Twisted Sister: Dee Snider (vocals); Eddie Ojeda, Jay Jay French (guitar); Mark "The Animal" Mendoza (bass); Joey Franco (drums).

Additional personnel: Reb Beach (guitar, background vocals); The New West Horns (horns); Beau Hill (keyboards, background vocals); Steve Whiteman, Jimmy Chalfant, Kip Winger, Bob Gramm, Gary Kris, B. Smith, Chris Cintron, Joe Gerber, Jodie Segall, Peter Love, Luke Perry (background vocals).

Recorded at Atlantic Studios, New York, New York.

When Twisted Sister issued their 1985 album, Come Out and Play, the members were convinced they'd created their best work yet. But ultimately, the record was met with a very cool response by their fans -- a major disappointment after the double platinum success of their preceding album, 1984's Stay Hungry. For their next album, Love Is for Suckers (issued in 1987), the band attempted returning to more straight-ahead, hard rock-based songwriting. Long-time drummer A.J. Pero left the band prior to the album (replaced by session drummer Joey Franco), and the raw approach of their early work was noticeably absent -- producer Beau Hill (Ratt, Winger) gave the album a very '80s pop-metal sound. Standouts included "Hot Love," the title track, and "Tonight," but like the album before it, Love Is for Suckers died quickly on the charts. Having been together for over ten years, Twisted Sister decided to call it a day shortly after the album's release. The 1999 CD re-issue included four bonus tracks not included on the original -- "Feel Appeal," "Statutory Date," "If That's What You Want," and "I Will Win." ~ Greg Prato

Although Twisted Sister's final studio album wasn't as commercially successful as its predecessors, it is still Twisted in every way and a great record. Released in 1987, the album took its cue from the cock-rock, pop-metal explosion happening at the time. But despite the obvious influence of this trend, the band retains it's heavy sound.

"Wake Up (The Sleeping Giant)" is a fist-pumping, angry tune given an added boost by new drummer Joey Franco, who's heavy pounding is reminiscent of John Bonham's. "Hot Love" has a Madonna-like feel to it, but with heavy guitars instead of the dance beat one might expect from the pop diva. The title track is a humorous, tongue-in-cheek cut, while "Tonight" and "Me and the Boys" are two anthemic singalongs made for cruising to that all important arena show with your buddies. "You Are All That I Need" is an excellent power ballad written by Dee Snider to his wife Suzette. Along with remastered sound, Spitfire has reissued SUCKERS with four bonus tracks. The rockin' double-time "Feel Appeal" possibly refers to a groupie, while "Statutory Date" says jail time is a small price to pay for an occasional act of imprudent indulgence.