I was never a big Aerosmith fan but I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I first heard "What it Takes". I remember the hairs standing up on the back of my neck when Steven Tyler sang "Tell me how it is that you can sleep, in the night...". Who knows if the band felt challenged by the emergence of Guns N' Roses or were inspired by their new-found sobriety or were simply inspired. Fact is they came up with a masterpiece in "What it Takes". It's easily my favorite Aerosmith song of all time and I still get those chills now and then listening to it today.

One note: Though the single was technically released in February 1990 the album it comes from, "Pump", came out in September 1989.