Mötley Crüe (album)
Mötley Crüe | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 15, 1994 | |||
Recorded | 1992–1993 | |||
Studio | ||||
Genre | ||||
Length | 60:23 | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Producer | Bob Rock | |||
Mötley Crüe chronology | ||||
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Singles from Mötley Crüe | ||||
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Mötley Crüe is the sixth studio album by heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. It was released on March 15, 1994. It was the band's only album released with singer John Corabi, and was the first album of new material released by the band since their 1989 album, Dr. Feelgood.
The album, which was recorded under the working title of Til Death Do Us Part,[4] was the first release by the band after signing a $25 million contract with Elektra Records.[4]
Background
Following the success of the
Meanwhile,
After receiving a phone call from Sixx and Lee, where they informed Corabi that Neil was no longer in the band, he was invited to audition. After a couple of sessions, the band told Corabi that he was their choice for Neil's replacement, but told him to keep quiet about it until they were able to work out some pending legal technicalities, as Elektra Records could have possibly reneged on the band's new contract if the label knew Neil was gone.[4]
Recording
For the recording of the album, Mötley Crüe reunited with Bob Rock, who had produced Dr. Feelgood, their most commercially successful album. With Corabi now fronting the band, the members took advantage of the fact that he brought more to the table than Neil did: Sixx had never worked with another lyricist before, and Mars had never played with another guitarist.[4][5] Mars noted that working with a second guitarist gave him "a chance to experiment and have some fun instead of having to focus on just keeping the rhythm."[6] Also, the band had never previously written songs through jamming. One of the first songs Corabi worked with the band on was "Hammered", as well as the acoustic portion of the song that would become "Misunderstood."[4]
During the recording of the album, the band committed itself to sobriety, with a strict regimen of no drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, red meat or caffeine. The band worked with a physical trainer each morning, and took vitamin pills to keep their bodies nourished. Although there were occasional slips off the wagon, the members were determined to repeat the success of Dr. Feelgood.[4] The recording sessions proved to be fruitful, with a total of 24 songs written and recorded over the 10-month recording span.[6]
Music and lyrics
Lyrically, Corabi's influence pushed away from the band's usual themes of sex and rebellion. Sixx enjoyed working with Corabi on the lyrics, feeling Corabi's "normal" lyrics balanced out his own "demented" lyrics.[5] Songs such as "Power to the Music" and "Droppin' Like Flies" were attempts at introspection and commentary on the state of the world, including then current events such as the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and the battle over music censorship. The song "Uncle Jack" was about Corabi's uncle, a convicted child molester,[4] and "Misunderstood" was a song about people who were trying to deal with the fact that life had "passed them by". Some songs still had more familiar themes, including "Smoke the Sky," which was about marijuana use, and "Poison Apples", which was about the decadent Rock 'N Roll lifestyle that the band was famous for living.
The single "Hooligan's Holiday" drew influence from contemporary grunge bands such as Pearl Jam and Soundgarden,[7] and is considered alternative metal.[2] The album also had a more aggressive and abrasive sound than the band's previous releases.
Artwork
There are two different versions of the cover, which features the band's name on a scratched black background. One version features the band name colored red and the other colored yellow (which is shown above). Both versions were released simultaneously. On the inside, the CD tray features a white circle showing a fist with the word "CRUE" on its fingers emerging from a black circle with an open space on the right side. The CD shows the same thing but drawn differently. Some editions have the CD showing the circle and fist drawn the same way as on the inlay. The back of the booklet shows part of the word "Listen" which is either colored red or yellow, depending on the version. The red version of the album is more common, as the yellow version is currently out of print.
Release and promotion
Mötley Crüe debuted at No. 7 on the
"I've never heard that album," Neil claimed in 2000. "I just had no interest. It was a direction that I didn't agree with."[10]
While there was an expected backlash from fans toward the album after the popular Neil's departure, other factors contributed to the poor sales. Besides the aforementioned shift in popular music, the band fell out with
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [11] |
Chicago Tribune | [12] |
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 8/10[13] |
Entertainment Weekly | B[14] |
Los Angeles Times | [15] |
Metal Forces | 7/10[16] |
Rolling Stone | [17] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [18] |
Mötley Crüe received mixed reviews. In general, critics remarked how the band had adapted their trademark sound to the new trends of
Legacy
In July 2014, Guitar World ranked Mötley Crüe at number 25 in their "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994" list.[19] In November 2022, Rolling Stone marked the firing of Neil and making of the album as the 22nd worst decision in music history, stating "by the time they reemerged with a self-titled LP in 1994, grunge was already on its way out. They seemed like visitors from another eon, and their tour to support the album played to oceans of empty seats".[17]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by John Corabi and Nikki Sixx; all music is composed by Corabi, Sixx, Mick Mars and Tommy Lee, except where noted
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Power to the Music" | 5:12 |
2. | "Uncle Jack" | 5:28 |
3. | "Hooligan's Holiday" | 5:51 |
4. | "Misunderstood" | 6:53 |
5. | "Loveshine" | 2:36 |
6. | "Poison Apples" (Corabi, Sixx, Mars, Lee, Bob Rock) | 3:40 |
7. | "Hammered" | 5:15 |
8. | "Til Death Do Us Part" | 6:03 |
9. | "Welcome to the Numb" | 5:18 |
10. | "Smoke the Sky" | 3:36 |
11. | "Droppin' Like Flies" | 6:26 |
12. | "Driftaway" | 4:00 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Hypnotized" (single B-side) | 5:29 |
14. | "Babykills" (from the Quaternary EP) | 5:24 |
15. | "Livin' in the No" (from the Nippon Edition of the Quaternary EP) | 4:23 |
Personnel
Mötley Crüe
- John Corabi – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar, six-string bass
- Mick Mars – lead guitar, six-string bass, sitar, mandolin, backing vocals
- Nikki Sixx – bass, piano, backing vocals
- Tommy Lee – drums, piano, backing vocals
Guest musicians
- programming/synths
- Glenn Hughes – backing vocals on "Misunderstood"
- Marc Lafrance, Dave Steele – backing vocals
- Hook Herrera – harmonica
- Sammy Sanchez – mandolin
- members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra
- Akira Nagai – concertmaster
Production
- Bob Rock – producer, mixing, acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar, mandolin
- Randy Staub – engineer, mixing
- Brian Dobbs, Ed Korengo, Darren Grahn, Jim Labinski, Bill Kennedy, Kim Lomas, Roger Monk, Ken Villeneuve, Greg Goldman – additional engineers
- George Marino – mastering
- Bob Buckley – orchestral arrangements and conduction
Charts
Album
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Singles
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Japan (RIAJ)[36] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[9] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ "Top 100 '90s Rock Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. March 25, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ Louder Sound. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ worst decisions in music RS
- ^ ISBN 978-0060989156.
- ^ a b Crücial Crüe Remaster liner notes
- ^ a b Kitts, Jeff. May 1994. "New Crüe Review". Guitar School.
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Double Shot: Metal - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
- ^ Billboard Charting History – Mötley Crüe
- ^ a b "Album Certifications - Mötley Crüe - Mötley Crüe". Recording Industry Association of America.
If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.
- ^ Ling, Dave (March 2000). "We are lüdicröus!". Classic Rock #12. p. 48.
- ^ Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
- ^ a b c Kot, Greg (March 17, 1994). "Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe (Elektra)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
- ^ a b c Eddy, Chuck (March 18, 1994). "Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe (1994)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Turman, Katherine (March 27, 1994). "Mötley Crüe, "Mötley Crüe" ; Elektra". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Arnold, Neil. "Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe". Metal Forces. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Berger, Arion (April 21, 1994). "Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe – Elektra". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ISBN 978-0743201698. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ^ "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994". GuitarWorld.com. July 14, 2014. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2427". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- ^ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – M". Infodisc.fr (in French). Archived from the original on October 22, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2012. Select Motkey Crue from the menu, then press OK.
- GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ "Motley Crue Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- Media Control Charts. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- ^ "Artist Chart History: Motley Crue". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- ^ "Japanese album certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 21, 2022. Select 1994年4月 on the drop-down menu