The Great Radio Controversy is the second studio album by American hard rock band Tesla, released in 1989. The album's sound has been described as "glam metal to play inside the cab of a tractor-blusey denim and downright wholesome".

The hit singles "Love Song", "Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)", "Hang Tough" and "The Way It Is" received considerable airplay on MTV's Headbangers Ball and rocketed the band to stardom. The album was certified double platinum by the RIAA on July 23, 1998.

The album is titled after the controversy about the identity of the inventor of radio. It is posited that Serbian engineer Nikola Tesla (whom the band is named after) is the true inventor of radio, while the Italian Guglielmo Marconi took the credit and is widely regarded as having the title. The album's inner sleeve recounts this story.

Critical reception Kirk Blows of British newspaper Music Week gave a positive response to the album. He said that the album musical material will "satisfy even the most fastidious rock fan", and that "there's plenty of light and shade here too, all conveyed with an overwhelming air of confidence from a band set to expand on their promising base".

Spin wrote, "This is hard rock's call to the Party, and it will compel anyone with a butt to wiggle and huff and leap around playing air to all eight solos."

Track listing

Personnel Tesla Jeff Keith – vocals Tommy Skeoch – guitars, backing vocals Frank Hannon – guitars, piano, synthesizer, organ Brian Wheat – bass, backing vocals Troy Luccketta – drums

Production Steve Thompson – producer, mixing at Mediasound, New York City Michael Barbiero – producer, engineer, mixing George Cowan – additional recording and assistant engineer Vic Deyglio – assistant engineer George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York City Barry Diament – CD mastering at BDA, New York City

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1989) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. 121Japanese Albums (Oricon)94

Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position US Billboard 200 73

Certifications

Accolades Publication Country Accolade RankRolling StoneUS50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time11L.A. WeeklyUSChuck Klosterman's Favorite Hair Metal Albums18Martin PopoffUSThe Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time 415

See also List of glam metal albums and songs

References