Rocked Out Anthems: Motley Crue's "Girls, Girls, Girls"
In the early 1980s, the rise of new wave synth-pop acts was succeeded by a glam rock wave, spearheaded by Mötley Crüe. The LA-based quartet, comprising Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars, Vince Neil, and Tommy Lee, flourished during this era, with their third major-label release, Girls, Girls, Girls, reaching the pinnacle of their career.
Girls, Girls, Girls was released in 1987, three years after their debut Shout at the Devil and follow-up Theatre of Pain, which had attained triple-Platinum status. By the time they entered the studio to record Girls, Girls, Girls, Lee was married to actress Heather Locklear, Sixx had overcome his heroin addiction, and their power ballad "Home Sweet Home" was a consistent staple on MTV.
Tom Werman, who produced all of Mötley Crüe's records since their 1983 signing with Elektra, attributes the more straightforward sound of Girls, Girls, Girls to the band's maturity and better control of their respective vices. "The difference was mostly chemical," he says. The album showcased sleazy rock 'n' roll, albeit with a commercial edge.
Recording sessions took place at One on One Studios in North Hollywood and Rumbo Recorders in Canoga Park, CA. During pre-production, emphasis was placed on drum and bass parts, rhythm guitars, and song structure. Innovative methods were employed to isolate the drums and incorporate drum samples for the first time.
Recording commenced with drum tracks at One on One Studios, where they experimented with Lee's drum sound and made use of the studio's P.A. system to send kick and toms back into the main studio. Moreover, towels were utilized to minimize leakage and isolate specific instruments from others.
Moving on to Rumbo Recorders, the band recorded Sixx's bass parts and Mars' guitars. Experimentation continued, as they built tracks layer by layer, progressing from drums to bass, guitars, and vocals. Tommy Lee had his parts completed within a week, while the rest of the band took a little more time.
Mars' guitar solos were meticulously crafted, with particular focus on the prominent role they played in the song. During vocal recording, Sixx played a crucial role by directing Vince Neil based on his lyrics and melodies. Lee contributed suggestions during every stage of the recording process, including the addition of roaring motorcycle engines at the beginning and end of "Girls, Girls, Girls."
Girls, Girls, Girls reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, and "Girls, Girls, Girls" peaked at No. 12 on the Hot 100 chart. MTV initially banned its video due to explicit content, but a censored version was eventually accepted. After Girls, Girls, Girls, the band worked with Bob Rock on Dr. Feelgood, their first album to reach No. 1. Werman continued his production career and partnered with other renowned producers, while Baron and Purdell collaborated on various albums for other artists.
Sources:[1] https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8341338/a-oral-history-of-motley-crue-greatest-hits-era[2] https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-amazing-recordings-behind-motley-crue-classics-girls-girls-girls-dr-feelgood-and-more[3] https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2016/04/04/473012545/classic-tracks-tracy-chapmans-fast-car[4] https://releases.Billboard.com/regional/chart-dates/1987/billboard-200-charts-1987-year-end/[5] https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/motley-crue-desperado-the-romantic-romp-that-brought-hair-metal-to-a-close-1221293/
In the recording process for Girls, Girls, Girls, Mötley Crüe worked on their sound in studios like One on One Studios and Rumbo Recorders, carefully crafting their sleazy rock 'n' roll with a commercial edge. Tom Werman, who produced all of their records starting from their 1983 signing with Elektra, attributes the album's more straightforward sound to the band's maturity and better control of their respective vices.
