"Dr. Feelgood" is a song by American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. It was released as the lead single from their fifth studio album of the same name.
| "Dr. Feelgood" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Mötley Crüe | ||||
| from the album Dr. Feelgood | ||||
| B-side | "Sticky Sweet" | |||
| Released | August 28, 1989 | |||
| Recorded | 1989 | |||
| Studio | Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver, BC, Canada | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:50 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Bob Rock | |||
| Mötley Crüe singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
"Dr. Feelgood" | ||||
| Music videos | ||||
| "Dr. Feelgood" on YouTube | ||||
"Dr. Feelgood" is Mötley Crüe's only gold single in the U.S. In 2009, it was ranked the 15th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.[5]
Theme and musical style
The tune explores the intersection of the LA Sunset Strip scene and drugs, depicting a drug dealer. This track marks a departure from the band's earlier musical style, introducing a funk rock groove and more sophisticated lyrics that deviate from their previous straightforward riffing and simpler lyrical approach.[6]
Critical reception
Upon release David Giles of British magazine Music Week left mixed review on a single. He called song "almost funky furore, at the point where metal meets boogie" but "where the sound should be huge and fulsome, it is disappointingly trebly."[7]
Commercial performance
Released in 1989 as the album's first single, "Dr. Feelgood" became Mötley Crüe's first American Top Ten hit, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 28, 1989. It is their highest ranked single to this day.[8] In November 1989, the single was certified Gold by the RIAA for more than 500,000 units shipped in the United States.[9]
Personnel
- Vince Neil – lead vocals
- Mick Mars – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Nikki Sixx – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Tommy Lee – drums, backing vocals
Charts
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[10] | 26 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] | 11 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[12] | 50 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[13] | 6 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[14] | 7 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[15] | 20 |
Certifications
| Country | Organization | Year | Sales |
| USA | RIAA[16] | 1989 | Gold |
| Total available sales: | (+ 500,000) | ||