritty, pointed, mystical, determined, and unapologetic.  Love it.


There is a scary moment when one can hear the influence the vocalista has had on the Bon Jovi affected growl. Apologies for typing the words Bon and Jovi in this most esteemed of forums
 kjf06 wrote:
This seems to be sped up vs my AM radio memories
 
Naw...you've just slowed down.

Nice seguay from Snow Patrol "lifeboats" to this, Bill.....great job, as always, Thanks
 Peace_tode wrote:
I don't know what it is about this song, but it has the support of the masses. I can appreciate almost any song, but this one just makes me wonder. I played it as a musician and it is as simple as it gets. Repetitive and boring. I know it was the S*** in it's day, and I played it not too far removed from then. But I think this one is just lame. Steppenwolf has others more worthy of airplay. This one I can live without.
 

I'm with you, Peace. I'm all for happy music, but after the next few times, this song looses it's appeal.
Gotta love the wailing Hammond B3.
 peter_james_bond wrote:
Wolf
 
Beautiful!

That tempo shift from Snow Patrol to Steppenwolf was sublime, Bill! {#Notworthy}
Same speed. If you remember it from the AM days your metabolism is just a bit slower now. kjf06 wrote:
This seems to be sped up vs my AM radio memories
 


Very nice!!  Really great set this morning , Bill!!  Thanks!!

According to AMG the compilation "16 Greatest Hits" was issued by MCA in 1973.
Love this song. I saw them live around '72 in Chitcago and the concert was so bad most people walked out on it by halfway through. Must have been the drugs...
From here to there eventually...
Watch out for those magic carpet burns

This seems to be sped up vs my AM radio memories
 RadioDoc wrote:
Back then we all looked like that...
  Yep, and that includes the Women.{#Drunk}

 RadioDoc wrote:
Back then we all looked like that...
 

apparently i like the well-drugged look!
 von_Hayek wrote:

Star Trek: First Contact  {#Cool}

 
IMO, one of the corniest uses of music in a movie ever. As bad as Kirk, Spock and McCoy singing bad campfire songs in one of the earlier films
Yea Baby Yea
Wolf
superfido wrote:
Those guys do (did) far too many drugs for sure. Especially caveman to the far left.
Back then we all looked like that...


Thanks RP for lifting the mood with a Magic Carpet Ride!
{#Puke}
Never fails to make me stop in my tracks and start the toe tappin'

Star Trek: First Contact  {#Cool}


"In a white room, with black curtains..."

7.
I don't know what it is about this song, but it has the support of the masses. I can appreciate almost any song, but this one just makes me wonder. I played it as a musician and it is as simple as it gets. Repetitive and boring. I know it was the S*** in it's day, and I played it not too far removed from then. But I think this one is just lame. Steppenwolf has others more worthy of airplay. This one I can live without.
 driver8 wrote:

 

Those guys do (did) far too many drugs for sure.  Especially caveman to the far left.
I remember dancing around the room to this when I was a wee lad with the AM transistor turned all the way up!{#Dancingbanana}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Bananajam}
We used to do a dance routine to this song doing the Four Corners.

                                              9


Step in this!{#Cool}
had to log in to give it a ten!

I keep looking for the eleven button.  Sweet!
Here wo go, yees {#Dancingbanana_2}
 lsherida wrote:
OK, creepy. I just downloaded this the night before last... Just sort of fell in love with it when Zefram Cochrane fired off the first warp core listening to it. :)

 
that was a great scene, I laughed until I stopped.

#1 biker band :)
OK, creepy. I just downloaded this the night before last... Just sort of fell in love with it when Zefram Cochrane fired off the first warp core listening to it. :)
Never knew this was in the RP mix. Once every few months is ok for this.
rah wrote:
i'm usually the last to complain about this, but i actually just checked to see if i had tuned into a "classic rock!" station by accident...
It was no accident. If you're here, you have absolutely tuned in. And it's a very fine thing. "Classic" - that's one way to describe the rock station we locals refer to as Earth. Welcome!
93vx800 wrote:
Never expected to hear this on RP! Bill is full of surprises. What will be next?
I do feel for that poor whale being tortured in the background ;-)
Never expected to hear this on RP! Bill is full of surprises. What will be next?
i'm usually the last to complain about this, but i actually just checked to see if i had tuned into a "classic rock!" station by accident...
Inamorato wrote:
The organ is an absolute hodge-podge, strained through a Leslie.
I've thought that too. Kinda sounds like they didn't really write a part for the organ and Goldy jammed along on his coffee break.
"You don't know what you can find . . ." (listening here on RP) Top-notch. Dragged me back a bit when I was an idiot. Getting better at it these days.
oldviolin wrote:
I wouldn't want to live on a steady diet of nothing but '70's music, but damn!! So much of it was so friggin' GOOD!! Fits perfectly with "eclectic!"
runningtwig wrote:
Excellent transition from Chris Isaak - Gone Ridin'.
noticed that too. well done, bill.
I can't believe I'm hearing this. Steppenwolf was my first band I got into back in jr. high in Germany. Loved it. Make it a mimosa morning
Love it! Let it rock, Bill!
Excellent! :-) 11!
The organ is an absolute hodge-podge, strained through a Leslie.
This is out of the park...
Wow -- this is the first time this has been played on RP?! Kewl. Neil
Excellent transition from Chris Isaak - Gone Ridin'.
Great segue from Chris Isaak. Crank it!
FANTASTIC....Can't believe it hasn't been on RP before. It is truly GOD LIKE!
Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride Chris Isaak - Gone Ridin' Wow, now that is one brilliant segue!
sdn wrote:
This song seems vaguely familiar.
It's from team America.
Where's my Harley?
Best listened to on an 8-track in a car for best rocking-out potential.
Oh. my. god.
This song seems vaguely familiar.