Look What the Cat Dragged In is the debut studio album by American glam metal band Poison, released on May 23, 1986 through Enigma Records.[4] Though not a success at first, it steadily built momentum and peaked at #3 on the US Billboard 200 on May 23, 1987. The album spawned three successful singles: "Talk Dirty to Me", "I Want Action", and "I Won't Forget You".
| Look What the Cat Dragged In | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 23, 1986 | |||
| Recorded | 1986 | |||
| Studio | Music Grinder Studios, Hollywood | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 33:24 | |||
| Label | Enigma | |||
| Producer | Ric Browde | |||
| Poison chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Look What the Cat Dragged In | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Rock Hard | 3/10[2] |
| PopMatters | 3[3] |
Look What the Cat Dragged In was certified gold in 1987 and 3x multi-platinum in 1990 by the RIAA.[4] It has also been certified silver by the BPI,[5] and platinum in Canada.[6]
Production and marketing
editThe record was described by vocalist Bret Michaels as a "glorified demo". It was recorded in twelve days at Los Angeles' Music Grinder Studios with producer Ric Browde, for a cost of US $23,000, part of which was funded from the pockets of the band members and their families.
Background
editIt originally included only one single, "Cry Tough"; however, Look What the Cat Dragged In became a surprise success and subsequently spawned three more charting hits: "Talk Dirty to Me", "I Want Action", and "I Won't Forget You",[7] The record became the biggest-selling-album in Enigma's history. With heavy rotation on MTV, their debut earned the band tours with fellow glam rockers Ratt, Cinderella, and Quiet Riot, as well as a coveted slot in the Texxas Jam in Dallas. The album ultimately sold 4 million copies worldwide.
Reissues
editIn 2006, a 20th Anniversary edition was released by Capitol, with the original title. This version added single versions of two of the album's tracks and a cover of Jim Croce's "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" as bonus tracks.[8]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cry Tough" | 3:36 |
| 2. | "I Want Action" | 3:05 |
| 3. | "I Won't Forget You" | 3:35 |
| 4. | "Play Dirty" | 4:08 |
| 5. | "Look What the Cat Dragged In" | 3:10 |
| 6. | "Talk Dirty to Me" | 3:44 |
| 7. | "Want Some, Need Some" | 3:39 |
| 8. | "Blame It on You" | 2:32 |
| 9. | "#1 Bad Boy" | 3:14 |
| 10. | "Let Me Go to the Show" | 2:45 |
| Total length: | 33:28 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "I Want Action" (single version) | 3:06 |
| 12. | "I Won't Forget You" (single version) | 3:39 |
| 13. | "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" (demo; Jim Croce cover) | 3:05 |
Personnel
edit- Bret Michaels – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- C.C. DeVille – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Bobby Dall – bass, backing vocals
- Rikki Rockett – drums, backing vocals
Additional personnel
edit- Ric Browde – arrangement, production
- Jim Faraci – engineering, production
- Michael Wagener – mixing
Charts
edit| Chart (1986–1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[9] | 51 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[10] | 14 |
| US Billboard 200[11] | 3 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[12] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[13] | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[14] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Accolades
edit| Publication | Year | Country | Accolade | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revolver Magazine | 2014 | US | 6 Glam-Metal Albums You Need To Own[15] | N/A |
| PopMatters | 2021 | US | 10 Essential Glam Metal Albums[16] | N/A |
| Rolling Stone | 2019 | US | 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time[17] | 2 |
| L.A. Weekly | 2011 | US | Chuck Klosterman's Favorite Hair Metal Albums[18] | 7 |
| Louder Sound | 2021 | US | The 10 best glam metal albums[19] | N/A |
| L.A. Weekly | 2011 | US | Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of All Time[20] | 6 |
| Guitar World | 2008 | US | Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of the Eighties[21] | N/A |
| Ultimate Classic Rock | 2021 | US | Top 30 Glam Metal Albums[22] | 16 |
| Loudwire | 2016 | US | Top 30 Hair Metal Albums[23] | 10 |
| Metal Rules | 2003 | US | Top 50 Glam Metal Albums[24] | 4 |
| Loudwire | 2016 | US | Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s[25] | 80 |
References
edit- ^ Huey, Steve. "Look What the Cat Dragged In - Poison". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ "POISON - Look What The Cat Dragged In". ROCK HARD Heavy-Metal-Magazin. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ Vrabel, Jeff. "Poison: Look What the Cat Dragged In / Open Up and Say… Ahh / Flesh and Blood, PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ a b "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ "BRIT Certified". BPI. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ Konow, D (2002). Bang Your Balls. Three Rivers Press. p. 268.
- ^ Luce, Patrick (2006-07-25). "Rockers Poison celebrate 20th anniversary with expanded releases of albums". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on 25 November 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 19. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8815". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- ^ "Poison Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Poison – Poison". Music Canada. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
- ^ "British album certifications – Poison – Look What The Cat Dragged In". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American album certifications – Poison – Look What the Cat Dragged In". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ "6 Glam-Metal Albums You Need to Own | Revolvermag". 2017-07-28. Archived from the original on 2017-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ Zupko, Sarah. "10 Essential Glam Metal Albums, PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ Beaujour, Tom; Bienstock, Richard; Eddy, Chuck; Fischer, Reed; Grow, Kory; Johnston, Maura; Weingarten, Christopher R. (2019-08-31). "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ "Chuck Klosterman's Favorite Hair Metal Albums". LA Weekly. 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ Hotten, Jon (June 8, 2021). "10 glam metal albums you should definitely own". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ "Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of All Time: The Complete List". LA Weekly. 2011-12-09. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ "Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of the Eighties - Page 2 | Guitar World". 2012-10-04. Archived from the original on 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ Rolli, Bryan (July 1, 2021). "Top 30 Glam Metal Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ DiVita, Joe (November 9, 2016). "Top 30 Hair Metal Albums". Loudwire. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ "METAL RULES". 2017-11-26. Archived from the original on 2017-11-26. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ "Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s". Loudwire. January 13, 2016. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
External links
edit- Interview with Bret Michaels at Classic Rock Revisited