''Ratt'' is the debut EP by American

glam metal Glam metal (also known as hair metal or pop metal) is a subgenre of heavy metal music, heavy metal that features pop music, pop-influenced Hook (music), hooks and guitar riffs, upbeat arena rock, rock anthems, and slow Sentimental ballad#Powe ...

band

Ratt Ratt (stylized as RATT) was an American glam metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s, with their albums having been certified as gold, platinum and multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, RIAA. ...

. It was released independently in 1983 on the band's Time Coast label.

Background

The version of "Back for More" featured on this EP is an earlier recording than the one on the album ''

Out of the Cellar ''Out of the Cellar'' is the debut studio album by the American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Ratt, released in 1984 by Atlantic Records. The album was an immediate success, with wide airplay on radio and heavy rotation on MTV of its singl ...

''. The European version also features an earlier recording of "You're in Trouble" as a bonus track, believed to feature Joey Cristofanilli on bass guitar. A cover of

Rufus Thomas Rufus C. Thomas, Jr. (March 26, 1917 – December 15, 2001) was an American rhythm-and-blues, funk, soul and blues singer, songwriter, dancer, DJ and comic entertainer from Memphis, Tennessee. He recorded for several labels, including Chess Re ...

' "Walkin' the Dog" is also included, presumably as a nod to the 1973

Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry and B ...

version. It is also noted for the strong lead guitar presence of guitarist

Robbin Crosby Robbinson Lantz Crosby (August 4, 1959 – June 6, 2002) was an American guitarist who was a member of glam metal band Ratt, earning several platinum albums in the US in the 1980s. Crosby died in 2002 from a heroin overdose. Early life Crosby ...

, whose trademark "blues with a twist" solos are prominent through the first four songs. An early version of "Tell the World" (which did not feature Blotzer or Croucier) was also featured on the compilation ''

Metal Massacre ''Metal Massacre'' is a series of compilation albums released through Metal Blade Records. It is famous for "shedding light" on heavy metal and extreme metal bands such as The Obsessed, Trouble, Overkill, Metal Church, Metallica, Slayer, Vi ...

'', but was removed from later pressings. "U Got It" often opened the show circa 1983-84, and Pearcy did the same during his Nitronic 'Pure Hell' Tour in 2000. In 1984,

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...

remixed and re-released this EP following the success of ''Out of the Cellar''. This reissue featured a glossier production mix to match the band's recent mainstream success, as well as an updated back cover photo of the group with a more pronounced Sunset Strip glam appearance. The legs on the front cover belong to

Tawny Kitaen Julie Ellen "Tawny" Kitaen ( ; August 5, 1961 – May 7, 2021) was an American actress. She began her career as a television actress, appearing in the television films '' Malibu'' (1983) and '' California Girls'' (1985). She also starred in the ...

, the then-girlfriend of guitarist Crosby. She later also posed on the cover of the band's 1984 album ''Out of the Cellar''.

Track listing

All tracks written by

and

Stephen Pearcy Stephen Eric Pearcy (born July 3, 1956) is an American musician who is the founder, singer, songwriter of the heavy metal band Ratt. He has also created the bands Firedome, Crystal Pystal, Arcade, Vicious Delite, and Vertex. He has also reco ...

, except where indicated. Arrangements by Ratt.

Personnel

;Ratt *

– lead vocals *

– guitars, backing vocals *

Warren DeMartini Warren Justin DeMartini (born April 10, 1963) is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist for glam metal band Ratt, which achieved international stardom in the 1980s. Early life DeMartini was born on April 10, 1963, in Chicago, ...

– guitars, backing vocals *

Juan Croucier Juan Croucier (born August 22, 1959) is a Cuban-born American musician. He is best known as the bassist for the hard rock/glam metal band Ratt. Career Croucier attended Torrance High School in Torrance, California, and played in various ba ...

– bass, backing vocals *

Bobby Blotzer Robert John Blotzer (born October 22, 1958) is an American musician best known as the drummer for metal band Ratt. He attended Torrance High School in Torrance, California along with his future Ratt bandmate Juan Croucier. Ratt Blotzer began ...

– drums ;Production *

Liam Sternberg Liam Sternberg (born July 28, 1949) is an American songwriter and producer who wrote the Bangles hit "Walk Like an Egyptian". Career Sternberg began his musical career as part of the late-1970s " Akron Sound" which included Devo and the Waitre ...

– producer *

Ed Stasium Ed Stasium is an American record producer and audio engineer, who has worked on albums by the Ramones, Talking Heads, Motörhead, the Smithereens and Living Colour. Early life and education Raised in Green Brook Township, New Jersey, and gradua ...

– engineer, mixing *Mark Leonard – executive producer

Charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ratt (EP) 1983 debut EPs Ratt albums Music for Nations albums Self-released EPs