Introduction
“Too Fast for Love” wasn’t just a debut — it was a declaration of war from four Los Angeles misfits who didn’t care about rules, radio, or reputation. Released independently in 1981, this raw, unfiltered record captured Motley Crue before fame smoothed their edges. It’s fast, cheap, chaotic, and absolutely essential to understanding the birth of 80s glam-metal.
Motley Crue weren’t polished musicians yet — but they had swagger, danger, and a vision. And that’s why the album still hits like a fist wrapped in leather.
What Is “Too Fast for Love”? (Album Overview)
“Too Fast for Love” is Motley Crue’s first studio album, originally released on November 10, 1981 via Leathür Records, and re-released in 1982 by Elektra with a remixed sound and altered tracklist. It blends punk aggression, glam-rock aesthetic, and early heavy metal energy.
The themes revolve around nightlife, reckless love, addiction, rebellion, and the grinding desperation of early-80s Los Angeles. It matters because it laid the foundation for what would become the Sunset Strip glam-metal explosion.
History of Creation
Early Writing & Inspirations
Nikki Sixx wrote many of the album’s tracks while living in poverty, channeling influences from New York Dolls, Sweet, The Ramones, and early Judas Priest. Motley Crue were playing tiny clubs, crashing in filthy apartments, and surviving on cheap booze and adrenaline.
Most songs were crafted quickly — not with a “studio mindset,” but with a punk “get in, get loud, get out” mentality.
Recording Sessions & Studios
The original 1981 Leathür Records version was recorded in just a few days at Hit City West and Cherokee Studios. The band had practically no budget, so the sound is raw, loose, and underproduced — which became part of the album’s charm.
When Elektra signed the band, producer Roy Thomas Baker started remixing, but the final version was handled by engineer Michael Wagener. The Elektra version is cleaner, but many fans insist the Leathür mix is the truer, dirtier vision.
Producer & Production Approach
The production aimed to bottle the band’s ferocity rather than polish it. Minimal overdubs, heavily distorted guitars, loud bass, and Vince Neil’s unfiltered vocals give the album a street-level authenticity.
The goal was simple: capture a dangerous live band on tape — not to make them sound safe.
The Original Album Cover
Artist Behind the Artwork
The cover was shot by photographer Michael Pinter, featuring Vince Neil’s leather-clad crotch with metal studs and a hanging chain — styled as a tribute to The Rolling Stones’ “Sticky Fingers.” It instantly communicated the band’s fetish-inspired, street-punk aesthetic.
Meaning of the Cover
The image represented sex, rebellion, kink, and the gritty fetish fashion of the early Sunset Strip scene. It wasn’t just shock value — it was a mission statement: this band lived dangerously and looked the part.
Why the Original Cover Raised Controversy
While not banned, the sexualized leather-and-chains crotch provoked conservative critics and some retailers. It embodied the sleazy, aggressive identity Motley Crue leaned into from day one.
Alternative / Replacement Album Covers
The Elektra reissue used the same photo but updated the typography and layout. Various international editions have logo changes, spine variations, and slightly altered crops — all of which are now extremely collectible.
Tracklist (Full & In Order)
Leathür Records (1981 Original)
- Live Wire
- Come On and Dance
- Public Enemy #1
- Merry-Go-Round
- Take Me to the Top
- Piece of Your Action
- Starry Eyes
- Stick to Your Guns
- Too Fast for Love
- On with the Show
Elektra Records (1982 Reissue)
- Live Wire
- Come On and Dance
- Public Enemy #1
- Merry-Go-Round
- Take Me to the Top
- Piece of Your Action
- Starry Eyes
- Too Fast for Love
- On with the Show
Song-by-Song Meaning & Analysis
Live Wire
A relentless opener about raw sexual energy and self-destructive thrill. It’s the band’s early identity in audio form: fast, reckless, and impossible to ignore.
Come On and Dance
A sleazy, flirtatious track about Sunset Strip nightlife, filled with glam swagger and youthful bravado.
Public Enemy #1
Inspired by real L.A. gangsters the band encountered; Nikki romanticized outlaw culture and danger in everyday street life.
Merry-Go-Round
One of the album’s darker songs about emotional cycles, abandonment, and unstable relationships — a rare introspective moment.
Take Me to the Top
A defiant anthem about ambition and climbing out of nothing. Early punk-metal energy with big, sweeping riffs.
Piece of Your Action
A lust-fueled track dripping with sleaze, representing the band’s obsession with sex, nightlife, and taboo fantasy.
Starry Eyes
A more melodic, almost power-pop track about longing, innocence, and heartbreak — showing Crue’s surprising range.
Stick to Your Guns
An early empowerment anthem about perseverance and refusing to bow to pressure. Often overlooked but essential to the Leathür version.
Too Fast for Love
A punky metal anthem about reckless youth and romantic chaos. The title track sums up the band’s early ethos perfectly.
On with the Show
A semi-autobiographical story foreshadowing ambition, tragedy, and the band’s mythologized rise. A cult favorite for hardcore fans.
Instruments, Guitars, Amps & Gear Used
Guitars
Mick Mars played:
– BC Rich Warlock
– Gibson Les Paul Custom
– Kramer models
His tone was biting, mid-heavy, and more punk-inspired than the polished tones of later Crue albums.
Nikki Sixx used:
– Gibson Thunderbird
– B.C. Rich Eagle basses
Both delivered aggressive pick attack and gritty low-end.
Amplifiers & Settings
Mick’s tone was built on:
– Marshall JMP heads
– Modded older Super Leads
Settings leaned toward high gain, cutting mids, and bright highs.
Nikki used:
– Ampeg and Peavey bass rigs early on
– Often drove amps into natural distortion
Tommy Lee used Tama drums and Paiste cymbals, already establishing his huge, arena-ready sound.
Pedals & Effects
Minimal pedals:
– Distortion/overdrive boosts
– Chorus for clean passages
– Wah for select leads
Most of the tone came from raw amps and aggressive playing.
Recording Techniques
– Guitars double-tracked but intentionally loose
– Minimal drum gating to retain live feel
– Bass pushed high in the mix for punk aggression
– Vocals treated with slapback echo and natural room sound
Album Formats & Collectibles
Vinyl Versions
Leathür Records (1981 Original Press):
The holy grail of Motley Crue collectibles — uncensored mix, original tracklist, raw production.
Sells for high prices depending on condition, matrix, and sleeve version.
Elektra 1982 Vinyl:
Cleaner mix, altered tracklist, widely distributed.
Still collectible but less rare.
Notable variants:
– Canadian pressings
– Japanese editions with OBI strips
– Picture discs
– Alternate logos and spine colors
CD Versions
– Early 80s Elektra CDs
– 1990s remasters
– 2000s reissues
– 2021 anniversary remaster
Each version has different mastering levels, with dynamic range varying across decades.
Cassette Releases
– Leathür cassette (extremely rare)
– Elektra cassettes
– International tape releases (Japan, Canada, Europe)
Tapes are especially valued for unique artwork variations.
Deluxe / Box Sets
The band has released remastered versions and expanded anniversary editions, sometimes including demos, early mixes, and memorabilia.
Chart Performance
Peak Positions
The original release didn’t chart due to limited distribution.
The Elektra reissue performed better:
– Billboard 200: eventually reached #77
– Canada: Top 100
– Europe: later charted during the 80s glam boom
Certifications
Eventually certified Platinum in the U.S., boosted by the band’s rising fame after “Shout at the Devil.”
Sales Numbers
Total worldwide sales: estimated 2–3 million copies across all formats.
While not a blockbuster, it became a cult classic and the blueprint for Crue’s identity.
The Album in Pop Culture
“Live Wire” appears in:
– The Dirt (2019)
– Various wrestling and MMA events
– Countless L.A. nightlife documentaries
Motley’s early leather-and-chains aesthetic influenced:
– Glam fashion
– 80s metal videos
– Fetish streetwear
– Everything from anime character design to runway shows
“On with the Show” became a fan hymn, quoted in tattoos, posters, and Crue documentaries.
Motley’s early era inspired entire scenes, including European glam-sleaze revivals and modern retro-metal acts.
Critical Reception
Reviews (then vs now)
Early reviews were mixed, some dismissing Crue as crude imitators of punk and glam pioneers. Others praised the raw energy and danger lacking in mainstream rock.
Today, critics view “Too Fast for Love” as a foundational glam-metal document and one of the most important indie rock releases in L.A. history.
Rankings on Best Albums Lists
The album appears on lists such as:
– “Top Glam Metal Albums of All Time”
– “Essential 80s Debuts”
– “Greatest Independent Releases in Rock”
While not as acclaimed as “Shout at the Devil” or “Dr. Feelgood,” it’s considered essential for understanding the band’s evolution.
Legacy & Influence
Impact on Rock & Metal
This album helped ignite the Sunset Strip glam-metal movement.
Its hybrid of punk speed, metal riffs, and glam aesthetics inspired bands like:
– Ratt
– Poison
– W.A.S.P.
– Faster Pussycat
– L.A. Guns
Crue made sleaze fashionable — and dangerous again.
Artists Inspired by the Album
Modern glam-sleaze acts like Crashdïet, Hardcore Superstar, and Crazy Lixx cite it as a template. Post Malone, Machine Gun Kelly, and other mainstream artists also reference its aesthetic.
Why the Album Still Matters
It’s a time capsule of pure hunger, grit, and ambition.
It captures Motley Crue before fame, before excess, before the machine took over.
It’s punk-metal lightning in a bottle — and you can still feel the electricity today.
Leave a Reply