For Ladies Only is the sixth studio album by the band Steppenwolf

Steppenwolf (band)

Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...

, released in 1971 (see 1971 in music

1971 in music

-Events:*February 1 – after months of feuding in the press, Ginger Baker and Elvin Jones hold a "drum battle" at The Lyceum.*February 8 – Bob Dylan's hour-long documentary film, Eat the Document, is premièred at New York's Academy of Music...

). It is a political concept album mainly about feminism

Feminism

Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...

 but with several more conventional songs about romance as well, both unusual themes for Steppenwolf. Ironically, some critics saw the album as sexist, citing an image of a vehicle shaped like male genitalia alongside the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...

 in the sleeve of the record album. The album saw the band hinting toward the progressive rock

Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...

 movement that was popular at the time with more complex arrangements and sophisticated keyboard playing particularly evident on the title track "For Ladies Only". While some critics cited the lack of a popular single, the album defined the group as being more musically accomplished than what was offered on their previous releases. The album also appealed to the audiophiles of the time, as the studio engineering production values were particularly excellent with Bill Cooper overseeing the recording.

1. "For Ladies Only" (Edmonton, Henry, Kay, McJohn) – 9:17
2. "I'm Asking" (Edmonton, McJohn) – 4:28
3. "Shackles and Chains" (Kay) – 5:00
4. "Tenderness" (Mars Bonfire
   Mars Bonfire
   Dennis Edmonton , also known by the stage name Mars Bonfire, is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter, best known for writing the hit song "Born to Be Wild" for Steppenwolf....
   
   ) – 4:55
5. "The Night Time's for You (Bonfire, Cavett) – 2:58
6. "Jaded Strumpet" (Edmonton) – 4:44
7. "Sparkle Eyes" (Biondo, Kay) – 4:33
8. "Black Pit" (Henry, McJohn) – 3:50
9. "Ride With Me
   Ride With Me (Steppenwolf song)
   "Ride With Me" is a song by rock band Steppenwolf featured on their album For Ladies Only. Allmusic author, Joe Viglione, called it the most memorable song on the album. It was originally performed by Mars Bonfire on his self-titled album with a length over six minutes and under the title "Ride...
   
   " (Bonfire) – 3:24
10. "In Hopes of a Garden" (Biondo) – 2:10

Personnel

• Richard Podolor - producer
• John Kay
  John Kay (musician)
  John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...
  
   - vocals, guitar
• Kent Henry
  Kent Henry
  Kent Henry was an American guitarist and songwriter best known for his contributions to Steppenwolf and Blues Image.-Blues Image:...
  
   - lead guitar
• George Biondo
  George Biondo
  George Michael Biondo was the bass guitarist of the American rock band, Steppenwolf, from April 1970 to October 1976...
  
   - vocals, bass
• Goldy McJohn
  Goldy McJohn
  Goldy McJohn is a Canadian keyboard player best known as the original keyboardist for rock group Steppenwolf. Originally a classically trained pianist, he was a pioneer in the early use of the electronic organ in heavy metal...
  
   - keyboards
• Jerry Edmonton
  Jerry Edmonton
  Jerry Edmonton was the drummer for the rock band, Steppenwolf.He was born Gerald McCrohan in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Both he and his brother Dennis, also known as Mars Bonfire, changed their surnames to Edmonton during the 1960s, when they performed in a group called The Sparrows...
  
   - drums
• Bill Cooper - engineer
• Morgan Cavett - songwriter

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1971	Pop Albums	54

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1971	"For Ladies Only"	Pop Singles	64
1971	"Ride With Me"	Pop Singles	52