Post by Pete70s on Sept 17, 2004 20:04:31 GMT -5
It’s been AGES since I’ve done one of these.. Decided that this time around I‘d do an album I remember fondly from my childhood. It was a toss up between this and Steppenwolf 7, but I decided to go with this one. I remember Ken mentioned once that he had this album on 8-track, so at least one other person here knows it. Maybe next year at this time, when I finally get around to writing another album review, I’ll do Steppenwolf 7. LOL!
For Ladies Only-Steppenwolf (1971)
1- For Ladies Only
2- I’m Asking
3- Shackles & Chains
4- Tenderness
5- The Night Time’s For You
6- Jaded Strumpet
7- Sparkle Eyes
8- Black Pit
9- Ride With Me
10- In Hopes of a Garden
By 1971, Steppenwolf’s success on the singles charts had pretty much dried up. The band had been through countless line-up changes, with vocalist John Kay, keyboardist Goldy McJohn, and drummer Jerry Edmonton remaining from the original band. Bassist George Biondo and guitarist Kent Henry rounded out what would be the last incarnation of Steppenwolf before they disbanded. (They would reform in 1974, before anyone even had a chance to miss them).
So, “For Ladies Only” would be their eighth and “final” album, with the exception of a compilation (“Rest In Peace”) that came out shortly after. It is probably their finest musical effort and plays well from start to finish (with maybe only one or two cuts I’m not crazy about).
I’ve heard this referred to as a “concept” album, about “appreciating the ‘fairer’ sex”. There is definitely a lot of social commentary here from this otherwise tough “biker band”, They are showing their “sensitive” side. To me, though, it’s the last gasp of a band that had run it’s course, and wanted to go out with a great record. You get a feeling from listening to it that it’s “the end of the line” for them.
Amidst all the social commentary, there is some humor, as well. The original album had a gatefold cover with a picture of a car shaped like a penis, “The Dickmobile”. Must’ve shocked quite a few people in 1971! Strangely, as a kid I never thought much of it, just a picture of a funny-shaped car. The sheet-music book (which my brother had, don’t know why, he was never a musician..) featured a funny picture of a black man dressed as Uncle Sam saying “Shee-It, Man! If you is 18, you done better get your ass out and VOTE!” (A little un-PC by today’s standards, but funny for the time). None of these pictures made the CD reissue.
(Sadly, I’ve just come to find out that this CD is out of print. Good thing I bought mine years ago!)
The Tracks:
For Ladies Only-A nine-minute epic which sets the tone for the album. It starts out slow, then builds up to a powerful rocker. The middle section (which starts at 3:44 and ends at 7:04) is a Goldy McJohn piano solo, which starts slowly and gets pretty intense at times. On the CD, you can tell it was clearly spliced into the middle of the song. The last two minutes are the return of the first section, possibly just copied and repeated, with overdubs. A very ambitious work from the “Born To Be Wild” guys. The song itself is about the saga of the under-appreciated woman “Half the world has been built upon her tears”
I’m Asking-Drummer Jerry Edmonton takes the lead vocal on three of the albums 10 cuts. This is the first, and probably the best. The exact same subject matter as “Mommy and Daddy” by the Monkees. “Do you tell your children lies?”
Shackles & Chains-My least favorite of the John Kay-sung tracks on the album. It’s OK, but nothing spectacular.
Tenderness-What’s This? John Kay, the scariest looking rocker of the early seventies, whom I was CONVINCED as a child was the Devil, singing a BALLAD? A song about domestic abuse, similar to Alice Coopers “Only Women Bleed”, only sung from the point of view of the abuser. I like the guitar licks in this track.
The Night Time’s For You-Side 2 is where the REAL gems on this album are, and this rocker kicks it off with a bang!
Jaded Strumpet-IMO, the only REAL clunker on the album, and Jerry Edmonton’s second lead vocal. I always skip it. It’s one redeeming quality is one of the first uses of the word “ass” on a rock record.
Sparkle Eyes-My favorite song on the album. This is the “sleeper” cut here! I WISH that people would know more songs like THIS besides the overplayed hits.
Black Pit-A really dark instrumental, somewhat sinister sounding. The sheet music book for this album (which my brother had) had a picture accompanying each song. The only one I remember is for Black Pit. It's a black & white long shot of what appears to be skid row, where a girl sits in the gutter with her head between her knees. Drug statement, maybe?
Ride With Me-A highlight, and I believe the album's first single. It didn't crack the top 40, but was a great song nonetheless. Could've been called "Born To Be Wild pt. 2". I like to picture the band riding off into the sunset as this song fades. "Ride with me, baby. Till the end of the day"..
(BTW-The commercial single for "Ride With Me" had a non-album b-side called "For Madmen Only". I've never heard this song and I am curious about it. Anyone who has any info about it, please let me know.)
In Hopes Of A Garden-A short, sad ballad, sung by Jerry Edmonton, accompanied by organ and accoustic guitar. Thus ended the bands career (at least at the time)
For Ladies Only-Steppenwolf (1971)
1- For Ladies Only
2- I’m Asking
3- Shackles & Chains
4- Tenderness
5- The Night Time’s For You
6- Jaded Strumpet
7- Sparkle Eyes
8- Black Pit
9- Ride With Me
10- In Hopes of a Garden
By 1971, Steppenwolf’s success on the singles charts had pretty much dried up. The band had been through countless line-up changes, with vocalist John Kay, keyboardist Goldy McJohn, and drummer Jerry Edmonton remaining from the original band. Bassist George Biondo and guitarist Kent Henry rounded out what would be the last incarnation of Steppenwolf before they disbanded. (They would reform in 1974, before anyone even had a chance to miss them).
So, “For Ladies Only” would be their eighth and “final” album, with the exception of a compilation (“Rest In Peace”) that came out shortly after. It is probably their finest musical effort and plays well from start to finish (with maybe only one or two cuts I’m not crazy about).
I’ve heard this referred to as a “concept” album, about “appreciating the ‘fairer’ sex”. There is definitely a lot of social commentary here from this otherwise tough “biker band”, They are showing their “sensitive” side. To me, though, it’s the last gasp of a band that had run it’s course, and wanted to go out with a great record. You get a feeling from listening to it that it’s “the end of the line” for them.
Amidst all the social commentary, there is some humor, as well. The original album had a gatefold cover with a picture of a car shaped like a penis, “The Dickmobile”. Must’ve shocked quite a few people in 1971! Strangely, as a kid I never thought much of it, just a picture of a funny-shaped car. The sheet-music book (which my brother had, don’t know why, he was never a musician..) featured a funny picture of a black man dressed as Uncle Sam saying “Shee-It, Man! If you is 18, you done better get your ass out and VOTE!” (A little un-PC by today’s standards, but funny for the time). None of these pictures made the CD reissue.
(Sadly, I’ve just come to find out that this CD is out of print. Good thing I bought mine years ago!)
The Tracks:
For Ladies Only-A nine-minute epic which sets the tone for the album. It starts out slow, then builds up to a powerful rocker. The middle section (which starts at 3:44 and ends at 7:04) is a Goldy McJohn piano solo, which starts slowly and gets pretty intense at times. On the CD, you can tell it was clearly spliced into the middle of the song. The last two minutes are the return of the first section, possibly just copied and repeated, with overdubs. A very ambitious work from the “Born To Be Wild” guys. The song itself is about the saga of the under-appreciated woman “Half the world has been built upon her tears”
I’m Asking-Drummer Jerry Edmonton takes the lead vocal on three of the albums 10 cuts. This is the first, and probably the best. The exact same subject matter as “Mommy and Daddy” by the Monkees. “Do you tell your children lies?”
Shackles & Chains-My least favorite of the John Kay-sung tracks on the album. It’s OK, but nothing spectacular.
Tenderness-What’s This? John Kay, the scariest looking rocker of the early seventies, whom I was CONVINCED as a child was the Devil, singing a BALLAD? A song about domestic abuse, similar to Alice Coopers “Only Women Bleed”, only sung from the point of view of the abuser. I like the guitar licks in this track.
The Night Time’s For You-Side 2 is where the REAL gems on this album are, and this rocker kicks it off with a bang!
Jaded Strumpet-IMO, the only REAL clunker on the album, and Jerry Edmonton’s second lead vocal. I always skip it. It’s one redeeming quality is one of the first uses of the word “ass” on a rock record.
Sparkle Eyes-My favorite song on the album. This is the “sleeper” cut here! I WISH that people would know more songs like THIS besides the overplayed hits.
Black Pit-A really dark instrumental, somewhat sinister sounding. The sheet music book for this album (which my brother had) had a picture accompanying each song. The only one I remember is for Black Pit. It's a black & white long shot of what appears to be skid row, where a girl sits in the gutter with her head between her knees. Drug statement, maybe?
Ride With Me-A highlight, and I believe the album's first single. It didn't crack the top 40, but was a great song nonetheless. Could've been called "Born To Be Wild pt. 2". I like to picture the band riding off into the sunset as this song fades. "Ride with me, baby. Till the end of the day"..
(BTW-The commercial single for "Ride With Me" had a non-album b-side called "For Madmen Only". I've never heard this song and I am curious about it. Anyone who has any info about it, please let me know.)
In Hopes Of A Garden-A short, sad ballad, sung by Jerry Edmonton, accompanied by organ and accoustic guitar. Thus ended the bands career (at least at the time)
Nicely done!
