Look What the Cat Dragged In

For the song by Giggs, see Look What the Cat Dragged In (song).
Look What the Cat Dragged In

top left: Bret Michaels
top right: Bobby Dall
bottom left: C.C. DeVille
bottom right: Rikki Rockett
Studio album by Poison
Released May 23, 1986 (1986-05-23)
Recorded March 1986 at Music Grinder Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Genre Glam metal, hard rock
Length 33:24
Label Enigma
Producer Ric Browde
Poison chronology
Look What the Cat Dragged In
(1986)
Open Up and Say... Ahh!
(1988)
Singles from Look What the Cat Dragged In
  1. "Cry Tough"
    Released: August 5, 1986
  2. "Talk Dirty To Me"
    Released: February 18, 1987
  3. "I Want Action"
    Released: May 20, 1987
  4. "I Won't Forget You"
    Released: August 5, 1987
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

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. Though not a success at first, it steadily built momentum and peaked at #3 on the US Billboard 200 on 23 May 1987.[2] The album spawned four singles, three of them charting successfully: "Talk Dirty to Me", "I Want Action", "I Won't Forget You" and "Cry Tough".[3] It serves as a prime example of the glam metal genre both musically and image-wise. The album ultimately has sold four million copies worldwide,[4] one of their best-selling albums.

Look What the Cat Dragged In was certified gold in 1987 and 3x multi-platinum in 1990 by the RIAA.[5] It has also been certified silver by the BPI and platinum in Canada.

Musical style

Described by Revolver Magazine as "oversexed, under-thought, and relentlessly fun",[6] the album's style is often described as "glam metal" and was strongly influenced by East-Coast bands like Aerosmith and Kiss and It is a sound dominated by distorted power chords and catchy melodies. Reflecting a period before the band's music began to take on the influence of Californian, Van Halen styled stadium rock, the album is characterized by more traditional heavy metal sounds.

Production and marketing

The 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.

The front cover of the album featured the members of Poison at their most "glam", with each sporting excessive make-up, thick girlish hair, and the pouting "kiss" pose which was to become a Poison trademark. The cover is often compared to Mötley Crüe's Shout at the Devil because of the similar album cover, but it also may or may not have represented a loose parody of the cover of The Beatles' Let It Be, or perhaps more likely, Van Halen's debut album.

Themes and tracks

The album's themes are ambition ("Cry Tough"), lust ("I Want Action," "Talk Dirty To Me," and "Want Some, Need Some"), sexual frustration ("Blame It on You"), love lost ("I Won't Forget You"), and, most importantly, anti-social behavior ("No. 1 Bad Boy," "Look What the Cat Dragged In," "Let Me Go to the Show," and "Play Dirty"). "Talk Dirty to Me" was written by guitarist C. C. DeVille prior to his joining the band. DeVille played it to Michaels, Rikki Rockett and Bobby Dall during his audition for the role as the band's guitarist. "Talk Dirty to Me" has been covered by several bands, including Children of Bodom and Reel Big Fish. It is also included as a playable cover track in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, with Michaels re-recording the vocals.

Reissues

In 2005, Madacy Entertainment reissued the album, with a new cover but identical contents, under the title Rock Breakout Years: 1987.[7] The following year, 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

All songs written and composed by Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett, except where noted. 

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
2006 remastered edition bonus tracks:
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" (Jim Croce) 3:05

Personnel

Adittional Personnel

References

  1. Huey, Steve. "Look What the Cat Dragged In - Poison". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  2. "Allmusic (Poison charts and awards) Billboard albums".
  3. "Allmusic (Poison charts and awards) Billboard singles".
  4. "Moondance Jam/Poison".
  5. "RIAA Gold & Platinum". 2010.
  6. Revolver Magazine, April 2005, at 75.
  7. Pacal, Marcus (2005-11-05). "Review: "Rock Breakout Years: 1987" by Poison".
  8. Luce, Patrick (2006-07-25). "Rockers Poison celebrate 20th anniversary with expanded releases of albums". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved 29 November 2009.

External links

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