Tag: ratt

After the initial burst of their first three releases (the self titled EP, Out Of The Cellar, and Invasion Of Your Privacy), Ratt were on a serious roll – those first three are classics. With this, their fourth release, could they keep it up? Well, the easy answer is no, but there are a few great songs on here.

The opening track, Dance, was a hit single and appeared in Miami Vice. It’s a typical Ratt n roll groove with that hint of sleaze – its a great tune. Drive Me Crazy is a cool up-tempo tune with a nice descending hook and riff. Slip Of The Lip was another track that appeared in a movie, this time it was The Golden Child. The best track on the album, and my favourite, is Body Talk. A killer tune that really grooves along with a simple riff and killer hook.

Other than Take A Chance, which is a slow grinding groove that is different from any other track on the album, Side 2 doesn’t live up to the quality of Side 1. It was a slow slide downwards after this album, with the occasional great tune thrown in to to remind people they could still do it. This album is certified platinum, so it sold in huge numbers.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

Formed in ’76 as Mickey RATT, it wasn’t until ’81 and a name change to just RATT that success came their way. This is the first EP that was originally released on their own label, Time Coast, and I remember buying a licensed copy on Music For Nations.

The six tracks on offer here are very raw sounding, but you can tell they were going places. Opener, Sweet Cheater, is a killer up-tempo rocker and quite possibly the heaviest thing they released, with a great solo from Warren De Martini – one of the unsung guitar heroes of the LA scene. You Think You’re Tough is a blueprint for the direction they would take after this album. I Got It is pure sleaze glam (before it became fashionable) with a real dirty riff. Tell The World would reappear later in a more modified version as Lack Of Communication. Back For More would be re-recorded on Out Of The Cellar, and this is a tad slower and dirtier sounding. Walkin’ The Dog closes out the record and I love the intro as it sets the tone for the track – which is pure dirty LA sleaze.

Well worth getting – especially if you’re a RATT fan – and if you’re not, get it anyway because it’s really good.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

After the success of their self-titled and self-financed first album, record companies were falling over themselves to sign the band. Atlantic won the race to release Out Of The Cellar, which is a masterpiece of glam/sleaze rock. The band had a knack for writing super catchy songs.

Round And Round was the huge smash from this record, as heavy MTV rotation made this song a global hit. Stephen Pearce is not the best singer in the world, but his raspy strained style suits the music perfectly. Guitarist Warren De Martini had the flash chops that was a requirement of every band that came from the whole LA scene, and the whole band had the look.

Opening track, Wanted Man, is a great opening track that lets you know what the band are all about. Side 2 opening track, Lack Of Communication, is my favourite from the record as I love the riff and hook. This album set the band up for the follow up Invasion Of Your Privacy, which would be the peak the band would achieve. It was a steady decline after that.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.