The album marked a change to a blues-rock influenced sound, which was met with positive reception.

In their June 12, 1987, issue The Georgia Straight applauded Mick Mars' guitar being featured more prominently in the final mix than it had been on 1985's Theatre of Pain, and called it their best work since 1981's Too Fast for Love.

The publication said that the album "has recaptured some of the excitement of their first release on tunes like 'Dancing on Glass', 'Five Years Dead', and the title track, which sports a catchy guitar riff a la Aerosmith's 'Draw the Line'.

"[14] AllMusic's Steve Huey gave the album a rating of four stars and states: "Girls, Girls, Girls continued Mötley Crüe's commercial hot streak, eventually going quadruple platinum as its predecessor, Theatre of Pain, had; meanwhile, the title track brought them their second Top 20 single, and 'Wild Side' became a popular MTV item.

[16] Eventually, the group's next album Dr. Feelgood (1989) would go on to claim the top Billboard spot.