Native Tongue (Poison album)

Admitted as a full-fledged member of the band rather than a "hired gun", Kotzen was given considerable creative freedom. Resultingly, Kotzen's writing and performing contributions dominated the album.

Kotzen would later be expelled from the band following the world tour, after it was discovered that he had been romantically involved with the fiancee of drummer Rikki Rockett. Recollections of the album, while no doubt soured by these events, nonetheless appear to faithfully reflect the basic clash between Kotzen's style and that of the band's founding members. Kotzen would later claim that "being in Poison helped me forget I was a musician"[http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/RichieKotzen-Sept2004.htm Metal-rules.com, Heart of Steel; Interview with Richie Kotzen by McDonald K.] Retrieved January 5, 2005. while Rockett would lament the loss of the band's original "attitude" [http://www.kaos2000.net/interviews/poisondave00.html KAOS 2000 Magazine, Interview with Rikki Rockett by Wilson DL] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050218031942/http://www.kaos2000.net/interviews/poisondave00.html |date=February 18, 2005 }} Retrieved January 6, 2005.

The album was recorded and mixed at A&M Studios in Hollywood, California, and Rumbo Recorders in Canoga Park, California with producer Richie Zito. It was dedicated to Van Halen tour manager Scotty Ross and former Poison guitarist DeVille. The album peaked at #16 on the Billboard chart.

The first two singles "Stand" and "Until You Suffer Some (Fire And Ice)" featured music videos and charted in the US and the UK. "Stand" reached number 15 on the Mainstream rock chart, #35 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart and #50 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5162/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title = Allmusic (Poison charts and awards) Billboard singles}} The song also charted at number 25 on the UK Singles chart and "Until You Suffer Some (Fire And Ice)" peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles chart.{{cite web|url = https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/|title = Poison The Official Charts Company| website=Official Charts }}

Following the album the band released a video/DVD titled Seven Days Live which featured a concert from the Native Tongue world tour.

Lyrically, the band continued on the growing sophistication that began in Flesh & Blood. The album's themes include battles against injustice ("Scream", "Stand"), heartbreak ("Until You Suffer Some", "7 Days Over You", "Theatre of the Soul"), and inner demons ("Stay Alive").

"When the Whip Comes Down" is a track not included on the album but used as a B-side for the singles.

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Bret Michaels, Bobby Dall, Rikki Rockett, and Richie Kotzen

| title1 = Native Tongue

| length1 = 1:03

| title2 = The Scream

| length2 = 3:51

| title3 = Stand

| length3 = 5:17

| title4 = Stay Alive

| length4 = 4:25

| title5 = Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)

| length5 = 4:16

| title6 = Body Talk

| length6 = 4:03

| title7 = Bring It Home

| length7 = 3:57

| title8 = 7 Days over You

| length8 = 4:15

| title9 = Richie's Acoustic Thang

| length9 = 0:58

| title10 = Ain't That the Truth

| length10 = 3:27

| title11 = Theatre of the Soul

| length11 = 4:43

| title12 = Strike Up the Band

| length12 = 4:17

| title13 = Ride Child Ride

| length13 = 3:55

| title14 = Blind Faith

| length14 = 3:34

| title15 = Bastard Son of a Thousand Blues

| length15 = 4:57

| total_length = 56:20

}}

Band members

• Bret Michaels – lead vocals, acoustic and rhythm guitar, harmonica
• Richie Kotzen – lead guitar, piano, mandolin, dobro, bass,[http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/RichieKotzen-Sept2004.htm Metal-rules.com, Heart of Steel; Interview with Richie Kotzen by McDonald K.] Retrieved January 5, 2005. backing vocals
• Bobby Dall – bass, backing vocals
• Rikki Rockett – drums, tribal drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Jai Winding – piano (3 & 11)
• Billy Powell – piano (8 & 15)
• Mike Finnigan – organ (5)
• Tower of Power – horns (8)
• Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals
• Tommy Funderburk – backing vocals
• First AME Church Choir (3)
• Sheila E. – percussion (1 & 2)

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Poison|title=Native Tongue|access-date=August 19, 2021|relyear=1993|award=Platinum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Poison|title=Native Tongue|access-date=July 19, 2021|relyear=1993|award=Gold|refname="RIAA"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.poisonofficial.com/music-details?albumId=46 Official website]
• {{MusicBrainz release group|id=d0660d28-4865-3c5d-80a1-ca2ada30d5c8|name=Native Tongue}}
• {{Discogs master|master=94320|name=Native Tongue|type=album}}

{{Poison}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Native Tongue (Album)}}

Category:Poison (American band) albums

Category:1993 albums

Category:Albums produced by Richie Zito

Category:Blues rock albums by American artists

Category:Albums recorded at A&M Studios

Category:Capitol Records albums