Welcome to a new blog series I am starting on those lesser known albums from bands and artist that seem to have come out at the wrong moment in time, or just get lost in the shuffle of an artists catalog. 
Today I am looking at Poison’s Crack a Smile… And More album.
When CC Deville was removed from the band around 1992, Poison enlisted young guitar virtuoso Richie Kotzen to fill his shoes. The ensuing album, Native Tongue, would come out in 1993 during the transition from the 80’s and early 90’s hard rock scene to the grunge and alternative rock scene taking hold of the radio airwaves. While Native Tongue did fairly well in the climate, it wasn’t the success that Poison was used to up to that point. Sadly, Richie was not long for the band as he was removed after his affair with drummer Rikki Rocket’s girlfriend came to light. Poison launched a search for a new guitarist before choosing another young guitar virtuoso, Blues Saraceno.
The band began working on the follow up to Native Tongue in early 1994 after finishing up their tour, but it came to a grinding halt in May of that year when Bret Michaels crashed his Ferrari. Bret suffered a broken nose, ribs, jaw, and fingers and lost four teeth. It wasn’t until 1995 would get together to finish working on the new album. With the album finished and ready for a 1996 release, the record company decided to shelve it and put out a greatest hits album instead of the new album. The Poison’s Greatest Hits: 1986-1996 album was released in November of 1996 and featured two songs from the shelved album, “Lay Your Body Down” and “Sexual Thing”.
With advanced copies of the unreleased album having been sent out as promo copies to stores and radio stations, it wasn’t long before the album was leaked on the internet thanks to Napster and other online file sharing programs that were at their peak of popularity. It was in 1998 while I was in college that I got my very first copy of the album from someone on my dorm floor who had a copy he downloaded. As a big Poison fan, I was super excited to have this rare gem to listen to. That spring and summer I was obsessed with Crack a Smile. I listened to it on repeat everywhere I went, so in 1999 when it was announced that CC Deville was rejoining the band and they would be going on tour, you bet I was there in the crowd as they came to Minnesota. With the success of the “Greatest Hits Tour”, the band would put out an EP titled Power to the People, and in 2000 the record company would finally officially release the Crack a Smile… And More album that included the unreleased MTV Unplugged show Poison did in 1990 with the full length album that featured Blues Saraceno on guitar.
With the release of the album officially, I fell in love with it once again. It’s not my favorite Poison album, but it has some really great tunes on it that are worth your time to go listen to if you haven’t heard it before. Of course, Poison fans were already familiar with “Lay Your Body Down” and “Sexual Thing” since they were included on the greatest hits album. But those songs didn’t really do justice to the other great tracks on this album. Here are the highlights for me:
“Best Thing You Ever Had” – This is the opening track to the album and it’s a banger. Highlighted by a nice heavy hitting riff from Blues and the type of lyrics Poison fans are used to. It’s a perfect opening track for the album if you ask me.
“Be The One” – This is a Poison ballad that has some power to it. The bass in this one is the highlight. A thunderous boom opens the song followed by a wonderfully bluesy guitar lead riff from Blues. This is probably my favorite song on the whole album because you feel it in the music and the lyrics. Solid track start to finish.
“Cover of the Rolling Stone” – Yes, another band covering the Dr. Hook classic, but this one is done fantastically. They capture the fun style Dr. Hook brought too it, but with an updated sound. It’s pretty true to the original, and a lot of fun to sing along with. Probably my favorite cover of this song.
“Baby Get’s Around a Bit” – Lyrically, this is Poison all the way, and musically brings in Bret’s harmonica and the piano surrounded by a fun and playful riff from Blues Saraceno. TDefinitely a highlight of the album.
“Mr. Smiley” – Another fun song that really lets Blues shine. His work on this song is the highlight. Lyrically, it’s fun, but it’s the music that makes this one memorable.
The album as a whole is a solid effort that should have never sat on the shelf for four years. The tragic part is that Blues never really got to tour with the band for the album since it was finally released after he was let go and CC was brought back in. You won’t get to hear these songs on a Poison tour since they weren’t done with CC. It’s truly tragic as I think it would be a lot of fun to hear the band toss these songs in from time to time. Sadly that is not to be. Instead Crack a Smile has become a lost album in the Poison catalog that just won’t ever get the credit it is due. If you haven’t heard the album and are a Poison fan, do yourself a favor and find a copy to listen to. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how fun it is.