For Ladies Only

For Ladies Only
Studio album by Steppenwolf
Released November 1971
Recorded November 24, 1970 - May 30, 1971
Studio American Recording Studios, Studio City, CA
Genre Rock
Length 45:19
Label Dunhill
Producer Richard Podolor
Steppenwolf chronology
Steppenwolf 7
(1970)		 For Ladies Only
(1971)		 Gold: Their Great Hits
(1971)
Singles from For Ladies Only
  1. "Ride with Me"/"Black Pit"
    Released: July, 1971
  2. "For Ladies Only"/"Sparkle Eyes"
    Released: October, 1971
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
Robert ChristgauC+[2]
Rolling Stone(mixed) [3]

For Ladies Only is the sixth studio album by Steppenwolf, released in 1971. It is a political concept album mainly about feminism but with several more conventional songs about romance as well, both unusual themes for Steppenwolf. Some critics saw the album as sexist, citing the lyrics of the songs and a photo of a car shaped like a penis alongside the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the gatefold. The album saw the band hinting toward the progressive rock movement that was popular at the time with more complex arrangements and sophisticated keyboard playing, particularly on the title track. Like their previous album, it was accompanied by two minor hit singles which fell just short of the Top 40.[4]

Lead guitarist Kent Henry from Blues Image, replaced Larry Byrom prior to recording this album. The album was Steppenwolf's last of new material released prior to the band's initial breakup in February 1972.

Reception

The album was not well received by reviewers with Robert Christgau writing "These fellows certainly have lost their hip aura..."[2] AllMusic's Joe Viglione writes "In retrospect, For Ladies Only remains a neat artifact of a band who might've been called on to create too much too soon."[1] However, fans liked it enough that it charted at number 54 on the Billboard 200.

Track listing

Side one
  1. "For Ladies Only" (Jerry Edmonton, Kent Henry, John Kay, Goldy McJohn) – 9:13
  2. "I'm Asking" (Edmonton, McJohn) – 4:25
  3. "Shackles and Chains" (Kay) – 4:57
  4. "Tenderness" (Mars Bonfire) – 4:51
Side two
  1. "The Night Time's for You" (Bonfire, Morgan Cavett) – 2:56
  2. "Jaded Strumpet" (Edmonton) – 4:40
  3. "Sparkle Eyes" (George Biondo, Kay) – 4:29
  4. "Black Pit" (Henry, McJohn) – 3:46
  5. "Ride With Me" (Bonfire) – 3:15
  6. "In Hopes of a Garden" (Biondo) – 2:01
The LP jacket was of the gatefold type. Outside of the unfolded jacket, front side to the right
Inside the gatefold

Personnel

Steppenwolf

Technical

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

Year Chart Position
1971 Billboard 200 54

Singles - Billboard (United States)[4]

Year Single Chart Position
1971 "For Ladies Only" Billboard Hot 100 64
1971 "Ride With Me" Billboard Hot 100 52

References

  1. 1 2 For Ladies Only at AllMusic
  2. 1 2 "Robert Christgau Review - For Ladies Only". Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  3. ↑ Album review, Rolling Stone.
  4. 1 2 Steppenwolf USA chart history, Billboard.com. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
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