"Wanted Man" by Ratt

Song#:  2069
Date:  10/06/1984
Debut:  90
Peak:  87
Weeks:  3
Genre:  Hard Rock



Pop Bits:  This L.A. band broke through in a big way with their song "Round and Round," from their full-length debut LP Out of the Cellar. The song would be a #4 Rock hit while nearly making the Pop Top 10 (#12). For a follow-up single, this track was issued. It couldn't come close to replicating the success of "Round and Round" going to only #38 at Rock and stalling on the Pop chart after a brief few weeks. However, with the song's video doing well at MTV it still helped to sell albums and over time Out of the Cellar would be certified triple platinum. This song would also end up on the soundtrack to the 1985 comedy film Weird Science.

ReduxReview:  While this is a solid rock tune, it's just not nearly as hooky or catchy as the excellent "Round and Round." That tune was loaded with commercial appeal and the associated video certainly helped it along as well. This one is well-produced and rocks out just fine, but without that extra oomph that made "Round" a hit, it falls flat as a single.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  For the cover of their 1983 self-titled EP, the band needed a woman for the photo shoot. At the time, the band's guitarist Robbin Crosby was dating a girl who had been breaking into modeling. Her name was Tawny Kitaen and she ended up on the cover of the EP. It worked out so well that when it came time to do the cover for Out of the Cellar, she was asked to model again. Kitaen was also trying to start an acting career and in addition to doing some work in Ratt's music videos, she got a big break in 1984 when she co-starred with Tom Hanks in the comedy Bachelor Party. But she became a rock icon of sorts later in 1987 when the band Whitesnake (featuring Kitaen's then boyfriend David Coverdale) got her to perform in their music videos. Her appearances made her a star and an instant sex symbol. Kitaen continued to act in film and on TV, but most folks remember her from the Whitesnake videos.

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