>> In fact, this album was out a long while before people caught on. Not saying the album is bad but hype has something to do with it. <<
I’m not sure that supports your argument. Successful hype usually means that the album is plastered all over Wal-Mart while people are still scratching their heads, asking, “who?” The truth that the record companie’s original pitch to lead with “Welcome to the Jungle” kinda flopped only supports the notion that the band made it on its own merits.
In a wierd way, the early flop helped them: DJs started picking up on “Sweet Child o’ Mine.” Ordinarily leading with something like that would make a band uncool to the headbanging core market, but I can just hear all the kids saying, “no, dude, they’re a real metal band; remember that song, ‘welcome to the jungle?’ That’s them too and their album has some real rocking stuff.” (OK, they don’t sound like such dorks in my head, but I’m keeping it family friendly.)
Then they RE-released “Jungle” and it, too, became a smash.
Or was THAT just brilliant marketing?
I went to see Terminator 2 just to hear a GNR song in a Terminator context. It did not dissapoint. Neither did the movie.