🎸 Motley Crue – Too Fast for Love (1981): Album Overview
Too Fast for Love is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Motley Crue, originally released in 1981 on their independent label Leathür Records before being reissued by Elektra Records in 1982. The album captures the raw, unpolished energy of early 1980s Los Angeles rock, blending glam aesthetics with punk aggression and traditional hard rock foundations. It laid the groundwork for the Sunset Strip metal explosion that followed.
📀 Tracklist
- Live Wire
- Public Enemy #1
- Take Me to the Top
- Merry-Go-Round
- Piece of Your Action
- Starry Eyes
- Stick to Your Guns
- Come On and Dance
- Too Fast for Love
- On with the Show
🎧 The tracklist showcases a mix of high-energy rockers and melodic yet gritty anthems, reflecting the band’s early identity before mainstream polish.
🎤 Album Credits
👥 Line-up:
- Vince Neil – lead vocals
- Nikki Sixx – bass, primary songwriter
- Mick Mars – guitar
- Tommy Lee – drums
🎛️ Production:
The album was originally produced in a low-budget DIY environment, later remixed for the Elektra reissue by producers including Michael Wagener and Tom Werman, giving it a more refined commercial sound while retaining its raw edge.
⚡ Genre
🔥 The album is commonly categorized as glam metal, hard rock, and early LA heavy metal, with strong punk influences. It sits at the intersection of raw underground rock and the emerging glam metal scene that defined the 1980s Sunset Strip movement.
🎯 Fun Facts
💡 The album was independently financed by the band before they were signed to a major label.
💡 The original Leathür Records version is highly collectible today due to its limited pressing.
💡 Nikki Sixx wrote much of the material while shaping the band’s early rebellious image.
💡 The title track reflects the band’s themes of excess, speed, and reckless youth.
🧠 Trivia
📌 The album was recorded on a very tight budget, contributing to its raw production quality.
📌 The Elektra reissue was remixed to make it more radio-friendly.
📌 “Live Wire” became one of the band’s signature live performance songs.
📌 The album helped define the early Sunset Strip glam metal movement.
❓ Did You Know?
🎸 Early copies of the album were circulated in Los Angeles rock clubs before the band gained mainstream attention.
🎸 The band financed the initial release through local gigs and personal funding.
🎸 The DIY success of the album played a major role in securing their Elektra Records deal.
🎸 The original version sounds noticeably rougher and more “garage-like” than the reissue.
Get Motley Crue albums from Amazon Music Store
Mötley Crüe Full Discography: Complete Guide to Albums & Covers Collection (1981--2008)
More Albums:
Motley Crue - Shout at the Devil (1983)
Motley Crue - Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood (1989)
