Lean into It

{{about|the album by Mr. Big|the song by Joe|Lean Into It (song)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Lean into It

| type = studio

| artist = Mr. Big

| cover = Mr. Big - Lean Into It.jpg

| border = yes

| alt =

| released = March 26, 1991
April 16, 1991 (Europe)

| recorded = 1990–91

| studio = *Rumbo (Los Angeles)

| genre = *Hard rock

| length = 46:09

| label = Atlantic

| producer = Kevin Elson

| prev_title = Mr. Big

| prev_year = 1989

| next_title = Bump Ahead

| next_year = 1993

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Lean into It

| type = studio

| single1 = Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)

| single1date = March 1991{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/573/mode/2up|title=The Great Rock Discography|year=1995|page=573 |isbn=9780862415419 |last1=Strong |first1=Martin Charles |publisher=Canongate Press }}

| single2 = Green-Tinted Sixties Mind

| single2date = May 1991

| single3 = To Be with You

| single3date = November 1991{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Mr%2E+Big&titel=To+Be+With+You&cat=s|title=Mr. Big - To Be With You|website=Dutchcharts.nl|access-date=March 26, 2025}}

| single4 = Just Take My Heart

| single4date = April 1992

}}

}}

{{Music ratings

| noprose = yes

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lean-into-it-mw0000262706 |title=Mr. Big. - Lean into It review |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |website=AllMusic |access-date=April 9, 2021 }}

| rev2 =Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal

| rev2Score = 7/10{{cite book | last = Popoff | first = Martin | author-link1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties | publisher = Collector's Guide Publishing | date = August 1, 2007 | location = Burlington, Ontario, Canada | pages=297–298|isbn = 978-1-894959-62-9}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3Score = C+{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1992/02/14/lean-it/|title=Lean Into It Review|last=Garza|first=Janiss|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=February 1, 1992|access-date=February 20, 2013}}

|rev4 = Rock Hard

|rev4score = 7.5/10{{cite magazine|last=Albrecht|first=Frank|title=Review Album : Mr. Big - Lean Into It|url=https://www.rockhard.de/reviews/mr.-big-lean-into-it_183185.html|issue=49|year = 1991| magazine = Rock Hard |access-date=April 10, 2021| language=German}}

}}

Lean into It is the second studio album by the American rock band Mr. Big, released on March 26, 1991. The band's breakthrough release, Lean into It peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 charts, while the single "To Be with You" became the band's first and only song to hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single, "Just Take My Heart", was a top-20 hit, peaking at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/mr-big |title=Mr. Big. Billboard Charts |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 9, 2021 }}

"Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy" features Gilbert and Sheehan running Makita cordless drills over their guitar strings in harmony to create an unusually fast solo which is likely not possible to replicate with hands.Cassette liner notes The "CDFF" prefix of the Jeff Paris-penned "Lucky This Time", is the song "Addicted to That Rush" from the band's 1989 eponymous debut album, played at a higher playback speed; hence the "CDFF" for "Compact Disc Fast Forward", "CDFF" is also the chord structure to the song.

The cover image is a picture from the Montparnasse train accident that occurred on October 22, 1895, in Gare Montparnasse station in Paris.

The album was ranked No. 49 on Rolling Stone's list of the 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time.{{Cite magazine|first1=Tom|last1=Beaujour|first2=Richard|last2=Bienstock|first3=Chuck|last3=Eddy|first4=Reed|last4=Fischer|first5=Kory|last5=Grow|first6=Maura|last6=Johnston|author6-link=Maura Johnston |first7=Christopher|last7=Weingarten|date=August 31, 2019|title=50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-hair-metal-albums-of-all-time-162362/|access-date=March 15, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}

The album includes the song "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind".{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mr-big-mn0000600264/biography|title=Mr. Big {{!}} Biography & History|last=Prato|first=Greg|date=|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 4, 2019|quote=The quartet broadened its horizons on its sophomore effort, 1991's Lean into It, which included the melodic psychedelic rocker 'Green Tinted Sixties Mind' as well as a pair of ballads that would become sizable singles...}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| title1 = Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)

| writer1 = {{hlist|Billy Sheehan|Paul Gilbert|André Pessis|Pat Torpey|Eric Martin}}

| length1 = 3:54

| title2 = Alive and Kickin'

| writer2 = {{hlist|Gilbert|Martin|Pessis|Sheehan|Torpey}}

| length2 = 5:28

| title3 = Green-Tinted Sixties Mind

| writer3 = Gilbert

| length3 = 3:30

| title4 = CDFF-Lucky This Time

| writer4 = Jeff Paris

| length4 = 4:10

| title5 = Voodoo Kiss

| writer5 = {{hlist|Martin|Pessis}}

| length5 = 4:07

| title6 = Never Say Never

| writer6 = {{hlist|Martin|Jim Vallance}}

| length6 = 3:48

| title7 = Just Take My Heart

| writer7 = {{hlist|Martin|Pessis}}

| length7 = 4:21

| title8 = My Kinda Woman

| writer8 = {{hlist|Gilbert|Martin|Sheehan}}

| length8 = 4:09

| title9 = A Little Too Loose

| writer9 = Gilbert

| length9 = 5:21

| title10 = Road to Ruin

| writer10 = {{hlist|Torpey|Paris|Gilbert|Sheehan}}

| length10 = 3:54

| title11 = To Be with You

| writer11 = {{hlist|Martin|David Grahame}}

| length11 = 3:27

| total_length = 46:09

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus track

| title12 = Love Makes You Strong

| writer12 = Gilbert

| length12 = 3:28

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 2010 remastered edition bonus tracks

| title12 = Love Makes You Strong

| writer12 = Gilbert

| length12 = 3:28

| title13 = Alive and Kickin'

| note13 = Demo

| writer13 = {{hlist|Gilbert|Martin|Pessis|Sheehan|Torpey}}

| length13 = 4:56

| title14 = Green-Tinted Sixties Mind

| note14 = Demo

| writer14 = Gilbert

| length14 = 3:42

| title15 = To Be with You

| note15 = Demo; reggae version

| writer15 = {{hlist|Martin|Grahame}}

| length15 = 1:17

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 2021 30th anniversary edition bonus disc

| title1 = Stop Messing Around

| writer1 = {{hlist|Martin|Tony Fanucchi}}

| length1 = 4:02

| title2 = Wild Wild Women

| writer2 = {{hlist|Martin|Roger Silver|Pessis}}

| length2 = 3:35

| title3 = Just Take My Heart

| note3 = Piano version

| writer3 = {{hlist|Martin|Pessis}}

| length3 = 3:49

| title4 = Shadows

| writer4 = {{hlist|Giorgio Moroder|Tom Whitlock|Larry Lee|Steve Bates}}

| length4 = 3:42

| title5 = Strike Like Lightning

| writer5 = {{hlist|Moroder|Whitlock|Lee|Bates}}

| length5 = 3:43

| title6 = Love Makes You Strong

| writer6 = Gilbert

| length6 = 3:27

| title7 = Alive and Kickin'

| note7 = Demo

| writer7 = {{hlist|Gilbert|Martin|Pessis|Sheehan|Torpey}}

| length7 = 4:56

| title8 = Green-Tinted Sixties Mind

| note8 = Demo

| writer8 = Gilbert

| length8 = 3:41

| title9 = To Be With You

| note9 = Demo; reggae version

| writer9 = {{hlist|Martin|Grahame}}

| length9 = 1:18

| title10 = Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)

| note10 = Minus guitar

| writer10 = {{hlist|Sheehan|Gilbert|Pessis|Torpey|Martin}}

| length10 = 3:47

| title11 = Green-Tinted Sixties Mind

| note11 = Minus guitar

| writer11 = Gilbert

| length11 = 3:31

| title12 = Love Makes You Strong

| note12 = Minus bass

| writer12 = Gilbert

| length12 = 3:27

| title13 = Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)

| note13 = Minus bass

| writer13 = {{hlist|Sheehan|Gilbert|Pessis|Torpey|Martin}}

| length13 = 3:55

}}

Personnel

;Mr. Big

  • Eric Martin – lead vocals, handclaps
  • Paul Gilbert – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, handclaps, backing vocals, electric drill
  • Billy Sheehan – bass, six-string bass on "Just Take My Heart",{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/billy_sheehan_explains_why_he_doesnt_like_to_play_5-__6-string_bass_calls_zz_tops_dusty_hill_one_of_greatest_players_ever.html|title = Billy Sheehan Explains Why He Doesn't Like to Play 5- & 6-String Bass, Calls ZZ Top's Dusty Hill 'One of Greatest Players Ever'|website=Ultimate-guitar.com}} handclaps, backing vocals, electric drill
  • Pat Torpey – drums, percussion, handclaps, backing vocals

;Production

  • Kevin Elson – producer, engineer, mixing,
  • Tom Size – mixing
  • Chris Kupper, David Lucke, Scott Ralston, Michael Semanick, Andy Udoff – assistant engineers{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chris-kupper-mn0001227692|title=Chris Kupper Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website=AllMusic}}
  • Bob Ludwigmastering at Masterdisk, New York
  • William Holmes – photography
  • Bob Defrin – art direction

Charts

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
Chart (1991-1992)

! Peak
position

{{album chart|Australia|18|artist=Mr. Big|album=Lean into It|access-date=December 11, 2023|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Austria|3|artist=Mr. Big|album=Lean into It|access-date=December 11, 2023|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Canada|4|artist=Mr. Big|album=Lean into It|rowheader=true|chartid=2089|access-date=December 11, 2023}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|20|artist=Mr. Big|album=Lean into It|access-date=December 11, 2023|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"| Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts){{cite book|last=Pennanen|first=Timo|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972|edition=1st|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|year=2006|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5| language= fi}}

| align="center"| 6

{{album chart|Germany4|9|artist=Mr. Big|album=Lean into It|id=1215|access-date=December 11, 2023|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}

| align="center"| 6

{{album chart|New Zealand|18|artist=Mr. Big|album=Lean into It|access-date=December 11, 2023|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Norway|10|artist=Mr. Big|album=Lean into It|access-date=December 11, 2023|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Switzerland|3|artist=Mr. Big|album=Lean into It|access-date=December 11, 2023|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Sweden|13|artist=Mr. Big|album=Lean into It|access-date=December 11, 2023|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|UK2|28|date=19920405|access-date=December 11, 2023|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Billboard200|15|artist=Mr. Big|access-date=December 11, 2023|rowheader=true}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1991|region=Australia|award=Gold|certref={{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1991|artist=Mr.Big|title=Lean Into It|region=Austria|award=Gold|access-date=June 26, 2017}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1991|artist=Mr. Big|title=Lean Into It|region=Canada|award=Platinum|access-date=June 26, 2017}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1991|artist=Mr. Big|title=Lean Into It|region=Germany|award=Gold|access-date=June 26, 2017}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1991|artist=Mr. Big|title=Lean Into It|region=Japan|award=Platinum|certyear=1994|certmonth=1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1991|artist=Mr. Big|title=Lean Into It|region=Switzerland|award=Gold|access-date=June 26, 2017}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Taiwan|award=Gold|certref={{cite web|url=https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images2/1/0213/12/gold-record-award-mr-big-presented_1_fdb9f2090149fdddf3021fff224208a0.jpg|title=Paul Gilbert Taiwan Gold Record|publisher=IFPI Taiwan|access-date=June 26, 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703212222/https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images2/1/0213/12/gold-record-award-mr-big-presented_1_fdb9f2090149fdddf3021fff224208a0.jpg|archive-date=July 3, 2017}} archived.|salesamount=20,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1991|artist=Mr. Big|title=Lean Into It|region=United States|award=Platinum|salesamount=1,200,000|access-date=June 26, 2017|salesref={{cite journal|author=Jon Cold|title=Biggest Metal Sales – The Mr. Big Interview|publisher=Zenbu Media|journal=Metal Edge Magazine|date=1992|location=United States}}}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

References