Wiki
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Release Date
1 January 1989
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Length
11 tracks
Extreme is the first studio album of Boston funk-metal band Extreme, released on March 14, 1989. Despite being released on a major label, the album did not sell very well and produced two singles: "Kid Ego" and the radio-only "Play With Me". It would not be until their next album, Pornograffitti, that the band would become well known.
Musically, the record is dominated by muscular metal guitar riffs, often with funky, syncopated timing, and incendiary, high-speed metal solos. The record foreshadowed the extraordinary technical guitar-playing prowess of Portuguese-born guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, which would be more fully revealed on the band's subsequent release, Pornograffitti.
Track listing
All songs written by Cherone & Bettencourt, except "Mutha (Don't Wanna Go to School Today)" by Cherone, LeBeaux & Hunt.
No. Title Length
1. "Little Girls" 3:47
2. "Wind Me Up" 3:37
3. "Kid Ego" 4:04
4. "Watching, Waiting" 4:54
5. "Mutha (Don't Wanna Go to School Today)" 4:52
6. "Teacher's Pet" 3:02
7. "Big Boys Don't Cry" 3:34
8. "Smoke Signals" 4:14
9. "Flesh 'n' Blood" 3:31
10. "Rock a Bye Bye" 5:57
11. "Play with Me" (not present on the vinyl release) 3:29
Total length: 45:00
Personnel
Pat Badger – bass guitar, backing vocals
Nuno Bettencourt – guitar, synthesizer, piano, backing vocals, percussion, orchestration, mixing
Gary Cherone – lead & backing vocals, design, logo design
Paul Geary – drums, percussion, backing vocals, logo design
Additional musicians
The Lollipop Kids – background vocals (tracks 5, 11)
Rapheal May – harmonica (track 1)
The record was recorded by Mack, and engineered by Mack and Bob St John. It was mixed by St John and Bettencourt.
The album was marketed as a glam metal record, consistent with the band's own image at the time its release.
Lyrically, the album is dominated by themes associated with childhood. This focus is particularly evident in the first single, "Kid Ego", as well as "Mutha (Don't Want to Go to School Today)," "Little Girls," "Big Boys Don't Cry," and the rock-out finale "Play with Me".
"Play With Me" was featured in the movie Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure during the mall-chase scene, as well as in Jury Duty as Pauly Shore's stripping song.
A cover version of "Play With Me" is also featured in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s as the final track in game. The master recording is featured in Guitar Hero: Smash Hits.
"Kid Ego" and "Play With Me" were released as singles.
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