Nothin' But A Good Time (Greatest Hits 1986-1996 - Poison)

Member Name: Lizzy8

Product:	Greatest Hits 1986-1996 - Poison
Date:	07/02/06 (517 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great songs, brilliant guitar tunes, fun!

Disadvantages: None.

Some of us will remember the 80's and early 90's as being the best time for great music. If rock music was your thing, you were spoiled for choice. You had Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, and, of course - Poison.

Formerly known as Paris, Poison was formed in 1984 by singer Bret Michaels, bassist Bobby Dall, and drummer Rikki Rockett. After traveling from Harrisburg, PA, to Los Angeles, CA, the band added guitarist C.C. Deville to their lineup.

Like most bands of the time, Poison had their ups and downs, for every major success there were also disappointments, but the band kept going, kept making great music, and to this day they are still together, while most of the other bands fell apart. That's not to say there hasn't ever had any bust ups within the band, after an infamous appearance on MTV showed Deville perform nearly half of 'Talk Dirty to Me' with his guitar unplugged, the band were reported to have broke into a brawl backstage. Poison fired Deville due to his increasing addiction to drugs and alcohol, but took him back in 1996 and the original line-up has stayed the same ever since.

I'll be honest, I'm not usually a fan of greatest hits albums, I do buy them If it's a band I love, but they always seem to get the song choices wrong, don't they? But this time I think they got it right, from the opening track 'Nothin' But A Good Time', you are instantly pulled back to the 80's, with guitar, drums, and simple lyrics that you will find yourself dancing and singing along to, the main aim is to have fun.

While you are still on your feet, the next song - 'Talk Dirty To Me' opens with a really catchy guitar tune, another song to shout along to, and do air guitar to the fantastic solo (just don't let anyone see you..... it never looks as good as you think it does). The upbeat feel continues on with 'Unskinny Bop', and then the tempo is brought down with the fantastic power ballad - 'Every Rose Has It's Thorn'.

'Every Rose Has It's Thorn' is the song most people will know and love, even if they are not a fan of Poison. It has everything that makes a great rock ballad, soulful guitar tunes and meaningful lyrics. It shows that Poison were capable of writing serious songs, and It's probably one of their biggest hits. Personally, for me, it would be up there in my top 5, along with rock ballads like 'Guns N' Roses - November Rain' and 'U2 - With Or Without You'.

The album soon speeds up again with 'Fallen Angel', one of my favourite Poison songs, it's upbeat, catchy, and definitely another one to have you up on your feet, the solo guitar tune is fantastic, credit to C.C. Deville - he's a brilliant guitarist, yet not enough people know of him. Straight after 'Fallen Angel' is 'I Won't Forget You'. By this stage, if you didn't already know it, you will realise what made Poison great. It was their ability to write and perform fantastic pop-rock songs that make you feel good, songs that make you want to dance around the room singing into your hairbrush, mostly songs that aren't to serious, they weren't always trying to be clever with lyrics, they weren't trying to make you think, it was all about enjoying yourself. I think if there is one song that could define what Poison were all about, 'I Won't Forget You' would be it.

'Stand' starts off slow, but soon builds into another up tempo song, and we're away again, followed by 'Ride The Wind' and 'Look What The Cat Dragged In', by the time the finishing chords are played of 'I Want Action' we are looking a little rough after all the manic dancing and dodgy air guitar. 'Life Goes On' is next up, a great song, but most of the credit shouldn't go to lead singer Bret Michaels for this one, the person who makes the song what it is, has to be C.C. Deville on guitar (although Bret Michaels is still brilliant on vocals, of course). If you like guitar solos, this is the song you need to hear - amazing!


After 'Life Goes On' you have 'Sacrifice', 'Cry Tough', 'Your Mama Don't Dance', and 'So Tell Me Why', all upbeat rock songs, and then the tempo is brought down once again for 'Something To Believe In'. The band wrote this song in memory of their long term friend and roadie who had passed away.....

"My best friend died a lonely man
In some palm springs hotel room
I got the call last Christmas eve
And they told me the news

I tried all night not to break down and cry
As the tears rolled down my face
I felt so cold and empty
Like a lost soul out of place"

'Something To Believe In' is probably the most serious song the band have done, lyrics wise, and most Poison fans would probably class it as their favourite.

Moving on, back into the up tempo songs again, the next song is 'Sexual Thing', a proper rock song, it would be the only song I don't really like off the whole album - I actually think they suit the more 'pop-rock' rather than trying to do anything harder. The album finishes off with 'Lay Your Body Down', a soulful song, and a nice ending to the album.

If you like bands like Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Aerosmith, you will love Poison, and this album has all their best songs. The band have just announced a 20 Year Anniversary Tour for this Summer, and I will be there singing along to all the old classics and fainting like a pathetic love-struck teenager when I see Bret Michaels. Can't wait.

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Summary: A great album, filled with all the best Poison songs.