John Kay, the voice behind “Born To Be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride,” returned to his roots in 2001 with an intense and organic folk and blues solo album called Heretics & Privateers. Kay’s down-to-earth approach on this album may come across as rather uncharacteristic of the man known for spearheading “heavy metal thunder” with his band Steppenwolf. But upon closer examination, Kay’s introspective lyrics and stark arrangements are tersely genuine and profound. After several playbacks, it’s not too much of a stretch to say that Kay, as a songwriter and social commentator, may well be in the same league as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. The only difference is that Kay remains a bit rebellious when it comes to the present political climate.
To the uninitiated, Steppenwolf appeared to be the epitome of a dirty, unkempt, hard livin’, hard rockin’ band of the late 60s. Songs like “The Pusher” were too provocative and in-your-face for the squares and conformists of the day. But underneath the rigid pretense was a band with a mission and a statement to back it up with. Steppenwolf definitely made an impact that lasts to this day. This has enabled Kay, an immigrant from East Germany, to get a taste of the American dream. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he hasn’t turned his back on the masses and isolated himself in an ivory tower. The themes throughout Heretics & Privateers directly address the downtrodden and the self-righteous. The title track sets the tone, outlining the trials and tribulations of the everyman who, in the end, realizes that “chasing the carrot is a never-ending race.” It carries over to “Don’t Waste My Time,” a song anyone who’s ever been put on hold by corporate America can identify with. “Ain’t That A Shame” is yet another tune that simply disdains the greed and self-interest that inhibits modern society.
Kay isn’t constantly towing the line about the condition of the social order. His most personal song, “For The Women In My Life,” is an upbeat and earnest tribute to his mother, wife and daughter. “To Be Alive” lectures the whiners of the world, but it certainly doesn’t lack any hope or compassion in its delivery. And while Kay returns to his condescension of consumerism on “I Will Not Be Denied” and the somewhat playful, “Endless Commercial,” he manages to end the record on a high note with “The Back Page,” a paean to “all the helpers, all the healers” often sidelined by the assassins, criminals and politicians who seem to grab the headlines. Joined by members of Steppenwolf as well as such hot shots as the legendary guitarist Steve Cropper, Kay’s cutthroat vocals and guitar work give the album the kind of musical underscore necessary to validate the premise. Somewhat dark with a few light edges, Heretics & Privateers is proof positive that there are still a few wounds to heal before we are all able to live in peace and harmony.
~ Shawn Perry
