Published on Oct 9, 2025, 5:00:00 PM
Total time: 00:40:58
This week, the Dem Vinyl Boyz throw on the leather pants, tease up the hair, and turn the glam all the way up as we drop the needle on Poison’s multi-platinum party record Open Up and Say... Ahh!
Released in 1988, this was the album that catapulted Poison from Sunset Strip heroes to global rock gods. Produced by Bruce Fairbairn (who also worked with Bon Jovi and Aerosmith), the album is packed with arena-shaking anthems, glittery glam hooks, and power ballads that defined the late '80s. From the sleazy swagger of “Nothin’ But a Good Time” to the tearjerking heartache of “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” this LP is a crash course in glam metal glory.
We talk about the album’s massive success (over 8 million copies sold), the MTV-fueled rise of Bret Michaels and crew, and how Poison both embodied and exploded the glam rock scene of the era. We also dive into the album’s infamous original cover art controversy and the evolution of their sound that balanced pop appeal with hard rock riffs.
So plug in your Aqua Net and hop aboard the glam train—we’re revisiting the wild ride that was Poison’s Open Up and Say... Ahh!
For decades, people who enjoyed music on vinyl records instead of CDs or MP3s were considered dinosaurs. While we like moving at 33 RPM, the rest of the world rushed and went to digital. Not only did vinyl refuse to die but demand is at its highest since at least 1991. It's a good thing Dem Vinyl Boyz saved all their records from back in the day. Because, now we have the biggest collection of 12-inch records on the radio. Dem Vinyl Boyz love the joy of sliding a classic album out of its cover; the crackle of a needle just dropped into a groove; the careful way to pick up and flip a record when a side ends. On the podcast each week we feature a different piece of music history on vinyl record. Dem Vinyl Boyz experience the album front and back, giving you commentary and music facts along the way. Put your ear buds in and let us take you on a musically journey listening to the greatest music of all time and the history of how it became legendary. Dem Vinyl Boyz! Respect The Technique