MOTLEY CRUE Crucial Crue - The Studio Albums 1981-1989 - CD and Vinyl Box Sets
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ม.ค. 2023
- MOTLEY CRUE
Crucial Crue - The Studio Albums 1981-1989 (5CD & 5 Vinyl Box Sets)
BMG
American sleaze rockers Motley Crue formed in 1981 and have regularly been in the press (not always for the right reasons), and sometimes derided (sometimes for the right reasons), but let’s not forget they have produced some very fine tunes along the way.
This set takes in the first five studio albums, basically the 80s; five digipaks in a box, the albums, it does what it says on the tin. It would be easy to expect each album to be expanded, and while it’s a shame there are no extras, it does a job and a very fine job it is too. Equally well packaged, there’s lots here to enjoy, and this period was the band’s heyday. The original lineup was vocalist Vince Neil, bassist Nikki Sixx, guitarist Mick Mars and drummer Tommy Lee.
The first album is the band’s debut; originally recorded in 1981 and released in very limited numbers, it was remixed and partially rerecorded for reissue when the band signed to Elektra. Dangerous hard rock, sleaze, hints of glam boogie, melodies stolen from the likes of the Bee Gees and played with a lot of fire (probably bourbon too). Even with the remix and overdubs it’s still quite rough’n’ready, but there’s enough to grip.
1983’s Shout At The Devil was the band’s breakthrough, and rightfully so. Whether or not you like the direction, there are some solid tunes here, and it’s more cohesive than the debut. It split the critics at the time, there were plenty who took the pentagram usage as satanist, and plenty more who thought the band were band were all image. Well, the latter, they were. But even with the drug and alcohol addictions as well as controversial behaviours starting to take off, the title track is a killer tune, and tracks like Bastard, Knock’em Dead and the cover of The Beatles’ Helter Skelter all stand out.
1985 and Theatre Of Pain. I’m going against the grain here as I love this album. While the album lacks the fire of the previous two, it is more glam, less sleaze, and a whole lot more commercial. That doesn’t make it “Plodding” as some described - in my opinion it works and is proof that fans (and critics) don’t like a change of direction). Home Sweet Home is a fine power ballad, and the cover of Smokin’ In The Boys Room a fine cover (sleazy to the point of nodding at blues metal). The band and many fans may look back and want to gloss over this album, but it’s another solid listen and some of Mick Mars’ guitar stands out. This is one I go back to more than most.
The sound of the previous two albums was combined for 1987’s Girls Girls Girls, an album directed at MTV with a sleazy/bluesy yet commercial and cliché ridden feel. Opener Wild Side and the title tracks are good listens, energetic. Some tracks are good but a little ordinary by comparison, but still well worth a listen. The jury’s still out on the live cover of Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock. Fun though.
The decade rounded off with 1989’s Dr Feelgood, to date the band’s biggest seller and most acclaimed. Something that I’ve never understood. A little heavier in places, and more consistent (a collective push for sobriety??), and the band trying (too) hard to become known for music than their drink and drug shenanigans. That effort swayed many, but to be honest, I find the album boring compared to earlier efforts. It lacks a groove and a decent tune. While it’s heavy and energetic, there’s no spark, an honesty that’s missing. Aerosmith were suffering similarly at the time. While the album has its moments, and fans, to me it’s lacking a lot; the epitome of an overrated album.
The box set if a very fine package. Each album has the original album booklet, and while there’s no overall notes or extras, that’s not what this box is here to do.
I’ve not followed the Motley Crue releases ardently, I don’t have the expanded editions to compare to, just a couple of original CDs, but the sound here is much better than those early CD releases. If you’re happy with a more than decent box of the original 80s studio albums, a decent package and sound, this box hits that note perfectly. - Joe Geesin
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
www.nowspinning.co.uk
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I'm not really liking the fake wear like it was used, I'd rather have a clean looking cover. But I do like how you compared how much more sturdy and good sounding it is compared to the 80s pressings. Great review Phil!
Great review. The early Crue albums were brilliant.
Great video Phil. I passed on this box set because I already own recent represses of all these. My copies also have that annoying "fake wear" look, so looks like the only thing I am missing is the nice colored vinyl. I really wish they press the rest of their catalog on vinyl.
I see this release as a wasted opportunity, they could have added the rest of their studio albums - or do like Def Leppard has been doing, releasing their catalog in "volumes" and release a next one with the rest of their studio albums.
Hi, thank you for watching and interesting to know they had used this fake wear look before. I agree they could have added the other albums. I guess they might be thinking about a vol 2 or not trying to make the box too expensive. Phil
Thank you for the video! The records look very nice but the used dollar-bin look for the artwork is a deal breaker for me.
Thank you for watching - Phil
Good review, but the aged cosmetic effect added to covers is kinda weird. They should have added a bonus LP of extra tracks released during this era such as from movies or unreleased tracks. Cheers!
Hi Erick, thank you for watching and what you mention would have been a good idea. Phil
Brilliant review. Nice copy of the Leathür mix - when you compared them, I thought those two are definitely not the same! So rare to come across one in the wild and I agree they could re-release it. One day I'll find a copy. Cheers
Hi, thank you for watching. The Leathur mix is very raw and I have to say I do prefer it. I bought it from a record fair in the UK before anyone really knew who they were. Phil
“Oh help me Mrs Medlicott
I don’t know what to do
I’ve only got three bullets
And there’s four of Motley Crue” - “Upon Westminster Bridge” Half Man Half Biscuit
I just came across an Amazon ad that this was $49.99 usd. So for 5 albums at that price if you don't have them it's a steal. The one's I really loved were those "Crucial Crue" C.D's, they had extra songs & demo's for each album, those were something new for the fans, not just doing the KISS thing of just re-releasing the exact same album over & over with different coloured vinyl or saying the XXetc... anniversary of (....) enter title here.
It's cheap eating as they say.
Thanks for the review Phil. The splattered vinyl looks great.
Hi Jamie, thank you for watching. The vinyl does look really attractive I must say. Phil
Nice collection
Jeez, has Phil been applying Aquanet to his great hair!? We've got a double 'spritz' of pop-metal awesomeness Dokken being the other one. The pre-faded should be reversible IMO but there is a certain charm to it, I guess. Anyway, thanks as always to Phil for the stress-reducung unboxing series.
HaHa :) Tes- it almost seems like 'Hair Metal' week at Now Spinning Magazine - Phil :)
Great review 🤘🍺☀️
looks gr8 phil - il have to get it - seen em at donington 84
They need to reissue everything that hasn’t been reissued over n over again.
New Tattoo
Corabi album
Entertainment or Death
That's what I'm hoping for, I don't have the 94 on vinyl. And I'm not paying 400 dollars for one, as they are rare. Bmg said they bought and own 9 motley records. I think they will put out new tattoo, saints, and probably decade of decadence. So will the 9th be swine, or the 94 record? I'm guessing it won't be the corabi record. Unfortunately. Could be a live record as well I guess.
I watched the other 2 videos u made about winger, Ratt, and now I’m torn which box sets to get.
this is a re-release of a previous vinyl set with the aged covers (not sure if black or splatter) i personally don't like the idea of it but others may not care.
Do the cds at least have the correct packaging? I saw an unboxing video of the cd reissues from last year, and the booklet for Theater Of Pain has pictures from the Dr. Feelgood era inside
@@JIF882 edit: i have since seen them in person and the single cd's do have the replica worn artwork. as for the booklet issue i do not know.
Colour vinyls look beautiful
Thank you for watching - Phil :)
I would have preferred the "new cover" look than the wear and tear. I kinda look after my records so don't get too much wear to start with.
I agree, I have got used to it now but it still seems a weird thing to do. Phil
Thank you. I love Motly Crue music. Dokken Box Sets are newly remastered, but Motly Crue's may not be. Japanese 2011 SHM-CDs were well-made. I want 2023 remaster version badly.
Thank you for watching - Phil
And we also say goodbye and thank you to Tom Verlaine of Television who has passed away. How sad. RIP
Hi Jagaraj, it is sad, it reminds us that life is fleeting. Everyday is a chance to make a difference and say thanks for the fact we are still here to listen to music and communicate like this - take care - Phil
Okay, I guess I'm going to buy each album individually to avoid the artificial wear and tear.
Hi Freddie, it will be interesting to know if the individual albums are different. I have got used to it now. Phil
It's on the individual records as well. They are black vinyl, but otherwise the same.
Loved The Crue as a young teen. Nikki and all of his drama turned me off as I got older. I saw them 5 times over the years and they were never good live... except for Mick. Mick is fantastic.
They should have added replicas of the tour programs. My original pressing's are pretty much mint condition. I would've been disappointed buying this.
Hi Brian, thank you for watching. That would have been a nice touch. I only had two of the albums and one of those was the original Lethur records edition. So this was ideal for me but for yourself, your originals will do fine! Phil
@@NowSpinningMagazine The original Too Fast For Love. That's rare, there can't be too many of those. I also have the Helter Skelter picture disk.
I picked up the first album from a record fair in Birmingham UK in the year of release. It was £4 !
On the crue first album the best songs werent on it like stick to youre guns or toast of the town are they on these records?
The version in the box set is the Roy Thomas Baker mix so those tracks are not included. It would have been a nice touch if they had included the Lethur version as well. Phil
Hi Phil great video now motley crue are a great band but they seem to keep releasing them only last year they released them the year before on tape I've got all the albums now well these ones two of them first two are splatter vinyl too it is a cool set but do we need another one not having a dig just saying oh I'm seeing them with Def leopard in July thanks Phil
Hi Martin, thank you for watching and your raise some very relevant points. Hope you enjoy the gig! Phil
Phil, The fake wear is unnecessary and makes no sense. Having better quality pressing and sound is the big selling point. Thanks Phil and all the best.
Are the cd booklets in the box correct? When BMG reissued these individually on cd last year, they put Dr. Feelgood era photos in the booklet for Theater Of Pain. I want to know if the box set has the same issue
I am sure they are the same
@@NowSpinningMagazine I have seen other unboxing videos. The booklets were corrected
@@JIF882 you are correct, they have been amended. Thank you :)
They are t all great Crue albums. But how many t.imes have they reissued these titles Fantastic music though.
.
You can't beat the price, I bought the five individually just because they were like 20 bucks. They do sound good.
what about sound quality of these vinyl pressings?
I think they sound great personally. Much better quality vinyl than the 112gm stuff in the mid to late 80s - Phil :)
@@NowSpinningMagazine nice to hear, I'm ordering:)))
Thanks for the review!!
Imho crucial Crue includes self-titled (1994) and New Tattoo (from 2000) as well. If they had added those albums to this boxset, this would have been a serious 'collector's item'. As it is, I guess its aimed more at younger fans who got into this band after 'The Dirt'.
Hi Lucha, thank you for watching - Phil :)
How is an album without Vince "crucial"?
@@JIF882 It shows how they evolved in the 90s and what they were doing in a post-grunge musical landscape. It has some of their best and heaviest tunes. I really dislike it when these comps reduce these bands to a meaningless 80s nostalgia that ended with Nirvana.
@@LuchaLibertaria Still, people wouldn't call that Crucial Crue. Corabi was even booted from the band. The 1994 album is their Van Halen iii.
@@JIF882 Some people would only call their first 2 albums as Crucial Crue, it depends on the person I guess. Having said that, if they are releasing an overpriced boxset like this, they should have included s/t and New Tattoo (albums that are very hard to find on LP) instead of re-releasing their easy to find 80s albums on vinyl. This is basicly feeding the notion that Motley Crue is a washed-up nostalgia band that hasn't done anything noteworthy in the last 33 years.
i need kfd and still not black enoughfrom WASP on streaming platforms and vinyl its been 30 years.Also ratt reissues would be great to fulfill my glam metal music collection
I have always struggled to see why this band have done well. I bought the debut when in came out and found it so lacking
Hi Chris, I love the debut on the Leathur label, liked most of Shout at The Devil, didn’t get the next two and reconnected on Dr Feelgood. They were a product of the time. The film is excellent and shines a light on the times and you can see how they were in the right place at the right time.
@@NowSpinningMagazine very much of their time I guess. I thought it went downhill after Live Wire. That’s about the only one I can deal with. Struggled with Vince Neil’s voice too
This 'battle-worn' effect all over it is horrible - whose idea was this? I'll stick with my original vinyls.
Same here
For the amount of money that this box set costs, I’d want brand new looking clean fresh sleeves. Fake ring wear……ewwww
Bet they are warped like a pan
Hi Darrel, my originals are ok even though the vinyl is probably 112 - 120gm. The new ones are 180gm so totally flat. Thank you for watching. Phil
The vinyl is quality, they do sound and play better than the original. Save your originals because they are valuable, and buy these to play. They are cheap right now.
dont like the worn look !!
It's a money grab .. I have all of these on colored & black vinyl
Hi Neal, it wasn't for me as I only had one on vinyl before this. Phil
I know the 1st album that's all it's not my favorite band,i prefer queensryche 🤗