Look What the Cat Dragged In is the debut studio album by American glam metal band Poison, released on May 23, 1986, by Enigma Records and Capitol Records. 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 3× Platinum in 1990 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It has also been certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), and platinum in Canada.
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", 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.
Track listing
Personnel 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 Ric Browde – arrangement, production Jim Faraci – engineering, production Michael Wagener – mixing Evren Göknar – 2006 remastering
Charts Chart (1986–1987) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 51
Certifications
Accolades Publication Year Country Accolade RankRevolver Magazine2014US6 Glam-Metal Albums You Need To OwnN/APopMatters2021US10 Essential Glam Metal AlbumsN/ARolling Stone2019US50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time2L.A. Weekly2011USChuck Klosterman's Favorite Hair Metal Albums7Louder Sound2021USThe 10 best glam metal albumsN/AL.A. Weekly2011USTop 20 Hair Metal Albums of All Time6Guitar World2008USTop 20 Hair Metal Albums of the EightiesN/AUltimate Classic Rock2021USTop 30 Glam Metal Albums16Loudwire2016USTop 30 Hair Metal Albums10Metal Rules2003USTop 50 Glam Metal Albums4Loudwire2016USTop 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s80
References
External links Official website
Interview with Bret Michaels at Classic Rock Revisited