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
Studio album by
Poison
ReleasedAugust 16, 1986 (1986-08-16)
Recorded1986
StudioMusic Grinder Studios, Hollywood
Genre
Length33:24
Label
ProducerRic 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]
Rock Hard3/10[2]
PopMatters3[3]

Look What the Cat Dragged In is the debut studio album by American glam metal band Poison, released on August 16, 1986, by Enigma Records and Capitol 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 was certified Gold in 1987 and 3x Platinum in 1990 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[4] It has also been certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI),[5] and platinum in Canada.[6]

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.

Background

It 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

In 2006, a 20th Anniversary edition was released by Capitol; 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 tracks are written by Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett, except where noted.

No.TitleLength
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.TitleLength
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

Additional personnel

Charts

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

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

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

  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "Look What the Cat Dragged In - Poison". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  2. ^ "POISON - Look What The Cat Dragged In". ROCK HARD Heavy-Metal-Magazin. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  3. ^ Vrabel, Jeff. "Poison: Look What the Cat Dragged In / Open Up and Say… Ahh / Flesh and Blood, PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  4. ^ a b "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  5. ^ "BRIT Certified". BPI. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  6. ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  7. ^ Konow, D (2002). Bang Your Balls. Three Rivers Press. p. 268.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8815". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Poison Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Poison – Poison". Music Canada. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  13. ^ "British album certifications – Poison – Look What The Cat Dragged In". British Phonographic Industry.
  14. ^ "American album certifications – Poison – Look What the Cat Dragged In". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  15. ^ "6 Glam-Metal Albums You Need to Own | Revolvermag". 2017-07-28. Archived from the original on 2017-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  16. ^ Zupko, Sarah. "10 Essential Glam Metal Albums, PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  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.
  18. ^ "Chuck Klosterman's Favorite Hair Metal Albums". LA Weekly. 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  19. ^ Hotten, Jon (June 8, 2021). "10 glam metal albums you should definitely own". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  20. ^ "Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of All Time: The Complete List". LA Weekly. 2011-12-09. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ Rolli, Bryan (July 1, 2021). "Top 30 Glam Metal Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  23. ^ DiVita, Joe (November 9, 2016). "Top 30 Hair Metal Albums". Loudwire. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  24. ^ "METAL RULES". 2017-11-26. Archived from the original on 2017-11-26. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  25. ^ "Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s". Loudwire. January 13, 2016. Retrieved 2021-07-17.