Tougher Than Leather

Run D.M.C. | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Profile
• ASIN: B000000CEA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #473,887 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Run's House

2. Mary, Mary

3. They Call Us Run-D.M.C.

4. Beats to the Rhyme

5. Radio Station

6. Papa Crazy

7. Tougher Than Leather

8. I'm Not Going Out Like That

9. How'd Ya Do It Dee

10. Miss Elaine

11. Soul to Rock and Roll

12. Ragtime

Editorial Reviews

Reissue of 1988 album, repackaged in a digipak with extensive sleevenotes and rare photos. Arista. 2003. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hardcore Hip-Hoppers, February 26, 2004

By 

"xklox" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tougher Than Leather (Audio CD)

At the end of 1986, Raising Hell was rap's best-selling album up to that point, though it would soon be outsold by the Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill. Profile Records hoped that Run-D.M.C.'s fourth album, Tougher than Leather, would exceed the Beastie Boys' quintuple-platinum status, but unfortunately, the group's popularity had decreased by 1988. One of Run-D.M.C.'s strong points -- its love of rock & roll -- was also its undoing in hip-hop circles. Any type of crossover success tends to be viewed suspiciously in the hood, and hardcore hip-hoppers weren't overly receptive to "Miss Elaine," "Papa Crazy," "Mary, Mary" and other rap/rock delights found on the album. Thanks largely to rock fans, this album did go platinum for sales exceeding one million copies -- which ironically, Profile considered a disappointment. But the fact is that while Tougher than Leather isn't quite as strong as Run-D.M.C.'s first three albums, it was one of 1988's best rap releases. [Tougher Than Leather was remastered and reissued in 1999.]

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Memories, November 3, 2002

By 

omarv (Cleveland Heights, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tougher Than Leather (Audio CD)

The recent passing of Jam Master Jay made me revisit their catalog, and while TTL was not their most well known album, It was always my favorite and I think it will stand up over time. It is very dense (similar to the Beastie's Paul's Boutique) and sounds great through a set of headphones.

If you are a fan of pure head bob'n rap from the 80's you'll appreciate this gem.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Why all the bad reviews?, June 3, 2002

By 

"rukahsatc" (Kenosha, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tougher Than Leather (Audio CD)

I still love listening to this cd after 10 years of hearing my brother's old tapes. If you are sick of new hip-pop-rap stuff, do yourself a favor, check out some old RUN DMC stuff, and starting with this cd wouldn't be a bad idea. Sure, at the time this idea may have been played out, but come on, no one in their right mind can argue against the title track, "Tougher Than Leather". This is simply one of the best songs ever made by one of the most successful groups in rap history.

I'll admit, sometimes the album is a little weak, but, it is only because only greatness is expected from RUN DMC and when it falls below that they are looked down upon, perhaps their success is doing them a disfavor by reviewers. If you are looking to get back to how rap originated and some of the classics, check this out, and tunes like "Mary, Mary", "Run's House", and perhaps the most catchiest song on the album, "Beats To The Rhyme". From a 21 year old who missed out on raps roots, I can still appreciate it through cds like this every day.