"Flirtin' with Disaster" is the second studio album by American southern rock band Molly Hatchet. It was released on September 3, 1979, under Epic Records. Following the release of their debut album, band members Danny Joe Brown, Dave Hlubek, Duane Roland, Banner Thomas, Steve Holland, and Bruce Crump began work on this album.
The album is famous for the title track, which climbed up to #42 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album itself peaked at #19 on the Billboard 200, making it Molly Hatchet's highest-charting album in the United States. "Flirtin' with Disaster" is a perfect testimony of the band's well-established southern rock sound, featuring hard-driving guitar riffs and solos combined with powerful vocals.
The sound produced by the band was uniquely raw and powerful, and it emphasized the group's southern roots. This album is generally regarded among their fanbase as one of their greatest works. One of the most significant features of this album is its fusion of hard rock and southern storytelling, creating a unique mix of heavy and light elements.
The cover artwork for "Flirtin' with Disaster" was created by fantasy artist Frank Frazetta and is considered iconic in rock album art. The total runtime of the album's original version is 38 minutes and 11 seconds, with songs dealing with themes of love, life on the road, and personal freedom.
While reviews at the time of the release were varied, the album has grown in stature over the decades and is now considered a classic of southern rock.
