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
Studio album by
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 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Additional personnel

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Charts

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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

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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

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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

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  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.
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