| 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 |
| 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 and Capitol 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 3× 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; 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 |