Open Up and Say...Ahh! - 20th Anniversary Edition
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| Open Up and Say... Ahh! | ||
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| Studio album by Poison | ||
| Released | May 3, 1988 | |
| Recorded | 1989 - 1990 | |
| Genre | Glam Metal | |
| Length | 38:14 | |
| Label | Capitol Records | |
| Producer(s) | Tom Werman | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| Poison chronology | ||
| Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986) |
Open Up and Say...Ahh! (1988) |
Flesh & Blood (1990) |
| Alternate cover | ||
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| Original censored cover | ||
Open Up and Say… Ahh!, was the second and most successful album by American glam metal band Poison. The album, which ultimately sold eight million copies worldwide, was released on May 3, 1988 on the Enigma label of Capitol Records. It spawned the major hits "Nothin’ But a Good Time", "Your Mama Don’t Dance", "Fallen Angel", and the number one single "Every Rose Has Its Thorn".
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[edit] Musical Style
The record reflects a style commonly characterised as glam metal, a form of heavy metal which had its genesis on the East Coast of the United States (and, in particular, the sound of New York City band KISS), but which was transplanted to the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, California, in the 1980s. The west-coast influence is reflected more prominently on the record than on its predecessor, Look What the Cat Dragged In, with aspects of Van Halen styled Californian stadium rock becoming increasingly apparent.
[edit] Production and marketing
The album was recorded and mixed at Conway Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California. Paul Stanley from KISS was originally selected to produce the record, but was unable to fulfil the role due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, the band worked with Tom Werman. Werman was an experienced rock producer, having worked with artists such as Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, Twisted Sister, and Mötley Crüe.
The original front cover of the album, which featured model "Bambi" dressed as a luminous red demon with a protruding tongue, caused controversy amongst church and parental groups. In previous U.S. releases, the album was released with a censored cover in which most of the model’s face was obscured (see further, censorship). The 2006 remastered CD release features the original cover art.
[edit] Track info
The album’s themes are partying ("Nothin’ But a Good Time", "Your Mama Don’t Dance"), lost innocence ("Back to the Rocking Horse", "Fallen Angel"), lost love ("Every Rose Has Its Thorn") anti-social behavior ("Bad to Be Good"), and, most importantly, sex ("Love on the Rocks", "Good Love", "Tearin’ Down the Walls", "Look But You Can’t Touch").
Vocalist Bret Michaels wrote the band's most successful single, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", in response to a failed love affair with a Los Angeles stripper. Poison had been playing at a cowboy bar called The Ritz in Dallas, Texas. After the show, Michaels called the woman at her apartment and heard a man's voice in the background. Heartbroken, Michaels wrote the song with an acoustic guitar in a laundromat [1].
The song "Nothin' But a Good Time" was born from the merger of a guitar riff by C.C. DeVille and a chorus by Michaels. Michaels later explained that he was in search of a "kick ass big arena rock song" which would make him feel good about his life. The song was about "not wanting to be held back by working a job and being depressed".
The track "Your Mama Don’t Dance" was a cover version of the 1972 song written by Loggins and Messina from their 1972 album Loggins and Messina.
Two additional songs written for the record - "Livin' For The Minute" and "Gotta Face The Hangman" were later released as B-sides (although "Hangman" was later included on Crack a Smile).
[edit] Track listing
- "Love on the Rocks"
- "Nothin' But a Good Time"
- "Back to the Rocking Horse"
- "Good Love"
- "Tearin' Down the Walls"
- "Look But You Can't Touch"
- "Fallen Angel"
- "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"
- "Your Mama Don't Dance"
- "Bad to Be Good"
Bonus tracks available on the 20th anniversary remaster:
- Livin For the Minute
- World Premiere Interview (radio interview)
[edit] Miscellanea
- The song "Nothing But A Good Time" featured in the 2005 movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith, John Smith (Brad Pitt) listens to it while driving through the desert. The song is also on the official soundtrack of the movie.
- The song "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" was featured in an episode of "Yes Dear" when the main characters meet Bret Michaels. They party at his house for one of the character's birthdays and at the end, Michaels sings "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" as he serves breakfast to the family as a reference to a joke made earlier about catering to the crew of "A Letter From Death Row".
- The chorus lyrics from "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" were featured in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, to demonstrate the pair's suitability to enter Heaven.
