Source: Graphic by Jarrett Huff / Radio One
Mötley Crüe burst onto the scene fresh of the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles in 1981 with their release of their debut album, Too Fast For Love, setting the tone for the rest of the decade as one of the best acts in hair metal. The Crüe have gone on to survive overdoses, various forms of carnage and debauchery, breakups, grunge, Generation Swine, hiatuses and retirements to continue on into the mid 2020s.
Related: [UPDATE] Mötley Crüe’s Self-Titled Album Has Disappeared
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Related: Ranking Every Song by Van Halen: The Sammy Hagar Era
While the classic lineup that weathered most of Mötley Crüe’s storms is likely never to reunite this late into their career, what Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, Vince Neil and the potentially immortal Nikki Sixx left in their wake is some of the greatest music we’ve ever heard, several of iconic moments we can never forget and plenty of “dirt” stuffed between a hardcover.
Whether you’re a fan from their ’80s hair metal heyday, a diehard from the John Corabi years, a music taste inheritor such as myself (thanks Dad), or a newcomer via Netflix’s The Dirt – Mötley Crüe has something for everyone. In honor of one of rock’s and metal’s greatest groups, I decided to rank every single Mötley Crüe song across nine studio albums, various EPs and compilation albums.
Related: Ranking Every Song by Aerosmith
Related: Ranking Every Song by Van Halen: The David Lee Roth Era
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Ranking Every Mötley Crüe Song:
137. Nona – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
136. Father – Quarternary (1994)
135. Mood Ring – Supersonic and Demonic Relics (1999)
134. Confessions – Generation Swine (1997)
133. Planet Boom – Quarternary (1994)
132. Brandon – Generation Swine (1997)
131. Glitter – Generation Swine (1997)
130. Monsterous – Supersonic and Demonic Relics (1999)
129. Find Myself – Generation Swine (1997)
128. Beauty – Generation Swine (1997)
127. A Rat Like Me – Generation Swine (1997)
126. Til Death Do Us Part – Mötley Crüe (1994)
125. So Good, So Bad – Supersonic and Demonic Relics (1999)
124. Anybody Out There? – Generation Swine (1997)
123. Uncle Jack – Mötley Crüe (1994)
122. Say Yeah – Supersonic and Demonic Relics (1999)
121. Droppin Like Flies – Mötley Crüe (1994)
120. Rocketship – Generation Swine (1997)
119. Welcome to the Numb – Mötley Crüe (1994)
118. Generation Swine – Generation Swine (1997)
117. Power to the Music – Mötley Crüe (1994)
116. Let Us Prey – Generation Swine (1997)
115. Bittersuite – Quarternary (1994)
114. Welcome to the Machine – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
113. Treat Me Like the Dog I Am – New Tattoo (2000)
112. Chicks = Trouble – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
111. White Trash Circus – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
110. Street Fighting Man – Red, White & Crüe (2005)
109. Wreck Me – Generation Swine (1997)
108. Fight for Your Right – Cancelled – EP (2024)
107. 1st Band On the Moon – New Tattoo (2000)
106. Hammered – Mötley Crüe (1994)
105. Keep Your Eye On the Money – Theatre of Pain (1985)
104. Poison Apples – Mötley Crüe (1994)
103. Dragstrip Superstar – New Tattoo (2000)
102. Hypnotized – Mötley Crüe (1994)
101. Punched in the Teeth – New Tattoo (2000)
1. 100. Goin’ Out Swingin’ – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
2. 99. Use It or lose It – Theatre of Pain (1985)
3. 98. Flush – Generation Swine (1997)
4. 97. Loveshine – Mötley Crüe (1994)
Songs like Loveshine are a good enough reason to give Mötley Crüe a fair listen.
5. 96. Livin’ In the Know – Mötley Crüe (1994)
6. 95. Fake – New Tattoo (2000)
7. 94. Driftaway – Mötley Crüe (1994)
8. 93. Sinners & Saints – Supersonic and Demonic Relics (1999)
9. 92. Anarchy in the U.K. – Decade of Decadence 81-91 (1991)
This cover is okay, but on the lower end of Decade of Decadence‘s “originals.”
10. 91. Smoke the Sky – Mötley Crüe (1994)
11. 90. Cancelled – Cancelled – EP (2024)
The Cancelled – EP is intriguing considering several members of the band have stated over the years that Mötley Crüe had strictly becoming a “touring band.” When it comes to releasing new material or retiring, it’s best not to take the band at its word.
12. 89. All Bad Things – Single (2015)
Nothing bad about this single. It’s a shame we never got a full record with Mars still in the fold.
13. 88. Get It for Free – Demo – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
One of a few Crüe demos that should’ve made the record.
14. 87. The Animal in Me – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
The Animal in Me is part of a strong collection of songs off of Saints of Los Angeles after nearly 15 years of forgettable Crüe material.
15. 86. Tonight (We Need a Lover) – Theatre of Pain (1985)
16. 85. Dogs of War – Cancelled – EP (2024)
17. 84. L.A.M.F/Face Down in the Dirt – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
18. 83. Kiss the Sky – Generation Swine (2003)
19. 82. Down at the Whisky – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
20. 81. Save Our Souls – Theatre of Pain (1985)
21. 80. Time for Change – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
It’s a good song, but among the weaker of Crüe’s catalog of ballads.
22. 79. Five Years Dead – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
This songs feels too low. Hurt to put it here.
23. 78. MF of the Year – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
24. 77. Black Widow (Demo) – Red, White & Crüe (2005)
This should’ve shown up on an ’80s Crüe album; it’s a shame it never did. The compilation album it first appeared on, Red, White & Crüe, is missing from all streaming services.
25. 76. Sick Love Song – Red, White & Crüe (2005)
26. 75. God Bless the Children – Shout At The Devil (1983)
27. 74. She Needs Rock N Roll – New Tattoo (2000)
One of my favorite tracks off of New Tattoo.
28. 73. Hollywood Ending – New Tattoo (2000)
29. 72. Bitter Pill – Greatest Hits (1998)
This song is not available on any streaming platforms or the Crüe’s YouTube account. A big proponent of that is the original Greatest Hits album from 1998 is not available digitally.
30. 71. P**** Star – New Tattoo (2000)
31. 70. White Punks On Dope – New Tattoo (2000)
32. 69. Hooligan’s Holiday – Mötley Crüe (1994)
Gotta give Corabi his flowers here.
33. 68. Rock ‘N’ Roll Junkie – The Adventures of Ford Fairlane Soundtrack (1990)
34. 67. Bad Boy Boogie – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
35. 66. Fight for Your Rights – Theatre of Pain (1985)
36. 65. Dancing On Glass – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
37. 64. Crash and Burn – The Dirt Soundtrack (2019)
38. 63. Enslaved – Greatest Hits (1998)
Another casualty of the inconsistent Greatest Hits releases. Good luck finding this song beyond CDs and people uploading it on their own YouTube channels.
39. 62. Teaser – Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell (1989)
40. 61. Come On and Dance – Too Fast For Love (1981)
The “worst” song off of Too fast For Love lands at No. 61. Mötley Crüe’s debut record is their strongest top to bottom of the track list in my opinion, and on my own personal shortlist of “no skips” records. That’s a list for another time.
41. 60. Just Another Psycho – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
42. 59. Hotter Than Hell (Demo) – Shout At The Devil (2003)
First featured on the 2003 remaster of Shout At The Devil, Hotter Than Hell was the demo track for Louder Than Hell, which later found its way onto Theatre of Pain.
43. 58. What’s It Gonna Take – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
44. 57. Babykills – Quarternary (1994)
Everything on the 1994 EP Quarternary is trash in my opinion – but not Babykills. It’s one of the best tracks of the Corabi era.
45. 56. Louder Than Hell – Theatre of Pain (1985)
46. 55. Knock ‘Em Dead, Kid – Shout At The Devil (1983)
47. 54. This Ain’t a Love Song – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
48. 53. Hell On High Heels – New Tattoo (2000)
49. 52. Raise Your Hands to Rock – Theatre of Pain (1985)
50. 51. Rodeo – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
51. 50. Danger – Shout At The Devil (1983)
52. 49. New Tattoo – New Tattoo (2000)
53. 48. Stick to Your Guns – Too Fast For Love (1981)
54. 47. She Goes Down – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
55. 46. Bastard – Shout At The Devil (1983)
56. 45. If I Die Tomorrow – Red, White & Crüe
57. 44. Misunderstood – Mötley Crüe (1994)
The best song from the Corabi era. It’s a shame Mötley Crüe seems determined to completely erase this era, because there’s some redeemable content from it.
58. 43. Sumthin’ for Nuthin’ – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
59. 42. Ride with the Devil – The Dirt Soundtrack (2019)
The Dirt Soundtrack gave us a few really, really good singles, and Ride with the Devil is one of them. It’s among the best material they’ve put out since the early 1990s.
60. 41. You’re All I Need – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
61. 40. Like a Virgin – The Dirt Soundtrack (2019)
I really like this cover – a lot. This might be among my most controversial placements on this list, but Madonna hit seems like it was written to be a Crüe song.
62. 39. Public Enemy #1 – Too Fast For Love (1981)
This feels too low. Just goes to show the Crüe made some great music for years.
63. 38. Starry Eyes – Too Fast For Love (1981)
64. 37. Slice of Your Pie – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
65. 36. Jailhouse Rock – Live – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
The lone live song on this list.
66. 35. Ten Seconds to Love – Shout At The Devil (1983)
67. 34. Saints of Los Angeles (Gang Vocal) – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
The best track off of Saints of Los Angeles is the title track. The record, supported by its lead single, proved the Crüe had something fresh to offer in the 2000s.
68. 33. Red Hot – Shout At The Devil (1983)
69. 32. Rattlesnake Shake – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
70. 31. SEX – Single (2008)
I discovered this song a lot later than I care to admit, and I love it! It makes me wish the Crüe had another record from the late 2000s/early 2010s with this as its lead single.
71. 30. City Boy Blues – Theatre of Pain (1985)
72. 29. Sticky Sweet – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
73. 28. Piece of Your Action – Too Fast For Love (1981)
74. 27. Tonight – Too Fast For Love (1981)
I love this song – a lot. Nothing much to add; just have a listen.
75. 26. All in the Name of … – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
76. 25. Afraid – Generation Swine (1997)
This might be controversial, but I think Afraid is a great song. It one of the (very) few things that works on Generation Swine, and deserves to be acknowledged for that. Experimenting with their sound wasn’t the worst idea.
77. 24. Home Sweet Home ’91 – Decade of Decadence 81-91 (1991)
It’s a fine remix, but doesn’t hold a candle to the original.
78. 23. Merry-Go-Round – Too Fast For Love (1981)
79. 22. The Dirt (Est. 1981) [feat. MGK] – The Dirt Soundtrack (2019)
This might be my most controversial placement, but the lead single to promote the soundtrack for Netflix’s The Dirt is a great song – yes even with the inclusion of MGK’s rap verse (he plays Tommy Lee in the film). The song gives me everything I want from a modern (2019 ain’t that far away, right?) Mötley Crüe song and more.
80. 21. Angela – Decade of Decadence 81-91 (1991)
Where’s my fellow The Office fans at?
81. 20. Helter Skelter – Shout At The Devil (1983)
Controversial opinion alert: While several musical acts have covered the Beatles’ Helter Skelter over the decades, the Crüe have done it better than anyone – even the Beatles themselves. No I will not apologize.
82. 19. Toast of the Town – Too Fast For Love (1981)
One of my early Crüe favorites growing up. Maybe it’s my sentimental feelings toward the song, but No. 19 feels so low.
83. 18. Too Young to Fall in Love – Shout At The Devil (1983)
84. 17. On with the Show – Too Fast For Love (1981)
85. 16. Take Me to the Top – Too Fast For Love (1981)
The top of this list is 15 songs away; keep scrolling and I’ll take you there!
86. 15. Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away) – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
If the song placement on this list has you mad, don’t go away.
87. 14. Looks That Kill – Shout At The Devil (1983)
88. 13. Smokin’ in the Boys Room
“Wait, this isn’t an original Crüe song?” You shouldn’t feel ashamed to not have known this, given the song seems to have been written by Sixx himself, but it was actually a song recorded originally by Brownsville Station in 1973.
89. 12. Too Fast for Love – Too Fast For Love (1981)
The title track off of my favorite Crüe album lands just outside my top 10.
90. 11. Without You – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
91. 10. Primal Scream – Decade of Decadence 81-91 (1991)
A song that could’ve led its own studio album, Primal Scream has to be among the best compilation singles out there. it’s more than worthy of a top-10 placement on this list.
92. 9. Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.) – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
93. 8. Wild Side – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
“KICKING ASS ON THE WILD SIDE!”
94. 7. Shout at the Devil ’97 – Generation Swine (1997)
I wrestled with this placement – I really did. Growing up in my house, this was the version of Shout at the Devil that found its way through the basement speaks far more often than the original. It’s the best bit of Generation Swine, which should tell you something about the record considering it’s a rerecording. ’97 is a fresh take on the song, which you could argue shouts at the devil a lot more than its 1983 predecessor. I personally prefer this version for that reason, but my list isn’t solely comprised of my taste alone.
95. 6. Live Wire – Too Fast For Love (1981)
Probably my favorite song by the Crüe, Live Wire just flat out kicks ass, and probably blew out a few speakers upon the first time needle touched vinyl. This is the song you turn up to “10,” and I can’t think of many more appropriate songs to be places at No. 1 on the track list. I was blown away when in 2019, 2K Sports included it on the soundtrack of NBA 2K20, for which I was a pretty avid fan of the series.
96. 5. Shout at the Devil – Shout At The Devil (1983)
I had to go with the original Shout at the Devil at No. 5. While ’97 gives it a fair run for its money in my mind, the original has plenty of character and power all its own. It’s without a doubt one of Mötley Crüe’s most-iconic tracks decades later.
97. 4. Girls, Girls, Girls – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
98. 3. Dr. Feelgood – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
Three consecutive title tracks to start the top five ends with Dr. Feelgood. Just goes to show the Crüe usually knew which tracks were worthy of wielding their album’s titles.
99. 2. Home Sweet Home – Theatre of Pain (1985)
It hurt not to put this at No. 1, but I’m sure those that are upset will soon forgive me once they see the top track. Home Sweet Home will have anyone longing for what they consider home in their heart. It’s a powerful song, written by Sixx while on their tour supporting Shout At The Devil in 1983, as the bassist was longing to get off the road after rigorous touring.
100. 1. Kickstart My Heart – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
Was there any other choice? Kickstart My Heart is the most iconic song it the Crüe’s catalog – their anthem – and it’s no wonder it was the track featured on the trailer for The Dirt. The song was supposedly written about Sixx’s 1987 heroin overdose, where he was clinically dead for two minutes and was supposedly revived by two syringes full of adrenaline.
