Come Out and Play

Come Out and Play is the fourth album, made in 1985 as Twisted Sister searched for their next move after the huge success of Stay Hungry. Continue the MTV-friendly pop direction, or return to early heavy metal — the band tried to do both, but the result brought commercial decline and marked the start of their downturn. It still went gold, and Dee Snider’s voice remains strong while the guitars and rhythm section keep the music from turning too light. The Shangri-Las cover “Leader of the Pack,” chosen as the first single, was unpopular with fans. Meanwhile “Be Chrool to Your Scuel,” featuring guests Alice Cooper, Billy Joel and Brian Setzer, had its comedic video banned by MTV over its content. The second single “You Want What We Got” and the dramatic “King of the Fools” combine theatrical humor with the band’s native energy. Drummer A.J. Pero left after the tour, leading toward the 1988 breakup. Divisive choices and all, it captures a more open side of Twisted Sister at the time.