Lovely Meter

Album: At Your Birthday Party (1969)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • One of two ballads on Steppenwolf's third album, At Your Birthday Party, "Lovely Meter" is played with two acoustic guitars and harmonium. The song was written by Gabriel Mekler, who produced the album, and it was sung by bass player Nick St. Nicholas. John Kay didn't participate much in this album so the other band members and Mekler have a larger presence. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Petr - Brno, Czech Republic

Comments: 3

  • Randy from Fayettevile, Ar"At Your Birthday Party" was a much anticipated album in 1969. I had gone crazy over Steppenwolf's first two LPs because they were so good. The graphics art on this LP was really wild and zonked out. This LP was certainly different from it's predecessors because of John Kay's minor involvement. I never heard why he did that. Anyway, one of the real stand-out songs on this LP is "Jupiter's Child" a really strong Steppenwolf-type rocker with amazing vocals by John Kay, with great guitar & drum work! Songfacts should devote a separate site to "Jupiter's Child" because of it's musical quality. It was included in their more recent CD "Steppenwolf's Greatest Hits." Back in 1969, the album came out as a "fold out" album. Usually, double albums used "fold out" to hold the two vinyl discs, but on this LP it was used for the wild graphic art & liner notes with the one disc. It was a favorite on the FM underground radio stations popular in the late 60s and early 70s. Very strange radio format. Underground radio played a lot of controversial & powerful music, which meant there was a lot of Steppenwolf. Especially in the underground radio stations in & around Kansas City area.
  • Petr from Brno, Czech RepublicJerry Edmonton sang "She'll Be Better", another ballad on this album. But "Lovely Meter" was sung by Nick St. Nicholas. It was told in the interview with Nick St. Nicholas:
    "Q: "Lovely Meter" written by Gabriel Mekler and featured on the Birthday album is a beautiful ballad that you sang lead vocal on. Can you tell us a little bit about that song?
    A: When I heard the melody, I fell in love with it but wanted to have John or somebody else sing it. Nobody wanted to sing it because, like you mentioned in your question, the melody was too beautiful. Steppenwolf was more raw & Harley and Davidson crunch guitar with twilight supernatural spin-doctor whirly B3 Hammond overtones. Well, we drew straw. I ended up with the short straw. I first sang the song in Swedish. They all thought that was funny. Some ended up on the floor laughing. Gabriel insisted we get serious. Most of whoever was there, left & went home. I then did the vocal tracks in English with a Canadian accent."
  • Daniel from Seattle, WaIn point of fact, it is Jerry Edmonton, the drummer, singing on this song. Nick St Nicholas joined just prior to this album, but Edmonton's vocals can be heard on the group's previous album, STEPPENWOLF THE SECOND, singing on "28" and "Faster Than the Speed of Life."
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's Songs

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's SongsSong Writing

"London Bridge," "Ring Around the Rosie" and "It's Raining, It's Pouring" are just a few examples of shockingly morbid children's songs.

Ramones

RamonesFact or Fiction

A band so baffling, even their names were contrived. Check your score in the Ramones version of Fact or Fiction.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Bryan Adams

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.

Sam Phillips

Sam PhillipsSongwriter Interviews

Collaborating with T Bone Burnett, Leslie Phillips changed her name and left her Christian label behind - Robert Plant, who recorded one of her songs on Raising Sand, is a fan.