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Dr. Feelgood (Mötley Crüe song)

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"Dr. Feelgood"
Single by Mötley Crüe
from the album Dr. Feelgood
B-side"Sticky Sweet"
ReleasedAugust 28, 1989
Recorded1989
StudioLittle Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Genre
Length4:50
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bob Rock
Mötley Crüe singles chronology
"You're All I Need"
(1987) 		"Dr. Feelgood"
(1989) 		"Kickstart My Heart"
(1989)
Audio sample
"Dr. Feelgood"
Music videos
"Dr. Feelgood" on YouTube

"Dr. Feelgood" is a song by American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. It was released as the lead single from their fifth studio album of the same name.

"Dr. Feelgood" is Mötley Crüe's only gold single in the U.S. In 2009, it was ranked the 15th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.[5]

Theme and musical style

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The tune explores the intersection of the LA Sunset Strip scene and drugs, depicting a drug dealer. This track marks a departure from the band's earlier musical style, introducing a funk rock groove and more sophisticated lyrics that deviate from their previous straightforward riffing and simpler lyrical approach.[6]

Critical reception

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Upon release, David Giles of British magazine Music Week left a mixed review of the single. He called the song "almost funky furore, at the point where metal meets boogie" but "where the sound should be huge and fulsome, it is disappointingly trebly."[7]

Commercial performance

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Released in 1989 as the album's first single, "Dr. Feelgood" became Mötley Crüe's first American Top Ten hit, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 28, 1989. It is their highest ranked single to this day.[8] In November 1989, the single was certified Gold by the RIAA for more than 500,000 units shipped in the United States.[9]

Personnel

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Charts

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Chart (1989) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 26
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 11
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 50
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 6
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[14] 7
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[15] 20

Certifications

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Country Organization Year Sales
USA RIAA[16] 1989 Gold
Total available sales: (+ 500,000)

References

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  1. ^ "Readers' Poll: The 10 Greatest Hair Metal Songs". Rolling Stone. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  2. ^ "Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of the Eighties – Guitar World". Guitar World. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2021. "Dr. Feelgood," "Kickstart My Heart," "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" and "She Goes Down" are as good as pop metal ever got
  3. ^ Wawzenek, Bryan (March 30, 2018). "Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News: 40 Songs About Doctors". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  4. ^ "VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  5. ^ "spreadit.org music". Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  6. ^ Whitaker, Sterling (2012-10-03). "Top 10 Motley Crue Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  7. ^ David Giles (21 October 1989). "Mötley Crüe: "Dr. Feelgood" (Elektra/WEA)" (PDF). Singles Reviews. Music Week. Gwent: Pensord Press Ltd. p. 25. ISSN 0265-1548. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023 – via World Radio History.
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th ed, Billboard Publications, Inc. 1996. ISBN 0-8230-7632-6
  9. ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – Motley Crue Singles". Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  10. ^ "Motley Crue – Dr. Feelgood". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  11. ^ "Motley Crue – Dr. Feelgood". Top 40 Singles.
  12. ^ "Motley Crue: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  13. ^ "Motley Crue Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  14. ^ "Motley Crue Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  15. ^ "Motley Crue Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  16. ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum database". Retrieved February 7, 2009.
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