Quiet Riot "Condition Critical"

Condition Critical is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Quiet Riot. Released in 1984, it was not nearly as successful as its predecessor (1983's Metal Health) in either fan reaction or sales. It was also given an infamous two-word review in Rolling Stone magazine: "Condition Terminal." However, it did sell over one million copies, peaking at No. 15 on the US Billboard album chart. Like the band's previous album, Condition Critical features a Slade cover song as the second track.

Tracks "Party All Night" (also known as "Party All Nite") and "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" had music videos made for them, both receiving some airplay on TV. The same man with a metal mask from the last album cover is on this cover as well as many of the band's subsequent album covers, establishing him as the band's mascot. The character also has cameos in both aforementioned music videos.

The track "Stomp Your Hands, Clap Your Feet" shares its title with the original American title to Slade's 1974 album Old New Borrowed and Blue.

As stated in the program Behind the Music, frontman DuBrow's combative attitude towards music journalists and fellow metal musicians – for example, he likened the magazine Hit Parader to toilet paper – was felt by other band members and their producer to have hurt the album's reviews. DuBrow later agreed and expressed regret.

Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave Condition Critical a mixed-to-positive review, stating that he found the band's Slade cover to be the best track on the album given the "solid hook" of its guitar riffs.

Musician reviewer J. D. Considine wrote simply: "Prognosis: Terminal."

The album did not garner the same amount of sales as its predecessor, Metal Health. It reached the No. 15 slot on the Billboard 200.

Track listing

All songs written by Kevin DuBrow, except where noted.

1. "Sign of the Times"  DuBrow/Carlos Cavazo   5:03
2. "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" (Slade cover)  Noddy Holder/Jim Lea  3:38
3. "Party All Night" 3:32
4. "Stomp Your Hands, Clap Your Feet" 4:38
5. "Winners Take All" 5:32
6. "Condition Critical"   DuBrow/Cavazo/Frankie Banali  5:02
7. "Scream and Shout"  DuBrow/Cavazo/Rudy Sarzo   4:01
8. "Red Alert" 4:28
9. "Bad Boy" 4:21
10. "(We Were) Born to Rock" 3:34

Recording information:

Recorded and mixed at the Pasha Music House, Hollywood, California.