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40 Years Later… Poison’s Debut Album Still Matters

The Hair Metal Guru | May 25, 2026



Poison’s debut album Look What The Cat Dragged In turns 40 years old in 2026 — and we’re celebrating one of the most important albums in hair metal history. In this video, we talk about discovering Poison for the first time, our memories of buying the album back in the day, and why this record still matters four decades later. There’s also a special guest appearance by Stevie Rachelle from Tuff & Metal Sludge!

From “Talk Dirty To Me” and the title track to the larger-than-life image, attitude, and hooks that helped define an era, this album helped change the landscape of 80s hard rock and glam metal forever.

We also discuss:
• Our personal connection to the album
• The impact Poison had on the Sunset Strip scene
• Why Look What The Cat Dragged In still connects with fans today
• The legacy of Poison in hair metal history
• Favorite songs, memories, and moments from the album

40 years later… this album still matters.

What are YOUR memories of Look What The Cat Dragged In?
Let us know your favorite Poison songs and stories in the comments!

#Poison #HairMetal #GlamMetal #80sRock #LookWhatTheCatDraggedIn #BretMichaels #CCDeVille #RikkiRockett #BobbyDall #TheHairMetalGuru

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Written by The Hair Metal Guru

Comments

This post currently has 21 comments.

  1. @steveparsons8458

    May 25, 2026 at 8:24 am

    Saw it in the record store , thought they were chicks😂but it’s a great, fun album, raw production, and just great songs and overall vibe. I bought it when I was 16 I’m 58 now and I STILL listen to it a lot!!🤘

  2. @ocif614

    May 25, 2026 at 8:24 am

    What a fantastic episode about a landmark album! I always love listening to Patrick's stories; they're incredibly genuine and straight from the heart.

  3. @AC-ws1ui

    May 25, 2026 at 8:24 am

    I had the Poison Look What the Cat Dragged In cassette for my Sony Walkman and the the cat dragged in something good to when it dragged in the fluorescent green Poison logo. All the songs on the album were fun songs to listen to and the music videos on MTV were fun to watch.

  4. @RockLibertyWarrior

    May 25, 2026 at 8:24 am

    I was 10 years old when I discovered Poison and it wasn't "Look What the Cat Dragged In" it was "Flesh and Blood", my dad was a musician and mainly had Van Halen, Def Leppard and Motley Crue vinyl and CD's he thought Poison was too girly, my aunt was four years older than me and bought all the metal magazines and had a crush on the guys from Poison and my cousin who was 10 years older than me had Poison cassettes, that being said I really wasn't allowed to watch Mtv because depending on how religious my mom was at the time I wasn't allowed to watch certain things. However, I used to sneak watch Mtv when my dad would put it on, or when my aunt baby sat me or when my cousin watched it at his house. That is how I was exposed to Poison, I stole my aunt's "Look What the Cat Dragged In" tape just to listen to it and I loved it! Great White is the band that got me into hard rock, in third grade my buddy Eric was listening to them on his Walkman on the bus and I asked him if I could have a listen he handed his Walkman over to me with the album "Twice Shy ", that is what made me go through my dad, aunt and cousin's record collections albeit hiding from mom. LOL!!!

  5. @bobbymurphy9937

    May 25, 2026 at 8:24 am

    Will you try an do a show on the history of bad lands and maybe do an interview with jake E lee or Greg chaisson. Todd the bass player in tuff is the brother of Gregg chaisson if u did a interview with Gregg that would be cool.

  6. @Horns2TheSkyMike

    May 25, 2026 at 8:24 am

    Sometime around summer ‘86 (12 years old), I won a copy of ‘Look What The Cat Dragged In’ on vinyl from the radio station “92 Q” in Cleveland. I got a ride to the station to pick it up, brought it home and showed my dad, to which he promptly replied “Who are these broads!?” That began a 40 year love affair with the album. Love it from top to bottom, absolutely zero skips.

  7. @geoffpenton302

    May 25, 2026 at 8:24 am

    Literally, my 16th birthday! Got it a while after…was on Music For Nations, I believe, in the UK -or am I just going wild?!? Lol! – got it a few months later. Reminded me of the Motley debut, being so raw….loved the singles……think I was all over Cinderella at the time. But really good album. G

  8. @gchristiansen1759

    May 25, 2026 at 8:25 am

    Even though C.C. went to our high school you weren't seeing a single person wearing a Poison T shirt. You had to show your rock cred wearing shirts of the Big 4,Rush or Iron Maiden before you could sprinkle in a Ratt or Motley or you were at risk of being labeled a "POSER" so I had the album, listened to the album but did not advertise that fact

  9. @matthewmcpherson7535

    May 25, 2026 at 8:25 am

    It was about 1987, a mate gave me a copy, I was hooked on talk dirty but now cry tough as i age. My brother picked up playing the guitar after seeing the dirty clip after seeing CC roll on the floor

  10. @eatdrugs1st90

    May 25, 2026 at 8:25 am

    This record I got as a copy tape back in 1986 before it officially came out (we exchanged tapes of new stuff all the time)… as a Cruhead already this was right up my alley and waited for its official release. Love this record by far my favorite Poison record… raw and unpolished.

  11. @Kingspade73

    May 25, 2026 at 8:25 am

    In my opinion this is their best album and my favorite. My favorite tracks are the non hits like #1 bad boy, look at what the car dragged in, play dirty, and on to the show. CC tore up the rifts on this album. Great episode once again.

  12. @shaynedonnelly2901

    May 25, 2026 at 8:25 am

    I was 11 years old. Heard Talk dirty to me on the radio while getting driven to my dad’s house with my cousin. We both said Holy Shit this is the best song ever. Great memories. Still love the song and the album. Awesome

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