Dr. Feelgood (album)

Dr. Feelgood
Studio album by Mötley Crüe
Released	September 1, 1989
Recorded	1989
Studio	Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver, Canada
Genre	Heavy metal glam metal
Length	45:07
Label	Elektra
Producer	Bob Rock
Mötley Crüe chronology
Raw Tracks (1987) Dr. Feelgood (1989) Decade of Decadence (1991)
Singles from Dr. Feelgood
"Dr. Feelgood" Released: August 28, 1989 "Kickstart My Heart" Released: November 20, 1989 "Without You" Released: March 12, 1990 "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" Released: May 28, 1990 "Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)" Released: July 31, 1990

Dr. Feelgood is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released on September 1, 1989. Dr. Feelgood topped the Billboard 200 chart and was the first album Mötley Crüe recorded after their quest for sobriety and rehabilitation in 1989.^[1] In addition to being Mötley Crüe's best selling album, it is highly regarded by music critics and fans as the band's best studio album. It is the band's last album to be recorded with lead singer Vince Neil until the 1997 album Generation Swine.

Recording

Canadian producer Bob Rock provided the record with a lush, vibrant sound, applying production values which had been lacking from the band's previous releases.

Rock found the process of working with Mötley Crüe difficult, describing the band as "four L.A. bad asses who used to drink a bottle of wine and want to kill each other."^[2] In order to minimize conflict and allow production of the record to proceed smoothly, Rock had each member record their parts separately.^[2]

The lyrics of "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" feature a reference to a previous song by the band, "Too Young to Fall in Love".

The end of "Slice of Your Pie" is based on "She's So Heavy" off The Beatles Abbey Road album.

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith sings backing vocals on "Sticky Sweet". "Nikki and Tommy and I hung out a lot," said Tyler, who was in Vancouver around the same time, recording Pump. "Of course, we're all akin by our old drinking and drugging days."^[3])

Release

Dr. Feelgood has sold more than 6 million copies in the U.S. to date,^[4] and went Gold in the U.K.^[5] In various interviews, members of Mötley Crüe stated that it was their most solid album from a musical standpoint, due in no small part to their collective push for sobriety.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
BBC Music	(favourable)[7]
Chicago Tribune	[8]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal	[9]
Los Angeles Times	[10]
Metal Storm	(9.0/10)[11]
Record Collector	[12]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[13]
Sputnikmusic	[14]

Reviews for Dr. Feelgood have been mostly positive. All critics remarked the renewed energy and entertaining values which permeates all the tracks of the album,^{[6][7][8][10][9][12][13][14]} bringing the listeners "in a world of everlasting party",^[11] where they "savored the joys of trashy, unapologetically decadent fun".^[6] Bob Rock's meticulous production was universally praised,^{[6][7][9][13][14]} in particular for affording "the band the ability to write stronger melodic hooks without losing the hard rock sound they so coveted"^[14] and for the power of the guitar riffs.^[10][13] Canadian journalist Martin Popoff wrote that Dr. Feelgood is an album "made by a dumb band trying really hard"^[9] and, in BBC Music reviewer's opinion, listening to it may well be "a glitzy flashy experience... ultimately shallow and narcissistic".^[7] However, other critics stated that Mötley Crüe are not "out to win humanitarian awards or impress us with lyrical muscle",^[8] but to rock "...hard"!^[10]

"Dr. Feelgood" and "Kickstart My Heart" were both nominated for Grammy awards for Best Hard Rock Performance, but lost twice to Living Colour.^[15] Mötley Crüe also won an award at the American Music Awards in January 1991 for Dr. Feelgood as the best Hard rock/Heavy metal album of the year.^[16]

Legacy

Lars Ulrich of Metallica asked Bob Rock to produce their self-titled album after being impressed with Rock's production work on Dr. Feelgood.^[17]

Nike SB created a shoe based on the album cover.

As of October 14, 2008, the album, minus the opening track "T.N.T. (Terror 'N Tinseltown)" because of length and playability, has become downloadable content for the Rock Band video game series.

Dr. Feelgood and Kickstart My Heart are available in soundtrack of 2009 video game, Brütal Legend

To mark the twentieth anniversary of the album, Mötley Crüe performed the album in its entirety at Crüe Fest 2.^[18]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Nikki Sixx. 

No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"T.n.T. (Terror 'n Tinseltown)"	Sixx	0:42
2.	"Dr. Feelgood"	Mick Mars, Sixx	4:50
3.	"Slice of Your Pie"	Sixx, Mars	4:32
4.	"Rattlesnake Shake"	Mars, Sixx, Vince Neil, Tommy Lee	3:40
5.	"Kickstart My Heart"	Sixx	4:48
6.	"Without You"	Sixx, Mars	4:29
7.	"Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)"	Lee, Sixx, Neil, Mars	4:12
8.	"Sticky Sweet"	Mars, Sixx	3:52
9.	"She Goes Down"	Mars, Sixx	4:37
10.	"Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)"	Sixx, Mars	4:40
11.	"Time for Change"	Sixx, Donna McDaniel	4:45

2003 Remastered Edition bonus tracks
No.	Title	Music	Length
12.	"Dr. Feelgood" (demo version)	Mars, Sixx	4:42
13.	"Without You" (demo version)	Sixx, Mars	4:29
14.	"Kickstart My Heart" (demo version)	Sixx	4:48
15.	"Get It for Free" (unreleased track)	Sixx	4:14
16.	"Time for Change" (demo version)	Sixx, McDaniel	4:45

2009 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition bonus tracks (Released in North America)
No.	Title	Music	Length
12.	"Dr. Feelgood" (live)	Mars, Sixx	5:12
13.	"Kickstart My Heart" (live)	Sixx	5:28
14.	"Without You" (live)	Sixx, Mars	3:06
15.	"Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)" (live)	Lee, Sixx, Neil, Mars	4:31
16.	"Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" (live)	Sixx, Mars	4:14

2009 20th Anniversary Edition Double CD Deluxe Edition disc 2 (Released in Europe)
No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"Dr. Feelgood" (demo version)	Mars, Sixx	4:42
2.	"Without You" (demo version)	Sixx, Mars	4:29
3.	"Kickstart My Heart" (demo version)	Sixx	4:48
4.	"Get it for Free" (unreleased track)	Sixx	4:14
5.	"Time for Change" (demo version)	Sixx, McDaniel	4:45
6.	"Girls, Girls, Girls" (Live Around the World 89-90)	Sixx, Lee, Mars	5:41
7.	"Red Hot" (Live Around the World 89-90)	Mars, Neil, Sixx	3:22
8.	"All in the Name of Rock" (Live Around the World 89-90)	Sixx, Neil	4:54
9.	"Dr. Feelgood" (Live Around the World 89-90)	Mars, Sixx	6:41

Note

• The original Korean LP edition does not contain the first two tracks, "T.n.T. (Terror 'n Tinseltown)" and "Dr. Feelgood".

Personnel

Mötley Crüe

• Vince Neil – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica, shakers
• Mick Mars – guitars, backing vocals
• Nikki Sixx – bass, (all but 11), backing vocals, organ (11), piano (11)
• Tommy Lee – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Bob Rock – bass (11), background vocals (2, 4, 8, 9)
• John Webster – honky tonk piano (4), keyboards & programming
• Tom Keenlyside, Ian Putz, Ross Gregory, Henry Christian – marguerita horns (4)
• Donna McDaniel, Emi Canyn, Marc LaFrance, David Steele – background vocals
• Steven Tyler – background vocals (8), intro (3)
• Bryan Adams – background vocals (8)
• Jack Blades – background vocals (7, 8)
• Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen – background vocals (9)
• Skid Row, Bob Dowd, Mike Amato, Toby Francis – background vocals (11)

Production

• Bob Rock - producer, engineer, mixing
• Randy Staub - engineer, mixing
• Chris Taylor - assistant engineer
• George Marino - mastering at Sterling Sound, New York
• Bob Defrin – art direction
• Don Brautigam – cover art illustration
• William Hames – photography
• Kevin Brady – artwork, design
• Mike Amato - project coordinator

Dr. Feelgood The Videos

Dr Feelgood The Videos is a video album released in 1990 and features all the music videos from the album, concert footage, interviews and recording session footage.

Videos include

1. "Dr. Feelgood"
2. "Kickstart My Heart"
3. "Without You"
4. "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)"
5. "Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)"

Charts

Album Chart (1989) Position Billboard 200 (USA)[19] 1 UK Albums Chart[20] 4 Australian Albums Chart[21] 5 New Zealand Albums Chart[22] 5 Swedish Albums Chart[23] 6 RPM100 Albums Chart (Canada)[24] 7 Norwegian Albums Chart[25] 7 Swiss Albums Top 100[26] 7 German Albums Chart[27] 21

Singles Year Title Chart Position 1989 "Dr. Feelgood" Billboard Hot 100 (USA)[28] 6 Mainstream Rock (USA)[28] 7 New Zealand Singles Chart[29] 11 RPM100 Singles (Canada)[30] 17 Australian Singles Chart[31] 26 UK Singles Chart[20] 50 "Kickstart My Heart" Mainstream Rock (USA)[28] 18 1990 Billboard Hot 100 (USA)[28] 27 New Zealand Singles Chart[32] 31 Australian Singles Chart[33] 34 RPM100 Singles (Canada)[34] 51 "Without You" Billboard Hot 100 (USA)[28] 8 Mainstream Rock (USA)[28] 11 RPM100 Singles (Canada)[35] 19 UK Singles Chart[20] 39 Australian Singles Chart[36] 45 "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" Mainstream Rock (USA)[28] 13 Billboard Hot 100 (USA)[28] 19 RPM100 Singles (Canada)[37] 36 New Zealand Singles Chart[38] 49 "Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)" Mainstream Rock (USA)[28] 34 Billboard Hot 100 (USA)[28] 78

Certifications

Country	Organization	Year	Sales
USA	RIAA	1997	6x Platinum (+ 6,000,000)[4]
Canada	CRIA	1990	3x Platinum (+ 300,000)[39]
UK	BPI	1991	Gold (+ 100,000)[5]
Switzerland	IFPI Switzerland	1991	Gold (+ 25,000)[40]

References

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2. Odell, Michael (March 2005). "Twilight of the Gods". Blender. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
3. Rolling Stone 1989 retrospective, precise date unknown
4. "RIAA Searchable Database: search for Motley Crue". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
5. "BPI Certified Awards - search for Artist Motley Crue". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
6. Henderson, Alex. "Dr. Feelgood - Mötley Crüe". AllMusic. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
7. Nelson, Tim (2007). "Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood Review". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
8. Silverman, David (December 14, 1989). "Motley Crue Dr. Feelgood (Elektra)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
9. Popoff, Martin (November 1, 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. ISBN 978-1-894959-31-5.
10. Gold, Jonathon (September 17, 1989). "MOTLEY CRUE "Dr. Feelgood," Elektra". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
11. "Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood". Metal Storm. December 28, 2005. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
12. McIver, Joel (November 2009). "Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood: Deluxe Edition". Record Collector. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
13. Considine, J. D. (2004). "Mötley Crüe". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City: Simon & Schuster. pp. 562–63. ISBN 978-0743201698. Archived from the original on December 27, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
14. DeSylvia, David (October 8, 2006). "Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
15. Grammy Awards:Best Hard Rock Performance
16. "18th American Music Awards". Retrieved October 23, 2013.
17. Rosen, Craig. The Billboard Book of Number One Albums. Billboard Books, 1996 ISBN 0-8230-7586-9
18. "Motley Crue to Play Dr. Feelgood in Its Entirety During Crue Fest 2". Retrieved March 21, 2009.
19. "Mötley Crüe Awards: Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
20. "Artist Chart History – Motley Crue". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
21. "Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood (album)". Australiancharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
22. "Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood (album)". Charts.org.nz. Media Control Charts. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
23. "Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood (album)". Swedishcharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
24. "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 51, No. 6, December 09 1989". Library and Archives Canada. December 9, 1989. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
25. "Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood (album)". Norwegiancharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
26. "Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood". Hitparade.ch (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
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29. "Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood (song)". Charts.org.nz. Media Control Charts. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
30. "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 1, November 04 1989". Library and Archives Canada. November 4, 1989. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
31. "Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood (song)". Australiancharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
32. "Mötley Crüe – Kickstart My Heart (song)". Charts.org.nz. Media Control Charts. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
33. "Mötley Crüe – Kickstart My Heart (song)". Australiancharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
34. "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 12, February 03 1990". Library and Archives Canada. February 3, 1990. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
35. "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 26, May 12, 1990". Library and Archives Canada. May 12, 1990. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
36. "Mötley Crüe – Without You (song)". Australiancharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
37. "Top Singles - Volume 52, No. 11, July 28, 1990". Library and Archives Canada. July 28, 1990. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
38. "Mötley Crüe – Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away) (song)". Charts.org.nz. Media Control Charts. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
39. "Gold Platinum Search for Motley Crue". Music Canada. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
40. "Awards - Search for: Mötley Crüe". Hitparade.ch. Media Control Charts. Retrieved December 25, 2014.