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'''Open Up and Say… Ahh!''', was the second and most successful album by American [[hair metal]] band [[Poison (band)|Poison]].
{{Infobox album
| name = Open Up and Say... Ahh!
| type = studio
| artist = [[Poison (band)|Poison]]
| cover = Open_Up_and_Say_Ahh_Cover.jpg
| alt = a model dressed as a demon with a long red tongue.
| caption = Original version of the cover art
| released = {{start date|1988|4|27}}
| recorded = Late 1987 – early 1988
| studio = [[Conway Recording Studios|Conway Recording]], Los Angeles
| genre = [[Glam metal]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 1, 2021|first=Bryan|last=Rolli|title=Top 30 Glam Metal Albums|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/glam-metal-albums/|access-date=July 17, 2021|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|language=en}}</ref><ref name="loudwire">{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/top-hair-metal-albums/|website=loudwire.com|title=Top 30 Hair Metal Albums|date=November 9, 2016|author=Joe DiVita|accessdate=April 12, 2021}}</ref>
| length = 36:12
| label = {{hlist|[[Enigma Records|Enigma]]|[[Capitol Records|Capitol]]}}
| producer = [[Tom Werman]]
| prev_title = [[Look What the Cat Dragged In]]
| prev_year = 1986
| next_title = [[Flesh & Blood (Poison album)|Flesh & Blood]]
| next_year = 1990
| misc =
{{Extra album cover
| header = Censored cover
| type = studio
| cover = Open Up and Say Ahh Censored.png
| border =
| alt =
| caption =
}}
{{Singles
| name = Open Up and Say... Ahh!
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Nothin' But a Good Time]]
| single1date = April 6, 1988
| single2 = [[Fallen Angel (Poison song)|Fallen Angel]]
| single2date = July 6, 1988
| single3 = [[Every Rose Has Its Thorn]]
| single3date = October 12, 1988
| single4 = [[Your Mama Don't Dance#Poison cover|Your Mama Don't Dance]]
| single4date = February 1, 1989
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/open-up-and-sayahh!-mw0000195785|title=Open Up and Say... Ahh! - Poison {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=October 19, 2018}}</ref>
|rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
|rev2score = {{Rating-Christgau|B+}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Poison|title=Robert Christgau: CG: Poison|website=www.robertchristgau.com}}</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
|rev3score = {{Rating|1|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/poison/albums/album/207671/review/19174969/open_up_and_say_ahh |title=Rolling Stone review |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=June 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405224750/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/poison/albums/album/207671/review/19174969/open_up_and_say_ahh |archive-date=April 5, 2008 }}</ref>
}}
 
The'''''Open Up and Say... Ahh!''''' is the second studio album, whichby ultimatelyAmerican sold[[glam eightmetal]] millionband copies[[Poison worldwide(band)|Poison]], was released on MayApril 327, 1988, on thethrough [[Enigma labelRecords]] ofand [[Capitol Records]]. AlthoughIt stylistically similarproved to Poison’sbe debut albumthe band''Looks What themost Catsuccessful Dragged In''release, the record contained stronger song writing and spawned thefour majorhit hitssingles: “Nothin’"[[Nothin' But a Good Time”Time]]", “Your"[[Fallen MamaAngel Don’t(Poison Dance”song)|Fallen Angel]]", “Fallen"[[Your Angel”,Mama Don't Dance]]" (a [[Loggins and theMessina]] cover) and their only number one single “Everyto date, "[[Every Rose Has Its Thorn”Thorn]]". The album peaked at number two on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].
 
''Open Up and Say Ahh'' was certified platinum in 1988 and 5× platinum in 1991 by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Poison&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50 |title=RIAA Gold & Platinum |website=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |year=2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924160256/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Poison&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 }}</ref> It also has been certified 4× platinum in Canada and gold by the BPI.
The album’s themes were partying (“Nothin’ But a Good Time”, “Your Mama Don’t Dance”), lost innocence (“Back to the Rocking Horse”, “Fallen Angel”), lost love (“Every Rose Has Its Thorn”) anti-social behaviour (“Bad to Be Good”), and, most importantly, sex (“Love on the Rocks”, “Good Love”, “Tearin’ Down the Walls”, “Look But You Can’t Touch”).
 
==Production and marketing==
Michaels wrote the the band's most successful single, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", in response to a failed love affair with a [[Los Angeles]] [[stripper]]. Poison had been playing at a cowboy bar called ''The Ritz'' in [[Dallas, Texas]]. After the show, Michaels called the woman at her apartment and heard a man's voice in the background. Heartbroken, Michaels wrote the song with an [[acoustic guitar]] in a [[laundromat]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Open_Up_And_Say...Ahh!].
The album was recorded and mixed at [[Conway Recording Studios]] in Los Angeles. [[Paul Stanley]] from [[Kiss (band)|KISS]] (whose song "[[Rock and Roll All Nite (Poison single)|Rock and Roll All Nite]]" had been covered by Poison the year before) was originally selected to produce the record, but was unable to fulfill the role due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, the band worked with [[Tom Werman]]. Werman was an experienced rock producer, having worked with artists such as [[Ted Nugent]], [[Cheap Trick]], [[Twisted Sister]] and [[Mötley Crüe]].
Following the album was the release of the band's first video compilation, titled ''[[Sight for Sore Ears]]'', which featured all the music videos from ''Open Up and Say...Ahh!'' and ''Look What the Cat Dragged In''.
 
==Cover==
The song "Nothin' But a Good Time" was born from the merger of a [[C.C. DeVille]] [[guitar]] [[riff]] and Michaels chorus. Michaels later explained that he was in search of a "kick ass big arena rock song" which would make him feel good about his life. The song was about not wanting to be held back by working a job and being depressed. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Open_Up_And_Say...Ahh!].
The original front cover of the album, which featured model Bambi dressed as a luminous red [[demon]] with a protruding [[tongue]], caused controversy among parental groups. The band changed the cover so that only the model's eyes were visible.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Compact Data: Short Cuts |journal=Radio & Records |date=1988-05-06 |issue=736 |page=38 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1980s/1988/RR-1988-05-06.pdf |access-date=18 July 2023 |publisher=Radio & Records, Inc. |___location=Los Angeles, California, USA |issn=0277-4860 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922152001/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1980s/1988/RR-1988-05-06.pdf |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |quote=Poison (who had to change the cover of their new LP after the Wal-mart chain refused to carry it) perform Loggins & Messina's "Your Mama Don't Dance" on their "Open Up And Say Ahh" LP.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/poison-open-up-and-say-ahh/|title=30 Years Ago: Poison Break Through on 'Open Up and Say … Ahh!'|first=Mary|last=Ouellette|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=May 3, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/banned-in-the-u-s-a-20-wildest-censored-album-covers-154101/|title=Banned in the U.S.A.: 20 Wildest Censored Album Covers|first1=Gavin|last1=Edwards|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=January 15, 2015}}</ref>
 
==Track information==
The track “Your Mama Don’t Dance” was a cover version of the 1972 song written by [[Kenny Loggins]] and [[Jim Messina]].
Vocalist [[Bret Michaels]] allegedly wrote the band's most successful single, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", in response to a failed love affair with a Los Angeles [[stripper]]. Poison had been playing at a cowboy bar called The Ritz in [[Dallas, Texas]]. After the show, Michaels called the woman at her apartment and heard a man's voice in the background. Heartbroken, he wrote the song with an acoustic guitar in a [[laundromat]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Something to Believe In|url=http://www.thegazz.com/guide/articles/stories/171/Something+to+believe+in |access-date=September 15, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061113024059/http://www.thegazz.com/guide/articles/stories/171/Something+to+believe+in |archive-date=November 13, 2006 }}</ref>
 
The first single "Nothin' But a Good Time" was born from the merger of a guitar riff by [[C. C. DeVille]] and a chorus by Michaels. Michaels later explained that he was in search of a "kick ass big arena rock song" which would make him feel good about his life. The song was about "not wanting to be held back by working a job and being depressed", as portrayed in its music video.
The front cover of the album, which featured model “Bambi” dressed as a luminous red [[demon]] with a protruding tongue, caused controversy amongst church and parental groups. In United States the album was released with a censored cover in which most of the model’s face was obscured (see further, [[censorship]]).
 
The fourth single, "Your Mama Don't Dance", was a cover version of the 1972 song written by Loggins and Messina from their 1972 [[Loggins and Messina (album)|self-titled album]].
The album was recorded and mixed at ''Conway Recording Studios'' in [[Los Angeles, California]]. [[Paul Stanley]] of the band Kiss was originally selected to produce the record, but was unable to fulfil the role due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, the band worked with Tom Werman. Werman was an experienced rock producer, having worked with artists such as [[Ted Nugent]], [[Cheap Trick]], [[Twisted Sister]], and [[Mötley Crüe]].
 
Two additional songs written for the record, "Livin' for the Minute" and "Face the Hangman", were later released as B-sides. "Face the Hangman" was later included on ''[[Crack a Smile... and More!]]''.
 
== Track Listing listing==
{{track listing
| all_writing = [[Bret Michaels]], [[C.C. DeVille]], [[Bobby Dall]] and [[Rikki Rockett]], except where noted.
| title1 = Love on the Rocks
| length1 = 3:33
| title2 = [[Nothin' But a Good Time]]
| length2 = 3:43
| title3 = Back to the Rocking Horse
| length3 = 3:34
| title4 = Good Love
| length4 = 2:51
| title5 = Tearin' Down the Walls
| length5 = 3:50
| title6 = Look But You Can't Touch
| length6 = 3:25
| title7 = [[Fallen Angel (Poison song)|Fallen Angel]]
| length7 = 3:56
| title8 = [[Every Rose Has Its Thorn]]
| length8 = 4:20
| title9 = [[Your Mama Don't Dance]]
| note9 = [[Loggins and Messina]] cover
| length9 = 3:00
| title10 = Bad to Be Good
| length10 = 4:03
| total_length = 36:11
}}
 
{{track listing
| headline = 2006 remastered edition bonus tracks
| title11 = Livin' for the Minute
| length11 = 2:41
| title12 = World Premiere Interview
| note12 = radio interview
| length12 = 10:45
}}
 
==Personnel==
1. Love on the Rocks
*[[Bret Michaels]] – [[lead vocalist|lead vocals]], [[rhythm guitar]], [[acoustic guitar]] (track 8), [[harmonica]] (track 4)
*[[C.C. DeVille]] – [[lead guitar]], [[backing vocalist|background vocals]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]] (track 8)
*[[Bobby Dall]] – [[bassline|bass]], background vocals
*[[Rikki Rockett]] – [[drum kit|drums]], background vocals
 
'''Additional credits:'''
2. Nothin' But a Good Time
*[[John Purdell]] – [[keyboard instrument|keyboard]], [[French horn|horn]]
*Evren Göknar – 2006 and 2018 remastering
 
==Charts==
3. Back to the Rocking Horse
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
 
===Weekly charts===
4. Good Love
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (1988–1989)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
{{Album chart|Australia|7|artist=Poison|album=Open Up and Say... Ahh! |rowheader=true|accessdate=June 6, 2024}}
|-
{{Album chart|Canada|10|chartid=8670|artist=Poison|album=Open Up and Say... Ahh! |rowheader=true|accessdate=June 6, 2024}}
|-
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums ([[The Official Finnish Charts]])<ref name=FINI>{{cite book|last=Pennanen|first=Timo|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972|edition=1st|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|___location=Helsinki|year=2006|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5 | page= 166 | language= fi}}</ref>
| align="center"| 16
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref name="JPN">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=[[Oricon|Oricon Entertainment]]|___location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}</ref>
| align="center"| 35
|-
{{Album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Poison|album=Open Up and Say... Ahh! |rowheader=true|accessdate=June 6, 2024}}
|-
{{Album chart|Sweden|37|artist=Poison|album=Open Up and Say... Ahh! |rowheader=true|accessdate=June 6, 2024}}
|-
{{Album chart|Switzerland|30|artist=Poison|album=Open Up and Say... Ahh! |rowheader=true|accessdate=June 6, 2024}}
|-
{{Album chart|UK2|18|date=19880515|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 6, 2024}}
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|2|artist=Poison|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 22, 2018}}
|}
{{col-2}}
 
===Year-end charts===
5. Tearin' Down the Walls
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (1988)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row"|US ''[[Billboard 200]]''<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1988/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1988|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 21, 2021|archive-date=January 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123060504/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1988/the-billboard-200}}</ref>
|align="center"|23
|}
 
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
6. Look But You Can't Touch
|-
! Chart (1989)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row"|New Zealand Albums ([[RMNZ]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1989-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 1989|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref>
|align="center"|10
|-
! scope="row"|US ''[[Billboard 200]]''<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1989/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1989|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 20, 2021|archive-date=January 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124023926/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1989/the-billboard-200|url-status=live}}</ref>
|align="center"|20
|}
{{col-end}}
 
==Certifications==
7. Fallen Angel
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=1988|certyear=1989|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1989/albums-chart|title=ARIA Australian Albums Chart 1989|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|access-date=August 25, 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Poison|title=Open Up and Say... Ahh!|access-date=August 25, 2020|relyear=1988|award=Platinum|number=4}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|artist=Poison|title=Open Up and Say... Ahh! |award=Platinum|id=1989-10-20|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=1989}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Poison|title=Open Up And Say... Ahh!|relyear=1988|certyear=1989|award=Gold|id=4916-697-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Poison|title=Open Up and say ... Ahh|access-date=August 25, 2020|relyear=1988|award=Platinum|number=5}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
 
==References==
8. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
{{Reflist}}<!--added under references heading by script-assisted edit-->
 
==External links==
9. Your Mama Don't Dance
* [https://www.poisonofficial.com/music-details?albumId=44 Official website]
* {{MusicBrainz release group|id=c36e18c3-e3e2-372f-a9f7-ec7aa4408d40|name=Open Up and Say... Ahh!}}
* {{Discogs master|master=94324|name=Open Up and Say... Ahh!|type=album}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060528101310/http://www.thegazz.com/guide/articles/stories/171/Something+to+believe+in] theGAZZ.com, Interview with Bret Michaels. Retrieved October 13, 2006.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041119185626/http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/trax/classic%20trax%20poison.htm] Classic Rock Revisited, Classic Trax, Interview with Bret Michaels. Retrieved January 6, 2005.
 
{{Poison}}
10. Bad to Be Good
{{Authority control}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Open Up And Say... Ahh!}}
== References ==
[[Category:Poison (American band) albums]]
 
[[Category:1988 albums]]
* [http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/trax/classic%20trax%20poison.htm] Classic Rock Revisited, Classic Trax, Interview with Bret Michaels. Retrieved January 6, 2005.
[[Category:Albums produced by Tom Werman]]
[[Category:Capitol Records albums]]
[[Category:Enigma Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Conway Recording Studios]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies in music]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Up_and_Say..._Ahh!"