''Belly to Belly'' is the fifth studio album by American

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band Warrant. The record was released on October 1, 1996, through CMC International. The album features ex-

Beggars & Thieves Beggars & Thieves is a band initially made up of lead vocalist Louie Merlino, guitarist Ron Mancuso, bassist Phil Soussan, and drummer Bobby Borg. Phil Soussan and Bobby Borg left after the band’s first album and after some light touring, and ...

drummer Bobby Borg who replaced

James Kottak James Kottak (born December 26, 1962) is an American drummer. Kottak is best known for his work with the German hard rock band Scorpions, which he joined in 1996. At the time of his firing from the band in 2016, he was their all-time longest-s ...

. It is the last Warrant album of all original material to feature Jani Lane on vocals.

Production and marketing

The making of the record was a collaborative process. The members of Warrant got together for one week in November 1995 and one week in January 1996 and wrote songs together. The recording process lasted a further two weeks, and the record was mixed in seven days.

Songs

The record was described by guitarist

Rick Steier Rick Steier (born October 8, 1960, in Louisville, Kentucky) is a guitarist who has played in the bands Warrant, Kingdom Come, Wild Horses, and KrunK/Kottak. Drummer and fellow Louisville native James Kottak was also in all these bands with Rick ...

as a "concept album" that follows a rags-to-riches-to-rags storyline concerning fame, fortune and the examination of one's value system once the spotlight fades, Musically, The album bore no resemblance to the

Glam metal Glam metal (also known as hair metal or pop metal) is a subgenre of heavy metal that features pop-influenced hooks and guitar riffs, upbeat rock anthems, and slow power ballads. It borrows heavily from the fashion and image of 1970s glam r ...

of the band's past, and also continued the

Alternative metal Alternative metal (also known as alt-metal) is a genre of heavy metal music Heavy metal (or simply metal) is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and United States. With r ...

direction of

Ultraphobic ''Ultraphobic'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band Warrant. Released on March 7, 1995, on CMC International, after the apparent breakup of the band, the record was regarded as the band's "comeback" album. It is the first album to f ...

. The first single "A.Y.M." (Angry Young Man) was recorded in one take. During a flight to

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

for shows at a United States Naval Base, guitarist Rick Steier suggested to Lane that he put a twist in the lyrics for the then incomplete song. When the band got back into the studio, Lane re-wrote the lyrics as a "tongue-in-cheek satirical look at the alternative thing". The single features a live music video. The second single "Feels Good" was about the band "starting from scratch". Vocalist

Jani Lane Jani Lane (born John Kennedy Oswald; February 1, 1964 – August 11, 2011) was an American singer and the lead vocalist, frontman, lyricist and main songwriter for the glam metal band Warrant. From Hollywood, California, the band experienced su ...

explained that the song dealt with being free from major label pressure to "follow up this big hit or that hit". The band was given complete control to do whatever seemed appropriate to the members, without having to try to please others. "Letter to a Friend" was an idea Lane had about how relationships should end; the parties agree that they don't gel, but that they can go their separate ways without animosity. Lane admits that this was "wishful thinking", since all of his failed relationships have ended on bad terms. "All 4 U" features a duet with the girlfriend of the part owner of the studio in which the record was produced. Lane thought her vocals sounded "a little like Stevie Nicks" and asked her to perform on the album. "Indian Giver" was released as the third single of the album and was written by Jani Lane after making up with his second wife, Rowanne Brewer following a brief argument.

Track listing

Credits

- Lead Vocals *

Erik Turner Erik Turner (born March 31, 1964) is best known as the rhythm guitarist in American glam metal band Warrant. Turner co-founded Warrant in Los Angeles, California in July 1984 with bassist Jerry Dixon. Turner was influenced by bands Led Zeppel ...

- Rhythm Guitar * Jerry Dixon - Bass Guitar *

- Lead Guitar * Bobby Borg - Drums ;Additional personnel *Danny Wagner - Keyboards, backing vocals

Singles

*"A.Y.M." *"Feels Good" *"Indian Giver"

References

* Rocknet Q & A with Jani Lane https://web.archive.org/web/20050426121103/http://rocknet.com/sep96/belly.html {{Authority control Warrant (American band) albums 1996 albums CMC International albums