Backstage Pass: Melanie from '68 to '79

Melanie Safka - February 3, 1947 - January 23, 2024

I was heartbroken by the news of Melanie's passing and have been listening to my old records and sinking into happy memories. I heard her a lot on that old transistor radio I had as a kid in the 70s and while this blog is dedicated to Alice Cooper, I thought I'd post a few words on other artists I like, maybe in the form of a list, maybe a few thoughts on the LPs I own, just to get them out of mind and on paper (so to speak).

Melanie's big break came at 1 AM, on a rainy night at Woodstock when the band who was supposed to play, refused to do so due to the weather. So she went on their stead, the audience raised candles (which inspired one of her greatest hits) and history was made. While I've checked out other releases on Spotify, I'm going to write about the studio albums I own from the late 60s through the 70s.

All songs written by Melanie, except where indicated

Born to Be (November 1968)

Tracks: In The Hour / I'm Back in Town / Bobo's Party / Mr. Tambourine Man (Dylan) / Momma Momma / I Really Loved Harold / Animal Crackers / Cristopher Robin (Is Saying His Prayer) (A.A. Milne w/Safka) / Close to It All / Merry Christmas 

Looking at old reviews, and yeah, I guess in 1968 it would sound as if Melanie was searching for a musical identity, swinging from tunes like Momma, Momma (with heavy lines like, "Sometimes I feel my life has come and gone - I live in this world, but I'm only looking on") to her goofing-around-singing on Animal Crackers - but in 2024, we know that this was her musical personality, the playful and the introspective, the childlike and the thoughtfully sober. It's what made Melanie, Melanie, it's what made her special. I think this is a fantastic debut - the first song impresses right off the bat, and its steady right down the line. Bobo's Party, Momma, Momma and I Really Loved Harold are the musical/lyrical highlights for me. And I find Christopher Robin sweet and charming. Merry Christmas is the closest thing to a skipper but for the most part, "Born to Be" is a winner.

Melanie (October 1969)

Tracks: I'm Back in Town / Tuning My Guitar / Soul Sister Annie (Kaye) / Any Guy / Uptown Down, Again / Beautiful People / Johnny Boy / Baby Guitar / Deep Down Low / For My Father / Take Me Home

As good as the first is, the second is even better, folky but soulful, a near perfect collection, my only complaints, some of the fade outs are too abrupt, and in spots, she’s not as disciplined vocally as she’ll become (for example, she’s just yelling by the end of Tuning my Guitar... which is nevertheless, one the albums best). Favorite track? Baby Guitar, anyone who thinks of her as this frivolous childlike hippy, should listen to this darkly surreal piece with its haunting instrumentation and evocative vocals... according to something I read at Songfacts, she didn't enjoy performing this "freaky" number very often, but she made an exception for an appearance on the Johnny Cash Show.

Candles in the Rain (April 1970)

Tracks: Candles in the Rain / Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) (accompanied by the Edwin Hawkins Singers) / Carolina in My Mind (Taylor) / Citiest People / What Have They Done to My Song Ma / Alexander Beetle (Safka, A.A. Milne) / The Good Guys / Lovin' Baby Girl / Ruby Tuesday (Jagger, Richards) / Leftover Wine

A game changer, a real breakout, her first gold album, with a top 10 hit (Lay Down) and fan favorite and radio mainstay, Look What They’ve Done to my Song, Ma. She's showing a lot of growth and maturity as an artist and singer... and yes, Melanie always had an expressive voice and great range, but it's in full bloom on this, one of my favorite releases from her - I even like Alexander Beetle, which is a sweet counter to the more painful pieces that address the difficult sides of the music industry, or her empathetic look at the damage city living can have on a soul (the lovely ballad, Citiest People). 

With its children's poems, hopeful anthems and looks at human nature (The Good Guys) - from the fantastic guitar picking and energetic strums of Lovin' Baby Girl to the vulnerability in Leftover Wine, "Candles" is a knockout. Last but not least, Lay Down is simply phenomenal, sweeping, inspiring, a singular listening experience. 

The Good Book (January 1971)

Tracks: Good Book / Babe Rainbow / Sign on the Window (Dylan) / The Saddest Thing / Nickel Song / Isn't It a Pity / My Father (Collins) / Chords of Fame (Ochs) / You Can Go Fishin' / Birthday of the Sun / The Prize / Babe Rainbow (Reprise)

I used to consider this a step below the first 3, but revisiting it, it’s aged amazingly well, this is as good as anything she's done - looking over its wiki page, Cashbox considered it her best recording to that point, praising the maturity, vision and craft of the songwriting, arrangement and production, and they're not wrong, though Candles is still my #1. There are some nice covers (Dylan, Phil Ochs and especially the beautiful rendition of Judy Collins My Father) and some nice guitar work, Hugh McCracken plays the classical, Vinnie Bell on electric, Melanie herself plays a nylon guitar and banjo. The Saddest Thing is my favorite track for the plaintive melody and vocals. Nickle Song gave her a modest hit, ranking 35th on the Billboard Hot 100, 25th on Cashbox, I like the razor-sharp lyrics that once again speak to the business of music and fan expectations.

Gather Me (October 1971)

Tracks: Little Bit of Me / Some Day I'll Be a Farmer / Steppin' / Brand New Key / Ring Around the Moon / Ring the Living Bell / Railroad / Kansas / Some Say (I Got Devil) / Center of the Circle / What Wondrous Love (Arranged and adapted by Melanie) / Baby Day / Tell Me Why (Edwards, Parish, Spaeth)

A new career path, making music for her own label - and right out of the gate she has her biggest selling LP, with her only #1 single, Brand New Key, which was a doubled edge sword as that’s the song everyone knows, but it seems to overshadow every other accomplishment, to the point where she’s sometimes thought of as a 1 hit wonder. It’s a sweet little novelty, I do like the number, bought the single when it was released and played it over and over (it was even used that way in an inspired, dark, Kids in the Hall sketch), but there are other treasures on the record that display some lofty and varied songwriting, with the mournful ones my favorites - Little Bit of Me, Railroad (the section where she sings "Write it down now" in that small, fragile voice, coupled to sad/pretty music/instruments, simply takes my breath way) and Some Say (I Got Devil), is, wow, powerful - that one lingers long after it's over. The hippy folkster is represented in Baby Day, the soulful seeker of truth in the gospel-like, Living Bell - so all facets of Melanie are found in this gem of a record.  

Garden in the City (November 1971)

Tracks: Garden in the City / Love in My Mind / We Don't Know Where We're Going (De Vorzon & Botkin Jr.) / Lay Lady Lay (Dylan) / Jigsaw Puzzle (Jagger & Richards) / Don't You Wait by The Water / Stop! I Don't Wanna Hear It Anymore (De Vorzon & Botkin Jr.) / Somebody Loves Me (MacDonald, DeSylva, Gershwin) / People in the Front Row

The infamous scratch and sniff record. See that little yellow oval on the bottom of the cover? It reads… “Rub gently to release the magic of Melanie’s Garden.”, which is hilarious.

Melanie's discography can be rather confusing - LPs were retitled and repackaged (in the 90s and up, there were a lot of re-recordings), and you had her old company (Buddha) releasing compilations and unreleased tracks sold as new, when they weren’t, nor were they approved by the artist. Garden, then, is a mélange of older tunes, with a few songs from a movie soundtrack (R.P.M.) tossed in to fill it out (it only runs 28 min). It’s why it doesn’t have a unified sound - despite this, its listenable material, there’s some good music here, like the pretty, acoustical Love in My Mind, and the groovy People in the Front Row.

Another they released in 1971 was Please Love Me 

This one also includes the 2 songs from the R.P.M. soundtrack, as well as the 7 she did for the 1970 movie “All the Right Noises” - there's a couple dibs and dabs (an early single from 1968, “God’s Only Daughter”, and a different version of “In the Hour” from her debut). While she wasn’t fond of doing movie work, the music is pleasant, especially the pretty, Pebbles in the Sand.

Tracks: Please Love Me (All the Right Noises) / In the Hour (ATRN) / Getting Out (ATRN) / Momma, Momma / Save The Night (ATRN) / Please Love Me (Instrumental) / Ears to The Ground (ATRN) / We Don't Know Where We're Going (R.P.M.) / Pebbles in The Sand (ATRN) / Stop! I Don't Wanna Hear It Anymore (R.P.M.) / God's Only Daughter (1968 single)

Stoneground Words (October 1972)

Tracks: Together Alone / Between the Road Signs / Summer Weaving / My Rainbow Race (Seeger) / Do You Believe? / I Am Not a Poet (Night Song) / Stoneground Words / Song of the South, based on a Theme from Song of the North, adapted from the original / Maybe I Was (A Golf Ball) / Here I Am / Bonus Songs: Bitter Bad / Seeds

This was planned as an ambitious double album, that sadly was cut down to a single, but -silver linings- it's a hell of a single. It, and the following album, were an attempt to pull away from the commercialism of Brand New Key and shoot for a more serious mood and sound, and that's established from the opening track (the terrific Together Alone). That's not to say there aren't radio friendly hooks, the chorus to Do You Believe traveled with me through the day after hearing it just once. You also get a song titled Maybe I Was (A Golf Ball), and that'll put a grin on your face (though the tune itself is more solemn than you'd expect).

I really admire the musical arrangement on the album, the way the keys, strings, acoustic guitars, etc., with backing vocals, move in and out and around one another. So much to delight the ear, so many pieces to focus on and enjoy.

The last 2 numbers are unique to the 2015 CD (Seeds was a non-album single released in 1973), and while the upbeat Bitter Bad is a bit out of synch with what came before, I really dig this funky, twangy thing (and she says "Y'all", ha, took me back to my Nashville days). So yeah, Stoneground is another goodie, and its sister album...?

Madrugada (March 1974)

CD Tracks: Love to Lose Again / Lover's Cross (Croce) / Pretty Boy Floyd (Guthrie) / Wild Horses (Jagger, Richards) / I Think It's Going to Rain Today (Newman) / Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Goffin, King) / Maybe Not for a Lifetime / Holding Out / The Actress / Pine and Feather / I Am Being Guided

The U.K. version had 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow', instead of 'I Am Being Guided'. The CD includes both.

Melanie decided to take a break to be with her newborn daughter; during this time her husband collected the remaining tunes from the Stoneground sessions and released them under the title, Madrugada (a Portuguese word meaning between midnight and dawn, according to the liner notes)

Considering the circumstances, the similarities with Stoneground aren't surprising. This too has a toned down, earnest vibe. It does leans heavy on the covers, but most of those matches well with the others.

I should point out that I prefer the original US LP order, Pine and Feather works better as a closer, and while she does good work on WYLMT, it doesn't really fit.

This is, yet again, an astonishingly good album, it's a wonder how she's maintained this excellence early on, it's a wonder she's not universally praised for it. Hell of a run, and it's not over yet.

Before she died, Melanie worked on restoring Stoneground to what she envisioned it to be, a double album, with a different track order. The results of these efforts were released in May 2024. I'm so used to the originals that I admit to having struggled with this order, the songs are great of course, but disc 1 just didn't jell (I prefer Together Alone as an album opener, Wild Horses doesn't fit at track 3). The blend is better on the second disc, where Pretty Boy Floyd gets that side off to a rousing start.

Disc 1 - Here I Am / My Rainbow Race / Wild Horses / Summer Weaving / Between the Road Signs / Together Alone / Maybe Not for A Lifetime / I Am Being Guided / I Think It’s Going to Rain Today / Maybe I Was A (Golf Ball) / The Actress  

Disc 2 - Pretty Boy Floyd / Lovers Cross / Song of the South / I Am Not a Poet / Pine and a Feather / Stoneground Words / Do You Believe / Holding Out / Love to Lose Again / Here I Am (solo acoustic)

As I See It Now (December 1974)

Tracks: Yankee Man / You're Not a Bad Ghost, Just an Old Song / Record Machine / Eyes of Man / Stars Up There / Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (Dylan) / Sweet Misery / Monongahela River / Yes Sir, That's My Baby (Kahn/Donaldson) / Autumn Lady / Chart Song / As I See it Now

It sets the tone by opening with a country song and then continues along those lines with twangy guitars and twangy singing - a couple of detours are heard on the way - the chorus of the Eyes of Man makes me think of the Caribbean, and Chart Song is one of her moving ballads. The album has its familiar qualities - she returns to Dylan with a slowed down take on Don't Think Twice; and writes about the music industry and the frustrations of the artist (Record Machine and Chart Song).

The contrasts can be interesting, Sweet Misery isn't a misery, and is rather fun, it's the following track, Monongahela River, where you find the lyrical gloom ("Some kill themselves living - Others get killed for trying"), but these two sides of Melanie are ace. 

All told, there are highs (Yankee Man, Chart Song), and lows (Yes Sir...), but when you add it all up, it's another notch on her belt.

Note: As I See It Now used new songs, with several tracks from the abandoned Autumn Lady project (1973) - which was released posthumously in 2024. Of the two LPs, I prefer AISIN- though it's great to get to hear tunes that were new to me.

Track listing for 2024s Autumn Lady (CD)

Disc 1: Hearing the News / Seeds / Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right / The Other Side of This Life / Will you Love Me Tomorrow? / Bitter Bad / Ooh Child / Record Machine / Autumn Lady / Shy as a Violet / It’s Me Again / Any Day Now (home demo) / As Long as I Get There (home demo) / So, I Don’t Feel Alone (Home demo) 

Disc 2: Hearing the News (Here’s the Farmer - 27 Minute version) / Record Machine / Mary Was an Only Child / Shy as a Violet (alt version) / Stars Up There / Yankee Man / Eyes of Man / As I See It Now / Yes Sir, That’s My Baby / Sweet Misery / Monongahela River / You’re Not a Bad Ghost, Just an Old Song / Desert Song (feat Mike Heron)

Sunset and Other Beginnings (October 1975)

International Tracks: Perceive It / Almost Like Being in Love (Lerner, Lowe) / Loving My Children / You Can't Hurry Love/Mama Said (Holland, Dozier, Holland / Dixon & Denson) / People Are Just Getting Ready / Ol' Man River (Kern, Hammerstein) / I've Got My Mojo Working (Foster) / Where's the Band / Dream Seller (Meet Me On The Corner) (Clements) / What Do I Keep (Lipsitz, Devorine) / Sandman / The Sun And The Moon / Afraid Of The Dark

US Tracks: Perceive It / I've Got My Mojo Working / Loving My Children / Almost Like Being in Love / What Do I Keep / Afraid of the Dark / Where's The Band / You Can't Hurry Love/Mama Said / Sandman / People Are Just Getting Ready / Dream Seller (Meet Me on The Corner) / The Sun and The Moon

Aside from Perceive It (which reminds me of Cat Stevens) this is the first time I was flat out disappointed in a Melanie record. The songwriting and production, the covers, it all leaves me cold. There are two different versions of the record, the US release eliminates Ol' Man River (no loss) and rearranges the order (a shade better, but still...) Not a lot to say about this record, so I'll just move on to the next.

Photograph (1976)

Tracks: Cyclone / If I Needed You / The Letter (Carson Thompson) / Groundhog Day / Nickel Song - Music! Music! Music!" (Weiss & Baum) / Photograph / I'm So Blue / Secret of the Darkness (I Believe) / Save Me / Raindance / Friends and Company

2005 bonus material from "Double Exposure" reissue: Groundhog Day (10-min version) / Cyclone (alt version) / Secret of the Darkness Pt. 1 / Secret of the Darkness Pt. 2 / Unfinished Business (Selma Version) / Whamp Bhomp Song / Ruby Tuesday (Jagger, Richards) / Love to Live Again / Here We Go Again / Jukebox Magazine / Miranda (Ochs) / Unfinished Business (West Version) / Remember Me Good / Over the Rainbow (Arlen & Harburg)

An album that Atlantic pulled and refused to re-release (Someone pissed off somebody - thankfully, Rhino fought and fought and got the rights to distribute it, nearly 30 years later). The record came highly praised, but I wasn't sure, the first track was so slick, and those synths? But damned if it didn't get under my skin, and I was quickly won over by it and the following power ballad (If I Needed You). Unfortunately, the CD briefly lost momentum - The Letter is a skipper, and I didn't really need this new version of Nickle Song, I even reached a point where I put those two and Groundhog Day to the side and replaced them with the country, blues flavored Remember Me Good and the 10-minute version of Groundhog Day, which is extraordinary - at times gentle, then a real pulse pounder (love the drums). 

Other notables, the pretty guitar work (Save Me), the world-weary, emotion filled vocals (several) and Raindance sees her belting it out impressively. 

Bonus material was mostly fair (aside from the 2 jewels mentioned above), but I'm happy to have 'em.

Phonogenic – Not Just Another Pretty Face (March 1978)

Tracks: Knock On Wood (Floyd, Cropper) / Bon Apetite / Spunky / Runnin' After Love / We Can Work It Out (Lennon, McCartney) / I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love (Sager, Allen) / Let It Be Me (Becaud, Curtis) / Yankee Man (Winchester) / Record People / California Dreamin' (Phillips, Phillips)

And it's back to blah. Middle of the road, soft rock blandness, with too many weak covers and Melanie just not sounding like her hearts in it. Record People is about the only thing I can muster any enthusiasm for.

The Lost 1979 Album, aka Crazy Lady

Tracks: Another Line (Crazy Lady) / Roadburn / Taking a Bath / Consider It Something Good / The Champagne Song / I Wish I Was Inspired / Wear It Like a Flag / Lifeline / Leftover Emotion / Yes, My Darling Daughter / Lay Down Sally * Bonus tracks: There's a Reason / Can't Help Falling in Love / I Wish I Was Inspired (Alt Version) / Consider It Something Good (Alt Version) / Lifeline / Lifeline (Version 2) / Lifeline (Version 3)

The legendary lost album, which, according to the Cleopatra website was recorded at various studios in the late '70s while Melanie searched for a new label. In Dave Thompson's book, Melanie on Record, the singer suggested that these were never intended for an album, per se. The Champaign Song was later included in the planned Ace of Diamonds musical. Lay Down Sally, and versions of Roadburn, Wear it Like a Flag and Taking a Bath would find their way onto releases in the next decade or so - while nice to hear these tunes, it's a so/so collection.

Live Albums From this Period?

Leftover Wine (September 1970) / Melanie at Carnegie Hall (October 1973) / Ballroom Streets (January 1979 - recorded live in the studio, with a small audience) / (Also, In Concert – Live at Montreux, 1973 - a Germany and Yugoslavia-only release)

There were also several compilation albums, the most ambitious was The Four Sides of Melanie (1972), in which each side covered a different aspect of her career at that point. Side A was the formative years, Side B, the commercial (which included a 7 min version of Lay Down), Side C, the cover songs, with Side D emphasizing her imaginative, empathetic qualities. (track list here) 

The colorful covers could be folded into a cube and hung as a mobile. 

The 80s? I've sampled a few and might dig deeper into those and others at a later date. But for now, that's it. 

Rest in peace Melanie, you gifted the world a lot of beautiful music and made my life a little better and brighter.

Part II - Melanie: 1980-1993

Discography: Part 6 - Nostalgia

Welcome 2 My Nightmare

Release Date: September 13, 2011

Highest US Chart: #22

Tracks: I Am Made of You * Caffeine * The Nightmare Returns * A Runaway Train * The Last Man on Earth * The Congregation * I'll Bite Your Face Off * Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever * Ghouls Gone Wild * Something to Remember Me By * When Hell Comes Home * What Baby Wants * I Gotta Get Outta Here * The Underture (Instrumental)

Flush off being named to the Rock and Roll HOF, Alice released a sequel to one of his classics. As with the original, “Welcome 2” follows the character Steven as he goes from dream to dream. The CD also sees Coop reunited with producer Bob Ezrin, and his former bandmates (on 3 numbers). 

"I Am Made of You" leads off the nightmare, with Alice playing around with auto-tune, and I was okay with that - it sounds good and adds a haunting, disjointed vibe to the song. Bottom line, it’s a great number, one of Alice’s best. Also - the piece opens with a piano riff borrowed from "Steven" (which will return in other tracks and is the binding thread to the first LP).

From here Bob and AC record a wide variety of styles and sounds, and as with recent AC releases, he draws from other artists. There’s a tune that has some Beatles, another that’s pure Tom Waits (the ear catching “Last Man on Earth”), you can hear the Stones "Brown Sugar" and a little of Michael Jackson’s "Beat It" sprinkled throughout. Somehow though, all this theft - or homages? - work.

Original bandmates, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith play on the crunchier numbers ("A Runaway Train", "I'll Bite Your Face Off" and "When Hell Comes Home") and prove they can rock as hard as they did in the 70s. Most notable for me, is When Hell Comes Home. This is a grinding, bluesy tune about an abusive husband and father – the lyrics are as dark as anything AC has done, and the lead guitar echoes one of the bands classics, "Dead Babies".

Cooper the clown also shows up in Disco Boogie Bloodbath Fever. Believe it or not, Alice raps - it’s a funny track – unfortunately he goes to this well once too often and follows up this novelty with another, a 50’s parody, "Ghouls Gone Wild". It’s not a horrible tune, but it is the weakest of the bunch. After this we get the ballad (had to have a ballad, didn't we?) but this one is special as it was co-written with Dick Wagner back in the 70s, and while Something to Remember Me By, is no "Only Women Bleed", it’s pleasant enough and does kindle the nostalgic glow I'm getting from this CD.

The album bursts back to life with 3 strong numbers, and a closing melody (The Underture). Among these 4, there is the (apparently) strange paring of AC with Ke$ha on "What Baby Wants". This duet furrowed some brows; but being old and having no idea who Ke$ha was, I judged it on what I heard, which was wicked, rockin' fun - and K does a great job playing the devil's daughter.

Other guests on the album include Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner, who played on the original Welcome. And country artist Vince Gill, who can be heard on 2 numbers and shows that he’s a kick-ass rock lead guitarist!

All told, while it doesn't surpass the first Welcome, it's a worthy follow up - a most excellent and entertaining listen (it also served to restore my faith in Coop as a viable musical force, after the discouraging “Along Came a Spider” crushed that faith to a fine powder).

Note: The release came in several editions, with differing bonus tracks, including "A Bad Situation", "Flatline", a cover of "We Gotta Get Out of This Place", and my favorite of the bunch, "Under the Bed".

Purchases: Original CD release, iTunes

🐍🐍🐍🐍½

Paranormal

Release Date: July 28, 2017

Highest US Chart: #32 (Top 200) - #6 (Top Album Sales)

Tracks: Paranormal * Dead Flies * Fireball * Paranoiac Personality * Fallen in Love * Dynamite Road * Private Public Breakdown * Holy Water * Rats * The Sound of A * Bonus Tracks: Genuine American Girl * You and All of Your Friends

It opens with a memorable ghost story that gives us a taste of spooky 70s-style Alice, and continues with a collection of bleak, but sonic rock, infused with tales of apocalyptic disaster, loss of privacy, and other modern nightmares, like our addiction to technology that feeds us lie after lie (the wicked, blues flavored, "Dead Flies", with its Hendrix-like guitar-work from Henriksen and Denander) and poisons us with fear (the exceptional "Paranoiac Personality"). 

Coop balances that by retaining his sense of humor and injecting a certain playfulness (titles to past songs pepper the lyrics). And in "Holy Water", we get a hand raising, baptismal psalm that celebrates his faith and the transformative effect it had on his life, so yes, there are shafts of light and joy amidst the fire and brimstone.

Musical guests include Roger Glover (co-writer and bassist on "Paranormal"), ZZ Top's Billy Gibson, laying down a tasty riff on "Fallen in Love", and U2s Larry Mullen Jr. delivering his unique brand of drumming (recruited on Ezrin's suggestion [1], he absolutely kills on "Paranoiac Personality" & "Holy Water").

Among my favorites are the numbers written and/or performed with surviving members of the classic Alice Cooper group. As musicians, they tear it up on the bar-room rocker, "Rats", and contributing as songwriters as well as bandmates, their 2 bonus tracks are fun and catchy, especially the gender bending Genuine American Girl, which closes on a cool cascading baseline (a nod to the one heard on "Elected" perhaps?) 

Dunaway also co-wrote the scorching "Fireball", and a blast from the past from 1967, "The Sound of A". In interviews and podcasts, Dennis revealed that Alice wrote "A" at around the same time he came up with Shoe Salesman and Laughing at Me (using Neal's nylon string guitar). And that it would have been part of a futuristic concept album, about a sound that could control people's minds. Dennis still had the music, and the notes Cooper wrote about the idea, he then filled in what he thought would have been the intended lyrics and presented it to Bob and Alice - and what a welcome addition. The press release sums it up nicely... "With its psychedelic sound, swirling guitars and the mysterious Hammond organ, it is one of the most hypnotic songs on “Paranormal”". For sure, and it allows the disc to come full circle, opening with scary Alice and closing on 60s psychedelic Alice.

There's seriously not a bad song on this CD, I'm entertained and enthralled from the very first note, on through the bonus material, which includes 6 classic songs performed live in Columbus, Ohio. 

Note: In 2014 Billboard altered its charts - The Top 200 now incorporates streaming and an album-equivalent unit. They added a new "Top Album Sales Chart" to reflect physical sales (CD, Vinyl and Digital purchases). I'll be including both from here on out.

Purchases: Original CD release (with free MP3), iTunes

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Detroit Stories

Release Date: February 26, 2021

Highest US Chart: #47 (Top 200) - #1 (Top Album Sales)

Tracks: Rock and Roll * Go Man Go * Our Love Will Change the World * Social Debris * $1000 High Heel Shoes * Hail Mary * Detroit City 2021 * Drunk and in Love * Independence Dave * I Hate You * Wonderful World * Sister Anne * Hanging on by a Thread * Shut Up and Rock * East Side Story

I like the concept, which attempts to get Alice back to his roots by taking a nostalgic trip through his musical origins and Detroit rock history - via cover songs - by capturing that 'motor-city' aesthetic in all its glory (from proto-punk, to soul, and all points in between) - and by including artists, either as name drops or contributors; like the legendary Johnny "Bee" Badanjek, who smokes on drums, bassist Paul Randolph, and MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer (co-writer of 2 goodies, "Go Man Go" and "$1000 High Heel Shoes", as well as the 'eh, "Independence Dave"). 

Of the covers, Outrageous Cherry's "Our Love Will Change the World" is a fave; it's upbeat, catchy pop, married to conflicting lyrics (sounding like a pessimistic downer, before shifting to the positive chorus, which actually comes off more a threat than an invitation to a love-in). AC and the band also do nice work on the MC5s "Sister Anne" (with Coop on harp) and Seger's "East Side Story".

Of the stand-out originals there's "Hail Mary" and "Wonderful World" (one that detours from Detroit, to make comment on civilization, Brutal Planet style). "I Hate You" is a curious attempt by the surviving, original trio to get some personal issues off their chests by insulting one another. I also liked "Social Debris" written with drummer Neal Smith, it's got that 70s 'bloody your nose' attitude and according to Alice was about the band being outsiders (though it's filtered through a modern lens).

Not everything works - "Hanging on by a Thread (Don't Give Up)" was written to raise morale during the pandemic, and while well intended, it's a little corny. Still, despite a hiccup or two (I have to be in the right mood for Drunk & Dave) the CD delivers the kind of blistering hook filled rock I crave. It's a ready, steady, energetic way to usher in Alice's 6th decade as a recording artist.

Note 1: The vocals on I Hate You go from Neal (to Dennis), Mike (to Neal), Dennis (to Alice), Alice (to Mike) - and on the last verse it's Dennis, Alice, Neal, then Mike and finally, all

Note 2: On September 13th, 2019, "Breadcrumbs", a 6 track EP was released. It included tunes that would find their way on this album (Detroit City, Go Man Go, East Side Story and Sister Ann), as well as a couple that didn't - a m'eh take on Devil with The Blue Dress On/Chains of Love and a nice cover of Suzi Quatro's Your Mama Won't Like Me.

Purchases: Original CD release (with free MP3).

🐍🐍🐍½ 

Road

Release Date: August 25, 2023

Highest US Chart: #160 (Top 200) - #11 (Top Album Sales)

Tracks: I'm Alice * Welcome to The Show * All Over the World * Dead Don't Dance * Go Away * White Line Frankenstein * Big Boots * Rules of The Road * The Big Goodbye * Road Rats Forever * Baby Please Don't Go * 100 More Miles * Magic Bus

A concept album about life on the road, recorded with his touring band (guitarists Nita Strauss, Ryan Roxie and Tommy Henriksen, bassist Chuck Garric and drummer Glen Sobel) and while they are a tight unit, they weren't really let off the chain and allowed to distinguish themselves from what we've heard in the past 2 releases (bummer then that the drum solo in the lackluster Magic Bus, detracts). The rhythm section provides a solid foundation, but the leads were standard fare - no riffs reach the levels of a "School's Out" or "Poison" (or "Fallen in Love" for that matter), the type that instantly leave an impression.

And alas, the songwriting can be problematic, with some iffy choruses and lyrics, the worst culprit being the cringy "Big Boots", which, along with "Rules of the Road", are the bad apples in this barrel.

The release does start off nicely; "I'm Alice" revels in his reputation as the father of shock; "Welcome to the Show" is a forceful rocker with fun backing vox. I was near to thinking this could be on par with Detroit Stories, when the wheels came off the bus - there was just, something off, like the chorus and content (about a stalker) on "Go Away", marring the tune in whole - and the downward slide worsens with 6, 7 & 8. (Frankenstein's chorus reminds me of "Cherry Pie", and cripes, I hate Warrant).

"The Big Goodbye", with its chugging guitars and catchy pre-chorus, gets the disc rolling again, and though it's never been a favorite, "Road Rats Forever" is better here than on L&W, if only because it's not so plastic 'n' overproduced. However, it wasn't until the end that I found 2 that made me euphoric. "Baby Please Don't Go" and "100 More Miles" display a musical maturity and aren't as corny word-wise. While "Miles" has a ghostly ambiance in its opening notes, there's a heaviness, an appropriate exhaustion in the vocals as at plays (though I wish it was a bit longer - that Alice & Bob had exploited that emotion and let the band cook). "Baby's" mid-tempo strumming supports lyrics that are heartfelt, refreshingly quip free, and felt like truth (akin to Kiss's "Beth", but as written by 60s-era Sonny Bono). Both were welcome palate cleansers to the excruciating idiocy of things like Boots and Rules.

The scorecard? There are 2 that I like, and 2 that I worship, with 3 that are fine but not amazeballs (3, 4 & 9). That leaves me 6 I'll skip (5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 13), which turns my LP into a passable EP.

Note: In "Road Rats", a change in the lyrics includes a title-drop - "Love it to Death", it's just one of several nods to the past - In fact, a song from that one, "I'm 18", is also quoted ("like it, love it", in "All Over the World")

Note 2: One edition of the release includes the Blu-Ray, "Live at Hellfest 2022".

Purchases: iTunes

🐍🐍½

The Revenge of Alice Cooper

Release Date: July 25, 2025

Highest US Chart: #72 (Top 200) - #6 (Top Album Sales)

Tracks: Black Mamba * Wild Ones * Up All Night * Kill the Flies * One Night Stand * Blood on The Sun * Crap That Gets in the Way of Your Dreams * Famous Face * Money Screams * What A Syd * Inter Galactic Vagabond Blues * What Happened to You * I Ain’t Done Wrong * See You on the Other Side - Bonus Tracks: Return of the Spiders 2025 * Titanic Overunderture

Over a decade ago I had the thought, "Wouldn't it be nice to see Alice reach 30 studio releases?" I wasn't sure it would happen with those extended gaps between LPs (6 years from Temptation to Planet, for one), but lo and behold, it's here - and even sweeter it's a full-out original band reunion! So, how'd they do? Well, it can be a roller coaster ride, with a few formulaic downs, but with several that soar with the best of them.

Draped in sex and menace, "Mamba" casts Alice as serpent fatale, first accompanied by seductive bass and guitars, before exploding into slithering, percussive mode; it's a winner. "Wild Ones", which was written in the mid-80s, is the epitome of filler—as a single it left much to be desired, but folded among the others, it keeps the energy high. Regrettably we now head into a valley, where the priapic "Up All Night" resides. I like the low range rhythm guitars, but the lyrics embarrass, and structurally it's too generic to hold my interest. Thankfully, they follow that up with three that take us back to the top. Smith's sing-songy, psyche ward "Kill the Flies" (the glockenspiel, guitar as siren, and Neal's famous flams, are nice touches here) and Dunaway's unsettling "One Night Stand", which sports cool Bond-style chord progressions, musicianship that hits the spot, and vocals that are low, smooth, and creepy (the casual greeting to a neighbor, and the whistle adds to that). Last but not least is the exemplary "Blood on the Sun", Dennis' nod to those grand, sweeping epics of old. Opening with 6-string acoustic picking (doubled in the recording to mirror a 12-string chime), it's melodic, boasts superb harmonies - the drums (including timpani) bring added drama, and as a dedicated film buff I thoroughly enjoyed all the movie titles in the lyrics, from Hitchcock to John Wayne, and more.

Revenge takes a noticeable dip with the Kinks-like, "The Crap That Gets in the Way of Your Dreams", then rebounds with Bruce's lyrically scathing "Famous Face" (that deep toned snarl is an asset - though credited to Alice, it's actually Michael singing lead). And while "Money Screams" is a trip to average-ville, it's a catchy trip. From here we travel up the tracks with "What a Syd", a Cab Calloway meets Stray Cats mash-up. Its groovy jazz and rockabilly guitars, and the swinging bass/drum combo, would have fit snuggly next to "Blue Turk" on Schools Out. "Inter Galactic" is a foot stomping boogie that's fair at best but sees the welcome return of the harmonica. What Happened to You has muscle in its snarling guitars and lightning in that rousing piano - the distinct 'bite 'n' scratch' riff was Glen's, and the number was built around that, its origins are rooted in a jam with Dennis, that Buxton called "Astute Lobotomy". It's the most rollicking track on the record - had my blood pumping.

Finally, while not my favorites, the Yardbirds cover is appropriate (The Spiders opened for them in 1966) and well performed - and it's sweet that the reunion wraps up with a touching ballad dedicated to Glen.

Vocally, Cooper is pitchy in spots, but is still Alice, still the king with all that personality and presence. The backing is a plus, and sound decidedly like "this" band (dig the doo-wop on Flies). The players? Neal & Dennis, as expected, are out of this world; they remain one of rock's best drummer - bassist pairings. Rhythm guitarists are often unsung heroes, but don't sleep on Michael, he's in fine form. And while no one can replace Glen, he had a one in a million style, as his piece in WHTY can attest, Rick Tedesco and Gyasi Heus throw in some sweet licks and leads. The songwriter of merit is Dunaway, his name is attached to the album's finest (1, 5, 6, 10, and 12), and a decent one (2).

The bonus tracks are fascinating - I prefer the drum style on the original, but "Return of the Spiders 2025" has a lot of power, whatever studio magic they worked with that one, I'd like to see applied to a remix/remaster of Easy Action. "Titanic Overunderture" is even more interesting, as lyrics are added that give voice to the dying ocean liner. Grade?  Revenge might not change the world, but it's good, solid rock. There are a couple of skippers, and it could use a few noteworthy guitar riffs, but on the whole, it's an enjoyable addition to the Cooper collection. I'm glad to have it, glad to have the band back together again.

Note 1: The vinyl mix is preferred, it's not the compressed wall you get on CD, you can hear the details - the individual instruments pop on vinyl.

Note 2: A listening party with Q&A was held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Union Chapel, London. Shown worldwide as a livestream, it was ably hosted by Tim Rice and included the surviving members of the OG and producer Bob Ezrin (who proved to be an entertaining storyteller).

Note 3: At the SickthingsUK forum, Dennis pointed out a few errors in the liner notes (it was he, not Michael who co-wrote Black Mamba, for one). He also graciously answered questions about Blood on The Sun, which were used in my review. Dr. Dreary is ever a gentleman and a fount of information.

Purchases: Original CD release (standard, not the box set)

🐍🐍🐍½

Alice on the Screen: In 2012 Alice played the 1970s version of himself (with look-a-likes standing in for the band) in the comedy "Dark Shadows", where he performed a bit of Dwight Fry and No More Mr. Nice Guy. He was also in the no-budget Asylum flick, "Bigfoot", where he earned a few laughs, "What is this, a hootenanny!?"

And on April 1st, 2018, Coop took on the role of King Harod in NBC’s live televised adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar.

In October 2021 Alice narrated his life story in a piece titled, Who I really Am: Diary of a Vampire on audible.com. Coop is a great storyteller, and for added coolness were several acoustic versions of classic AC tunes.

As for an original bandmate, Dennis released an amazing bit of rock cinema in 2019, with Cold, Cold Coffin - a crowdfunded short film co-starring Calico Cooper.

Next: Ranking the Albums from Top to Bottom

Album Length etc

For the regular release versions, no special editions - my calculations, but might not be exact, no site can seem to come up with the same numbers.

 

30) 28:34 - Flush the Fashion 

29) 32:24 - Zipper Catches Skin 

28) 34:11 - Paranormal (2 original bonus songs add 7:08 for a total of 41:19, which would put it ahead of B$B at #15) 

27) 34:13 - Easy Action 

26) 34:52 - Special Forces

25) 36:52 - Killer 

24) 36:53 - Raise Your Fist 

23) 36:58 - Love it to Death 

22) 37:00 - Schools Out 

21) 37:10 - Constrictor 

20) 38:02 - Pretties for You

19) 39:01 - From the Inside 

18) 39:28 - Muscle of Love 

17) 40:14 - Trash 

16) 41:05 - Billion $ Babies (longest from the original 7) 

15) 41:37 - Lace & Whiskey 

14) 42:15 - DaDa

13) 43:07 - Goes to Hell 

12) 43:19 - Welcome to My Nightmare (longest of the vinyl era)

11) 44:11 - Eyes of AC 

10) 44:18 - Along Came a Spider 

9) 46:40 - Dirty Diamonds 

8) 47:43 - Road

7) 47:57 - Brutal Planet 

6) 50:18 - Detroit Stories 

5) 50:53 - Last Temptation 

4) 51:08 - Dragontown 

3) 52:44 - Welcome 2 My Nightmare 

2) 54:30 - The Revenge of Alice Cooper (60:14 w/bonus)

1) 56:11 - Hey Stoopid 

Total: 21 hours. 3 minutes. 47 seconds

Top 10 Longest Songs

+ (indicates solo years)

1) Black Juju - 9:14

2) Halo of Flies - 8:22

3) Lay Down and Die, Goodbye - 7:36

4) Might as Well Be on Mars - 7:10 +

5) Killer - 6:57

6) Below Your Means - 6:41

7) Sideshow - 6:39 +

8) Ballad of Dwight Fry - 6:33

9) Unfinished Sweet - 6:15

10) Cleansed by Fire - 6:12 +

Just missing: Blood on the Sun 6:03 / Fresh Blood 5:54 / Steven 5:52 / My Stars & Only Women Bleed - 5:49 

Dennis Dunaway, writer of the longest song from the Coopers

Under 2 Minutes - ACs Shortest Songs

At 55 seconds, Street Fight (School's Out) is technically the shortest, though I've always considered it part of Gutter Cat. Next is Titanic Overture (1:12), an instrumental, which was the first song on the first AC LP (FYI: Pretties For You has the most songs under 2 min with 5 tracks). The shortest song with lyrics is on the W2MN CD, written by Cooper and Ezrin, The Nightmare Returns clocks in at 1:14.

The remaining 6

B.B. on Mars - 1:17

Earwigs to Eternity - 1:19

Leather Boots - 1:36

10 Minutes Before the Worm - 1:39

Today Mueller - 1:48

Refrigerator Heaven - 1:54

Bob and Alice celebrate their short song in style?

Remastered Deluxe Editions

Schools Out 2023: The second, chronologically, of the vinyl/CD re-releases, but the first I listened to - As with a lot of remasters, the bass is ramped up here, so if you love Dennis, you'll be positively giddy, especially during Luney Tune and Alma Mater. Though to be honest, the record was already 'just right' on the low end. Comparing it with past releases, song by song, it doesn't sound like they magnified other instruments or changed the mix, maybe cleaned up some spots (I no longer hear that faint background voice on the pause in Mater). 

The fresh new treat comes with the second disc, which includes the May 27th, 1972, concert in Miami - while there are theatrics, it's not overly polished, there's a tough, rough, garage band sound here that I really liked - and you're not just hearing straight studio translations, there are different lyrics and arrangements to enjoy. After that - single versions for Schools Out and Gutter Cats, and a couple of really interesting alt takes on Alma Mater and Elected - Mater is not as dreamy, plus you'll hear differences in the playing and the monologue at the end, and on Elected, Alice's delivery on the "I Wanna Be's" are rather Ramones like.

That's the music, what about the words? The fan note offers a warm trip down memory lane, and the booklet is filled with informative reflections from band members on each track. What inspired them, how and what they played, even what strings they used - and each reenforces the idea that this was Glen's album, that it reflects his personality and style. On School, he was at the top of his game and fully present, maybe for the last time, and the LP acts is a tribute to him and his talents... though let's not slight the others, they were all on fire, and it's cool to read about how much work, how much thought, how much collaboration was put into this release. After reading these pieces, I went back and listened to the music with a new perspective and ears open to the bits and pieces they brought up.

In conclusion: Of the two, this was the one I looked forward to the most, I know it's not the majority opinion, but this is my A-1 from AC, I like the muscle, I like it thematically, and I like the sound quality... it's difficult to put my finger on it, but it sounds like something transmitted from the Twilight Zone, not psychedelic, just different in some way that both disturbs and delights me.

Oh, the vinyl version includes the famed (or should that be infamous) panties, sweet - but I'm a little sad that they didn't put mini panties on the CD. lol

Killer 2023: After School, I eagerly threw this in the player. As you can see from the image above, the vinyl release includes the poster/calendar. It, and the CD also has the fan's memories and the booklet, which offers up insights on the creation of each track (For example, I learned what flam is - it's what Neal played on Nervous)

On disc 2, another concert, which captures the band’s performance at Mar Y Sol Pop Festival in Puerto Rico on April 2, 1972. The set list is similar to the one heard on School's, though rawer, but man, Halo of Flies/You Drive Me Nervous, Dennis and Neal just whale on that song in either concert. The record closes with 3 alternate versions for You Drive Me Nervous (neat take on the tune), Under My Wheels (sans horns... and I dig the horns, but there's a fierce energy in sections without 'em), and Dead Babies (I liked the pronounced feminine sounding backing vocal)

While the remastering on the main event (disc 1) gives the release a sonic punch (bass is strong though not overpowering), nothing much changed otherwise. I always felt the left channel guitar riff after the chorus on Body was a bit hot/loud, and a little too hard left, and it still is. So, this truly is a remaster, where you adjust compression and EQ, rather than a remix of any kind.

What else can I say, it's still Killer. You know it, you love it, you can't live without it.

 

Billion Dollar Babies 2001: "This next song is dirty, you'll love it!" - Alice. A huge upgrade from Warners thin and tinny 1990 CD release, this 2-disc digipak reproduces that brilliant packaging (with billion-dollar bill, seen above) and includes the remastered version of the original record, as well as tunes from the Babies tour, recorded in Texas for the film, Good to See You Again, Alice Cooper. It's a fabulous, hard rocking concert, with yet another updating of Dead Babies (Betty's "aspirin" was ever changing). Neal's drumming is fast and heavy, he simply blows the doors off the place. 3 guitarists are clearly heard; Mick Mashbir provided the extra axe, and Bob Dolin's the man on the keys.

Bonus material includes outtakes Coal Black Model T and Son of Billion Dollar Babies (a not-so-hot version of Generation Landslide), and Slick Black Limousine (an update of Model T).

According to several sources there was also a 24-page booklet enclosed on the physical release, yes, no? It's a bit confusing since some speak of it (a German blog), while others don't (was it not included in the States?) Since I came late to the game, and copies of the CD became pricey, I purchased it on iTunes, which didn't include a PDF booklet, but of what I've seen and read, there was a brief intro by Rhino's Vice President of A&R, David McLees, followed by an overview from Phoenix writer Brian Smith. There were also photos, lyrics and credits.

Billion Dollar Babies - Quadio 2023: The quadrophonic, 4-speaker audio mix of B$B was made available for the first time in 50 years as a Rhino exclusive (happy birthday, Babies) - and the sound and separation between instruments is fascinating - the way each is highlighted - you can really hear how gritty the rhythm guitars are, how the leads pop, and then there's all the effects layered on them - which allows some unusual sounds to come to the fore (Elected, for example, has a lot going on in it, more than your hearing in the traditional stereo, there's flange on one guitar, and something that I can only describe as a 'plunger' sound buried deep at the end, and more). You get a better appreciation of Neal's drumming - the harmonies on Nice Guy, and the vocal filters on Babies stand out... Unfinished Sweet is crunchier, Generation Landslide closes in an unusual, unfamiliar way, Sick Things is a new kind of trippy and scary, there's change in a lyric in Raped and Freezin ("Alone with a bloody nose") and just so, so many details to explore, maybe too much, but it's amazing to be able to pick it all out, and to feel it surround you like this.

Billion Dollar Babies 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition 2024: The "Trillion Dollar" edition, as it was promoted, features 3 vinyl records and replicates the original packaging, including the textured snakeskin cover. CD comes with 2 discs, and each include the booklet, which is loaded with memories from the band and producer. Most of the tracks are the same as what was found on the original remaster, though there are a couple of additional live song, and some singles versions.

For the main album - Schools and Killer were low frequency, with pronounced bass, so it's wasn't as much a leap to go from where they were to where they are, whereas $ had an airy, wide-open, trebly sound, and you can't stray too far with that without changing the character of the record, so yes, Elected still hurt my ears, though I get why (Alice is supposed to sound like a politician addressing a crowd, with that echoey, cheap sound system), the bass might be a little heavier, but it's not a huge step above of what we heard on the last remaster.

The real bonus was the booklet, while we didn't get fan memories on this one, the bands recollections are well worth the price of admission. While many of the stories are familiar, there are a few different slants and just collecting their thoughts on the songs and production is a real joy. I seriously want one of these remasters for both the music and the memories, for Love it to Death.

Muscle of Love Expanded Deluxe Edition 2024: Offered was a 2 LP Vinyl release, as well as a CD/Blu-ray version - both of which include the booklet with track-by-track stories, as told to journalist Jaan Uhelszki, who spoke with Cooper, Bruce, Dunaway, Smith, and additional guitarist Nick Mashbir.

The BD has the original 192/24 resolution quadraphonic mixes, the CDs include the album, and an 11-track collection of alternate mixes, early versions and singles and that (along with the booklet) is what made this worth my money. You really get to hear the band rock, without all the "decoration" (as Alice calls it). Just the raw essence - the musicianship, from Dennis' bass lines, Bob Dolin's keys... Michael's rhythm guitar work, is front and center.

Muscle of Love loses something special without the squeeze drum (as they call it), but Never Been Sold Before is stronger without the horns - the horns were well played, added a groove, I never minded them, but yeah, it's an improved sound, stripped down like that. While there are moments where they are still finding the sound, the voice, the disc gives you a new perspective on the tunes. Plus, you get to hear Neal drumming on Crazy Little Child.

Back to Page One

Welcome to My Collection

A selection of records, books, toys and whatnot

Alice Coopers Greatest Hits

Release Date: August 1, 1974

Highest US Chart: #8

Side 1: I'm Eighteen * Is It My Body * Desperado * Under My Wheels * Be My Lover * School's Out

Side 2: Hello Hooray * Elected * No More Mr. Nice Guy * Billion Dollar Babies * Teenage Lament '74 * Muscle of Love

Featuring songs from 5 of their 7 first albums, remixed by Jack Richardson, so that gave a listener a little something new to mull over. Artwork? Simply gorgeous, my parents gifted me this for Christmas that year and they poured over that cover, told me the names of all the actors (the ones I didn’t know) - from wiki…

The album’s cover art was designed by Ernie Cefalu and features a sepia-toned Drew Struzan illustration of the band members in front of a 1930s garage, accompanied by such period movie stars as Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, Edward G. Robinson, Jean Harlow, Peter Lorre, and Groucho Marx. The inner sleeve features a similar illustration of the band surrounded by these and other stars of Hollywood’s golden age such as Marilyn Monroe, Gary Cooper, Judy Garland, Errol Flynn, Clara Bow, Boris Karloff, Zasu Pitts, Tyrone Power, Bela Lugosi, Marlene Dietrich, Tallulah Bankhead, Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd. A depiction of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre is in the upper middle.

The Alice Cooper Show

Release Date: December 1, 1977

Highest US Chart: #131

Side 1: Under My Wheels * I'm Eighteen * Only Women Bleed * Sick Things * Is It My Body? * I Never Cry

Side 2: Billion Dollar Babies * Devil's Food/Black Widow * You and Me * I Love the Dead/Go to Hell/Wish You Were Here * Schools Out

When it comes to live shows, you want to see him strut his stuff, not just hear it, so this was not a record I played a lot, and Alice doesn't have fond memories of it - from wiki...

Recorded live in Las Vegas at the Aladdin Hotel on August 19 and 20, 1977, during Cooper's "King of the Silver Screen" United States tour. Before doing the gig that would become this album, Alice Cooper was exhausted from constant touring, recording and drinking. Contractual obligations resulted in him being heavily pressured into doing it. Alice states "Whenever a fan comes to me with this album to sign, I tell them I hate this album". The TV special Alice Cooper and Friends featured live footage from that tour.

The Life and Crimes of Alice Cooper

Release Date: April 20, 1999 

Highest US Chart: Didn't chart

Disc 1: Don't Blow Your Mind, Hitch Hike, and Why Don't You Love Me (The Spiders) * "Lay Down and Die, Goodbye" (Original version from The Nazz) * Nobody Likes Me (demo) * Levity Ball * Reflected * Mr. and Misdemeanor * Refrigerator Heaven * Caught in a Dream" (single version) * I'm Eighteen * Is It My Body? * Ballad of Dwight Fry * Under My Wheels * Be My Lover * Desperado * Dead Babies * Killer * Call It Evil (unreleased demo) * Gutter Cat vs. the Jets * School's Out (single version)

Disc 2: Hello Hooray * Elected (single version) * Billion Dollar Babies * No More Mr. Nice Guy * I Love the Dead * Slick Black Limousine" (Flexi-disc from New Musical Express) * Respect for the Sleepers" (unreleased demo) * Muscle of Love * Teenage Lament '74 * Working Up a Sweat * Man with the Golden Gun * I'm Flash & Space Pirates (Flash Fearless Vs. the Zorg Women, Pts. 5 & 6) * Welcome to My Nightmare and Only Women Bleed (single versions) * Cold Ethyl * Department of Youth * Escape * I Never Cry * Go to Hell

Disc 3: It's Hot Tonight * You and Me (single version) * I Miss You (From the Billion Dollar Babies album, Battle Axe) * No Time for Tears (Sextette film outtake) * Because (with The Bee Gees - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band soundtrack) * From the Inside" (single version) * How You Gonna See Me Now * Serious" * No Tricks (duet with Betty Wright - How You Gonna See Me Now” B-side) * Road Rats" (originally released on Lace and Whiskey - Roadie soundtrack) * Clones (We're All) (single version) * Pain * Who Do You Think We Are (single version) * Look at You Over There, Ripping the Sawdust from My Teddybear" (unreleased demo) * For Britain Only" (UK-only single) * I Am the Future" (single version) * Tag, You're It * Former Lee Warmer * I Love America * Identity Crisis & See Me in the Mirror (Monster Dog soundtrack) * Hard Rock Summer (previously Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives soundtrack)

Disc Four: He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask) (unreleased demo) * He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask - Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives soundtrack) * Teenage Frankenstein * Freedom * Prince of Darkness" * Under My Wheels (The Decline of Western Civilization II soundtrack) * I Got a Line on You (Iron Eagle II soundtrack) * Poison, Trash, Only My Heart Talkin' * Hey Stoopid" (single version) * Feed My Frankenstein * Fire (“Love's a Loaded Gun” B-side) * Lost in America" * It's Me * Hands of Death" (Spookshow 2000 Mix with Rob Zombie - Songs in the Key of X soundtrack) * Is Anyone Home? (A Fistful of Alice) * Stolen Prayer

A 'not quite exhaustive but extensive' 4-disc collection that follows Coopers musical career and band history. Loaded with well-known studio versions, along with demos, B-sides, rarities and previously unreleased material, this was an incredible release, a must have for the Cooper faithful.

The art design is killer, with a 3D Alice (on the original release) seen behind bars on the cover. Each individual CD also sports memorable art, there's a booklet with photos, song memories, a discography and an authorized bio, Alcohol and Razor Blades, Poison and Needles: The Glorious Wretched Excess of Alice Cooper, All-American, written by Creem magazine editor Jeffrey Morgan.  

Memory: I had a co-worker who belonged to a CD club, when she heard that I was looking to buy this, she informed me that she could get it for me at a better price, and that's how I came to own it.

Books & Comics & Mags

These two biographies came recommended, written by Alice and bassist Dennis Dunaway - according to Dunaway he has a vivid memory, so there's the promise of veracity in his bio. And I have to say I was hooked from page 1 - even in cases where I knew how it was going to turn out I was hanging on every word. From the bands early struggles to the highs of fame, and how it unraveled. We come to know these distinct personalities and their playing styles and how that affected song development and studio work. Dennis records it all with candor.

As a lyricist Alice is skilled at painting evocative pictures with words, and he proves to be a charming and captivating raconteur here. The subject seems an odd combination - rock star memories/golf monster tips - and if you're not into sport it might even turn you off from giving the book a try, though that part of it is not as well-worn as the rock star stuff, you get something new in those chapters. In relation to the band, Alice's side of these stories sometimes differs from how Dennis remembers them, and he's not as detailed, but it's overall a good read, filled with anecdotes and celebrities (Alice really digs famous people) and golf lessons.

While familiar (it quotes from the bands and Sheps bios) Gary Graff's Alice Cooper at 75 rekindles so many good memories, as it chronicles and celebrates ACs 75 years in 75 chapters. The hard cover coffee table book is housed in a crushed velvet-effect box and comes with 2 mini posters and a photo suitable for autographing and framing. 

I purchased this in October of 2023 and read it (appropriately) during the week of Halloween. The book is filled with interviews and backstory for each studio release from the decade. I disagreed with some of his opinions (and I really hate when he suggests that a favorite song of mine should have been dropped from an album), but when he wasn't pissing me off, he was delighting me with fun and fascinating facts - a few I was completely in the dark about (see Constrictor), and several that echoed my own thoughts (Kip Winger not being happy with his bass being buried in the mix on "Raise Your Fist and Yell"). 

There's also a book on the 70s, I'm more familiar with that decade so I haven't picked that up yet.

I have the Dynamite comic book series written by Joe Harris (pictured above), and another by Tim Seeley (Alice Cooper Vs. Chaos), as well as Neil Gaiman's The Last Temptation, and Marvel Premiere #50, which was based on From the Inside.

I collected a bunch of magazines in the 70s, maybe early 80s, with Creem being my go-to mag. Though I'm not sure why, as I was often at odds with them (they bagged on Queen hard, and I dug Queen), but I loved the music and the interviews and pictures, and we didn't have the internet, so this was my source for news and info. I still have the issue pictured above (from July 1975).

And the newest addition, a British mag I picked up as a digital purchase in October of 2023. There are 16 pages of photos & interviews with Alice and 3 of the lead guitarists who have played with him over the decades (Hunter, Kane and Nita).

Toys & Collectables

The Insanity Van

McFarlane Figure 

Tours

T-Shirt from The Nightmare Returns tour, Jan 1987

One of the best concerts I ever attended. He mixed the classics in with and a few from his latest release, Constrictor. The showman was out in full force, the snake was there, as was the straitjacket, the guillotine and other cool props and FX. I sat in the center seat, about the end of the first third of the venue on the main floor, so I had a good view of him.

Setlist: Welcome to My Nightmare, Billion Dollar Babies, No More Mr. Nice Guy, Be My Lover, I'm Eighteen, The World Needs Guts, Give It Up, Cold Ethyl, Only Women Bleed, Go to Hell, Ballad of Dwight Fry, Teenage Frankenstein, Sick Things, I Love the Dead, School's Out - Encore: Elected, Under My Wheels

Program from the Trash tour, April 1990

This was not as strong a show, I don't remember it being as big and theatrical as the "Nightmare Returns"... the music was great of course and I got hear a few of my favorites not played during the last concert, like Steven.

Setlist: Hello Hooray (Judy Collins song played over speakers before show began) - Trash, Billion Dollar Babies, I'm Eighteen, I'm Your Gun, Desperado, House of Fire, No More Mr. Nice Guy, This Maniac's In Love With You, Steven, Welcome to My Nightmare, Ballad of Dwight Fry, Gutter Cat vs. the Jets, Only Women Bleed, I Love the Dead, Poison, Spark in the Dark, Only My Heart Talkin', Bed of Nails, School's Out - Encore: Under My Wheels

Not my tickets (if I still have them, they are in storage) but they looked something like this.

Video

I've seen most of the guest shots (Wayne's World) and starring roles (Monster Dog). Watched the TV special Welcome to My Nightmare and the movie, Good to See You Again, Alice Cooper and the doc on Shep, but this BD is one of the few I own - my thoughts?

Often cool but severely lacking documentary. How can you cover the life of AC and the band and not speak to guitarist Michael Bruce or address the death of Glen Buxton. Why no mention of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction? I would have liked clips from that and other things -- and more coverage on their only #1 album, Billion Dollar Babies and the movie they made in support of that. I liked a lot of it, but it's a CliffsNotes version of the story. (The filmmakers' decision to focus primarily on the friendship between Vince and Dennis was a mistake - The band and Coop deserve a "Beatles Anthology" style miniseries).

CD and BD, the documentary tells the tale of how a local record store owner turned a book signing into a reunion concert. Great fun, great music, love seeing the guys together, they still rock.

Apparel & Accessories

A T-Shirt I picked up recently - I liked the color and design, and always liked that image. I found some info on the setlist, and a review at The Concert Database. In addition, scroll down at Sick Things Uk Timeline to see the ticket and some photos (a rather small stage at that stage in their careers).

I stumbled upon a box of buttons the other day, I used to buy these when I was a teen, and poring over them I found several Beatles, a lot of Devo. Blondie, Ramones, Billy Idol, Split Enz, even some for relatively lesser-known groups like The Dickies, Mi-Sex and Girlschool. But what I didn't find was Alice! What, how, why? Did they not offer them at my local record stores? I needed to change that right quick, so, I went to Etsy and found a couple at a nice price.