Look What the Cat Dragged In

Last updated
Look What the Cat Dragged In
Poison-Look-What-the-Cat-Dragged-In.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 16, 1986 (1986-08-16)
Recorded1986
StudioMusic Grinder Studios, Hollywood
Genre
Length33:24
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 Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [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. [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".

Contents

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

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [12] Platinum100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [13] Silver60,000^
United States (RIAA) [14] 3× Platinum3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

PublicationYearCountryAccoladeRank
Revolver Magazine2014US6 Glam-Metal Albums You Need To Own [15] N/A
PopMatters2021US10 Essential Glam Metal Albums [16] N/A
Rolling Stone2019US50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time [17] 2
L.A. Weekly2011USChuck Klosterman's Favorite Hair Metal Albums [18] 7
Louder Sound2021USThe 10 best glam metal albums [19] N/A
L.A. Weekly2011USTop 20 Hair Metal Albums of All Time [20] 6
Guitar World2008USTop 20 Hair Metal Albums of the Eighties [21] N/A
Ultimate Classic Rock2021USTop 30 Glam Metal Albums [22] 16
Loudwire2016USTop 30 Hair Metal Albums [23] 10
Metal Rules2003USTop 50 Glam Metal Albums [24] 4
Loudwire2016USTop 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s [25] 80

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References

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  14. "American album certifications – Poison – Look What the Cat Dragged In". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 20, 2021.
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