TWISTED SISTER LOVE IS FOR SUCKERS 12" Vinyl LP Album

- 1987 German Atlantic pressing produced by Beau Hill and mastered by Ted Jensen recorded at Atlantic Sound Studios

“Love is for Suckers” isn’t just Twisted Sister’s swan song—it’s Dee Snider’s glam-dipped Trojan horse, smuggling pop hooks into a metal fortress already under siege by MTV burnout and record-label arm-twisting. Beau Hill’s glossy production turns riffs into candy, choruses into neon signs, and every note screams 1987 excess. Half desperate plea, half middle finger, it’s the sound of a band partying on the edge of the cliff, knowing tomorrow the hangover will last forever.

"Love is for Suckers" Album Description:

Twisted Sister's fifth and final studio album, "Love is for Suckers," was released on August 13, 1987, by Atlantic Records. The vinyl album features nine tracks that showcase the band's transition to a more commercial and polished sound, which received mixed reviews from fans and critics at the time.

The album was produced by Beau Hill, who had previously worked with acts such as Ratt and Warrant. The production is slick and radio-friendly, with a focus on catchy hooks, harmonies, and ballads that were aimed at a wider audience. Lead singer Dee Snider has stated that the album was originally intended to be his solo debut, but the record company pushed for it to be released under the Twisted Sister name.

The vinyl album opens with the track "Wake Up (The Sleeping Giant)," a hard-hitting rocker that showcases the band's signature heavy metal sound. Other standout tracks include "Hot Love," a catchy pop-metal tune that features a saxophone solo, and "Me and the Boys," a fun and upbeat track that pays homage to the band's roots in the New York club scene.

Despite its commercial aspirations, "Love is for Suckers" failed to achieve the same success as the band's previous albums, and Twisted Sister disbanded shortly after its release. However, the album has gained a cult following over the years and has been reissued multiple times with bonus tracks and remastered versions.

Historical & Contextual Information

Recorded after the underperformance of "Come Out and Play" (1985), this era saw internal strain and a stylistic pivot toward the dominant glam/hair-metal sound of 1987. Drummer A.J. Pero had departed in 1986 and was replaced by Joey Franco, while producer Beau Hill steered the sessions toward streamlined, radio-ready arrangements. Much of the material originated from Dee Snider’s planned solo project, which the label redirected into a Twisted Sister release—an inflection point that preceded the band’s breakup later that year.

Album Cover & Artwork

The provocative cover centers on glossy red lips poised over a lollipop shaped like the band’s “TS” logo—risqué, playful, and perfectly aligned with late-’80s pop-metal aesthetics and MTV-era attention. The concept is credited to Dee Snider, with art direction by Bob Defrin and photography by Frank Moscati. Its candy-coated imagery underlines the album’s themes of desire and temptation while signaling the band’s move toward a sleeker mainstream presentation.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

American Glam Rock, Heavy Metal

Label & Catalognr:

Atlantic Records 781 772, WX 120

Media Format:

12" Vinyl LP  Gramophone Record
Album weight: 200 gram

Year & Country:

1987 – Made in Germany

Collector Notes / Liner Notes
  • 1 - Features the classic Atlantic Records green & orange two-tone label design with a white horizontal band — a hallmark of late-1980s European pressings.
  • 2 - Rights societies GEMA/BIEM printed on the label confirm its European origin, specifically Germany.
  • 3 - Includes the German Label Code LC 0121 for Atlantic Records, mandatory on German issues since the mid-1970s.
  • 4 - Catalog number 781 772-1 with “-1” suffix indicates the vinyl LP format; label also carries the 33 rpm speed symbol common on continental European pressings.
  • 5 - WEA International credit confirms production for markets outside the USA, aligning with German manufacturing for European distribution.
Producers:
  • Beau Hill – Producer
Sound & Recording Engineers:
  • Stephen Benben – Sound Engineer
Recording Location:

Atlantic Sound Studios – New York City

Mastering Engineer & Location:
  • Ted Jensen – Mastering at Sterling Sound, New York City
Album Cover Design & Artwork:
  • Bob Defrin – Art Direction
Bob Defrin is a renowned art director and album cover designer best known for his striking visuals for hard rock and heavy metal acts in the 1980s. His bold, memorable imagery helped define the visual identity of bands like AC/DC, Twisted Sister, and Metallica. Discover more in this profile.

Album Cover Concept: Dee Snider

Photography:
  • Frank Mescati – Photography

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Members, Musicians:
  • Dee Snider – Lead Vocals
  • Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda – Lead & Rhythm Guitars
  • Jay Jay French – Rhythm & Lead Guitars
  • Mark "The Animal" Mendoza – Bass Guitar
    Mark "The Animal" Mendoza (Bass Guitar) started his musical career in the New Yorkese band "The Dictators" with whom he performed from 1974 until 1978. In 1978 he joins the band "Twisted Sister" with whom he performed until 1988 (with several reunions at a later stage).
  • Joey "Seven" Franco – Drums

Complete Track-listing:

  1. Wake Up (The Sleeping Giant) (Dee Snider) – 4:19
  2. Hot Love (Dee Snider) – 3:28
  3. Love Is for Suckers (Marky Carter, Dee Snider) – 3:25
  4. I'm So Hot for You (Dee Snider) – 4:05
  5. Tonight (Dee Snider) – 3:51
  6. Me and the Boys (Dee Snider) – 3:52
  7. One Bad Habit (Dee Snider) – 3:18
  8. I Want This Night (To Last Forever) (Mark Tanner, Marty Wagner, Dee Snider) – 4:18
  9. You Are All That I Need (Dee Snider) – 4:17
  10. Yeah Right (Dee Snider) – 3:14
Album Front Cover Photo
Album cover close‑up of Twisted Sister's Love is for Suckers: a tightly framed view of a woman's lower face with glossy red lipstick and smooth skin. Her lips are slightly parted, holding a pink, angular lollipop shaped like the TS band logo; the white stick extends downward between fingers with long, polished, bright‑red nails. At the top, the band name appears split into two words—TWISTED at left and SISTER at right—in a sharp, stylized yellow type with red outline. At the lower right, the album title is handwritten in red script, the word Suckers larger and slanted. The palette is dominated by reds and pinks against a clean, uncluttered background, lit evenly for a sleek, high‑gloss look.

Visual layout: Extreme close‑up focusing on the mouth, lollipop, and hand. The frame crops above the nose and below the chin, directing attention to color and texture.

Central motif: A pink, geometric lollipop formed as the TS logo rests between red‑lacquered lips; the stick is held by manicured fingers with reflective, high‑gloss nail polish.

Typography & placement: The band name “TWISTED” (left) and “SISTER” (right) sit across the top in angular yellow letters edged in red. The album title “love is for Suckers” appears at the lower right in loose red handwriting, with “Suckers” larger and more dynamic.

Color & lighting: Saturated reds dominate—lipstick, nails, and title—balanced by soft pinks of the logo lollipop and natural skin tones. Even lighting emphasizes smooth surfaces and a glossy, polished finish.

Overall impression: Clean, bold, and suggestive imagery that pairs sharp typography with a minimalist composition to create instant, high‑contrast impact.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of Twisted Sister's Love is for Suckers album: the entire image is a close-up photograph of a worn, dark, textured ground surface with patches of moisture and discoloration, suggestive of asphalt or concrete. Lying flat in the lower left quadrant is a pink, angular lollipop shaped like the TS band logo, attached to a white stick, its candy surface slightly glossy. In the top left corner is a white barcode with catalog numbers and manufacturing details printed below. The right half of the cover contains two vertical blocks of white text: at the top, the tracklist for both sides of the LP, each song title in uppercase; below it, the band lineup with names and roles, production credits including producer Beau Hill, recording and mastering details, art direction, and photography credits. The bottom right section carries special thanks in small, tightly spaced type, followed by the Atlantic Records logo, rights information, and manufacturing details. At the very bottom center, in white uppercase letters, is the phrase 'AND AS ALWAYS, PLAY IT LOUD MUTHA!'

Visual composition: The background is a dark, weathered surface with irregular textures and water-like patches, creating a gritty, urban feel. A pink TS-logo lollipop rests on the ground, its white stick contrasting sharply with the dark backdrop.

Text layout: The upper left contains a barcode and catalog information. The right-hand side is filled with vertically arranged text blocks detailing track listings, musician credits, production information, and acknowledgements.

Typography & color: All textual elements are in white uppercase, ensuring high visibility against the dark surface. The Atlantic Records logo and legal notices appear near the lower right corner.

Final detail: Along the bottom edge is the emphatic statement “AND AS ALWAYS, PLAY IT LOUD MUTHA!” in bold white letters, adding a rebellious finishing touch.

Close-up of Record Label
Close-up of the Atlantic Records paper label on Side 1 of Twisted Sister’s Love is for Suckers, printed on a classic two‑tone disc label: the upper semicircle in bright green and the lower semicircle in orange, divided by a white horizontal band across the center. At the top sits the rectangular Atlantic logo with the stylized swirl and the word ATLANTIC beneath it. The spindle hole is centered, metal hub visible. In the white band, left boxes read STEREO and GEMA/BIEM; at right the text Side 1 appears. Below, in the orange field, the track list is numbered 1–5: Wake Up (The Sleeping Giant) 4:19; Hot Love 3:28; Love Is For Suckers 3:25; I’m So Hot For You 4:05; Tonight 3:51. Small text credits all words and music to D. Snider except Love Is For Suckers, credited to Marky Carter with additional lyrics by D. Snider. Producer credit: Beau Hill. Copyright line © 1987 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the U.S. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the U.S. Center bottom shows the catalog number 781 772‑1, an LC 0121 code, and a 33 rpm symbol. Fine perimeter text circles the edge in multiple languages regarding rights and copying. The black vinyl surface frames the label, giving a crisp, high‑contrast presentation.

Overview: Close‑up of Side 1 label for Twisted Sister’s “Love is for Suckers,” set on the classic Atlantic two‑tone design—green upper half, orange lower half—split by a white center band.

Branding & layout: The rectangular Atlantic logo with swirl sits at the top. The center band carries STEREO and GEMA/BIEM at left, and Side 1 at right, flanking the spindle hole.

Tracks (Side 1): 1. Wake Up (The Sleeping Giant) 4:19; 2. Hot Love 3:28; 3. Love Is For Suckers 3:25; 4. I’m So Hot For You 4:05; 5. Tonight 3:51.

Credits & rights: Words and music by D. Snider except “Love Is For Suckers” (Marky Carter) with additional lyrics by D. Snider. Produced by Beau Hill. © 1987 Atlantic Recording Corporation; WEA International for territories outside the U.S.

Identifiers: Catalog number 781 772‑1, LC 0121, 33 rpm symbol, and a ring of multilingual rights text around the rim. The black vinyl surface forms a clean, high‑contrast border around the label.

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