I Want Action

"I Want Action" is the third single from Glam metal band Poison, originally from the album Look What the Cat Dragged In.

"I Want Action"
Single by Poison
from the album Look What the Cat Dragged In
B-side	"Play Dirty"
Released	May 20, 1987
Recorded	1986
Genre	Glam metal[1]
Length	3:05
Label	Enigma/Capitol Records
Songwriter(s)	Bret Michaels Bobby Dall Rikki Rockett C.C. DeVille
Producer(s)	Ric Browde
Poison singles chronology
"Talk Dirty To Me" (1987) "I Want Action" (1987) "I Won't Forget You" (1987)
Music videos
"I Want Action" on YouTube

Background

The song was released as a single in 1987 on the Enigma label of Capitol Records, and peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[2] "I Want Action" was the first party anthem from the band^[3] and was followed by their first ballad, the top 20 Billboard hit single "I Won't Forget You".

Reception

Cash Box said that the song has Poison "at their resounding best," saying that "the tune is every bit as suggestive as its title, pouring on sex and incendiary guitars with a trowel."^[4]

Music video

The music video begins at a diner where a waitress is serving food to the band. After a groupie asks for a backstage pass, the band performs on stage.

Albums

On the 2006 re issue of Look What the Cat Dragged In - 20th Anniversary Edition the 7" single remix of the song was released.^[5]

"I Want Action" is on the following albums.

• Look What the Cat Dragged In
• Swallow This Live (live version)
• Poison's Greatest Hits: 1986-1996
• Power to the People (live version)
• The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock
• Look What the Cat Dragged In - 20th Anniversary Edition
• Poison – Box Set (Collector's Edition)
• Double Dose: Ultimate Hits

Charts

Chart (1987)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100[6]	50

Uses in media

• During the opening credits of the 2003 comedy film Pauly Shore Is Dead
• In the 2009 indie comedy-drama film Adventureland

References

1. "Top 50 Glam Metal Albums". Metal Rules. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
2. "Allmusic (Poison charts and awards) Billboard singles".
3. "Look What the Cat Dragged In - Poison". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
4. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. May 30, 1987. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
5. "Rockers Poison celebrate 20th anniversary with expanded releases of albums". Monsters and Critics. 2006-07-25. Archived from the original on 25 November 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
6. "Poison Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2024.