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Tougher Than Leather

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This article is about the Run-D.M.C. album. For the film, see Tougher Than Leather (film). For the Willie Nelson album, see Tougher Than Leather (Willie Nelson album).

Tougher Than Leather
Studio album by
Run-D.M.C.
ReleasedMay 17, 1988
Recorded1987–1988
StudioUnique Recording Studios, New York City[1]
Genre
Length40:26
Label
Producer
Run-D.M.C. chronology
Raising Hell
(1986) 		Tougher Than Leather
(1988) 		Back from Hell
(1990)
Singles from Tougher than Leather
  1. "I'm Not Going Out Like That"
    Released: January 24, 1988
  2. "Mary, Mary"
    Released: March 8, 1988
  3. "Run's House"
    Released: April 15, 1988
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Robert ChristgauB+[4]
Pitchfork Media6.4/10[5]
Rolling Stone[3]

Tougher Than Leather is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Run-D.M.C., released on May 17, 1988, by Profile Records. The album was produced by the group members themselves, Davy D. and Rick Rubin.

While the new record did not maintain the same popularity as its predecessor, it obtained platinum status and spawned the favorites "Run's House" and "Mary, Mary". Despite being given a mixed reception at the time of its release, it is now hailed as a seminal classic in hip-hop and many see it as an underrated album.

Tougher Than Leather peaked at number 9 on the US Billboard 200, and number 2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA on July 19, 1988.[6]

The album features three the Billboard singles: "Run's House", "Mary, Mary" and "I'm Not Going Out Like That". "Run's House" and "Mary, Mary" also hit the UK Singles Chart.[7]

The album was reissued by Arista Records in 1999 and 2003. An expanded and remastered edition was released in 2005 and contained 4 previously unreleased songs.[8]

Background

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The platinum-selling album, a follow-up to the group's big commercial breakthrough album 1986's Raising Hell, featured some of the group's classics like "Run's House", "Beats to the Rhyme", and a cover of The Monkees's "Mary, Mary". Tougher Than Leather was the group's fourth effort and blended in elements of not only rap but also rock n' roll and funk, making it their most varied effort to date alongside King of Rock. "Papa Crazy" is based on "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations. The album was recorded at 5 studios in New York City: Chung King House Of Metal, Unique Recording Studios, Inc., Electric Lady Studios, Ian London Studios, Greene St. Recording.

In response to albums such as Eric B. & Rakim's Paid In Full, Public Enemy's It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, and Boogie Down Productions' Criminal Minded and By All Means Necessary, the group made a distinct departure from their earlier work, as Jam-Master Jay used a heavier amount of sampling.[citation needed]

Run and DMC also made changes in their rapping style (heavily influenced by Rakim) as techniques such as alliteration, polysyllabic rhyming, and internal rhyme are found in songs like "I'm Not Going Out Like That," "Radio Station", and the title track. The group also introduces storytelling to their arsenal in "Ragtime". Despite this, Run-D.M.C. does not abandon their formula of combining hip-hop beats with hard rock guitar riffs, using it in "Miss Elaine", the title track, "Soul To Rock And Roll", and "Mary, Mary".

Film

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The album was accompanied by the release of a crime film of the same name by New Line Cinema with Rick Rubin as a director and starring Run-D.M.C. According to the plot Run-D.M.C. must find and punish the evil drug lord-record company executive who murdered their friend. Along the way, they encounter racist bikers, blonde bimbos, and the Beastie Boys. The film was released on September 16, 1988, and was panned by critics.[9][10]

Track listing

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The information about samples was taken from WhoSampled.[11]

# Title Samples Length
1 "Run's House"
3:49
2 "Mary, Mary"
  • The Monkees – "Mary, Mary" (1966)
  • John Davis and the Monster Orchestra – "I Can't Stop" (1976)
  • Cover version of the song: The Monkees – "Mary, Mary" (1967)
 3:12
3 "They Call Us Run-D.M.C."
  • Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick – "La Di Da Di" (1985)
  • Juice – "Catch a Groove" (1976)
  • Run-D.M.C. – "Jam Master Jay" (1984)
 2:56
4 "Beats To The Rhyme"
2:43
5 "Radio Station"
  • Coke Escovedo – "I Wouldn't Change a Thing" (1976)
  • Gaz – "Sing Sing" (1978)
  • Public Enemy – "Bring the Noise" (1987)
  • LL Cool J – "Dear Yvette" (1985)
  • LL Cool J – "I Can't Live Without My Radio" (1985)
 2:50
6 "Papa Crazy" 4:18
7 "Tougher Than Leather"
  • Kurtis Blow – "AJ Scratch" (1984)
  • Run-D.M.C. – "Together Forever (Krush-Groove 4) (Live at Hollis Park '84)" (1985)
 4:20
8 "I'm Not Going Out Like That"
4:55
9 "How'd Ya Do It Dee" 3:20
10 "Miss Elaine" 3:05
11 "Soul To Rock And Roll"
  • Chubb Rock – "Rock 'N Roll Dude" (1987)
  • Run-D.M.C. – "King of Rock" (1985)
  • Run-D.M.C. – "Hit It Run (1986)
 2:17
12 "Ragtime" 2:42

Deluxe edition bonus tracks

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The information about bonus tracks was taken from a booklet of 2005 expanded deluxe edition.[12]

# Title Description Length
13 "Beats To The Rhyme (Instrumental)"
  • B-side of "Run's House" (1988)
  • Previously Unreleased on CD
 2:44
14 "Crack (Demo)"
  • Recorded November 30, 1986
  • Previously Unreleased
  • When the reel was found for this demo it said "Crack (For Michael Jackson)" on the box, but according to Run the track was never intended to MJ. "We had only met with Michael for once. We had this crazy idea that reminded me of Force MC's (later became Force MD's) and Dot-A-Rock (Fantastic 5 & Cold Crush Brothers). It sounded like Flash on the beat box and the way Jesse D from the Force MC's would sing like Michael over a fly beat box." – Run
 1:43
15 "Christmas In Hollis"
  • Recorded September 29, 1987
  • Previously released on A Very Special Christmas & Christmas Rap
  • "Bill Adler called one morning and told me that we had to make a record for the Special Olympics. I was in a creative mood and wrote the whole record while eating breakfast. I even got jelly on the paper. That night Bill brought an armful of Christmas records that we ended up sampling for it." – Run
  • Sample: Clarence Carter – "Back Door Santa" (1968)
  • Sample: Isaac Watts – "Joy to the World" (1719)
 2:58
16 "Penthouse Ad"
  • Recorded February 11, 1987 for the April 1987 issue of Penthouse Magazine
  • Recorded For Tilley Marlieb Advertising
  • Previously Unreleased on CD
  • This radio spot was recorded for their interview that appeared in Penthouse Magazine
 0:58

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for Tougher Than Leather
Chart (1988) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 38
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[14] 51
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[15] 46
European Albums (European Top 100 Albums)[16] 44
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[17] 33
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 46
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[19] 43
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 35
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 28
UK Albums (OCC)[22] 13
US Billboard 200[23] 9
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[24] 2

Year-end charts

[edit]
1988 year-end chart performance for Tougher Than Leather
Chart (1988) Position
US Billboard 200[25] 70
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[26] 31

Certifications

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Sale certifications for Tougher Than Leather
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[27] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[28] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ https://www.facebook.com/UniqueRecordingStudios/photos/a.649655181769411/649657261769203/?type=3&theater [user-generated source]
  2. ^ Henderson, Alex. Tougher Than Leather at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
  3. ^ Rolling Stone 14 July 1988
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert. Run D.M.C.. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  5. ^ Pitchfork Media Run D.M.C. review
  6. ^ "American certifications – Run-D.M.C. – Tougher Than Leather". Recording Industry Association of America.
  7. ^ "Official Singles Chart - Run-D.M.C." officialcharts.com. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  8. ^ "Run-D.M.C. - Tougher Than Leather (2005 expanded deluxe edition)". discogs.com. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  9. ^ "Tougher Than Leather на IMDb". imdb.com. September 16, 1988. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  10. ^ "Tougher Than Leather (1998) - Movie Review by Robert Christgau and Carola Dibbell - January, 1989". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  11. ^ "Run-D.M.C. – Tougher Than Leather (1988) – Samples on WhoSampled". whosampled.com. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  12. ^ "Images from Run-D.M.C. – Tougher Than Leather (2005 expanded deluxe edition)". discogs.com. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  13. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Run DMC – Tougher Than Leather". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8567". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  15. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Run DMC – Tougher Than Leather" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  16. ^ "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. June 11, 1988. p. 26. Retrieved May 17, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  17. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Run DMC". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 221. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  18. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Run DMC – Tougher Than Leather" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  19. ^ "Charts.nz – Run DMC – Tougher Than Leather". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  20. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Run DMC – Tougher Than Leather". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  21. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Run DMC – Tougher Than Leather". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  22. ^ "Run DMC | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  23. ^ "Run-DMC Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  24. ^ "Run-DMC Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  25. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  26. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Year-End Chart 1988". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  27. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Run-D.M.C. – Tougher Than Leather". Music Canada. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  28. ^ "American album certifications – Run-D.M.C. – Tougher Than Leather". Recording Industry Association of America.
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