The 50 Greatest Hair Albums EVER. (1 Viewer)

[DocHolliday]

48. Skid Row – Slave to the Grind (1991) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ec/Skidrow-slavecover.jpg/220px-Skidrow-slavecover.jpg

First heavy metal album to debut #1 on the Billboard 200. Sebastian Bach is a hair God.

1. Monkey Business

2. Slave To The Grind

3. The Threat

4. Quicksand Jesus

5. Psycho Love

6. Get The #### Out

7. Livin' On A Chain Gang

8. Creepshow

9. In A Darkened Room

10. Riot Act

11. Mudkicker

12. Wasted Time

Better than self-titled. #2 and #3 so good.

Not so fast, my friend. I love both but give me the self titled album.

Wasted time is such a great ballad. The first :42 intro to Monkey Business ending with the all time greatest hair metal scream is timeless.

I love the first album but Slave to the Grind is even better. The end of the album is so strong with Mudkicker and Wasted Time. Just a better album musically than the first. Damn. This listing belongs in the top 20 probably. I told myself I was not going to bother thinking about the actual order of the albums since that is so subjective.

Carry on OP. Love this thread. Love to see all the metal heads that lived through all that coke, Budweiser, and JD.

 

[jomar]

these guys haven't been mentioned once in this thread. came into the game late but this song rocks. this album would make me top 50 but not sure about the OPs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT-DBDhEBCE

 

[zamboni]

Played ballards primarily, but had that one song that really rocked.

Best ballard

 

[jomar]

more from Warrior Soul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nurQy-oyZg

 

[KarmaPolice]

As far as power ballads go, there are a couple from Dokken I would put over a lot already listed in here.

 

[arctic_panzer_wolf]

A thread to make me come out of lurker mode! Being born in 77' I missed being a teen in this era, but know it pretty well. My first ever cassette tape purchase (Stay Hungry) made the list. Jani Lane (Warrant vocalist) was my friends Uncle (Moms brother). Good stuff, takes me back to my walkman days. Two power ballads I like, but the bands kind of suck.

Extreme-More than words

Queensryche-Silent Lucidity

 

[KarmaPolice]

I think you have the second one backwards. Love Queensryche, and can't stand that song.

Wind of Change is also an instant skip song for me.

 

[JZilla]

Badlands- Jake E Lee AND Ray Gillen???!!!

There it is. Definitely in my top 5. One of a pretty small handful of albums from that scene that I still frequently listen to, start to finish. Good times in life and music!

Power ballad? Seasons

I didn't want to get too far ahead of Warsteiner but this is taking a while and pretty much everything's getting mentioned. Got a couple more personal faves in my pocket.

 

[Buzzbait]

A thread to make me come out of lurker mode! Being born in 77' I missed being a teen in this era, but know it pretty well. My first ever cassette tape purchase (Stay Hungry) made the list. Jani Lane (Warrant vocalist) was my friends Uncle (Moms brother). Good stuff, takes me back to my walkman days. Two power ballads I like, but the bands kind of suck.

Extreme-More than words

Queensryche-Silent Lucidity

Queensryche's later albums were watered down but their early stuff was pretty good. Operation: mindcrime actually is more than pretty good and a great concept album that should be top 10 on this list.

 

[Buzzbait]

Badlands- Jake E Lee AND Ray Gillen???!!!

There it is. Definitely in my top 5. One of a pretty small handful of albums from that scene that I still frequently listen to, start to finish. Good times in life and music!

Power ballad? Seasons

Not in my top 5 but agree it's a fantastic album. I'm guessing it would be in my top 20. Love the end of Seasons when the tempo picks up.

 

[Quint]

these guys haven't been mentioned once in this thread. came into the game late but this song rocks. this album would make me top 50 but not sure about the OPs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT-DBDhEBCE

solid band for sure, and that song rocks.

speaking of late to the game and not yet mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQfbxl1rmLw

 

[DocHolliday]

I think you have the second one backwards. Love Queensryche, and can't stand that song.

Wind of Change is also an instant skip song for me.

QR and Metallica were my favorite bands since the mid 80s. Silent Lucidity is an awful, boring song. The first QR albums are fantastic with Mindcrime being the best.

An earlier poster mentioned Dokken ballads. Alone Again is top 10 on my power ballad list. The live version from Beast from the East with the added guitar build up is awesome. Tough to choose the best power ballad but hard to argue against Home Sweet Home.

 

[PIK95]

And yet it is this very influence which disqualifies Van Halen from being categorized as a hair metal band for how can they be part of a trend that they pre-dated?

Pre-dated AND post-dated. A great rock band that lived through the hair metal trend. To me hair metal bands are bands that lived and DIED in the 80-90s.

Link to these great songs VH made after 1992?

GREAT point.

 

[PIK95]

For full disclosure, other then Motley Crue pre Dr. feel-good, I thought most of this music was awful when I was in 8th grade in 89. I still hate 95% of it. It's intriguing to me that it's so popular to a bunch of you that I have big respect for music wise. I think the girls around that scene has clouded alot of dudes judgement of the quality of the actual music.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

For full disclosure, other then Motley Crue pre Dr. feel-good, I thought most of this music was awful when I was in 8th grade in 89. I still hate 95% of it. It's intriguing to me that it's so popular to a bunch of you that I have big respect for music wise. I think the girls around that scene has clouded alot of dudes judgement of the quality of the actual music.

I was in 8th grade that same year and to be honest my cassette player was usually playing 2 live crew or some other equally terrible ####.

 

[Tom Skerritt]

Does Aerosmith count?

 

[JZilla]

For full disclosure, other then Motley Crue pre Dr. feel-good, I thought most of this music was awful when I was in 8th grade in 89. I still hate 95% of it. It's intriguing to me that it's so popular to a bunch of you that I have big respect for music wise. I think the girls around that scene has clouded alot of dudes judgement of the quality of the actual music.

Sorry but Theater and Girls were not much better than most of what we're talking about here

 

[Warsteinner]

[SIZE=16pt]37. Enuff Z’Nuff – Enuff Z’Nuff (1989)[/SIZE] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Enuff1.jpg/220px-Enuff1.jpg

I know there are many fans with this one, but for some reason it seems in some circles these guys and this album get overlooked and forgotten. It’s got the nice ballads and songs you put on in the summer time and cruise with the windows down.

1. New Thing

2. She Wants More

3. Fly High Michelle

4. Hot Little Summer Girl

5. In the Groove

6. Little Indian Angel

7. For Now

8. Kiss the Clow

9. I Could Never Be Without You

10. Finger on the Trigger

 

[IC FBGCav]

I never got EzN, don't know what they were going for.

 

[PIK95]

For full disclosure, other then Motley Crue pre Dr. feel-good, I thought most of this music was awful when I was in 8th grade in 89. I still hate 95% of it. It's intriguing to me that it's so popular to a bunch of you that I have big respect for music wise. I think the girls around that scene has clouded alot of dudes judgement of the quality of the actual music.

I was in 8th grade that same year and to be honest my cassette player was usually playing 2 live crew or some other equally terrible ####.

That was the summer before for us and Eazy dominated 8th.

 

[PIK95]

For full disclosure, other then Motley Crue pre Dr. feel-good, I thought most of this music was awful when I was in 8th grade in 89. I still hate 95% of it. It's intriguing to me that it's so popular to a bunch of you that I have big respect for music wise. I think the girls around that scene has clouded alot of dudes judgement of the quality of the actual music.

Sorry but Theater and Girls were not much better than most of what we're talking about here

They were harder which is the main reason. And Wild Side...

 

[DocHolliday]

[SIZE=16pt]37. Enuff Z’Nuff – Enuff Z’Nuff (1989)[/SIZE] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Enuff1.jpg/220px-Enuff1.jpg

I know there are many fans with this one, but for some reason it seems in some circles these guys and this album get overlooked and forgotten. It’s got the nice ballads and songs you put on in the summer time and cruise with the windows down.

1. New Thing

2. She Wants More

3. Fly High Michelle

4. Hot Little Summer Girl

5. In the Groove

6. Little Indian Angel

7. For Now

8. Kiss the Clow

9. I Could Never Be Without You

10. Finger on the Trigger

Interesting one to put on the list, especially at this spot. It may belong on the list but not sure how it is rated above most of the albums already listed. That being said, EZN had a really cool sound that was different than most of the other hair bands. Fly High Michelle is a fun song.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

For full disclosure, other then Motley Crue pre Dr. feel-good, I thought most of this music was awful when I was in 8th grade in 89. I still hate 95% of it. It's intriguing to me that it's so popular to a bunch of you that I have big respect for music wise. I think the girls around that scene has clouded alot of dudes judgement of the quality of the actual music.

Sorry but Theater and Girls were not much better than most of what we're talking about here

They were harder which is the main reason. And Wild Side...

Too fast for love and shout at the devil are still awesome. The redt of crues catalog is hot garbage

 

[cstu]

For full disclosure, other then Motley Crue pre Dr. feel-good, I thought most of this music was awful when I was in 8th grade in 89. I still hate 95% of it. It's intriguing to me that it's so popular to a bunch of you that I have big respect for music wise. I think the girls around that scene has clouded alot of dudes judgement of the quality of the actual music.

It doesn't matter if it's good, it only matter if it rocks.

 

[JZilla]

[SIZE=16pt]37. Enuff Z’Nuff – Enuff Z’Nuff (1989)[/SIZE] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Enuff1.jpg/220px-Enuff1.jpg

I know there are many fans with this one, but for some reason it seems in some circles these guys and this album get overlooked and forgotten. It’s got the nice ballads and songs you put on in the summer time and cruise with the windows down.

1. New Thing

2. She Wants More

3. Fly High Michelle

4. Hot Little Summer Girl

5. In the Groove

6. Little Indian Angel

7. For Now

8. Kiss the Clow

9. I Could Never Be Without You

10. Finger on the Trigger

Interesting one to put on the list, especially at this spot. It may belong on the list but not sure how it is rated above most of the albums already listed. That being said, EZN had a really cool sound that was different than most of the other hair bands. Fly High Michelle is a fun song.

Took a little different path with the Beatles influence and the hippie aesthetic. I liked them then, but I don't really go back to anything that soft.

 

[Warsteinner]

[SIZE=16pt]36. Motley Crue – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987) [/SIZE]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/17/Girls%2C_Girls%2C_Girls_%28M%C3%B6tley_Cr%C3%BCe_album%29.jpg/220px-Girls%2C_Girls%2C_Girls_%28M%C3%B6tley_Cr%C3%BCe_album%29.jpg

Spring break and strip joints may not be what they are today without this album. From kicking ### on the Wild the Side to the Dollhouse in Ft. Lauderdale, we have motorcycles, booze, drugs, and strippers. Does one need anything else for survival?

1. Wild Side

2. Girls, Girls, Girls

3. Dancing on Glass

4. Bad Boy Boogie

5. Nona

6. Five Years Dead

7. All in the Name Of

8. Sumthin for Nuthin

9. You’re All I Need

10. Jailhouse Rock

 

[cstu]

[SIZE=16pt]37. Enuff Z’Nuff – Enuff Z’Nuff (1989)[/SIZE] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Enuff1.jpg/220px-Enuff1.jpg

I know there are many fans with this one, but for some reason it seems in some circles these guys and this album get overlooked and forgotten. It’s got the nice ballads and songs you put on in the summer time and cruise with the windows down.

1. New Thing

2. She Wants More

3. Fly High Michelle

4. Hot Little Summer Girl

5. In the Groove

6. Little Indian Angel

7. For Now

8. Kiss the Clow

9. I Could Never Be Without You

10. Finger on the Trigger

Interesting one to put on the list, especially at this spot. It may belong on the list but not sure how it is rated above most of the albums already listed. That being said, EZN had a really cool sound that was different than most of the other hair bands. Fly High Michelle is a fun song.

It was ### like this that ended the hair band era.

 

[JNox3]

I this thread and Warsteinner!!

 

[baymen]

 

[Warsteinner]

I this thread and Warsteinner!!

 

[IC FBGCav]

I this thread and Warsteinner!!

I love his avatar, damn.

 

[JNox3]

I this thread and Warsteinner!!

I love his avatar, damn.

I thought this was just implied.

 

[fightingillini]

Had a girlfriend from '89-'91 that was big into hair metal.

Sometime in 1990, she talked me into taking her to see Ratt / Warrant / Great White at Poplar Creek music theatre with was the huge outdoor music venue in the area.

We get there and the place is a ghost town. I had probably seen 20 shows at this venue and it was surreal to see it so empty. Great White plays their opening set and the crowd isn't growing. Warrant comes out and Janie Lane (or whatever the hell his name was) grabs the mic and announces to the crowd that 'there's plenty of room for everyone, so all you ####ers out in the lawn come on down to the seats so we can ####### party!'

The lawn crowd comes down to the seats in the pavilion and were still only about 50% full and there were about 50 people left on the lawn.

That's when I knew the era was over.

Full disclosure, Ratt killed that night. Whoever the drummer was at that time stole the show. Just a beast

I was at that show, and I totally remembered Jani Lane of Warrant telling us to come on down to the pavilion. There couldn't have been more than 2500 people at that show.

I agree that Ratt was really good. Totally had respect for them in that they played their full setlist, even though the venue was nearly empty. Many bands would have said...."F this", and cut their show off early.

 

[cstu]

Had a girlfriend from '89-'91 that was big into hair metal.

Sometime in 1990, she talked me into taking her to see Ratt / Warrant / Great White at Poplar Creek music theatre with was the huge outdoor music venue in the area.

We get there and the place is a ghost town. I had probably seen 20 shows at this venue and it was surreal to see it so empty. Great White plays their opening set and the crowd isn't growing. Warrant comes out and Janie Lane (or whatever the hell his name was) grabs the mic and announces to the crowd that 'there's plenty of room for everyone, so all you ####ers out in the lawn come on down to the seats so we can ####### party!'

The lawn crowd comes down to the seats in the pavilion and were still only about 50% full and there were about 50 people left on the lawn.

That's when I knew the era was over.

Full disclosure, Ratt killed that night. Whoever the drummer was at that time stole the show. Just a beast

I was at that show, and I totally remembered Jani Lane of Warrant telling us to come on down to the pavilion. There couldn't have been more than 2500 people at that show.

I agree that Ratt was really good. Totally had respect for them in that they played their full setlist, even though the venue was nearly empty. Many bands would have said...."F this", and cut their show off early.

I find it difficult to believe that was in 1990.

 

[PIK95]

Had a girlfriend from '89-'91 that was big into hair metal.

Sometime in 1990, she talked me into taking her to see Ratt / Warrant / Great White at Poplar Creek music theatre with was the huge outdoor music venue in the area.

We get there and the place is a ghost town. I had probably seen 20 shows at this venue and it was surreal to see it so empty. Great White plays their opening set and the crowd isn't growing. Warrant comes out and Janie Lane (or whatever the hell his name was) grabs the mic and announces to the crowd that 'there's plenty of room for everyone, so all you ####ers out in the lawn come on down to the seats so we can ####### party!'

The lawn crowd comes down to the seats in the pavilion and were still only about 50% full and there were about 50 people left on the lawn.

That's when I knew the era was over.

Full disclosure, Ratt killed that night. Whoever the drummer was at that time stole the show. Just a beast

I was at that show, and I totally remembered Jani Lane of Warrant telling us to come on down to the pavilion. There couldn't have been more than 2500 people at that show.

I agree that Ratt was really good. Totally had respect for them in that they played their full setlist, even though the venue was nearly empty. Many bands would have said...."F this", and cut their show off early.

I find it difficult to believe that was in 1990.

It kinda makes sense. There was a surge in gangster rap around 90-91 before grunge, so it sounds right to me.

 

[PIK95]

For full disclosure, other then Motley Crue pre Dr. feel-good, I thought most of this music was awful when I was in 8th grade in 89. I still hate 95% of it. It's intriguing to me that it's so popular to a bunch of you that I have big respect for music wise. I think the girls around that scene has clouded alot of dudes judgement of the quality of the actual music.

It doesn't matter if it's good, it only matter if it rocks.

Post of the thread!

 

[PIK95]

36. Motley Crue Girls, Girls, Girls (1987) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/17/Girls%2C_Girls%2C_Girls_%28M%C3%B6tley_Cr%C3%BCe_album%29.jpg/220px-Girls%2C_Girls%2C_Girls_%28M%C3%B6tley_Cr%C3%BCe_album%29.jpg

Spring break and strip joints may not be what they are today without this album. From kicking ### on the Wild the Side to the Dollhouse in Ft. Lauderdale, we have motorcycles, booze, drugs, and strippers. Does one need anything else for survival?

1. Wild Side

2. Girls, Girls, Girls

3. Dancing on Glass

4. Bad Boy Boogie

5. Nona

6. Five Years Dead

7. All in the Name Of

8. Sumthin for Nuthin

9. Youre All I Need

10. Jailhouse Rock

1-2-3-6 were some of my favorite tunes of the era in any genre. There may be another on there but I forget.

 

[cstu]

Had a girlfriend from '89-'91 that was big into hair metal.

Sometime in 1990, she talked me into taking her to see Ratt / Warrant / Great White at Poplar Creek music theatre with was the huge outdoor music venue in the area.

We get there and the place is a ghost town. I had probably seen 20 shows at this venue and it was surreal to see it so empty. Great White plays their opening set and the crowd isn't growing. Warrant comes out and Janie Lane (or whatever the hell his name was) grabs the mic and announces to the crowd that 'there's plenty of room for everyone, so all you ####ers out in the lawn come on down to the seats so we can ####### party!'

The lawn crowd comes down to the seats in the pavilion and were still only about 50% full and there were about 50 people left on the lawn.

That's when I knew the era was over.

Full disclosure, Ratt killed that night. Whoever the drummer was at that time stole the show. Just a beast

I was at that show, and I totally remembered Jani Lane of Warrant telling us to come on down to the pavilion. There couldn't have been more than 2500 people at that show.

I agree that Ratt was really good. Totally had respect for them in that they played their full setlist, even though the venue was nearly empty. Many bands would have said...."F this", and cut their show off early.

I find it difficult to believe that was in 1990.

It kinda makes sense. There was a surge in gangster rap around 90-91 before grunge, so it sounds right to me.

Looks like it was even earlier than that:

Ratt Great White, Warrant Poplar Creek Hoffman Estates, IL Friday, June 2, 1989Possible it was related to the attendance problems at Poplar Creek.

However, I do remember crowds not being the same in the summer of 1991 - even prior to the release of Nevermind. That album simply put the nail in the coffin.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Had a girlfriend from '89-'91 that was big into hair metal.

Sometime in 1990, she talked me into taking her to see Ratt / Warrant / Great White at Poplar Creek music theatre with was the huge outdoor music venue in the area.

We get there and the place is a ghost town. I had probably seen 20 shows at this venue and it was surreal to see it so empty. Great White plays their opening set and the crowd isn't growing. Warrant comes out and Janie Lane (or whatever the hell his name was) grabs the mic and announces to the crowd that 'there's plenty of room for everyone, so all you ####ers out in the lawn come on down to the seats so we can ####### party!'

The lawn crowd comes down to the seats in the pavilion and were still only about 50% full and there were about 50 people left on the lawn.

That's when I knew the era was over.

Full disclosure, Ratt killed that night. Whoever the drummer was at that time stole the show. Just a beast

I was at that show, and I totally remembered Jani Lane of Warrant telling us to come on down to the pavilion. There couldn't have been more than 2500 people at that show.

I agree that Ratt was really good. Totally had respect for them in that they played their full setlist, even though the venue was nearly empty. Many bands would have said...."F this", and cut their show off early.

I find it difficult to believe that was in 1990.

It kinda makes sense. There was a surge in gangster rap around 90-91 before grunge, so it sounds right to me.

Looks like it was even earlier than that:

Ratt Great White, Warrant Poplar Creek Hoffman Estates, IL Friday, June 2, 1989Possible it was related to the attendance problems at Poplar Creek.However, I do remember crowds not being the same in the summer of 1991 - even prior to the release of Nevermind. That album simply put the nail in the coffin.

Wow! Surprised it was '89.

Metallica came through on Damaged Justice tour a month later and it was as crowded as I had ever seen it, so the place could still draw.

GnR and Metallica deserve more credit than any other labeled music genre for destroying that scene. MTV pumping the hell out of AJFA and AFD completely changed what people were seeking. Pretty boys in makeup and spandex, singing about heartbreak was a done for.

 

[Doug B]

GnR and Metallica deserve more credit than any other labeled music genre for destroying that scene. MTV pumping the hell out of AJFA and AFD completely changed what people were seeking. Pretty boys in makeup and spandex, singing about heartbreak was a done for.

AJFA and AFD?

EDIT: ... And Justice For All & Appetite for Destruction. Got it

 

[Warsteinner]

[SIZE=16pt]35. Quiet Riot – Metal Health (1983) [/SIZE]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7a/MetalHealthQuietRiot.jpg/220px-MetalHealthQuietRiot.jpg

[SIZE=16pt]Bang your head!!!!!![/SIZE] You ever been in a drinking contest with your entourage and had to dig down deep to get that next shot of Old Grand-Dad down? Metal Health will take you home, gentlemen.

1. Metal Health

2. Cum on Feel the Noize

3. Don’t Wanna Let You Go

4. Slick Black Cadillac

5. Love’s a #####

6. Breathless

7. Run for Cover

8. Battle Axe

9. Let’s Get Crazy

10. Thunderbird

 

[PIK95]

35. Quiet Riot Metal Health (1983) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7a/MetalHealthQuietRiot.jpg/220px-MetalHealthQuietRiot.jpg

Bang your head!!!!!! You ever been in a drinking contest with your entourage and had to dig down deep to get that next shot of Old Grand-Dad down? Metal Health will take you home, gentlemen.

1. Metal Health

2. Cum on Feel the Noize

3. Dont Wanna Let You Go

4. Slick Black Cadillac

5. Loves a #####

6. Breathless

7. Run for Cover

8. Battle Axe

9. Lets Get Crazy

10. Thunderbird

How is this hair? It was like Ozzy? Is he hair?

 

[Warsteinner]

35. Quiet Riot Metal Health (1983) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7a/MetalHealthQuietRiot.jpg/220px-MetalHealthQuietRiot.jpg

Bang your head!!!!!! You ever been in a drinking contest with your entourage and had to dig down deep to get that next shot of Old Grand-Dad down? Metal Health will take you home, gentlemen.

1. Metal Health

2. Cum on Feel the Noize

3. Dont Wanna Let You Go

4. Slick Black Cadillac

5. Loves a #####

6. Breathless

7. Run for Cover

8. Battle Axe

9. Lets Get Crazy

10. Thunderbird

How is this hair? It was like Ozzy? Is he hair?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glam_metal

 

[coyote5]

Uh yeah, they were hair metal

 

[zamboni]

Not sure I'd put Metal Health up there.

Has a ton of nostalgia for those of us that went to HS in the early to mid '80s, but kinda falls flat now when comparing to others from the genre.

 

[coyote5]

Jesus christ who are you people GTFO with your Quiet Riot shade!

 

[zamboni]

I'd say Kevin DuBrow going with the hair extensions gets him solidly in the genre.

 

[PIK95]

Uh yeah, they were hair metal

What year was that?

 

[PIK95]

Jesus christ who are you people GTFO with your Quiet Riot shade!

Translation?

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Jesus christ who are you people GTFO with your Quiet Riot shade!

There's a documentary from the last 2-3 years about the drummer from Quiet Riot trying to find a new vocalist and put the band back together to play the festival circuit: there are enough 80s nostalgia shows, hair metal weekends, and such in the US and UK for a band like Quiet Riot to play enough dates to make a living playing live shows. I don't know if it's right to say the documentary is a great film, but I was riveted.