Great White — Once Bitten…

intothewellsabyss
Jun 29, 2023
3 min read

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

36 years ago today, this release saw us “Once Bitten”, but not “Twice Shy”!

On this day (June 29) in 1987, Great White released their third full-length studio album “Once Bitten” via Capital Records.

“Once Bitten” became a commercial success, selling more than one million copies. The anthem "Rock Me" became a hit single, charting in September 1987, and is one of Great White's best known songs.

AllMusic explains in their review that it brought Great White a broader audience. "Save Your Love" also charted, becoming their most famous power ballad at the time, in February 1988. "Lady Red Light" and "All Over Now" would become fan favorites and be included among 15 tracks on their later retrospective, "Absolute Hits". It was the band's last album to feature bassist Lorne Black.

In the UK, the track listing was strangely altered, losing four new tracks and replacing them with songs from 1986 album “Shot in the Dark” and with a live version of "What Do You Do". The album's opening track, "Lady Red Light", was featured on the NBC show Parks and Recreation in the episode "Tom's Divorce". The model photographed on the cover is Tracy Martinson.

In 2017, Jack Russell's Great White celebrated Once Bitten's anniversary by announcing a tour and an acoustic re-recording of the album. The acoustic version, "Once Bitten Acoustic Bytes", was released in 2020.

Critical Reception:

In 2012, Metal-Rules.com ranked “Once Bitten” #28 in their Top 50 Glam Metal Albums.

In his review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine stated;

“With their third album, Once Bitten..., Great White finally perfected their blend of bluesy Aerosmith grind and Van Halen hard rock flamboyance. It all comes to a head on "Rock Me," a minor hit single that brought them to a broader audience, but there are a couple of other moments -- such as the sleazy "Lady Red Light" or "Save Your Love" -- illustrating that Great White is more than a one-hit wonder.”

Charts & Certifications:

“Once Bitten” was certified Platinum by The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on April 27, 1988 for sales in excess of 1 million copies, and peaked at No. 23 on the US Billboard 200.

The single “Rock Me” peaked at No. 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100, while it peaked at No. 9 on the US Mainstream Rock chart (Billboard).

The single “Lady Red Light” peaked at No. 47 on the US Mainstream Rock chart (Billboard).

The single “Save Your Love” peaked at No. 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100, while it peaked at No. 9 on the US Mainstream Rock chart (Billboard).

All chart positions were in 1987.

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Once Bitten” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/once-bitten/724509258

Click this link to listen to “Once Bitten” via Spotify: Once Bitten https://open.spotify.com/album/7L3JfVjB7PpYEqDkWeJkAz

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Rock Me”: https://youtu.be/yg06B46VVys

Click this link to watch the official music video for "Lady Red Light”: https://youtu.be/W8YZw-AOHQ0

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Save Your Love”: https://youtu.be/kBY31lCXimo

Click this link to follow the Great White on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreatWhiteOfficial/

Click this link to follow Jack Russell’s Great White on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JackRussellsGreatWhite

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Great White — Once Bitten…

Critical Reception:

Charts & Certifications:

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

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