Top Ten Songs by Motley Crue
#10) Primal Scream. This song came out towards the end of their era of dominance; early 1990’s. It was included on the first ‘best of’ compilation that Motley Crue released titled Decade of Decadence. It was a song that sounded as if it could have come out in 1985. It is a throw back to classic hard rock in a time when depressing grunge was starting to dominate.
#9) Time To Change. This is the epic and unintentionally foreshadowing song that closed Motley Crue’s 1989 Dr. Feelgood album. The song is about change and how “nothing stays the same”. Little did Motley Crue know that after 1989, it would all change for them. This song was kind of a goodbye to their fans, even though they never left. Shortly after it came out, Vince left the band, troubles ensued for other members, Mick’s health troubles began… A poignantly beautiful song that is not at all like most of what Motley Crue had done before but it is still a wonderful piece of work.
#8) Looks That Kill. This was one of Motley Crue’s earliest songs. It is also one of the best. This song is an excellent example of how to write a hit song in the 1980’s – a) talk about girls, b) guitars, c) simple and repeating lyrics. It worked well for the Crue. It’s a great pump you up song, one to listen to when you are depressed. It gets the blood flowing and can change your outlook for the day. It is a great song indeed.
#7) Smokin’ In the Boys Room. In 1985, Motley Crue remade a timeless classic and gave it more of an edge not found in the original. When the Crue sang this tribute to rebelliousness, it sounded more authentic. We just new that Motley Crue were caught smoking (and other things) in the restrooms when they were students. The highpoint of the song is the dueling guitar solos near the end. It is some of the best guitar work that Mick has ever done. The solo to this song reminds me of the solo to Hotel California – The Eagles, in the way that different guitars are at work and produce different styles during the same solo. I love this song more and more each time I hear it. It sounds better in 2006 that it did in 1985.
#6) Kickstart My Heart. Written from a real-life coming back from the dead incident, where the heart needed to be ‘kickstarted’, Motley Crue gave us perhaps their loudest and fastest song of their career with this gem. That opening guitar riff just resonates throughout the whole song building up to a guitar solo filled with a talk-box stolen right out of Richie Sambora and Peter Frampton’s hands. This is not a good song to listen to while you are driving because you will be going 90 MPH and not even realize it. It has that kind of effect on people. This is rock and roll at its most adrenaline driven moment.
#5) Wildside. This song lets Tommy Lee shine. The drums in this song are front and center, letting all other instruments take a backseat. When Tommy hits the muted cymbals in beat with the rhythm, it is a true headbanging moment. This is a song that needs to be on everybody’s workout mix tape. It gets you off the chair and makes you want to lift something heavy. I don’t know how else to state it. Great song for the weight room. I love this song.
#4) Dr. Feelgood. This is probably Motley Crue’s signature song. It is one of the 80’s glam metal era’s best children. The song tackles the topic of drug dealers. Rat-tailed Jimmy is the main character; a song icon who resides alongside Lola, Jack and Diane, Sweet Sweet Connie, and Sharona. This is not a wussy, PC version of drugs, it is a wham, bam, f-you ma’am approach. And it works oh so well. To call it a masterpiece is to understate its place in history.
#3) Shout At The Devil. Born and raised Catholic, you can see why this song was not a popular tune in my childhood home. I can look at it objectively though, and realize that it is one of the best examples of what rock and roll should sound like. Motley Crue weren’t devil worshippers, but too many people just looked at the title of the song and closed their minds without looking or questioning what was going on. Truth is that Motley Crue knew what their demographic wanted to hear, and they knew that controversy would sell records, and low and behold, Shout At The Devil was born. I still believe in God, I am still very spiritual, and I still love this song. I don’t close my mind to greatness just because of a word. This is one hell of a great song.
#2) Girls, Girls, Girls. Dear Motley Crue. Where have you gone Motley Crue? Where are you when we need you the most Motley Crue? All the so-called ‘music’ that is labeled hip-hop nowadays tries to sound exactly as you did 20+ years ago. Every hip-hop song around (and they all stink) talks about bi*ches, strip clubs and naked women, but none of them have the authentic feel as this song does. Seriously, who do you think went to more seedy strip clubs…Tommy Lee or Nelly? Today’s pathetic and watered down approach to a style that you perfected is just a lame imitation. Strip clubs and scantily-clad (if ‘clad’ at all) women need loud rock and roll to be experienced at their best. Silly little kids dance music is just dumb. This song is so great that it makes me want to go to The Dollhouse in Fort Lauderdale or Crazy Horse in Paris, France. This song bleeds truth.
There is only one choice for the best Motley Crue song of all-time. Most Crue fans will agree…
#1) Home Sweet Home. This song is generally considered the first heavy metal ballad ever released. It was originally on Motley Crue’s 1985 Theatre Of Pain album. It achieved moderate success at the time but when re-released in 1991, it blew the roof off the dump. Many people, including some associated with Motley Crue had their doubts in 1985 when the song was recorded. There hadn’t been any other songs like it at the time. Heavy metal fans liked their music loud, full of guitars, and not with piano. Home Sweet Home was the opposite. It was the softer side of the bad boys from tinsel town. It was Motley Crue’s on the road song; similar to Bob Seger’s Turn The Page, or Bon Jovi’s Wanted Dead Or Alive. Not only was it the first ever heavy metal ballad, but it stands up as the best-ever heavy metal ballad. The piano works so beautifully in this song that it’s a shame that Motley Crue didn’t break out the ivory keys more often. But when it’s all said and done, at least we were lucky enough to have been given this song. This is like a gift from the rock gods. Thank you.
