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Mötley Crüe (album)

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Mötley Crüe
Studio album by
Mötley Crüe
ReleasedMarch 15, 1994 (1994-03-15)
Recorded1992–1993
Studio
Genre
Length60:23
LabelElektra
ProducerBob Rock
Mötley Crüe chronology
Decade of Decadence 81-91
(1991) 		Mötley Crüe
(1994) 		Quaternary
(1994)
Singles from Mötley Crüe
  1. "Hooligan's Holiday"
    Released: February 1994
  2. "Misunderstood"
    Released: May 12, 1994

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

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Following the success of the Dr. Feelgood and Decade of Decadence albums and tours, the members of Mötley Crüe were tired and needed to take a break from the non-stop pressures of the road. Instead of being given a break, the band, then consisting of bassist Nikki Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee, guitarist Mick Mars and singer Vince Neil, had returned to the studio to begin work on the follow-up album to their 1989 album Dr. Feelgood on a two-week-on, two-week-off schedule. While working on new material in the studio in early 1992, Sixx, Lee and Mars had a falling out with Neil that led to the singer quitting or being fired from the band, effectively leaving Mötley Crüe without a frontman.[4]

Meanwhile, John Corabi was the vocalist of the Los Angeles-based hard rock band the Scream when he read an interview that featured Sixx in an issue of Spin magazine. In the interview, Corabi found out that Sixx was a big fan of the Scream's first record, Let It Scream. Corabi wanted to get in contact with Sixx and thank him for the compliment, as well as possibly opening the door for collaborating with Sixx on material for the next Scream album, so he had his manager get the number to Mötley Crüe's manager, Doug Thaler. After speaking to Thaler's secretary, Corabi was told to leave his phone number so that Sixx could get in contact with him. Not thinking much of it, Corabi left his number and continued with his responsibilities with the Scream.[4]

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

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"Hooligan's Holiday"
The first single released by Mötley Crüe to feature John Corabi on vocals
Problems playing this file? See media help.

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

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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

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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

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Mötley Crüe debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the RIAA on May 3, 1994.[8][9] However, five years had passed since Mötley had released a full studio album, and much had changed in popular music. Grunge and alternative rock had crossed into the mainstream, and many hard rock and glam metal acts from the 1980s struggled to generate sales. After charting in the Top 10, the album slid down quickly and ultimately failed to sell as well as previous Mötley albums.

"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 MTV: Sixx threatened to knock the host's teeth out during an interview, as he felt the line of questioning was "stupid". He and the rest of the band walked out mid-interview.[4] Executives from the Elektra and Warner Bros. labels weren't supporting the band either, as many executives prioritised boardroom wars related to the CEO change of Bob Krasnow to Sylvia Rhone.[4] With no support from their label, and no promotion from MTV following the disastrous interview, the subsequent tour was scaled back from stadiums and arenas to theaters to clubs until it was eventually cancelled.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Chicago Tribune[12]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal8/10[13]
Entertainment WeeklyB[14]
Los Angeles Times[15]
Metal Forces7/10[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 grunge and alternative metal.[11][12][15][16][17] According to Neil Arnold of Metal Forces, this change of style misrepresents the band, which may be "should have gone under a different name" for this album.[16] New vocalist John Corabi's vocal range and soulful performance are generally praised, as they are more suited to the new sound of the band.[12][14][15][16][17] For Katherine Turman of The Los Angeles Times his "voice is meatier and more appealing than predecessor Vince Neil's" and may be responsible for the shift in focus towards a less flashy style.[15] However, Arion Berger of Rolling Stone defined the music "samey",[17] while Chuck Eddy in his review for Entertainment Weekly appreciated the ballads, but called the album's heavy tracks "an overbearing plod".[14]

Legacy

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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

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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.TitleMusicLength
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"
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
2003 remaster bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
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

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Mötley Crüe

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Guest musicians

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Production

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  • 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

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Certifications

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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

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  1. ^ "Top 100 '90s Rock Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. March 25, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Henne, Bruce (January 4, 2015). "Corabi revisits 1994 Motley Crue album". Louder Sound. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  3. ^ worst decisions in music RS
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lee, Tommy; Mars, Mick; Sixx, Nikki; Neil, Vince (2002). Strauss, Neil (ed.). The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band. New York City: ReganBooks. ISBN 978-0060989156.
  5. ^ a b Crücial Crüe Remaster liner notes
  6. ^ a b Kitts, Jeff. May 1994. "New Crüe Review". Guitar School.
  7. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Double Shot: Metal - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  8. ^ Billboard Charting History – Mötley Crüe
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Ling, Dave (March 2000). "We are lüdicröus!". Classic Rock #12. p. 48.
  11. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  12. ^ a b c Kot, Greg (March 17, 1994). "Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe (Elektra)". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 28, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  13. ^ Popoff, Martin (August 1, 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 294. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
  14. ^ a b c Eddy, Chuck (March 18, 1994). "Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe (1994)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  15. ^ a b c d Turman, Katherine (March 27, 1994). "Mötley Crüe, "Mötley Crüe" ; Elektra". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  16. ^ a b c d Arnold, Neil. "Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe". Metal Forces. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  17. ^ a b c d e Berger, Arion (April 21, 1994). "Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe – Elektra". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  18. ^ Considine, J. D. (2004). "Mötley Crüe". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City: Simon & Schuster. pp. 562–63. ISBN 978-0743201698. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  19. ^ "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994". GuitarWorld.com. July 14, 2014. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  20. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  21. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  22. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2427". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  23. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 166. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  26. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  27. ^ "Charts.nz – Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  28. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  29. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  30. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  31. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  32. ^ "Motley Crue Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  33. ^ a b "Mötley Crüe Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  34. ^ "Mötley Crüe – Hooligan's Holiday (song)". Swedishcharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  35. ^ "Artist Chart History: Motley Crue". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  36. ^ "Japanese album certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 21, 2022. Select 1994年4月 on the drop-down menu
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