Song#: 1970
Date: 07/07/1984
Debut: 88
Peak: 51
Weeks: 12
Genre: Heavy Metal
Pop Bits: Quiet Riot made a huge splash with their third album Metal Health. The six-million selling LP is considered the first heavy metal album to reach #1 and it got there thanks to the gold single "Cum on Feel the Noize" (#5 Pop/#7 Rock). Now they had the formidable task of following it up. The band retreated to the studio and when they came out they had Condition Critical. The LP was introduced by this first single, but it seemed that lightning wasn't going to strike twice. The song stalled outside the Rock Top 10 at #13 and then failed to get into the top half of the Pop chart. With those results, the album stopped at #15. It would be certified platinum, but that was a big disappointment following their multi-platinum breakthrough. Tensions then became high in the band due to leader Kevin DuBrow throwing shade at the press and other artists after the failure of the album. It turned many folks against the band and certainly made the road tougher. DuBrow's tirades continued through their next album, which failed to generate any real interest. Fed up, the band fired DuBrow. Yet, they still could not regain their popularity and by 1989 the band was done. There would be various reformations and associated albums that included DuBrow, but the heydays of Metal Health were long gone. DuBrow would die of a cocaine overdose in 2007.
ReduxReview: Quiet Riot basically rehashed Metal Health down to recording and releasing this Slade cover (see below). It falls under the - if it ain't broke, don't fix it - adage. Unfortunately, it was broken and they did need to fix it. These guys were really thrust in the limelight quickly, which adds pressure from various sources (fans, labels, etc.) and I don't think they handled it well. Instead of advancing their music, they basically just trod out a similar album that just wasn't as good. This first single was probably the best thing on the album, but was still weak in comparison to the catchy "Cum on Feel the Noize." It made matters worse when DuBrow ended up being a PR nightmare. When it was all said and done, the band made a big, significant mark on the musical landscape and opened the door for other metal bands, but they were a bit of a one-trick pony.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The band's hit "Cum on Feel the Noize" was a remake of a song originally done by the UK rock band Slade. So if it worked once, why not try it again. This song was also a remake of a Slade tune. Written and recorded by the band in 1972, it was included on their third album Slayed?, which became their first #1 LP in the UK. The song was released as a single and it became their third to top the UK chart. The song would also be issued in the US where it got to #76 on the Pop chart. Unfortunately, Quiet Riot's remake didn't connect with listeners like "Cum on Feel" did.
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