Metal Healthis the third studio album by the Americanheavy metalbandQuiet Riot,released on February 28, 1983.[1]The album spawned the hit singles "Cum On Feel the Noize"and"Metal Health".It was the band's first album to receive a worldwide release, as the first two were released only in Japan.
| Metal Health | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio albumby | ||||
| Released | February 28, 1983[1] | |||
| Studio | Pasha Music House, North Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 40:57 | |||
| Label | Pasha | |||
| Producer | Spencer Proffer | |||
| Quiet Riotchronology | ||||
| ||||
| SinglesfromMetal Health | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   link |
| Sputnikmusic | 3.5/5[4] |
Metal Healthwas the first heavy metal album to reach number one on theBillboard200chart,[5]replacingthe Police'sSynchronicityat number one in November 1983. Due to its commercial success,Metal Healthis regarded by some as the catalyst that opened the door forhair metal's immense popularity throughout the next several years.[6]The album went on to sell more than ten million copies worldwide[7]and over six million in the U.S. alone, being certified six-times platinum by theRIAA.
Overview
editThe band parted ways with bassistChuck Wrightearly in the recording process, and replacement Gary Van Dyke was not working out. VocalistKevin DuBrowasked the band's former bassistRudy Sarzoto take part in the recording of "Thunderbird", a song written as a tribute to the band's founderRandy Rhoads,who died in a 1982 plane crash. While DuBrow began writing the song while Rhoads was still alive, it wasn't completed until after the guitarist's death.[8]The partnership was quite fruitful and Sarzo ended up recording several songs with the band, and he ultimately left his spot withOzzy Osbourneto re-join Quiet Riot as a permanent member.[9]
In support of the album, Quiet Riot opened forBlack Sabbathon theirBorn Againtour in the US. They also managed to secure a spot at the 1983US Festivalalongside established acts such as Ozzy Osbourne andJudas Priest.Prior to Quiet Riot's US Festival performance, Sarzo was punched in the face backstage by a drunken Osbourne, still bitter over the bassist leaving him to rejoin Quiet Riot several months prior.[9]
Due to the band's subsequent failure to matchMetal Health's commercial success, Quiet Riot has at times been referred to as "one-hit wonders".[10]This is not correct, however, as the band had two songs reach the Billboard Top 40, in addition to a subsequent album being certified Platinum for over one million album sales.[11]The title track was ranked No. 35 onVH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs. "Slick Black Cadillac" is a re-recording of a song that appeared on the band's 1978 albumQuiet Riot II.
Artwork
editThe album cover art was designed by Stan Watts, who had previously designed the covers forthe Doobie Brothers'Best of The Doobies Volume II(1981), Black Sabbath'sLive Evil(1982) andMartin Briley'sOne Night with a Stranger(1983), as well as the poster for the filmThe Howling(1981).Frankie Banalilater stated that Quiet Riot had wanted to create an icon for the band, and that Sarzo had suggested something akin toAlexandre Dumas' "The Man in the Iron Mask"(1847). While many thought the masked cover model was DuBrow, it was actually Watts himself, whose wife took the photo of him, which he then airbrushed for a" dramatic, high-contrast look ". The mask became so popular that DuBrow wore a similar one on the cover of the band's follow-up album, 1984'sCondition Critical.[12]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Metal Health" |
| 5:17 |
| 2. | "Cum On Feel the Noize"(Sladecover) | 4:51 | |
| 3. | "Don't Wanna Let You Go" |
| 4:43 |
| 4. | "Slick Black Cadillac" |
| 4:13 |
| 5. | "Love's a Bitch" | DuBrow | 4:11 |
| 6. | "Breathless" |
| 3:51 |
| 7. | "Run for Cover" |
| 3:38 |
| 8. | "Battle Axe" | Cavazo | 1:39 |
| 9. | "Let's Get Crazy" | DuBrow | 4:08 |
| 10. | "Thunderbird" | DuBrow | 4:43 |
Personnel
editCredits adapted from LP liner notes.[13]
Quiet Riot
- Kevin DuBrow– lead vocals, backing vocals,mike stand
- Carlos Cavazo– guitars, backing vocals
- Rudy Sarzo– bass guitars, backing vocals
- Frankie Banali– drums, percussion,car horn,backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Pat Regan – keyboards
- Chuck Wright– bass guitar ( "Metal Health", "Don't Wanna Let You Go" ), backing vocals
- Tuesday Knight– backing vocals ( "Thunderbird" )
- "Riot Squad" (Frankie Banali, Kevin DuBrow,Spencer Proffer,Carlos Cavazo, Donna Slattery) – backing vocals ( "Let's Get Crazy" )
Technical
- Spencer Proffer – producer, additional engineering
- Duane Baron – engineer
- Csaba Petocz – additional engineering
- Jay Vigon – art direction, design
- Quiet Riot – concept
- Stan Watts – cover illustration
- Sam Emerson – back cover photographs
- Ron Sobol – button photos
Charts
edit| Weekly Charts (1983–1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[14] | 39 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[15] | 5 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[16] | 33 |
| USBillboard200[17] | 1 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[18] | 3× Platinum | 300,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[19] | 6× Platinum | 6,000,000^ |
|
^Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Accolades
edit| Publication | Country | Accolade | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consequence of Sound | US | 10 Hair Metal Albums That Don't Suck[2] | 3 |
| Rolling Stone | US | 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time[20] | 15 |
| Loudwire | US | Top 30 Hair Metal Albums[21] | 11 |
References
edit- ^abFMQB New Releases (Feb. 18, 1983)
- ^ab"Consequence of Sound - 10 Hair Metal Albums That Don't Suck".Consequence of Sound.February 5, 2018.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
- ^ab"Great Rock discography".p. 668.
- ^"Review: Quiet Riot - Metal Health | Sputnikmusic".sputnikmusic.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
- ^DiVita, Joe (July 22, 2013)."10 Best Metal Albums of 1983".Loudwire.RetrievedApril 9,2021.
Metal Health' is immortalized in music history as the first heavy metal album to reach the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart
- ^Rivadavia, Eduardo (August 6, 2018)."The 11 Heaviest Hair Metal Songs".Loudwire.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
- ^"Quiet Riot - BIO".quietriot.band.RetrievedFebruary 27,2019.
- ^Quiet Riot 2001 CD: Liner notes
- ^abSarzo, Rudy (2017). Off the Rails (third edition). CreateSpace Publishing.ISBN1-53743-746-1
- ^Rivadavia, Eduardo; Franck, John Franck."Metal Health review".AllMusic.RetrievedApril 18,2010.
- ^Mitchell, Matt."The 100 Greatest Cover Songs of All Time".Paste.RetrievedMay 30,2024.
- ^Bennett, J. (December 1, 2010)."Quiet Riot's 'Metal Health': The Story Behind the Cover Art".Revolver.RetrievedFebruary 4,2024.
- ^Quiet Riot(1983).Metal Health(LP liner notes).Pasha Records.FZ 38443.
- ^Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
- ^"Top RPM Albums: Issue 4451a".RPM.Library and Archives Canada.Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- ^"Charts.nz – Quiet Riot – Metal Health".Hung Medien. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- ^"Quiet Riot Chart History (Billboard200) ".Billboard.Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- ^"Canadian album certifications – Quiet Riot – Metal Heath".Music Canada.
- ^"American album certifications – Quiet Riot – Metal Health".Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^"Rolling Stone - 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time".Rolling Stone.August 31, 2019.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
- ^DiVita, Joe (November 9, 2016)."Top 30 Hair Metal Albums".Loudwire.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
