# Look What the Cat Dragged In

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Rock Hard | 3/10 |
| PopMatters | 3 |
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. 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 was certified Gold in 1987 and 3× Platinum in 1990 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It has also been certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), and platinum in Canada.

## 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", 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.

## Track listing

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

## 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) | 51 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 14 |
| US Billboard 200 | 3 |

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Platinum | 100,000$^^$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 60,000$^^$ |
| United States (RIAA) | 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 | N/A |
| PopMatters | 2021 | US | 10 Essential Glam Metal Albums | N/A |
| Rolling Stone | 2019 | US | 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time | 2 |
| L.A. Weekly | 2011 | US | Chuck Klosterman's Favorite Hair Metal Albums | 7 |
| Louder Sound | 2021 | US | The 10 best glam metal albums | N/A |
| L.A. Weekly | 2011 | US | Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of All Time | 6 |
| Guitar World | 2008 | US | Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of the Eighties | N/A |
| Ultimate Classic Rock | 2021 | US | Top 30 Glam Metal Albums | 16 |
| Loudwire | 2016 | US | Top 30 Hair Metal Albums | 10 |
| Metal Rules | 2003 | US | Top 50 Glam Metal Albums | 4 |
| Loudwire | 2016 | US | Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s | 80 |