10 Greatest Hair Metal Albums Of All Time

4. Dr. Feelgood - Motley Crue

As the Sunset Strip was starting to find its feet, Motley Crue were one of the true ambassadors for hair metal. Along with having prime spots opening for people like Ozzy in the early days, these guys were the prototype for what the sleazy sounds of the Strip would be, from the 8 inch heels to the fun loving attitude both onstage and off. If they wanted to achieve perfection though, they would have to wait until the very end of the decade.

Working with superproducer Bob Rock in Vancouver, Dr. Feelgood is Motley Crue at the absolute peak of their powers. By this point, Nikki Sixx's knack for songwriting had reached an all time high, with songs like Kickstart My Heart becoming some of the true bangers of the day. From a raw sonic standpoint though, the beauty of this record is in the drums, with Tommy Lee punishing his kit across every single track.

There are even a few detours into blues rock from time to time, courtesy of Mick Mars' soulful guitar playing and affinity for the legends of the genre like Jeff Beck and BB King. Coming out right at 1989, this is probably the last true hair metal record that felt like an event when it finally came out.