We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…….
It was an interesting LP….full of solid rock & roll guitar and organ….even some prog notes in the title tracak…but “For Ladies Only” from Steppenwolf will always be full of question marks. It was suggested that the band that brought you ‘Born To Be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride” had all of a sudden gone soft . That the LP was a testament to the women.s lib movement that was sweeping the country. I’ll grant you that some of the lyrics might make you think that…but if I’m guessing…it’s a tongue in cheek put on. These guys are still a swaggering, macho rock & roll outfit….not a chardonnay swigging garden party act.
The LP features a new guitar player in Kent Henry who came from Blues Image and plays great…check out “The Night Time’s For You” and and “Ride With Me.
Goldy McJohn has some excellent keyboard moments on the title track and “Black Pit” which is another tune that enters prog rock territory. The bluesy “Shackles & Chains” is another standout and “Tenderness”, written by the same guy who penned Born To Be Wild is lyrically weird.
John Kay is still fronting the band although others take some of the lead vocals on this record.
This record doesn’t have the power of “Monster” or ‘The Pusher” or, god forbid, “Born To Be Wild”, but its more than adequate for a 1971 rock and roll album. Now, about those lyrics…..
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