Permanent Vacation (Aerosmith album)

Permanent Vacation
Studio album by
Aerosmith
ReleasedAugust 25, 1987 (1987-08-25)[1]
RecordedMarch–May 1987
Studio
Genre
Length51:46
LabelGeffen
ProducerBruce Fairbairn
Aerosmith chronology
Done with Mirrors
(1985) 		Permanent Vacation
(1987) 		Pump
(1989)
Singles from Permanent Vacation
  1. "Hangman Jury"
    Released: August 18, 1987[2]
  2. "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)"
    Released: September 22, 1987[2]
  3. "Angel"
    Released: January 5, 1988[2]
  4. "Rag Doll"
    Released: May 3, 1988[2]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Christgau's Record GuideC+[4]
Metal Forces9.9/10[5]
Rolling Stone(unfavorable)[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[7]

Permanent Vacation is the ninth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released by Geffen Records on August 25, 1987.[8] The album marks the band's shift to a pop-metal sound that they would maintain up to 1993's Get a Grip.[9]

It was their first to employ songwriters outside the band, instead of featuring songs solely composed by them.[6] This came at the suggestion of executive John Kalodner. He also pushed the band to work with producer Bruce Fairbairn, who remained with them for another two albums. It was also the first Aerosmith album to be promoted by heavy music video airplay on MTV. Though Done with Mirrors was intended to mark Aerosmith's comeback, Permanent Vacation is often considered their true comeback, as it was the band's first truly popular album since their reunion. "Rag Doll", "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)", and "Angel" became major hits (all three charted in the Top 20) and helped Permanent Vacation become the band's greatest success in a decade.

Permanent Vacation has sold over five million copies in the U.S.[10]

In the UK, it was the first Aerosmith album to attain both Silver (60,000 units sold) and Gold (100,000 units sold) certification by the British Phonographic Industry, achieving these in July 1989 and March 1990 respectively.[11]

  1. ^ "RIAA certifications". Recording Industry Association of America.
  2. ^ a b c d Strong, Martin (2002) [First published in 1994]. The Great Rock Discography (Sixth ed.). United Kingdom: Canongate Books. ISBN 1-84195-312-1.
  3. ^ Franck, John. Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert (1990). "A". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved August 16, 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
  5. ^ Reynolds, Dave (1987). "Aerosmith - Permanent Vacation". Metal Forces (25). Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  6. ^ a b Frost, Deborah (October 22, 1987). "Permanent Vacation". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  7. ^ "Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  8. ^ John Franck & Eduardo Rivadavia. "Permanent Vacation - Aerosmith > Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  9. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo (February 28, 2017). "Aerosmith Albums Ranked". Loudwire. Retrieved March 16, 2021. 2001's 'Push Play' was Aerosmith's fifth straight exercise in the sort of widescreen pop metal inaugurated by 'Permanent Vacation,' all of 14 years prior.
  10. ^ "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  11. ^ "Search for "Aerosmith"". Bpi.co.uk. Retrieved June 1, 2012.