Motley Crue is undoubtedly one of the most famous and influential rock bands of all time. Two decades later, many fans still love listening to the Crue and I am one of them. Their reign was in the 80’s when the music was all about sex, drugs and rock n’ roll and Motley Cure was the epitome of it. The band was known for their partying, their women and their wild ways. Excess was their reality.
To pick 10 of their best songs is like having to pick a favorite child, it’s not an easy thing to do. Most of the songs I have chosen, are Crue songs that have stood the test of time and a few are just my personal favorites. I haven done my best to try to put them in order, but again, there are so many great Motley Crue songs how do you even do that? Although their later albums have some great songs, the ones I picked are mainly from the early years. These include: Too Fast For Love, Shout at the Devil, Theatre of Pain and Girls, Girls, Girls.
Motley Crue is composed of Vince Neil: Vocals, Nikki Sixx : Bass, Mick Mars: Guitar and Tommy Lee on drums. The Crue was formed in 1981 and led the way for “glam” rock and “hair bands” that would last the decade. Motley Crue made big hair, makeup and leather the norm for rock bands to come. Without Motley Crue, I think it’s safe to say that rock would have taken a totally different direction. Many bands today cite Motley Crue as one of their influences.
The 80’s was a great time for rock n’ roll. Many would argue that rock today just isn’t the same. Back then it was all about having fun. The bands then lived the rock star life that many of us dreamed about. They had it all, the money, the fame, the women, and just loved to play music and have a great time. Most of us that remember the music of these days have fond memories and great stories to tell. This type of music just makes you smile when you listen to it. Thanks Motley Crue.
10. Girls,Girls, Girls
The title track from the 1987 album with the same name. This song about strippers and strip clubs, made every man want to be a rock star. The original video for this song was considered to be too risque and had to be altered before it was aired on MTV. Motley Crue loved women and has the song to prove it.
9. Wild Side
Released in 1987 on the album Girls, Girls, Girls. This famous Motley song has a lot of religious statements in it. It is rumored that bassist, Nikki Sixx, wrote it after hanging out with a woman who talked about religion a lot. This song is also a tribute to life in L.A., “East L.A. at midnight, papa won’t be home tonight, found dead with his best friend’s wife”.
8. Piece of Your Action
Is from the first Motley Crue album Too Fast For Love in 1982. Although this song is not as well known, true Crue fans know it well. No deep lyrics here, just sex and great rock n’ roll.
7. Primal Scream
Although I cannot find the release date for this single it was on their 1991 Decade of Decadence album. This is a great heavier type of song that you generally only hear from the earlier Motley Crue songs. This is the type of song that gets you all pumped up and makes you feel like breaking something!
6. You’re All I Need
Released in 1987 on the Girls, Girls, Girls album. This is one of my personal Motley favorites. I would call this song a ballad with some twisted lyrics. “But killing you, helped me keep you at home”. This song proves that Home Sweet Home is not their only great love song.
5. Looks That Kill
One of their more famous songs and is from the Shout At the Devil album. I remember playing this song as a teenager over and over. The video involved pentagrams numerous times, once again scaring parents into thinking that Motley Crue were devil worshipers. I still get a kick out of that.
4. Too Young Too Fall In Love
Many people claim this to be their favorite Motley Crue song. The great thing about this band, is that they wrote their own music, not many artists can say that these days. Some of their songs, including this one have a plot to them which makes them interesting. It’s great that they could tell a story in 3 1/2 minutes of music. This is also from the Shout album.
3. Live Wire
Again another early Motley song that comes from their first album, Too Fast For Love, 1982. I tend to like their earlier music because it has a heavier sound. Vince Neil’s vocals are great in this song, he has one of those voices that is so distinct it just can’t be replicated. The way Neil screams “Well be mine tonight” influenced a whole new way to sing rock. In the video, Motley Crue Uncensored, the story is told how Nikki Sixx actually caught on fire during the video. The video for this song is one of their better ones, in my opinion.
2. Shout At The Devil
This is one of the most widely known Motley Crue Songs and is from the Shout album. This is the type of song that scared parents and made them think that all rock bands were devil worshipers. Nothing like leather wearing, makeup wearing rock stars telling you to “Shout at the devil”. Even today, you can find kids of all ages playing this song on Guitar Hero and I think that’s pretty cool.
1. Home Sweet Home
From the Theatre of Pain album, this is undoubtedly one of the most well known, rock ballads of all time. Although not my personal Crue favorite, I still love this song. Even those who weren’t into the 80’s rock bands most likely know this song. This song was the most requested video on MTV for four months straight after it’s release. Every time I hear this song, it makes me think of the concerts. You know, how the lights would go off and you would all get out your lighters and hold them up in the air. It was just a great era of music.
Honorable Mentions:
Again this was so hard to pick my top ten. Other favorites include Ten Seconds to Love, God Bless the Children of the Beast, Louder Than Hell, Without You, Dr. Feelgood and Kickstart My Heart.
