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Dr. Feelgood (album)

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For other uses, see Dr. Feelgood (disambiguation).

Dr. Feelgood
Studio album by
Mötley Crüe
ReleasedAugust 28, 1989[1]
Recorded1988–1989
StudioLittle Mountain Sound Studios (Vancouver)
Genre
Length45:07
LabelElektra
ProducerBob Rock
Mötley Crüe chronology
Raw Tracks
(1988) 		Dr. Feelgood
(1989) 		Decade of Decadence 81–91
(1991)
Singles from Dr. Feelgood
  1. "Dr. Feelgood"
    Released: August 28, 1989
  2. "Kickstart My Heart"
    Released: November 20, 1989
  3. "Without You"
    Released: February 1990[5]
  4. "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)"
    Released: May 28, 1990
  5. "Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)"
    Released: July 31, 1990

Dr. Feelgood (stylized as D℞. FEELGOOD) is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released on August 28, 1989. Dr. Feelgood topped the Billboard 200 chart, making it the band's only album to claim this position. It was the first album Mötley Crüe recorded after their quest for sobriety and rehabilitation in 1989.[6][7] In addition to being Mötley Crüe's best selling album, it is highly regarded by music critics and fans as the band's best studio album. This was also the band's last album to be recorded with lead singer Vince Neil until the 1997 album Generation Swine.[7]

Recording

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Producer Bob Rock found working with Mötley Crüe difficult, describing them as "four L.A. bad asses who used to drink a bottle of wine and want to kill each other."[8][7] To minimize conflict and allow production to proceed smoothly, Rock had each member record their parts separately.[8]

The title track, inspired by a drug dealer, is the band's highest-charting single to date, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition, it is the band's only single to sell over 500,000 copies and receive Gold certification by the RIAA.[7]

"Kickstart My Heart" was written by bassist Nikki Sixx after his experience being clinically dead for two minutes from a heroin overdose before paramedics revived him with two shots of adrenaline.[7]

"Without You" was co-written by drummer Tommy Lee about his relationship with his then-wife Heather Locklear.[7]

The lyrics of "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" feature a reference to "Too Young to Fall in Love" from the band's 1983 album Shout at the Devil.[7]

The intro track "T.n.T. (Terror 'n Tinseltown)" features a sample of a woman saying "Dr Davis, telephone please". This was the same sample used by the band Queensrÿche for their song "Eyes of a Stranger" which was off of their album Operation: Mindcrime released one year prior to Dr. Feelgood.[citation needed]

The end of "Slice of Your Pie" is based on "She's So Heavy", from the Beatles' Abbey Road album.[7]

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith sings backing vocals on "Sticky Sweet". "Nikki and Tommy and I hung out a lot," said Tyler, who was in Vancouver around the same time, recording Pump. "Of course, we're all akin by our old drinking and drugging days."[9] Guitarist Mick Mars reportedly set his amps so loud that his playing leaked into Tyler's vocal recording.[10]

In addition to Tyler, Bryan Adams, Skid Row, Robin Zander and Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, and Jack Blades of Night Ranger contributed backing vocals on the album.[7]

Release

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Dr. Feelgood has sold more than six million copies in the U.S.,[11] and went Gold in the U.K.[12] In various interviews, members of Mötley Crüe stated that it was their most solid album from a musical standpoint, due in no small part to their collective push for sobriety.[citation needed]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Chicago Tribune[14]
Classic Rock7/10[15]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal8.5/10[16]
Los Angeles Times[17]
Metal Storm9.0/10[18]
Record Collector[19]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[20]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[21]

Reviews for Dr. Feelgood have been highly positive. Critics remarked the renewed energy and entertaining values that permeate the album,[13][22][14][17][16][19][20][21] bringing the listeners "in a world of everlasting party",[18] where they "savored the joys of trashy, unapologetically decadent fun".[13] Bob Rock's meticulous production was universally praised,[13][22][16][20][21] in particular for affording "the band the ability to write stronger melodic hooks without losing the hard rock sound they so coveted"[21] and for the power of the guitar riffs.[17][20]

Canadian journalist Martin Popoff wrote that Dr. Feelgood is an album "made by a dumb band trying really hard"[16] while a BBC Music reviewer declared it "a glitzy flashy experience... ultimately shallow and narcissistic".[22] Other critics stated that Mötley Crüe are not "out to win humanitarian awards or impress us with lyrical muscle",[14] but to rock "...hard"![17] Dr. Feelgood, wrote Mick Wall in a review of 2009's reissue, "was the first time Mötley Crüe actually became well-known for music. Until then, their unthinking mash-up of glam and metal had made them a hoot onstage but a disappointment on record... Though pushed close by last year's shock return with the weighty Saints of Los Angeles, [the album is] the best Mötley Crüe have ever released."[15]

"Dr. Feelgood" and "Kickstart My Heart" were nominated for Grammy awards for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990 and 1991, but lost both years to Living Colour.[23] Mötley Crüe won the best Hard rock/Heavy metal album of the year at the American Music Awards in January 1991 for Dr. Feelgood.[24]

Legacy

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Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich recruited Bob Rock to produce their self-titled 1991 album after being impressed with Rock's production work on Dr. Feelgood.[25] Rock would later produce Metallica's subsequent albums, until St. Anger, where he also played that album's bass parts.

Nike SB created a shoe based on the album cover.[7]

As of October 14, 2008, the album, minus the opening track "T.N.T. (Terror 'N Tinseltown)" because of length and playability, has become downloadable content for the Rock Band video game series. The tracks "Dr. Feelgood" and "Kickstart My Heart" were also released as downloadable content for the video game Rocksmith 2014 in 2015.

"Dr. Feelgood" and "Kickstart My Heart" are available in the soundtrack of 2009 video game, Brütal Legend.

To mark the twentieth anniversary of the album, Mötley Crüe performed the album in its entirety at Crüe Fest 2.[26]

Track listing

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All lyrics are written by Nikki Sixx

No.TitleMusicLength
1."T.n.T. (Terror 'n Tinseltown)"Sixx0:42
2."Dr. Feelgood"
4:50
3."Slice of Your Pie"
  • Sixx
  • Mars
4:32
4."Rattlesnake Shake"
3:40
5."Kickstart My Heart"Sixx4:48
6."Without You"
  • Sixx
  • Mars
4:29
7."Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)"
  • Sixx
  • Mars
  • Neil
  • Lee
4:12
8."Sticky Sweet"
  • Sixx
  • Mars
3:52
9."She Goes Down"
  • Sixx
  • Mars
4:37
10."Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)"
  • Sixx
  • Mars
4:40
11."Time for Change"
  • Sixx
  • Donna McDaniel
4:45
2003 Remastered Edition bonus tracks
No.TitleMusicLength
12."Dr. Feelgood" (demo version)
  • Sixx
  • Mars
4:42
13."Without You" (demo version)
  • Sixx
  • Mars
4:29
14."Kickstart My Heart" (demo version)Sixx4:48
15."Get It for Free" (unreleased track)Sixx4:14
16."Time for Change" (demo version)
  • Sixx
  • McDaniel
4:45
2009 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition bonus tracks (Released in North America)
No.TitleMusicLength
12."Dr. Feelgood" (live)
  • Sixx
  • Mars
5:12
13."Kickstart My Heart" (live)Sixx5:28
14."Without You" (live)
  • Sixx
  • Mars
3:06
15."Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)" (live)
  • Sixx
  • Mars
  • Neil
  • Lee
4:31
16."Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" (live)
  • Sixx
  • Mars
4:14
2009 20th Anniversary Edition Double CD Deluxe Edition disc 2 (Released in Europe)
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Dr. Feelgood" (demo version)
  • Sixx
  • Mars
4:42
2."Without You" (demo version)
  • Sixx
  • Mars
4:29
3."Kickstart My Heart" (demo version)Sixx4:48
4."Get it for Free" (unreleased track)Sixx4:14
5."Time for Change" (demo version)
  • Sixx
  • McDaniel
4:45
6."Girls, Girls, Girls" (Live Around the World 89-90)
  • Sixx
  • Mars
  • Lee
5:41
7."Red Hot" (Live Around the World 89-90)
  • Sixx
  • Mars
  • Neil
3:22
8."All in the Name of Rock" (Live Around the World 89-90)
  • Sixx
  • Neil
4:54
9."Dr. Feelgood" (Live Around the World 89-90)
  • Sixx
  • Mars
6:41

Note

  • The original Korean LP edition does not contain the first two tracks, "T.n.T. (Terror 'n Tinseltown)" and "Dr. Feelgood".

Dr. Feelgood: The Videos

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Dr. Feelgood: The Videos is a video album released in 1990 and features all the music videos from the album, concert footage, interviews and recording session footage.

Videos include

  1. "Dr. Feelgood"
  2. "Kickstart My Heart"
  3. "Without You"
  4. "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)"
  5. "Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)"

Personnel

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Mötley Crüe

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  • Vince Neil – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar ("Same Ol Situation" and "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)"), harmonica, shakers
  • Mick Mars – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Nikki Sixx – bass, (all but "Time for Change"), backing vocals, organ and piano ("Time for Change")
  • Tommy Lee – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Additional musicians

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  • Bob Rock – bass ("Time for Change"), backing vocals ("Dr. Feelgood", "Rattlesnake Shake", "Sticky Sweet", "She Goes Down")
  • John Webster – honky tonk piano ("Rattlesnake Shake"), keyboards, programming
  • Tom Keenlyside, Ian Putz, Ross Gregory, Henry Christian – Margarita Horns ("Rattlesnake Shake")
  • Donna McDaniel, Emi Canyn, Marc LaFrance, David Steele – backing vocals
  • Steven Tyler – backing vocals ("Same Ol' Situation", "Sticky Sweet"), intro ("Slice of Your Pie")
  • Bryan Adams – backing vocals ("Same Ol' Situation", "Sticky Sweet")
  • Jack Blades – backing vocals ("Same Ol' Situation", "Sticky Sweet")
  • Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen – backing vocals ("She Goes Down")
  • Skid Row, Bob Dowd, Mike Amato, Toby Francis – backing vocals ("Time for Change")

Production

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  • Bob Rock – production, engineering, mixing
  • Randy Staub – engineering, mixing
  • Chris Taylor – assistant engineering
  • George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York

Artwork

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  • Bob Defrin – art direction
  • Don Brautigam – cover art illustration
  • William Hames – photography
  • Kevin Brady – artwork, design
  • Mike Amato – project coordinator

Charts

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Chart (1989-1990) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] 5
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[28] 7
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[29] 6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[30] 21
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[31] 7
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[32] 5
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[33] 6
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[34] 7
UK Albums (OCC)[35] 4
US Billboard 200[36] 1
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[37] 45
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[38] 28
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[39] 14

Certifications

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Album

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[40] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[41] 3× Platinum 300,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[42] Gold 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[43] Platinum 15,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[44] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[46] 6× Platinum 6,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Video

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[47] Platinum 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "American album certifications - Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  2. ^ Rolli, Bryan (July 1, 2021). "Top 30 Glam Metal Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  3. ^ "Top 20 heavy metal albums". The Telegraph. September 25, 2015. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016.
  4. ^ "Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood (Album Review)". Subjective Sounds. May 22, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "Motley Crue singles".
  6. ^ Jeffries, David. "Mötley Crüe Biography". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Basner, Dave (September 1, 2024). "20 Things You Might Not Know About Motley Crue's Dr. Feelgood". iHeartRadio. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Odell, Michael (March 2005). "Twilight of the Gods". Blender. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  9. ^ Rolling Stone 1989 retrospective, precise date unknown
  10. ^ Schoors, Emma (August 28, 2024). "And to Think, We Did All of This to Rock: Mötley Crüe's Dr. Feelgood at 35". Paste. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  11. ^ "RIAA Searchable Database: search for Motley Crue". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  12. ^ "BPI Certified Awards - search for Artist Motley Crue". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c d Henderson, Alex. "Dr. Feelgood - Mötley Crüe". AllMusic. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  14. ^ a b c Silverman, David (December 14, 1989). "Motley Crue Dr. Feelgood (Elektra)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  15. ^ a b Wall, Mick (November 2009). "Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood Deluxe Edition". Classic Rock. No. 138. p. 96.
  16. ^ a b c d Popoff, Martin (November 1, 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 233. ISBN 978-1-894959-31-5.
  17. ^ a b c d Gold, Jonathon (September 17, 1989). "MOTLEY CRUE "Dr. Feelgood," Elektra". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  18. ^ a b "Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood". Metal Storm. December 28, 2005. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  19. ^ a b McIver, Joel (November 2009). "Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood: Deluxe Edition". Record Collector. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  20. ^ a b c d 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.
  21. ^ a b c d DeSylvia, David (October 8, 2006). "Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  22. ^ a b c Nelson, Tim (2007). "Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood Review". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  23. ^ Grammy Awards:Best Hard Rock Performance
  24. ^ "18th American Music Awards". Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  25. ^ Rosen, Craig. The Billboard Book of Number One Albums. Billboard Books, 1996 ISBN 0-8230-7586-9
  26. ^ "Motley Crue to Play Dr. Feelgood in Its Entirety During Crue Fest 2". Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
  27. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  28. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6645". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  31. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  32. ^ "Charts.nz – Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  33. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  34. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  35. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  36. ^ "Motley Crue Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  37. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  38. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  39. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  40. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1990 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  41. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Motley Crue – Dr. Feelgood". Music Canada.
  42. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Motley Crue – Dr. Feelgood" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 1990年7月 on the drop-down menu
  43. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Motley Crue – Dr. Feelgood". Recorded Music NZ.[dead link]
  44. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Dr. Feelgood')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  45. ^ "British album certifications – Motley Crue – Dr. Feelgood". British Phonographic Industry.
  46. ^ "American album certifications – Motley Crue – Dr. Feelgood". Recording Industry Association of America.
  47. ^ "American video certifications – Motley Crue". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
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