On November 9, 1985 "Twisted Sister" released their fourth album "Come Out and Play".
The album arrived on the heels of the massive success of "Stay Hungry". With high expectations from fans and pressure from the music industry, the band leaned into an ambitious and polished production approach, marking a departure from their raw, rebellious style to a more radio-friendly sound. Produced by Dieter Dierks ("Scorpions", "Accept"), the album incorporates big, booming production alongside "Twisted Sister’s" signature glam-metal attitude, creating a blend of polished rock anthems and defiant energy.
The title track, "Come Out and Play," (with the homage intro to the 1979 cult classic movie "The Warriors") kicks off the album with a gritty, intense vibe, complete with gang vocals and theatrical flair. The song captures the essence of "Twisted Sister's" message: embracing your true self and standing strong against societal pressures. But thenת "Twisted Sister" went far from their sound and style with the the album first single "Leader of the Pack" – a cover of the "Shangri-Las’" classic – that received mixed reactions from fans due to its playful, almost campy feel. “Be Chrool to Your Scuel,” is another track that aimed for commercial success. Featuring Alice Cooper, it is a fun, rebellious take on school life, amplified by Cooper's guest vocals, Brian Setzer on guitar solo, Clarence Clemons on saxophone and a notable cameo from Billy Joel on the piano. These collaborations add variety to the album but also signal a departure from the rawness that defined "Twisted Sister's" earlier work. The second single from the album, "You Want What We Got", tries to hard to follow the band's 1984 hit single "We're Not Gonna Take It", but is lacking the rebellious charm that the band had on their previous album.
Surprisingly, the album ballad “I Believe in You” is one of the best moments on this album, although its commercial appeal, maybe because they didn't went much far from their previous ballads.
The band tried to stay true to their roots on tracks like "I Believe in Rock ‘n’ Roll", "The Fire Still Burns" and speedy “Kill or Be Killed”, highlighting the raw guitars and Dee Snider’s vocal intensity. However, despite of these high-energy moments, some fans felt the album’s polished sound and mainstream direction diluted the rawness that made "Twisted Sister" stand out. This shift in sound, while intended to reach a wider audience, ultimately fell short of the commercial success "Stay Hungry" had achieved.
"Come Out and Play" was an ambitious attempt by the band to reach a wider audience. "Twisted Sister" made a change in style and sound towards a catchy and friendly direction in an attempt to reach a wider audience, but along the way lost its identity and did exactly the opposite.
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music
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