When you first heard Mama's Fool from Tesla in 1994

[BDG135]

What did you think?
Did you want to buy Bust A Nut?
Did you hear about it when it first came out?
https://youtu.be/x_2h4RAZG9A

[Mister Freeze]

I thought it was just okay, but it grew on me. Still weak compared to previous Tesla singles.

Overall, it's a strong album. Stuff like "Solution" and "Action Talks" grabbed me immediately.

It's easy to forget, but back then, all the '80s hard rock bands were running away from their classic sound. Tesla wasn't afraid to keep it going and rock out like they always did, which, ironically, made them a welcome change-of-pace for the time.

[Busch1724]

Loved it first time I heard it. Awesome intro and great riff. Lyrics are a little corny, but love the gang chorus.

[TBONESBURDEN]

Great song, great album. A drop off from Psychotic Supper in my opinion but still killer.

[whiteowl yesterday]

Great song, great album. A drop off from Psychotic Supper in my opinion but still killer.

this.

[Love_Industry]

It's easy to forget, but back then, all the '80s hard rock bands were running away from their classic sound. Tesla wasn't afraid to keep it going and rock out like they always did, which, ironically, made them a welcome change-of-pace for the time.

I wasnt impressed by Bust a Nut, but this is 100% correct. All bands moved in the same direction at the same time, some just took it a little further. Desperate trend chasing that didn't pay off. The bands staying closer to their classic sound had a smaller drop in sales, bands that went full grunge/alternative/whatever bombed. Stupid labels allowed that too, not realizing that an alternative Warrant or even Def Leppard had a chance like a snowball in hell.. or a full on Sunset Strip hair metal album from Pearl Jam. (Almost wrote Nirvana but didn't Kurt or Krist say that Nevermind "sounded like a Mötley Crue album"??)

[Mister Freeze]

Almost wrote Nirvana but didn't Kurt or Krist say that Nevermind "sounded like a Mötley Crue album"??

Well, if you think about it, Nevermind was recorded during the "big production" era, even if its success helped kill it. So I'm not surprised by the quote. I think they're just referring to the big sound that wasn't cool among their Sub Pop buddies back home. Explains why Kurt wanted to do a 180 on the production when recording In Utero.

I should have written my initial post a little better. Of course, we all remember most of the '80s bands running from their sound. What's forgotten is how much Bust a Nut stood out at the time when today, it's just another release in the Tesla catalog. The context of the times made an already good album even better.

[Einstein Lawless]

I liked it. Technically, I never bought the album but I did win a copy off the radio.