Come Out and Play

Released in 1985 as the follow-up to their multi-platinum breakthrough 'Stay Hungry', 'Come Out and Play' represents Twisted Sister at their most ambitious and commercially pressured. Produced by Dieter Dierks (Scorpions), the album features a massive, polished sound that attempted to bridge the gap between their gritty New York street-metal roots and the burgeoning glam metal scene of Los Angeles. The album is notable for its diverse guest list, including Alice Cooper, Brian Setzer, and Billy Joel, signaling a move toward a more 'variety show' approach to heavy metal. Despite the high production values and the iconic title track (a cover of The Shangri-Las' 'Leader of the Pack' was also included), the album struggled to match its predecessor's success, partly due to a ban on the 'Be Chrool to Your Scuel' music video by MTV. It remains a fascinating document of the era's excess and the band's unique blend of horror-theatrics and blue-collar rock anthems.