''Metal Health'' is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Quiet Riot, released on March 11, 1983. The album spawned the hit singles " Cum On Feel the Noize" and "

Metal Health ''Metal Health'' is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Quiet Riot, released on March 11, 1983. The album spawned the hit singles " Cum On Feel the Noize" and " Metal Health". It was the band's first album to receive a worldwide ...

". It was the band's first album to receive a worldwide release, as the first two were released only in Japan. ''Metal Health'' was the first heavy metal album to reach number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, replacing

the Police The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Polic ...

's '' Synchronicity'' at number one in November 1983. Due to its commercial success, ''Metal Health'' is regarded by some as the catalyst that opened the door for heavy metal's immense popularity throughout the next several years. The album went on to sell more than ten million copies worldwide.

Overview

The band parted ways with bassist

Chuck Wright Chuck Wright (born September 13, 1959) is an American bassist, best known as a member of the hard rock/heavy metal band Quiet Riot. He originally joined Quiet Riot in 1982, playing bass on the tracks " Metal Health (Bang Your Head)" and "Don' ...

early in the recording process, and replacement Gary Van Dyke was not working out. Vocalist Kevin DuBrow asked the band's former bassist

Rudy Sarzo Rodolfo Maximiliano Sarzo Lavieille Grande Ruiz Payret y Chaumont (born November 18, 1950) is a Cuban American hard rock/ heavy metal bassist. He remains best known for his work with Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, and Whitesnake, and has also played ...

to take part in the recording of "Thunderbird", a song he had written as a tribute to the band's founder

Randy Rhoads Randall William Rhoads (December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982) was an American guitarist. He was the co-founder and original guitarist of the heavy metal band Quiet Riot, and the guitarist and co-songwriter for Ozzy Osbourne's first two solo al ...

, who died in a 1982 plane crash. While DuBrow began writing the song while Rhoads was still alive, it wasn't completed until after the guitarist's death. The partnership was quite fruitful and Sarzo ended up recording several songs with the band, and he ultimately left his spot with

Ozzy Osbourne John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born 3 December 1948) is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adop ...

to re-join Quiet Riot as a permanent member.Sarzo, Rudy (2017). Off the Rails (third edition). CreateSpace Publishing. In support of the album, Quiet Riot opened for

Black Sabbath Black Sabbath were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music. The band helped def ...

on their ''

Born Again Born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and se ...

'' tour in the US. They also managed to secure a spot on the 1983 US Festival alongside established acts such as Ozzy Osbourne and

Judas Priest Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in th ...

. Prior to Quiet Riot's US Festival performance, Sarzo was punched in the face backstage by a drunken Osbourne, still bitter over the bassist leaving him to rejoin Quiet Riot several months prior. Due to the band's subsequent failure to match ''Metal Healths commercial success, Quiet Riot have at times been referred to as "one-hit wonders". The title track was ranked No. 35 on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs. "Slick Black Cadillac" is a re-recording of a song that appeared on the band's 1978 album '' Quiet Riot II''.

Track listing

Personnel

Quiet Riot

* Kevin DuBrow – lead vocals * Carlos Cavazo – guitars, backing vocals *

– bass guitar, backing vocals * Frankie Banali – drums, backing vocals

Additional personnel

– bass guitar on "Metal Health" & "Don't Wanna Let You Go" *Riot Squad - backing vocals ** Tuesday Knight – backing vocals ** Spencer Proffer – backing vocals **Donna Slattery – backing vocals *Pat Regan - Keyboards

Production

*Arranged by Quiet Riot *Produced by Spencer Proffer *Recorded and mixed by Duane Baron at The Pasha Music House *All songs published by The Grand Pasha Publisher, except "Cum on Feel the Noize" (Barn Publishing, Inc)

Design

*Quiet Riot – artwork *Jay Vigon – art direction, design *Sam Emerson – photography *Ron Sobol – photography *Stan Watts – illustrations

Chart positions

Certifications

Accolades

References

{{Authority control Quiet Riot albums Pasha Records albums 1983 albums Albums produced by Spencer Proffer