The Golden Age of Glam: 10 Albums Every Rock Fan Should Know (12 photos)

80s glam metal isn't just music; it's a cultural phenomenon. In their new book, "Nothin' But a Good Time," producer Tom Beaujour and music journalist Richard Bienstock have conducted a monumental effort, interviewing over 200 musicians, producers, and figures of the era to tell its true story.





They've compiled a list of 10 albums that are the perfect starting point for immersing yourself in this bright, loud, and unfairly derided world.



1. Mötley Crüe – Too Fast for Love (1981)





This is the album that started it all. It launched a thousand glam metal ships. "Too Fast for Love" is pure, undiluted rock 'n' roll straight from the gutter: raw, aggressive, depraved, and vicious in the best possible way. At the same time, it's fun as hell and incredibly catchy. And yes, it sounds terrible, but that's what makes it even better. It's the sound of four guys who just woke up in a trashed apartment, turned on cartoons, and decided to conquer the world.

2. W.A.S.P. – W.A.S.P. (1984)



It's a good bet that if you walked into a random club today and saw a band putting on even half the show W.A.S.P. did 40 years ago, you'd stand transfixed until the last note... or until a piece of raw meat flew into your face. The band's debut album is the closest we've come to capturing this wild madness on film.

While all attention is usually focused on the controversial "Animal (F**k Like a Beast)," equally worthy are the anthem to unbridled ambition "I Wanna Be Somebody" and the steroid-fueled thrasher "The Flame."

3. Poison – Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986)



Recorded for next to nothing, "Look What the Cat Dragged In" is one of the most ragged, fun, and damn catchy albums of the era. And here's a fun fact: if the key track "Talk Dirty to Me" had been written and performed by Cheap Trick, it would be on every "greatest power pop song" list. It's the perfect soundtrack for a pool party, even if you don't have a pool.

4. Tesla – Mechanical Resonance (1986)



Tesla were one of the least photogenic bands of the era, eschewing glam trappings in favor of jeans and T-shirts. But their debut album, "Mechanical Resonance," shakes the foundations with fist-pumping bangers like "Modern Day Cowboy" and "Cumin' Atcha Live."

5. White Lion – Pride (1987)



You've probably heard their hit ballad "When the Children Cry" and maybe the action-packed "Wait," but White Lion's major-label debut is all hits and barely any filler. Guitarist Vito Bratta's playing elevated already strong songs to a whole new level, and his arpeggio-based rhythm technique is a joy to listen to.

6. Faster Pussycat – Faster Pussycat (1987)



In the mid-'80s, the Sunset Strip was full of rock bands... but few of them were rock 'n' roll. Faster Pussycat's debut came out the same month as Guns N' Roses' "Appetite for Destruction," and, like their contemporary friends, Pussycat perfectly mastered the swagger of the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith. But if Guns N' Roses were tight and hard as nails, Faster Pussycat sounded like they were about to writhe and fall off a cliff. This looseness is what creates their killer groove. If you're looking for an album that perfectly captures the tragicomic trash atmosphere of the Sunset Strip, you've found it.

7. L.A. Guns – L.A. Guns (1988)



Though their debut wasn't released until 1988, frontman Tracii Guns is a true Sunset Strip veteran (you may have heard of another band with his last name, which he helped found). Unsurprisingly, his debut album was tightly packed, focused, and so heavy it bordered on metal. The addition of former Girl singer Phil Lewis gave the band a British glam-chic edge, but otherwise, it's straightforward, aggressive rock obsessed with sex, death, and motorcycles.

8. Kix – Blow My Fuse (1988)



Already considered one of the best live bands of the era, Maryland's Kix finally captured the celebratory intensity of their performances on this, their fourth studio album.

Tracks like "Cold Blood" were destined to be huge hits, and the hit ballad "Don't Close Your Eyes" proves that vocalist Steve Whiteman was one of the best screamers of the decade.

9. Skid Row – Skid Row (1989)



Skid Row's debut is a whirlwind from start to finish. Their trio of hits—"Youth Gone Wild," "18 and Life," and "I Remember You"—may be the finest collection of anthems and power ballads of the decade. Moreover, this record is a guitarist's dream.

When Dave "Snake" Sabo and Scotty Hill aren't churning out insanely catchy riffs, they fill every available bar with shred solos and all manner of guitar squeals and screams. And, of course, Sebastian Bach, whose voice is a magnificent battering ram: incredibly powerful, technically stunning, and bordering on utter madness.

10. Warrant – Cherry Pie (1990)



Before his untimely death, Warrant frontman Janie Lane often lamented that he would forever be remembered as "the guy with the cherry pie."

Yes, it's easy to argue that the singer should have appreciated his huge hit, but its overwhelming success overshadowed the fact that "Cherry Pie" contains some of the most tightly composed and often poignant songs of the glam era, like "I Saw Red" and "Bed of Roses."