Look What the Cat Dragged In

For the song by Giggs, see Look What the Cat Dragged In (song).

Look What the Cat Dragged In is the debut studio album by American glam metal band Poison, released on May 23, 1986, by Enigma Records and Capitol Records.^[4] 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
Studio album by Poison
Released	May 23, 1986 (1986-05-23)
Recorded	1986
Studio	Music Grinder Studios, Hollywood
Genre	Glam metal hard rock
Length	33:24
Label	Enigma Capitol
Producer	Ric Browde
Poison chronology
Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986) Open Up and Say... Ahh! (1988)
Singles from Look What the Cat Dragged In
"Cry Tough" Released: August 5, 1986 "Talk Dirty to Me" Released: February 18, 1987 "I Want Action" Released: May 20, 1987 "I Won't Forget You" Released: August 5, 1987

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Rock Hard	3/10[2]
PopMatters	3[3]

Look What the Cat Dragged In was certified Gold in 1987 and 3× Platinum in 1990 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).^[4] It has also been certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI),^[5] and platinum in Canada.^[6]

Production and marketing

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.

Background

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",^[7] 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.

Reissues

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.^[8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett, except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Cry Tough"	3:36
2.	"I Want Action"	3:05
3.	"I Won't Forget You"	3:35
4.	"Play Dirty"	4:08
5.	"Look What the Cat Dragged In"	3:10
6.	"Talk Dirty to Me"	3:44
7.	"Want Some, Need Some"	3:39
8.	"Blame It on You"	2:32
9.	"#1 Bad Boy"	3:14
10.	"Let Me Go to the Show"	2:45
Total length:		33:28

2006 remastered edition bonus tracks:

No.	Title	Length
11.	"I Want Action" (single version)	3:06
12.	"I Won't Forget You" (single version)	3:39
13.	"You Don't Mess Around with Jim" (demo; Jim Croce cover)	3:05

Personnel

• Bret Michaels – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• C.C. DeVille – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Bobby Dall – bass, backing vocals
• Rikki Rockett – drums, backing vocals

Additional personnel

• Ric Browde – arrangement, production
• Jim Faraci – engineering, production
• Michael Wagener – mixing
• Evren Göknar – 2006 remastering

Charts

Chart (1986–1987)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[9]	51
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[10]	14
US Billboard 200[11]	3

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[12]	Platinum	100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[13]	Silver	60,000^
United States (RIAA)[14]	3× Platinum	3,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

Publication	Year	Country	Accolade	Rank
Revolver Magazine	2014	US	6 Glam-Metal Albums You Need To Own[15]	N/A
PopMatters	2021	US	10 Essential Glam Metal Albums[16]	N/A
Rolling Stone	2019	US	50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time[17]	2
L.A. Weekly	2011	US	Chuck Klosterman's Favorite Hair Metal Albums[18]	7
Louder Sound	2021	US	The 10 best glam metal albums[19]	N/A
L.A. Weekly	2011	US	Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of All Time[20]	6
Guitar World	2008	US	Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of the Eighties[21]	N/A
Ultimate Classic Rock	2021	US	Top 30 Glam Metal Albums[22]	16
Loudwire	2016	US	Top 30 Hair Metal Albums[23]	10
Metal Rules	2003	US	Top 50 Glam Metal Albums[24]	4
Loudwire	2016	US	Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s[25]	80