The song was produced by Gabriel Mekler and released as a single in 1969, originally as the B-side to "Jupiter Child", but the sides were later flipped.
"[3] Dave Grusin used the song when he scored the 1968 psychedelic sex farce movie Candy, in which it is the culmination to the soundtrack.
[13] Steppenwolf performed the song on the January 5, 1969, episode of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and on the German Beat-Club.
: A Subjective Cultural History of the American Sixties, Erik v. d. Luft noted the surprising theme from the all-male band, fronted by John Kay's gruff voice "complaining that a woman was being objectified for sex.
"[9] Cash Box described the original A-side, "Jupiter Child" as sounding "steel-hard on the sole basis of the distinctive lead vocal and smouldering instrumentation" despite a relatively slow tempo.