Stay Hungry – Twisted Sister

 

Producer: Tom Werman

Released: May 10, 1984

Rating: ****

For a brief moment in 1984 Twisted Sister seemed poised to rule the world based on the success of this album. Actually it was the success of We’re Not Gonna Take It and, more importantly, the accompanying video that drew people’s attention to Dee Snider and his fellow Twisted Sisters. I was 10 year old when this album was released so the cartoon appeal of the band and its videos definitely caught my attention. In retrospect, it was probably just as instrumental in their downfall because I can remember my mother sitting and watching the video for We’re Not Gonna Take It and genuinely laughing…..

My mother’s approval for the band aside, Stay Hungry is an awesome slice of hair metal goodness. Being from New York, Twisted Sister’s music and lyrics were grittier than their sunny LA counterparts. Absent were the party rock anthems and in their place were songs focusing either on rebellion with songs like We’re Not Gonna Take It and I Wanna Rock or social commentary with songs like Horror-Terria and The Price. Other tracks that make this a must have for your collection include Don’t Let Me Down, The Beast, S.M.F. and my favroite, the totally underrated Burn In Hell. Burn In Hell is one of those songs that single handedly makes an album worth purchasing. Snider practically orders “You’re gonna’ burn in hell!” with such conviction that you absolutely believe him.

The album cover is Snider in all his glory, gripping what looks to be the bloody bone of a medium sized animal. I received Stay Hungry as a Christmas present so the cover got a few odd looks from my elderly relatives. It’s one of the most memorable album covers I can think of.

Twisted Sister never achieved as much success as they did with Stay Hungry (except, possibly, for their most recent effort, A Twisted Christmas). Regardless, Stay Hungry was one of the albums that helped to elevate hair metal into the mainstream. Don’t kid yourself, this was a landmark album. Don’t own it? Get it.

If you do own it, PLAY IT LOUD, MUTHA!