Open Up and Say... Ahh! – Poison (1988)
Released in 1988, Open Up and Say... Ahh! is the breakthrough second studio album by Poison. Bigger, louder, and more polished than their debut, the album cemented Poison’s place among the top-tier glam metal acts of the late 1980s.
Blending sleazy hard rock with radio-ready hooks and power ballads, the record became one of the defining releases of the hair metal era.
Album Credits
Band Members:
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Bret Michaels – Lead Vocals
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C.C. DeVille – Lead & Rhythm Guitar
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Bobby Dall – Bass, Backing Vocals
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Rikki Rockett – Drums, Backing Vocals
Producer:
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Tom Werman
Label:
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Enigma Records / Capitol Records
Release Year: 1988
Genre: Glam Metal / Hard Rock
Album Tracklist
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Love on the Rocks
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Nothin’ But a Good Time
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Back to the Rocking Horse
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Good Love
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Tearin’ Down the Walls
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Look But You Can’t Touch
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Fallen Angel
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Every Rose Has Its Thorn
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Your Mama Don’t Dance
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Bad to Be Good
Total Length: Approx. 45 minutes
Cover Art & Design – Mini Description
The original cover featured a demonic, tongue-out female figure in glam style — controversial at the time. Due to retail objections, the artwork was censored and replaced with a close-up of the character’s eyes.
The imagery perfectly reflected late-80s excess: outrageous, rebellious, and designed to provoke.
Musical Style & Sound
Compared to Look What the Cat Dragged In, this album features:
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Bigger, cleaner production
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More anthemic choruses
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Stronger songwriting structure
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Expanded melodic ballads
“Nothin’ But a Good Time” became one of glam metal’s ultimate party anthems, while “Fallen Angel” added emotional depth. The acoustic power ballad “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” surprised critics and became Poison’s only No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100.
The album balances reckless fun with emotional vulnerability — a formula that defined late-80s arena rock.
Fun Facts & Trivia
1. #1 Hit Single
“Every Rose Has Its Thorn” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988.
2. MTV Domination
“Nothin’ But a Good Time” and “Fallen Angel” received heavy MTV rotation.
3. Multi-Platinum Success
The album sold over 5 million copies in the United States alone.
4. Cover Controversy
Retailers refused to stock the original cover art without censorship.
Did You Know?
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Bret Michaels wrote “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” after a personal relationship heartbreak.
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“Your Mama Don’t Dance” is a cover of the 1972 hit by Loggins and Messina.
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The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
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This record elevated Poison from club-level fame to global arena headliners.
