Love at First Sting
Encyclopedia
Love at First Sting is the ninth studio album by the German
heavy metal band Scorpions
, released in 1984 (see 1984 in music
). Love at First Sting became the most successful album of the band in the USA where it peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1984 and went triple platinum. The song "Rock You Like a Hurricane
" reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the same year, "Still Loving You
" reached number 64 on the same chart, number 14 in Germany
, number 2 in the French
and Swiss Top 50
. "Rock You Like a Hurricane" ranked #31 on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs and "Still Loving You" ranked #22 on VH1's 25 Greatest Power Ballads. This album is notable in that it was one of the first digitally recorded heavy metal albums ever released.
features a man and a partially nude woman locked in an embrace, with the man giving the woman a tattoo on her thigh.
Despite the record company having shown the original cover art to retailers without any concerns, a complaint by Wal-Mart after the album was released resulted in PolyGram Records issuing a "clean" cover for use in several department store chains. The alternative cover was designed to be less controversial by simply showing a photo of the band members, which was the same photo on the inner sleeve.
.
Produced by Dieter Dierks
.
Note
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
heavy metal band Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
, released in 1984 (see 1984 in music
1984 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.-Janury-March:*January 21 – "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite being banned by the BBC; it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top 40.*January 27 – Michael Jackson's...
). Love at First Sting became the most successful album of the band in the USA where it peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1984 and went triple platinum. The song "Rock You Like a Hurricane
Rock You Like a Hurricane
"Rock You Like a Hurricane" a song by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. The song was released as the second track of their 1984 album Love at First Sting.-Description:...
" reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the same year, "Still Loving You
Still Loving You
"Still Loving You" is a song of Scorpions from their 1984 album Love at First Sting. It was the second single of the album, reaching #64 on Billboard Hot 100. In France, the single sold 1.7 million copies...
" reached number 64 on the same chart, number 14 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, number 2 in the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Swiss Top 50
Top 50
The Top 50 refers to a list of weekly hit singles, or albums. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the same but similar to the top 40, but with 10 extra places....
. "Rock You Like a Hurricane" ranked #31 on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs and "Still Loving You" ranked #22 on VH1's 25 Greatest Power Ballads. This album is notable in that it was one of the first digitally recorded heavy metal albums ever released.
Cover art
The original cover art created by Helmut NewtonHelmut Newton
Helmut Newton, born Helmut Neustädter was a German-Australian photographer. He was a "prolific, widely imitated fashion photographer whose provocative, erotically charged black-and-white photos were a mainstay of Vogue and other publications."-Early life:Newton was born in Berlin, the son of Klara...
features a man and a partially nude woman locked in an embrace, with the man giving the woman a tattoo on her thigh.
Despite the record company having shown the original cover art to retailers without any concerns, a complaint by Wal-Mart after the album was released resulted in PolyGram Records issuing a "clean" cover for use in several department store chains. The alternative cover was designed to be less controversial by simply showing a photo of the band members, which was the same photo on the inner sleeve.
Recording sessions
The album was recorded in 1983 and 1984 at Dierks Studios near Cologne GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Track listing
Personnel
- Klaus MeineKlaus MeineKlaus Meine is a German singer, best known as the lead vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the heavy metal band Scorpions...
– lead vocals - Matthias JabsMatthias JabsMatthias Jabs is a German guitarist and songwriter. He is a member of the heavy metal band Scorpions. Before joining the Scorpions, Jabs had played for the bands Lady, Fargo and Deadlock....
– lead guitar, backing vocals, rhythm guitar on "Still Loving You" and "Big City Nights" - Rudolf SchenkerRudolf SchenkerRudolf Schenker is a German guitarist and founding member of heavy metal band Scorpions, being the rhythm/lead guitarist and one of the main song-writers of the band...
– rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead guitar on "Still Loving You" and "Big City Nights" - Francis BuchholzFrancis BuchholzFrancis Buchholz is a German bassist best known as a member of the rock/hard rock band, the Scorpions....
– bass, backing vocals - Herman RarebellHerman RarebellHerman 'Ze German' Rarebell is a German drummer, best known for his time in the band Scorpions from 1977 to 1995, playing on 8 studio albums...
– drums, percussion, backing vocals
Produced by Dieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks is a German record producer mostly known for his collaboration with the rock band Scorpions.- Youth :...
.
Note
- Although the usual band line-up is credited on Love At First Sting, both Rarebell and Buchholz were temporarily out of the band at the time of the album's recording, with drum and bass track provided by Bobby RondinelliBobby RondinelliBobby Rondinelli is a rock drummer best known for his work with the hard rock/heavy metal bands like Blue Öyster Cult, Rainbow, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, The Lizards, and Rondinelli.-Background:...
(RainbowRainbow (band)Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
) and Jimmy BainJimmy BainJames Stewart 'Jimmy' Bain is a Scottish bassist most famous for playing in the bands Rainbow and Dio with Ronnie James Dio. He has worked with Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, co-writing on his solo albums....
(DioDio (band)Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
, ex-RainbowRainbow (band)Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
, Wild HorsesWild Horses (British band)Wild Horses were a British rock band, active during the late 1970s and early 1980s.-History:Wild Horses was formed in the summer of 1978 by ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson and ex-Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain...
), respectively.
Album
Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Billboard 200 | #6 |
Singles
Billboard (North America)| Year | Song | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "Rock You Like a Hurricane" | Billboard Hot 100 | #25 |
| 1984 | "Still Loving You" | Billboard Hot 100 | #64 |
RIAA Certification
| Certification | Date |
|---|---|
| Gold | April 30, 1984 |
| Platinum | April 30, 1984 |
| Double-platinum | October 25, 1984 |
| Triple-platinum | July 8, 1995 |