Summary
“Poison Ivy” isn’t just another late‑’80s glam metal single; it’s Faster Pussycat at peak sleaze‑rock charm, pressed into beautiful, noisy vinyl.

Released in 1989 on Elektra (catalogue EKR 103T / 755 966 658-0), this 12″ single spins out one of the standout tracks from the band’s second album, Wake Me When It’s Over. It captures that sweet spot where Hollywood Boulevard grit met big‑budget studio polish.

If you’re into swaggering riffs, dangerous‑girl lyrics, and the kind of chorus you’ll accidentally shout in your kitchen, “Poison Ivy” on vinyl is exactly the kind of trouble you want to bring home.

About the Artist
Faster Pussycat crawled out of the mid‑’80s Sunset Strip scene – the same soil that fed Guns N’ Roses, L.A. Guns, and Poison – but they always felt a bit messier and more mischievous.

Formed: Mid‑1980s, Los Angeles. Name inspiration: The cult 1965 Russ Meyer film Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! – which tells you a lot about their aesthetic: campy, dangerous, and a little bit trashy (in the best way). Frontman: Taime Downe – raspy vocals, cigarettes, eyeliner, and a knack for sleazy hooks.
Their 1987 self‑titled debut positioned them as street‑level glam: less polished than Poison, not as dark as GNR, and more punk in attitude.

By the time Wake Me When It’s Over dropped in 1989, Faster Pussycat had:

Tightened up the songwriting. Leaned more into radio‑ready hooks. Kept the grit, but let a bit more melody in. “Poison Ivy” arrived right as glam metal was peaking commercially and just before grunge came along to bulldoze the Sunset Strip sound. In hindsight, it’s a snapshot of a genre in full bloom – loud, colourful, and blissfully unaware of the storm on the horizon.

About the Record
Though it’s a single, this 12″ “Poison Ivy” feels like a mini‑time capsule from 1989:

Genre: Glam metal/sleaze rock with a touch of hard rock swagger. Era feel: Think leather, lipstick, smoky clubs, and MTV on loop.“Poison Ivy” was one of the key singles from Wake Me When It’s Over, the album that nudged Faster Pussycat from cult club act towards mainstream visibility. While “House of Pain” turned out to be their big power‑ballad moment, “Poison Ivy” shows the band doing what they do best: mid‑tempo, strutting rock with a nasty grin.

Where it differs from their earlier material:

More polished: Compared to the rawer 1987 debut, “Poison Ivy” has a fuller, more radio-friendly production. Bigger hooks: The chorus is tailor‑made for rock radio and arena sing‑alongs. Tighter groove: The rhythm section locks into a slick, swinging feel that makes this ideal “windows‑down” driving music.
Collectors also love this period because late‑’80s Elektra pressings are often nicely cut and punchy, making the guitars and drums feel much more alive than on old cassettes or compressed digital versions.

About the Cover
Single art in the glam era was practically a sub‑genre of pop culture design, and “Poison Ivy” slots right in.

Expect:

Bold typography: The Faster Pussycat logo in that unmistakable late‑’80s hard rock style – sharp, loud, and instantly recognisable in a record bin.
Visual nods to the title: Variations of this single’s artwork often play with “poison” or “ivy” themes – greens, vines, or a sense of something seductive and dangerous.
Rock‑and‑roll attitude: Depending on territory and pressing, you’ll typically find band imagery or a femme‑fatale‑leaning aesthetic, very on‑brand for their mix of sleaze and glamour.
The cover does a neat job of telegraphing what the song is about: temptation, danger, and a sense that you’re going to ignore all the warning signs anyway. As a piece of wall art, it screams “late ’80s rock” from across the room – in a perfect way.

About the Lyrics & Music
“Poison Ivy” is classic glam storytelling: boy meets girl, girl is clearly trouble, boy absolutely does not walk away.

Lyrical Themes
The song plays with:

Dangerous romance: The love interest is framed as something you know is bad for you – “poison ivy” as a metaphor for a relationship you can’t stop scratching at.
Temptation vs. common sense: The narrator is fully aware this is toxic, and fully prepared to dive in anyway.
Sleazy Hollywood imagery: Faster Pussycat were masters at smuggling L.A. nightlife into their lyrics – you can almost smell the cigarette smoke and cheap perfume.
It’s not poetry in the “study this at university” sense. It’s poetry in the “this will be stuck in your head all night after two beers” sense.

Musical Style
On vinyl, “Poison Ivy” really breathes. You get:

Guitars: Crunchy rhythm riffs that skate the line between hard rock and punky sleaze.
Hooky leads that dance around the vocal lines rather than showing off for the sake of it.
Vocals: Taime Downe’s signature rasp – somewhere between a snarl and a slur, but always on the beat.
A big, chant‑along chorus designed for fists in the air.
Rhythm section: A swinging groove, not just straight‑ahead metal chugging. You can move to this.
Late‑’80s drum sound with plenty of punch, giving the track its stadium‑ready backbone.
Production touches: Slick but not sterile – you can still hear the bar‑band roots under the gloss. Guitars and vocals sit front and centre, which really pops on a good hi‑fi setup. Depending on your pressing, the B‑sides often include non‑album cuts, alternate versions, or deeper tracks from the Wake Me When It’s Over sessions. These are a treat for fans because they show the band outside just the “big single” spotlight – a bit rougher, a bit more unfiltered. Collectors often seek out these 12″ singles precisely for those extras.

Conclusion
“Poison Ivy” on vinyl is a compact blast of 1989:

Faster Pussycat in their prime. Glam metal at full swagger. A single that balances danger, hooks, and attitude perfectly. If you grew up on MTV, this is instant time travel. If you’re discovering Faster Pussycat now, this record is a fantastic entry point into the sleazy, fun side of the late ’80s rock landscape.

As a physical object, the 12″ pressing gives the track room to hit harder – the guitars have more bite, the drums more thump, and that chorus lands like it’s supposed to: loud and unapologetic. If your shelves are heavy on GNR, Motley Crüe, or Skid Row and you don’t have Faster Pussycat in the mix yet, this is an easy “yes.”

Other Recommendations
If you spin “Poison Ivy” and want to go deeper, here’s where to head next:

More Faster Pussycat
Wake Me When It’s Over (1989)
The parent album. Includes “Poison Ivy” plus their biggest hit “House of Pain.” More melodic, more polished, but still full of alley‑cat attitude.

Faster Pussycat (1987)
Their raw debut. Less slick, more bar‑band energy. Essential if you like your glam with extra grit and a punky edge.

Similar Vibes & Era
Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction
Darker and more dangerous, but from the same L.A. scene. If you love swaggering riffs and street‑level lyrics, this pairs perfectly.

L.A. Guns – Cocked & Loaded
Another 1989 classic. Sleazy hard rock with big hooks and a similar club‑to‑arena trajectory.

Poison – Open Up and Say… Ahh!
A glossier, poppier side of glam metal, but shares the same sense of fun and excess.

File “Poison Ivy” under: records that might not change your life, but will absolutely improve your next night in with a turntable and the volume knob wide open.