Summary
For Ladies Only is the sixth studio album by Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. The album was released in November 1971, by Dunhill Records. 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.[6]
| For Ladies Only | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1971 | |||
| Recorded | November 24, 1970 - May 30, 1971 | |||
| Studio | American Recording Co., Studio City, California | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 45:19 | |||
| Label | Dunhill | |||
| Producer | Richard Podolor | |||
| Steppenwolf chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from For Ladies Only | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C+[4] |
| Rolling Stone | (mixed)[5] |
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 edit
The album charted at number 54 on the Billboard 200. The album was not well received by reviewers with Robert Christgau writing "These fellows certainly have lost their hip aura..."[7] 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."[3]
Record World said that the title track "is solidly in [Steppenwolf's] hard-driving, hard-rocking tradition."[8]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Personnel edit
Steppenwolf edit
- John Kay – vocals, guitar
- Kent Henry – lead guitar
- George Biondo – vocals, bass guitar
- Goldy McJohn – Hammond organ, piano
- Jerry Edmonton – drums
Technical edit
- Richard Podolor – producer
- Bill Cooper – engineer
- Tom Gundelfinger – photography, design
Charts edit
Album[6]
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Billboard 200 | 54 |
Singles[6]
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | "For Ladies Only" | Billboard Hot 100 | 64 |
| 1971 | "Ride with Me" | Billboard Hot 100 | 52 |
References edit
- ^ "Steppenwolf singles".
- ^ "Steppenwolf singles".
- ^ a b For Ladies Only at AllMusic
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 13, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Album review, Rolling Stone.
- ^ a b c Steppenwolf USA chart history, Billboard.com. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- ^ "Robert Christgau Review - For Ladies Only". Retrieved September 4, 2017.
- ^ "Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. October 23, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-12.