Magic Carpet Ride

For the statue in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, see Cardiff Kook.

"Magic Carpet Ride" may also refer to a dance song by Mighty Dub Katz.

"Magic Carpet Ride"
Single by Steppenwolf
from the album The Second
B-side	"Sookie Sookie"
Released	September 1968
Recorded	1968
Genre	Psychedelic Rock, Hard rock, acid rock
Length	4:25 (album version) 2:55 (single version)
Label	ABC Dunhill Records
Writer(s)	Rushton Moreve/John Kay
Producer	Gabriel Mekler
The Second track listing "28" (6) "Magic Carpet Ride" (7) "Disappointment Number (Unknown)" (8)

"Magic Carpet Ride" is a rock song written by John Kay and Rushton Moreve from the Canadian-American band Steppenwolf. The song was initially released in 1968 on the album The Second. It was the lead single from that album, peaking at No. 3 in the US, and becoming the band's second-biggest hit, surpassed only by "Born to Be Wild". The song is also considered the first modern rock video.

The single version differs noticeably from the album version with a different vocal take by Kay used for the first verse of the song and differing instrumental balances. The single version is also much shorter than the album version, with a running time of 2 minutes and 55 seconds (the album version is 4 minutes and 25 seconds long).

Lead singer John Kay wrote the song; the lyrics "I like to dream, right between my sound machine" came from his inspiration from listening to a hi-fi home stereo system he bought with royalties from his first album.

In 1988, the band rerecorded the song with the hip hop group (and DJ) Grandmaster Flash. The track appeared on his and the Furious Five reunion album On the Strength.

Popular culture

• In Star Trek: First Contact, Zephram Cochrane made sure he played the song as he launched Earth's first Warp drive craft, The Phoenix, from a missile silo.
• The song was briefly heard in the film Apollo 13.
• The song was covered by boy band Hanson in their 2000 live performance at the Fillmore.
• This song was in NASCAR Thunder 2003 and also the intro theme.
• The song was used in Triple Play 2001 as both the intro theme and an insert song within the game.
• The song was featured in the TV movie Amy & Isabelle in the scene where Amy's friend's boyfriend picked her up in his truck and he pleyed the song
• The song is featured in the episode "Mario's Magic Carpet" from the series The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
• The song was featured in the film Team America: World Police in the scene when the agents are de-briefing at a cocktail party.
• The song was featured in the film "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" in the scene when Austin went back in time to the 60's.
• The song was featured in the film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back in the scene when Jay and Silent Bob are picked up by the Mystery Machine.
• The song was featured in the film "Reservoir Dogs".
• The song was featured in the 1999 film 'Go' staring Sarah Polley and Katie Holmes during the car chase scene in Las Vegas.
• The song was featured in the 2004 Disney film Home on the Range.
• The song was featured in the 2005 film Sahara.
• The song was featured in the 2011 film Friends with Benefits

References

Preceded by "Hold Me Tight" by Johnny Nash

Canadian RPM 100 number-one single November 25, 1968 (one week)

Succeeded by "Abraham, Martin and John" by Dion

External links

• Magic Carpet Lyrics