Built to Perform

Built to Perform
Studio album by
Released1993
RecordedTotal Access Recording, Redondo Beach, California, Rumbo Recorders, Canoga Park, California, Skip Saylor Recording, Hollywood
GenreHeavy metal
Length41:56
LabelsGeffen (US)
Roadrunner (Europe and Japan)
ProducerMax Norman
Phantom Blue chronology
Phantom Blue
(1989)
Built to Perform
(1993)
Prime Cuts & Glazed Donuts
(1995)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarHalf star
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal8/10
Kerrang!StarStarStarStar
Metal HammerStarStar
Rock Hard8/10

Built to Perform is the second and last full-length album by American heavy metal band Phantom Blue. In contrast to the first album's glam metal sound, Built to Perform displays a more raw, heavy metal sound. It also features songwriting credits by all five of the band members plus former member Nicole Couch, who left prior to the album's release. The album includes the band's cover of Thin Lizzy's "Bad Reputation."

Veteran producer Max Norman oversaw the album's production, while Marty Friedman (who was then with Megadeth) and John Norum (of Europe) contributed as guest guitarists. Norum and guitarist Michelle Meldrum eventually married in 1995.[unreliable source?] "My Misery" was co-written by West Arkeen, known for his collaborations with Guns N' Roses.

Released by Geffen Records, this was the band's only album under a major record label.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Nothing Good"3:28
2."Time to Run"4:18
3."Bad Reputation" (Thin Lizzy cover)2:31
4."My Misery"
3:44
5."Little Man"
  • McDonald
  • Couch
3:29
6."Better Off Dead"
  • Meldrum
  • Kreutzer
  • McDonald
3:48
7."Anti Love Crunch"
  • McDonald
  • Kreutzer
  • Hangach
3:07
8."Loved Ya to Pieces"
  • Meldrum
  • Couch
3:12
9."So Easy"
  • Meldrum
  • Couch
3:32
10."Lied to Me"
  • Meldrum
  • Couch
3:15
11."A Little Evil"
  • Meldrum
  • McDonald
  • Nielsen
  • Couch
3:05
12."You're Free"
  • Meldrum
  • Couch
4:26
Total length:41:56

Personnel

Phantom Blue
Additional musicians
Production

References

  1. ↑ Jeffries, Vincent. "Phantom Blue Built to Perform review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  2. ↑ Popoff, Martin (August 1, 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. pp. 241–342. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
  3. ↑ Reynolds, Dave (November 6, 1993). "Rekordz". Kerrang!. No. 468. EMAP. p. 47.
  4. ↑ Ewing, Jerry (November 1993). "Reviews". Metal Hammer. Vol. 8, no. 11. Rock Team Publishing. p. 39.
  5. ↑ "Built To Perform". Rock Hard (Vol. 79) (in German). November 18, 1993. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  6. ↑ Lasting Tribute - Michelle Meldrum Archived June 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Phantom Blue Interview/Live in London 1994
  8. ↑ Phantom Blue - Sounds Archived June 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine