POISON open up and say ahh 25DP5023

A Glam Metal Classic: Poison’s ‘Open Up And Say… Ahh!’ (25DP 5023)

Today’s entry opens wide for one of the definitive albums of the glam metal era: Poison’s multi-platinum smash, “Open Up And Say… Ahh!” We are looking at the early Japanese CD pressing, released on May 21, 1988, via CBS/Sony with the catalog number 25DP 5023. This copy comes complete with its original obi strip.

Released at the absolute height of the hair metal explosion, this album catapulted Poison to superstardom. Produced by Tom Werman, it refined the raw energy of their debut into a slick, radio-dominating sound that defined the late 80s rock landscape.

The tracklist reads like a greatest hits of the genre. It features the party anthem “Nothin’ But A Good Time,” the infectious “Fallen Angel,” the cover of Loggins and Messina’s “Your Mama Don’t Dance,” and of course, the ultimate power ballad, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” which hit Number 1 on the US charts.

For collectors, this 25DP 5023 pressing is the version to own. It features the exclusive “Japan only bonus track,” titled “Livin’ For The Minute,” appearing as track 11. This is a prime example of the high-quality early Japanese pressings that are sought after for their sound quality and exclusive content. It stands as a perfect snapshot of the fun, excess, and melody that ruled the airwaves in 1988.