Pretties For You
If you are like me you didn't find this album until much later on after listening to “I'm Eighteen” or “No More Mr. Nice Guy.” When I started to collect Alice Cooper back catalog of Lp’s I had no idea what was going to come out of my speakers. I just had this expression as if being dropped alone on a planet a millions years from Earth with only a rubber band.
Alice Cooper was signed by Frank Zappa’s Straight Label who also toured with Zappa.
PFY was recorded with in a few days and even though it was stating in the credits as being Produced by Alice Cooper. It was Produced by Ian Underwood and Herb Cohen with Zappa maybe coming in to assist on a song or two.
I have to admit after listening to it for sometime I really enjoyed what I heard from those strange and discord sounds. Being in the the late 60’s, 1968 to be exact but wasn't released until ‘69 PFY instruments had the Psychedelic influences of early Pink Floyd or 13th Floor Elevators. Although the lyrics still had that West Coast hippie living but still pretty out there by any means.
This lp starts off with an instrumental titled “Titanic Overture.” About a minute long “Titanic Overture” leads in with an organ that seems to be reminisce of “Goin Out of My Head.”
Some of my favorites are “Sing Low, Sweet Cheerio,” which I have no idea what it means or maybe it’s a mind expanding trip

recall falling down a lot of time was spent that way
but this story staring me has already begun
cause I had some vision in my sight
on the journey to be one

“Fields of Regret,” with The Doors influence shows Alice’s upbringing as a minister’s son in which he would incorporate Biblical references throughout most of his albums.

when the approaching judge shall find
sinful deeds from all mankind
with death and nature in surprise
behold the wretched sinners rise
to meet the judge’s searching eyes

My all time favorite is the live cut of “Levity Ball” which I still love to this day. I know I get a lot of strange looks when I say that too. It’s also good to note “Reflected” which Alice would keep in his back pocket to reprise it with new lyrics on“Elected.”

Artwork: The cover was an Ed Beardsley painting titled "Pretties For You" that was in Frank Zappa’s house. Alice wanted to use a Dali painting “Geopoliticus Child” for the cover but either they couldn't afford it or legal matters stop them. But Beardsley painting of an old man holding a mug of beer staring at a women who’s lifting up her skirt while in the background a funeral procession is going by is just as strange as the music in the album sleeve.
The group picture on the back shows the Alice Cooper Group in what looks to be taken inside a museum of Modern Art. The group is still experimenting with their persona. First from the left in black is Neal Smith drummer who looks like a biker. Followed by lead guitarist Glen Buxton who could of stepped out of a Vegas Casino. A blonde androgynous singer, songwriter and harmonica player Alice Cooper sporting a glitter cheerleader uniform and black denim pants. Bass player and Time Traveler Dennis Dunaway in the silver space suit that he wore when landed on Earth years ago. Closing up with rhythm guitar, piano, organ and co-writer Michael Bruce who could of easily been a member of The Byrds or Buffalo Springfield. There is no song listing on the back of the album. The inside is a gatefold shows individual pics of each member along with a listing of their musical credits and track listing. The song credits go to the whole band.
This is not an album to listen to if you want to get into Alice Cooper. This is more of knowing the band for sometime and appreciate where the origin of the Alice Cooper Group spawned.

Easy Action
Alice’s sophomore album Easy Action starts to show a little of Alice’s writing and growl that we all come to know. Also it shows their influence of a TV generation. There are quite a few good tunes on this lp. Released 1970 but recorded in 1969 this was pretty much the last album from Zappa’s exclusive Straight Label even though Warner Brothers Records was their distributor. Produced by David Briggs who produced Neil Young records this was a strange collaboration. But Briggs seems to keep the band from doing to much of their experimental music that was on the first album.

The first track “Mr & Misdemeanor” shows their penchant of Broadway musicals and will show more on this album as well as others down the road. I like “Shoe Salesman” which if you listen to just the melody it could be from any 60’s band but the lyrics shows the band darker side.

I know a shoe salesman
he’s an acquaintance of mine
one day he showed me some
marks on his arm

“Still No Air” gives us the bands love for musical "West Side Story" which they repeat
again in “School’s Out” album. The title of the album comes from a line of the musical.
"Action" was the nickname of one of the Jets gang members.

Easy Action
got a rocket in your pocket
when your a Jet your a Jet all the way
from your first cigarette to your last dying day

“Below Your Mean” is more listen able instrumental which starts off by the lead vocals of Michael Bruce. Michael will also sing lead on “Beautiful Flyaway”
“Return of The Spiders” is getting closer to the Alice sound. Spiders a tribute to one of Alice Cooper Groups previous band names from their High School days. This song was dedicated to Gene Vincent the artist who sang “Be-Bop-A-Lula.”

A returning theme “Refrigerator Heaven” is about cyber cryonics. Alice would write another song about this in 1975

I’ve been admitted to refrigerator heaven
until they find a cure for cancer

Last song “Lay Down and Die, Goodbye” sounds like a title from a James Bond movie. It also has the intro spoken by Tom Smothers from comedian team The Smothers Brothers who I believe isn't credited on the album. Then Alice sings about four lines in an almost Jim Morrison tone which leads into another instrumental. It starts out pretty organized but later they get caught up their Pink Floydesque phase or now would be considered Sonic Youth feedback. This was probably a tune that didn’t make it on the first album.

Artwork: The cover predominately red color has a 5x7 inch picture showing the backs of the five topless long hair band members who are still unknown. With the band named Alice Cooper they play on the band’s moniker. The back along with the credits an song listings of the album shows the band in full glam wear. Neal Smith pulls off the androgyny attire as Alice, Michael & Dennis give us the Glam look. I can’t help but feel that Glen isn’t happy with is clothes. He has that somber look like this is what they made me wear. The inside are very good individual black & white photos of the band members. The photos have that etching feel to them taken by Photographer Lorrie Sullivan. The four corners are taken by the four members as Alice covers the middle in two shots.

Love It To Death
If anyone wants to learn about Alice Cooper this is a good album to pick up. Changing labels to Warner Brothers and moving from L.A. to Detroit was the spark they needed and a new sound. I say a more garage band sound with the likes of Iggy & The Stooges, Grand Funk and MC5. Warner Brothers Records in control of Zappa’s Straight label shows both logos. The first Alice Cooper album to be produced by Bob Ezrin who later produced Pink Floyd and Lou Reed. Love it To Death catapulted both Alice Cooper and Bob Ezrin. This is the album that made Alice Cooper. Also one of my favorite albums still to this day. Ezrin told the band they had to recreate Alice cause right now no one really knows who Alice is. So they moved to a Michigan farmhouse and restructured the band to give them a signature sound. This album is the first time to give individual credits on each song. Almost each member writes a track.

Michael Bruce pens the first track “Caught In A Dream.” Starting off with the guitar intro it just blows away their first two albums. Also with lyrics being less psychedelic and more main street or should I say trailer trash.

Running through the world with a gun in my back
tryin’ to catch a ride in that Cadillac

This brings the band on street level with the public. The numbers increase as well as the hits “I’m Eighteen” and “Is It My Body”.

“I’m Eighteen” was the first Alice Cooper hit and still to this day is a staple in Alice’s performance.
Being a teen angst song decades before “Smells Like Teen Spirit” shows Alice’s acceptance to growing up. It may be awkward and feels left out or alone but he welcomes it.

I’m in the middle
the middle of life
I’m a boy and I’m a man
I’m eighteen and I LIKE IT

“Black Juju” is as mysterious as the Bass player Dennis Dunaway who wrote it. With an African drum beat and voodoo lyrics it make you feel like you’re in the darkest region of the jungle.

cursed through the night through eyes of alarm
a melody black flowed out of my breath
searching for death but bodies need rest

As they go chant of ...rest...rest..rest. The hypnotic organ by Michael Bruce which reminds me of The Doors instrumental of “Light My Fire” is really a variation of Pink Floyd track “Set The Controls For The Heart of The Sun” as it was noted in the book “The Illustrated Collector’s Guide To Alice Cooper” by Dale Sherman. As the music sinks lower and lower like being in quicksand all of a sudden Alice snaps back screaming as if waking up from a zombie’s trance

Wake up...wake up...wake up

It’s funny to point out that the title came from a dog named Juju, the Black Lab was one of the resident pets at the farmhouse.

The stand out song on this album to me is “Ballad of Dwight Fry.” Although misspelled Dwight Frye was an actor who played in the RKO horror films. He was Renfield in the Bela Lugosi film Dracula or Fritz in Frankenstein to name a few films. This brings Alice and the love of old horror films hand in hand as we will see in future material. This song takes Alice into the theatrical field which he would sing on stage sporting a strait jacket while questioning his sanity.

held up in the intensive care ward
lyin on the floor...

With the help of producer Bob Ezrin on piano it gives it haunting melody and the guitars stretch as you can picture Alice struggling to free himself.

I grabbed my hat and got my coat
and I ran into the street...

“Sun Arise” is the only song which wasn’t an original. It was co-written Rolf Harris an Australian performer and Butler which came out in the 60’s. This is the only song I don’t like on the album. I wish they did one of their own tunes or just end it after “Ballad of Dwight Fry”

Artwork: The album is black & white which fits into Alice Cooper new dark style of music and lyrics. The cover has the band in the spotlight with title in white appears as having to be hand written. They seem to shed more of the feminine drag accept for Neal who’s wearing a woman’s lace top. Alice looks like a scary Tiny Tim as Dennis with his sunken dark eyes could be a walking zombie from the Black Juju curse. Glen this time looks like he’s taking no shit from anyone as Michael wearing fringe shirt and silver pants shows some Glam edge.
The album has both labels Straight and Warner Brothers which would be the last time Straight label appears on Alice albums.
If you have the original lp you’ll have the infamous Alice’s thumb sticking out from his scarf which he’s holding together. But some thought it was phallic looking and what you may have is the airbrushed version. To tell the truth I seen the original and it doesn’t look like anything else but a thumb. You can see Alice’s arm going down the scarf. But since Jim Morrison was in the media of his alleged flashing on stage in Florida the label thought in the best interest to fix the cover.
As for the back side of the cover shows the band in an all white background holding their guitars and bass as Neal is center sitting with a cane. It also lists the songs from the album but not in order. They have “Hallowed Be My Name” listed as the third track.
The inside was a gatefold along with credits and correct track list shows a close up of Alice’s eye with make up. This is the first time you see him with the spider eye make up. In his pupils are pictures of the band. It still has that sort of acid feel to it as they looked distorted by the fish eye lens.

Killer
Produced by Bob Ezrin, Killer included hits “Under My Wheels”, “Be My Lover” and “Desperado”.
It’s also include some of Ezrin’s studio musicians or friends. On this album Rick Derringer was un credited for his work on “Under My Wheels” and “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”.
“Be My Lover” has that Lou Reed “Sweet Jane” sound to it.

“Desperado” is Alice’s way of paying homage to his drinking buddy Jim Morrison.

can’t you hear that ghost that’s calling

In fact Alice emulates Morrison’s voice in this song.
Alice said at one time instead of sending flowers I wrote this song. Alice compares a rock star as being a gunfighter. There is always someone who thinks he’s better than you and you’re always looking over your shoulder at the new gun in town. Alice also inspired by the movie “The Magnificent Seven”.

“Halo of Flies” is a big number and spotlights Neal Smith’s extraordinary drumming. This song has that suspenseful TV drama sound from the 70’s. The character in the song is like Secret Agent 007.

I got a watch that turns into a lifeboat

Another epic song is “Dead Babies” which people have misinterpreted by just reading the title and who haven’t listen to the lyrics. “Dead Babies” is about a child who’s neglected and ends up overdosing from medicine she has found in the home.

Little Betty ate a pound of aspirins
she got them on the shelf up on the wall
Betty’s mommy wasn’t there to save her

Which leads into the last song “Killer” another theatrical song. Alice uses his Jim Morrison voice again in the beginning. As the Killer character gives his confession

someone handed me this gun and I gave it everything

Once he’s caught & is being escorted down death row to meet his fate. You hear the last rites being read in latin while the haunting organ fills the corridors. Then it’s followed by a swirling sound as it gets louder and louder then cuts off into dead silence. It sort of reminded me of water drain as the water gets sucked down the pipes. I supposed it could be the killer’s life being snuffed out at final execution. During this concert the gallows were introduced as one of Alice’s execution.

Artwork: The cover red again like Easy Action is a close up of a serpentine’s head that of Kachina who was really Neal Smith’s snake. Neal received Kachina as a gift during the Love It To Death tour. It would be the first introduction of the snake’s appearance during “Be My Lover”. This would be another trademark of Alice Cooper. The artist who shot the cover of Kachina was French Vogue photographer Pete Turner.
The title on the front is scrawled in black like some deranged serial killer.
The back side is the band wearing gold outfits and their wild manes blowing in the air. Alice is wearing the spider eye make up. Neal is holding the snake over the head of the band members.
The back also includes the list of songs and writing credits.
The gate fold opens up to a calendar of Alice being hung. As his lifeless body dangles and blood drops appear on his chest. Back of the gatefold is solid purple with red lettering of production and other credits.

Trivia note: Pete Turner’s other snake head picture appears on a Boston band named Fuzzy CD titled “Electric Juices” in 1996.

Schools Out
Produced by Bob Ezrin, “School’s Out” is pretty much close to a concept record. More so than “Killer” even though “Killer” had it’s theme. Alice Cooper Group played like the Rolling Stones using a more raw sound as well as blues. Glen Buxton came out with the opening notes to “School’s Out”. Glen once said the beginning was like when kids tease one another they go “na na nana na” he use to just play those notes during previous jams. Finally they picked up on it and it blossomed into a trade mark hit of Alice Cooper.

One of my favorite song from this album is “Blue Turk” a very bluesy tune that Alice’s voice is in that Morrison tone.

tastes like whiskey on your lips
and earthworms rule your brain

I love the brass and the bass line which the smell of cigarettes and whiskey come wafting through the speakers. It’s as if I’m sitting in a blues bar with my shoes sticking to the tacky barroom floor. Glen Buxton once mentioned he really enjoyed playing “Blue Turk”. l also heard they did a long jam of this in the studio. I would of love to hear it.

Alice tips his hat once again to Bersteins “West Side Story” in two songs. One is “Gutter Cat vs The Jets” the other is the end of “Grande Finale”.

Alice also pays tribute to Sci-Fi movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still" as they quote the line "Klaatu barada Nikto" which is in the background of "My Stars".

Alice is growling in the school yard to “Public Animal #9” hanging out with his classmate Glen Buxton.

Me and G.B. we ain’t never gonna confess
we cheated on the math test
we carved some dirty words on our desk

As “Alma Mater” written by Neal Smith shows Alice saying goodbye to his school
and ends off in a western theme of cowboy riding in the sunset.

maybe I’ll see you around some time, uh?
don’t make a stranger of yourself, uh?
remember the Coop, uh?

Truly we’ll remember The Coop for years to come.

“Grande Finale” you can tell has Bob Ezrin written all over it with the lavish orchestra production. This seems a bit over the top after the rest of the album is more garage rock.

Artwork: One of the creative things about Alice Cooper was his album design concepts. “School’s Out” front cover was a picture of the top of a school desk which the band scrawls in graffiti their names. The back is the bottom of the desk which comes with a track list in the wrong order and a punch out desk legs you can actually stand up.
The inside is what you may see inside of a students desk. It’s picture of books, paper, pencils, etc...
The inside front cover was a picture of the band as to appear as being taped under the lid of the desktop. It shows the band as juvenile delinquents dressed in leather and carrying a pool cue, swigging liquor as the floor is littered with empty Michelob bottles. It took me a while to notice Dennis Dunaway who was sitting inside a trash barrel pointing a handgun at the camera.
The original album came with paper panties that later was banned for some reason. They’re many different stories why so I guess it’s whoever you hear it from at the time. Also inside was a report card that came out that list credits & track list.

Billion Dollar Babies
Produced by Bob Ezrin. This was the zenith of Alice Cooper’s career. This may be considered Alice Cooper Groups “Sgt. Pepper’s” album. Each band has their turning point or most creative period and this was it. Although it sort of became their most exhausting recording and touring.
This album started out as a jam session in England with Donavan, Keith Moon, Harry Nilsson, Marc Bolan and Rick Greech. With Donovan the only person who actually made it to recording a duet with Alice on “Billion Dollar Babies”. Some of the musicians who contributed on this album were Donovan, Steve Hunter, Dick Wagner, Mick Mashbir and Bob Dolin. Unfortunately guitarist Glen Buxton was in failing health so Mick Mashbir was appointed to step in and assist at times on any studio recordings and future concerts.
This album was a big commercial success with a number of hits. I also think it’s one of the very best in creative lyrics of all the albums. Although it starts off with “Hello Hooray” a song that wasn’t penned by the band and was original sung by Judy Collins. It’s a good intro song but I have to say I was never a big fan of this track.
If you have their first album “Pretties For You” then you’ll know “Elected” sounds familiar. It is a remix of “Reflected”. Donavon’s duet with Alice is excellent on “Billion Dollar Babies” plus Neal Smith’s drumming intro is one of the best drum beats.

“Unfinished Sweet” is a theatrical song with some great creative lyrics of man visiting his dentist.

Saint Vitus dance on my molars tonight
aching to get me...

Saint Vitus Dance was an affliction (largely psychosomatic) which was widespread in the Middle Ages as was quoted in Carl G. Jung “Man And His Symbols” book.
Another great line was the S&M of Marque De Sade

De Sade’s gonna live in my mouth tonight

As a he get’s gassed during the procedure and goes into a James Bond dream along with them playing a 007 theme.

“No More Mr. Nice Guy” is a good tune of Alice telling the press he’s fed up with them making up stories of Alice’s antics.

I’ve got no friends cause they read the papers
they can’t be seen with me...

even his family has to hide

my mom’s been thrown out of the social circle
my dad’s has to hide...

Alice uses drummer Neal Smith as a character in this song. Alice mentioned
one time Neal and him had an argument when Neal in frustration struck Alice.

I went to church incognito
when everybody rose, the Reverend Smith
he recognized me and punched me in the nose

“Generation Landslide” is one of my favorite tracks from this album. It’s also the last song they wrote for this album. Supposedly it was written in one day.

“Sick Things” is a clever song talking about his audience.

I love you things I see
as much as you love me
you things are heavenly when you come worship me...

“I Love The Dead” was another tribute to horror films and became one of the biggest necrophilia songs of all times.

I love the dead before they’re cold
their bluing flesh for me to hold
cadaver eyes upon me see nothing

Artwork: They went all out on this one. The album itself resembles a snakeskin wallet with an Alice Cooper gold coin on the front and on the back the reverse of the coin with some of the
tracks listed.
As you open it up the inside cover has punch out photos of the band and some live pics of the band in concert. The other side has a Billion Dollar that pulls out with picture of the band in the President’s spot.
The credits were hard to read unless you punched out all the photos on the inside cover. The vinyl sleeve was the first time they printed their lyrics as the other side had a pic of the band in all white satin suits holding white rabbits and surrounded with large bundles of money. Alice is holding a crying baby who’s wearing Alice eye make up. The baby was Lola Pfieffer, the daughter of their press agent in Europe Carolyn Pfieffer.

1972 - Reissued 2001
Disc 1
1. Hello Hooray
2. Raped And Freezin'
3. Elected
4. Billion Dollar Babies
5. Unfinished Sweet
6. No More Mr. Nice Guy
7. Generation Landslide
8. Sick Things
9. Mary Ann
10. I Love The Dead

Disc 2
1. Hello Hooray*
2. Billion Dollar Babies*
3. Elected*
4. I'm Eighteen*
5. Raped And Freezin'*
6. No More Mr. Nice Guy*
7. My Stars (LIVE 1973)
8. Unfinished Sweet*
9. Sick Things*
10. Dead Babies*
11. I Love The Dead *
12. Coal Black Model T (Outtake)
13. Son Of Billion Dollar Babies
(Generation Landslide) (Outake)
14. Slick Black Limousine
* (LIVE 1973)

Billion Dollar Babies Deluxe Edition CD
Reissue produced for release by David McLees, Brian Nelson & Bill Inglot. This is a 2 CD set. First CD is the original tracks of the “Billion Dollar Babies” album that’s reviewed above.
The second CD is recorded live in Dallas & Houston, Texas on April 28th & 29th of 1973 plus 3 bonus tracks. The only two songs that’s not included was “School’s Out & “Under My Wheels” from those shows.
This is so far the only official recording of the original band that’s out. Although some unofficial records like “Live At The Whiskey A-Go-Go” and “The Toronto Rock N’ Roll Revival Concert of ‘69” among many bootlegs floating around.
The musicians on this tour included the original band with additional musicians Mick Mashbir on lead guitar and Bob Dolin on Keyboards. Two performers who played characters on stage are The Amazing Randi as Dentist and Executioner. This was also the first time that the guillotine made it’s appearance that was also created by The Amazing Randi who was a well known magician in his time. The other performer was Cindy Smith who played the Dancing Tooth. Cindy is also the sister of drummer Neal Smith & wife of bassist Dennis Dunaway.
I really enjoyed listening to the musicians who actually created this music and hearing them perform it live in their heyday.

This gives you the extended version of “I’m Eighteen” which Alice adds a line responding to Don Mclean’s “American Pie” song .

I ain’t 21, I ain’t 22, I ain’t 23, 24, 25
I ain’t no american pie
took my Chevy down the levy but the levy went dry...

All the other songs sounded pretty much as you hear it on the studio versions only louder.
I sometimes don’t enjoy live recordings due to the crowd noises during the sets but the audience cheers in the beginning and end of each song. So you get to listen to the band without any outside interference. As for the 3 bonus tracks “Coal Black Model T” and “Slick Black Limousine” are the same song only the latter one is a revised version. Alice does an Elvis vocal on this rock-a-billy tune.
The other is “Son of Billion Dollar Babies” or also noted as “Generation Landslide” out take. Alice reminds me of Bob Dylan during this song with almost a nasal sound. I don’t know if he was listening to Dylan while recording this but it just reminds me of Bob. The lyrics are shorter than the finalized version and it also doesn’t have the harmonica which I love on the studio recording. But it’s still a good song and interesting in how they progressed in the creative process.

Artwork: This is on a CD so it’s just like the original only smaller and no Billion Dollar but shows a folded one inside of the wallet like case. I don’t know if they planned it but it shows part of Alice and full image of Glen Buxton as the dollar is folded. If it wasn’t intentional it’s a happy coincident and fitting tribute to the late great guitarist Glen Buxton.
Inside the 24 page booklet gives you some concert pics mostly of Alice Cooper.
Inside includes a liner note by Rhino Records V.P. David McLees. There is also a well written article by New Times columnist Brian Smith who is also a musician from the group The Beat Angels and formerly of Gentleman After Dark. Brian Smith gives an excellent account of each song and what went on behind the scenes. I found this very informative and interesting read. The booklet includes the lyrics, track list and credits. It’s very well done & put together with a lot of thought in mind.

Muscle Of Love
This album was going to be called “A Kiss And A Fist” but was rejected. Produced by Jack Richardson this is the last album by the original Alice Cooper Group. So there is a little sadness to it even though the band didn’t intend it to be their swan song album. “Muscle Of Love” was caught up in the shadow of “Billion Dollar Babies” best selling record. But MOL has plenty of good tunes and lyrics by the band which was also a big production as much as the previous album. They brought in guests vocalist but some thought it was too Broadway sounding. Which was it’s intention as Alice’s main theme was Broadway as being a big part of New York. With guests vocalists like Liza Minella on “Teenage Lament 74” and “Man With The Golden Gun”. La Belle (Noma & Sarah) & Ronnie Spector on “Teenage Lament 74”. Pointer Sisters on “Teenage Lament 74” and “Working Up A Sweat”.
The backing musicians involved are Dick Wagner, Mick Mashbir on guitar and Bob Dolin on keyboards.

A tribute to a club that Alice Cooper Group performed in N.Y. in their early days. A club called The Hippopotamus was the first track “Big Apple Dreamin’ (Hippo)” was a tourist view of New York.

skyscrapers and subways and stations
staring up at the United Nations

also points out the seedy side of the city

heard about them messages and all those dirty shows
I read somewhere some places never close

One of my favorite tracks is “Hard Hearted Alice” which is Alice’s view on it’s not always nice to be Alice.

noise seems logically right
ringing ears in the night
when you live in an airport

“Crazy Little Child” reminds me of the foreboding “Lace & Whiskey” album that Alice will release in 3 years. It has that film noir story line. Which takes me to “Man With The Golden Gun” that Alice wrote hoping that the Bond film people will use it. It’s a shame cause it’s classic Bond music.
“Muscle of Love” and “Teenage Lament 74” became singles from this album that both have teenage themes. “Muscle of Love” is Alice’s masturbation song.

I read dad’s books like I did before
now things are crystal clear
lock the door in the bathroom now
I just can’t get caught in here...

It’s interesting that the last song is actually an old song from their early days in the 60’s. It seemed they came full circle. “Woman Machine” was original called “Mr. Machine”. Alice being influenced by TV once again from a series that actress Julie Newmar portraits a female robot.

she’ll do the work in half the time
never sick and can’t go blind

The chorus sounds a bit of “Superstitions” by Stevie Wonder.
At the end of the recording you hear with audio enhancement a robot type voice that’s actually Alice’s who is reading from an Ampex tape recording manual as the song fades out.

Artwork: At least they went out with a great piece of album art. The cover itself was a cardboard carton that reads in pink type “Attention: This Carton Contains one (1) Alice Cooper Muscle Of Love” and “Fragile” on bottom right corner. It also gave the impression of the carton being stained at the bottom.
The back reads “Do Not Bend” “Avoid Excessive Heat” with a silhouette of a nude muscle lady and list of the songs which are not in exact order. It also includes copyright and on bottom right corner it reads “Phonograph Record”. The back is pretty original that when you take the record out you would have to open the perforation on the back cover. So this maybe the first record that the vinyl doesn’t slide out from the side.
The sleeve inside shows the band all dressed as sailors standing outside a club called “Institute Of Nude Wrestling” and canopy over door reads “Muscle Of Love”. The other side shows the band the after math of them being thrown out of the club. They all have black & blues, torn clothes and sprawled all over the sidewalk as a gorilla in a blonde wig stands at the entrance of the club’s door. MPs are shown bending down as they pick up the band.
This lp also comes with a book cover which I almost used. Thank god I didn’t I would shoot myself now. The book cover reads with a nautical logo in the middle “Institute Of Nude Wrestling • Open 24 Hours” and the middle a Warner Brothers looking logo with initials“AC” and an anchor. It also includes the credits on the album and track list. The edges of the book cover have pics of the band in sailor suits.
The back of the book cover shows the band peeling potatoes while sporting bruises and bandages as a MP and Ship’s cook looks on.

Greatest Hits
I know you're saying why is this Greatest Hits lp here instead of "The Best of..." section. Well this was the very first greatest hits from the band. At this time they didn't actually break up. In 1974 during the bands hiatus and their decision to work on solo projects this lp was released. Not much to say other than a collection from “Love It To Death” 1971 to “Muscle of Love” 1974 album.
As told in “The Illustrated Collector’s Guide To Alice Cooper” by Dale Sherman wrote Bob Ezrin decided to beef up the vocals and cut back the rhythm guitar on a few tracks. Most noticeable on the tracks from the “Killer” and “Love It To Death” tracks.

Artwork: Cover illustrated by Drew Struzan who later became famous for his movie posters of Star Wars and Raiders of The Lost Ark. Drew illustrates a concept as the Alice Cooper Group portrayed in the 1920’s. The front cover shows the band hanging around an old car. Alice is sitting on the fender with a small banjo as the other members are leaning on the car around Alice. There are movie stars from the 1920’s to 1930’s throughout the outside & inside artwork. There are some suggestions of their hits in the background like “18” painted on a door. A newsstand in the background with a Billion Dollar Babies magazine and newspaper with printed headline reading School’s Out. The hub caps has the signature Drew from artist Drew Struzan.
The back cover gives the track list at bottom.
Inside sleeve illustrated by Bill Garland in the same style as Drew. It shows inside a garage as all the movie stars mill about the Alice Cooper Group stands in the foreground holding their instruments. On the backside of the sleeve has an invitation on left hand corner that lists track list and credits. Also includes a business card that reads “Big Al’s Garage & Speakeasy” list the band members. The original album had a gate fold which this inside sleeve was the artwork.
It’s interesting to try and name all the movie stars. I never was able to list all but came pretty darn close.