Extreme | ||||
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Studio album by Extreme | ||||
Released | March 14, 1989 | |||
Recorded | 1988 | |||
Genre | Heavy metal, glam metal, hard rock, funk metal | |||
Length | 44:57 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Producer | Mack, Extreme | |||
Extreme chronology | ||||
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Singles from Extreme | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Rolling Stone | [2] |
Extreme is the first studio album of Boston funk-metal band Extreme, released on March 14, 1989. Despite being released on a major label, the album did not sell very well. It produced four singles: "Little Girls", "Kid Ego", "Mutha (Don't Wanna Go To School Today)" and the radio-only "Play with Me". It was not until their next album, Pornograffitti, that the band become well known.
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Musically, the record is influenced by muscular metal guitar riffs, often with funky, syncopated timing, and incendiary, high-speed metal solos. The record foreshadowed the extraordinary technical guitar-playing prowess of Portuguese-born guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, which was more fully revealed on the band's subsequent release, Pornograffitti. Songs such as "Watching, Waiting" and "Rock a Bye Bye" are more in the vein of Queen, with three-part harmony and focus on slower, melody-based guitar solos from Bettencourt. The band later noted Queen as a major influence on their style.
Lyrically, the album is dominated by themes associated with childhood. This focus is particularly evident in the first single, "Kid Ego", as well as "Mutha (Don't Want to Go to School Today)", "Little Girls", "Big Boys Don't Cry" and the rock-out finale "Play with Me".
"Play with Me" was featured in the movie Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure during the mall-chase scene, as well as in Jury Duty as Pauly Shore's stripping song.
A cover version of "Play With Me" is also featured in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s as the final track in game. The master recording is featured in Guitar Hero: Smash Hits.
"Little Girls", "Kid Ego", "Mutha (Don't Wanna Go To School Today)" and "Play With Me" were released as singles.
The record was recorded by Mack, and engineered by Mack and Bob St John. It was mixed by St John and Bettencourt.
The album was marketed as a glam metal record, consistent with the band's own image at the time its release.
All songs written by Cherone & Bettencourt, except "Mutha (Don't Wanna Go To School Today)" by Cherone, LeBeaux & Hunt.
* Short extra solo added on the vinyl release. The writing credits read Cherone & Bettencourt, but in fact the song was written by Hal LeBeaux and Peter Hunt (music) and Gary Cherone (lyrics) of The Dream. It was also included on their 1984 eponymous EP. Later it became an item of the Extreme classic catalogue and was re-recorded for the first Extreme album.
** Not included on Japan vinyl edition. The song takes its intro and ending guitar riff from Mozart's Alla Turca: Allegretto in A minor (1783).
Year | Album / Single | Peak Chart Positions | |||
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Billboard 200 | UK Albums Chart | US Mainstream Rock | US Modern Rock | ||
1989 | Extreme | #80 [3] | - | - | - |
1989 | "Kid Ego" | - | - | #39 [4] | - |
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