| Look What the Cat Dragged In | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Poison |
| Cover: | Poison-Look-What-the-Cat-Dragged-In.jpg |
| Border: | yes |
| Recorded: | 1986 |
| Studio: | Music Grinder Studios, Hollywood |
| Label: | Enigma |
| Producer: | Ric Browde |
| Next Title: | Open Up and Say... Ahh! |
| Next Year: | 1988 |
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.[1] 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 3x Platinum in 1990 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[1] It has also been certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI),[2] and platinum in Canada.[3]
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.
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",[4] 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.
In 2006, a 20th Anniversary edition was released by Capitol, with the original title. 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.[5]
| Publication | Year | Country | Accolade | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revolver Magazine | 2014 | US | 6 Glam-Metal Albums You Need To Own[7] | N/A |
| PopMatters | 2021 | US | 10 Essential Glam Metal Albums[8] | N/A |
| Rolling Stone | 2019 | US | 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time[9] | 2 |
| L.A. Weekly | 2011 | US | Chuck Klosterman's Favorite Hair Metal Albums[10] | 7 |
| Louder Sound | 2021 | US | The 10 best glam metal albums[11] | N/A |
| L.A. Weekly | 2011 | US | Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of All Time[12] | 6 |
| Guitar World | 2008 | US | Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of the Eighties[13] | N/A |
| Ultimate Classic Rock | 2021 | US | Top 30 Glam Metal Albums[14] | 16 |
| Loudwire | 2016 | US | Top 30 Hair Metal Albums[15] | 10 |
| Metal Rules | 2003 | US | Top 50 Glam Metal Albums[16] | 4 |
| Loudwire | 2016 | US | Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s[17] | 80 |