1975
1. Welcome To My Nightmare
2. Devil's Food
3. The Black Widow
4. Some Folks
5. Only Women Bleed
6. Department Of Youth
7. Cold Ethyl
8. Years Ago
9. Steven
10. The Awakening
11. Escape

Welcome To My Nightmare
Released in 1975 on Atlantic Records this was the 27 year old’s first solo record from the original band. Alice and his Manager Shep Gordon have both sunk all their life savings into this project. It was going to either make or break them. Luckily it was successful and provided Alice the fuel he needed to step out on his own. Alice wanted to get more into the theatrics than he usually did in the past albums. If “Muscle Of Love” album talked about New York then “Welcome To My Nightmare” could be one of the shows that appears on Broadway.
Produced by Bob Ezrin with the use of some of his studio musicians he used in the past such as Dick Wagner. The backing musicians were Lou Reed’s from “Rock n Roll Animal”, “Berlin” and “Live” albums which was produced by Bob Ezrin and consist of Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter on guitar, Whitey (Pentti) Glan on drums, Prakash John on bass. “Welcome To My Nightmare” included Jozef Chirowski and Ezrin on keyboards, Tony Levin on bass, Johnny Badanjek on drums, Summerhill Children’s Choir and special guest star Vincent Price for narration which in 1982 Michael Jackson would use Mr. Price for his “Thriller” album.


“Welcome To My Nightmare” is a full fledge concept album. Unlike Alice’s previous albums this one had all songs related to the theme of the record. Alice greets us on the first title track


Welcome to my nightmare
I think you’re gonna like it
I think you’re gonna feel like you belong...


“Devil’s Food” leads into “Black Widow” as Vincent Price is the Curator explains the deadly bite of the Black Widow spider.
“Some Folks” is the Broadway number of the album. As “Only Women Bleed” starts out as the very first ballad of Alice Cooper who would have three more ballads just as good. It’s interesting to note that when Alice recorded this song it was taken around to different labels and no one knew it was Alice’s voice. One label even thought it was a new James Taylor song.


“Cold Ethyl” is a collaboration of “Refrigerator Heaven” that was on Alice’s second album
and “I Love The Dead” from Billion Dollar Babies album. It has cyber cryonics and necrophilia.


Ethyl’s frigid as an Eskimo Pie
she’s cool in bed
she’s oughta be cuz Ethyl’s dead...

“Years Ago” and “Steven” are the most haunting songs that’ll give you nightmares. Alice’s sings these 2 tracks with a voice of an innocent child. Is Steven actually a child or a man

I’m a little boy
no
I’m a great big man
no
let’s be a little boy for a little while longer...


“Steven” has a Liszt piano notes that raises the hair on the back of your neck.

I don’t want to feel you die
but if that’s the way the god has planned you
I’ll put pennies on your eyes...

“Escape” is the final song as Alice escapes his nightmare was co-written by Kim Fowley and Marc Anthony. Fowley known for working with The Runaways and Anthony worked on a track with Ezrin who produced in 1976 “Destroyer” by Kiss. Which is very similar to “Welcome To My Nightmare” especially if you listen to Kiss’s “Beth” track.
Another artist practically pattern his own album after "Welcome To My Nightmare" with Vincent Price as guest speaker and a ballad as well. This album is known as "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. Quincy Jones was quoted as saying they needed something on MJ's album and that's when they brought in Vincent Price after hearing him on Alice's album.


Artwork: The cover is illustrated by Drew Struzan who did “The Greatest Hits” shows Alice with tux and top hat as the background art reminds me of a Syd Barret piece of insect pattern. The back shows a Black Widow spider closing in on a fly on top of the insect pattern which includes
track lists and credits . The inside sleeve has the lyrics on both sides. On side 1 on bottom right corner is a pic of Alice with top hat in the foreground and on side 2 shows bottom right corner the Black Widow spider and 2 legs left of the fly that she has eaten.

1975 - Re Released 2002
1. Welcome To My Nightmare
2. Devil's Food
3. The Black Widow
4. Some Folks
5. Only Women Bleed
6. Department Of Youth
7. Cold Ethyl
8. Years Ago
9. Steven
10. The Awakening
11. Escape

Bonus Tracks
12. Devil's Food*
13. Cold Ethyl*
14. The Awakening*

* Alternative Version

Welcome To My Nightmare Remastered
Re-released by Rhino this CD includes 3 extra tracks which came from ABC-TV Special “The Nightmare” broadcast on April 25, 1975. All with alternative versions. I like “Devil’s Food” version the best with extra lyrics. The other 2 are just as good and very interesting to hear.


Artwork: Condensed version of the lp art it but without the lyrics comes with a 12 page CD booklet that includes pics from the ABC-TV Special “The Nightmare” and an article written by Jeffery Morgan who helped write on the box set which was well done. But this article I found to be very boring as he goes on and on and not really introducing the album itself until the last 2 pages.
I would of love to hear the behind the scenes of this album and the songs on how they came about without all of his drivel. They could of included the lyrics and shorten his story which should of been edited by at least 3 pages.

1976
1. Go To Hell
2. You Gotta Dance
3. I'm The Coolest
4. Didn't We Meet
5. I Never Cry
6. Give The Kid A Break
7. Guilty
8. Wake Me Gently
9. Wish You Were Here
10. I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
11. Going Home

Alice Cooper Goes To Hell
A loose sequel to “Welcome To My Nightmare” Alice’s takes Steven as they pack a lunch down to Hell. Released in 1976 the height of Disco Fever, Alice’s albums were the only refuge I had from the glitter ball, leisure suits, wide collars, and The Bee Gees. Although this may not be an actual sequel to “Welcome To My Nightmare” as it does bring in the character Steven but this time it’s a bedtime story Alice is reading to him. There is no spiders, cold ethyl or curator. It’s basically only Alice and the Devil himself. The clever thing that Alice did in this record was to incorporate Disco into his album. How he did this was whenever Alice had any reference to Hell, Disco music would play so to speak Hell was a Disco Inferno.

Produced by Bob Ezrin with most of the major musicians from “Welcome To My Nightmare” and then some. This was another well thought out album and I would say even tighter as a conceptual record. It has more of a beginning and end as “Welcome To My Nightmare” seemed to just jump around randomly in the middle of the record but still a ground breaking album.

What was interesting to find out is Alice wanted to use someone famous for the voice of the Devil. Especially on “I’m The Coolest” which he intended on using Henry Winkler who played Fonzie on Happy Days TV series. Winkler turned it down since he was trying to stay away from being typecast which was a loss cause. So Alice ended up playing both parts on the record.

Alice came with another ballad and hit “I Never Cry” that was just as good as “Only Women Bleed” but maybe the only song that doesn’t fit the theme of the album.
This may be another underrated lyrical album as well. Alice’s writing on these tracks are very visual and you can picture the journey as the songs play on. One of my favorite songs is “Wish You Were Here” and it’s basically because of the drumming at the end of the song by Alan Schwartzberg. Also Jim Gordon played drums on 3 of the 11 tracks.

The only song that isn’t an original is “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” from 1918 but was popular song by Judy Garland years later. The supposed theme of the record was that Alice was stuck in Hell and the only way out was to sing a song the Devil doesn’t like to hear. Obviously it was a song I didn’t care to hear as well. That could be Alice’s black humor coming through again showing how campy it sounds as he sings with an almost Al Jolson voice near the end.

It’s very interesting album that I don’t play as much but when I do I think “Hey this isn’t bad once you put it on”. Unfortunately Alice never toured to promote this album. Alice became sick and was diagnosed with Anemia. He took pretty much a whole year off which he later continued on with recording his next album “Lace And Whiskey”.

Artwork: I don’t understand why they didn’t put much into the artwork since the previous one made a lot of money from the record and tour. The cover picture of Alice is an old picture taken from the vinyl sleeve of “Billion Dollar Babies” it’s the one where Alice is holding the crying baby. They just blew up his face and painted it sinister green. The back which includes track list and credits shows Alice dressed in all black as he descends the white staircase down into a orange fiery glow.
The vinyl sleeve includes lyrics and on side 1 has “A Bedtime Story” which is told to Steven.
Side 2 includes the rest of the lyrics and an ending of the story to Steven. Also has a small pic at the bottom right corner of an alligator chomping on a nude person on a lake. The bottom part of this side gives the track list with names of the musicians and instruments they played on each song.

1977
1. It's Hot Tonight
2. Lace And Whiskey
3. Road Rats
4. Damned If You Do
5. You And Me
6. King Of The Silver Screen
7. Ubangi Stomp
8. (No More) Love At Your Convenience
9. I Never Wrote Those Songs
10. My God

Lace And Whiskey
During Alice’s period of heavy addiction of drinking, partying and watching tv came “Lace And Whiskey”. Alice creates a new character who’s a detective from the 1930’s called Maurice Escargot (Alice’s answer to Inspector Clouseau). I believe Alice was getting tired of the Alice Cooper character and wanted to separate himself from Alice. Using Maurice Escargot was another character Alice tried to introduce as a film noir concept album with tracks like “Lace And Whiskey”, “It’s Hot Tonight”. It also could be seen as part autobiographical “Road Rats”, “I Never Wrote Those Songs”. “Lace And Whiskey” included Alice’s third hit ballad “You And Me”. Alice still gives us humor with “King of The Silver Screen” and cover song from 1956 “Ubangi Stomp” which he does his Elvis impression. I think “Crazy Little Child” from “Muscle of Love” could of fit into this album.
The musicians again are the same since “Welcome To My Nightmare” with Alice’s co-writer Dick Wagner and Producer Bob Ezrin.
It’s not one of my favorite Alice albums but has a few gems in it like”It’s Hot Tonight” title track “Lace And Whiskey” and “Road Rats” which inspired the 1980 movie “Roadie”.


Artwork: Black and white art as it follows the concept of the album film noir theme. The front shows a paperback mystery novel titled “Lace And Whiskey” by Alice Cooper on a desk with images of a gun, bullets, shot glass and bottle of Seagram V.O. which they probably didn’t have to go far in locating this prop. The back of the cover shows the back of the novel with reviews, a track list not in order and missing “King of The Silver Screen”. The book shows a small picture of the author Alice sitting behind a typewriter. On the desk next to the book is an open box of ammo, lace, and rosary beads near the bottom. The inside sleeve on one side shows the credits and track list typewritten on paper and an ashtray in upper top right corner. The other side shows a full size picture of Detective Maurice Escargot in his office loading his pistol while in his mouth is an unlit cigarette. A bottle of Seagram's V.O. is open on his desk behind him.

1977
1. Under My Wheels
2. Eighteen
3. Only women Bleed
4. Sick Things
5. Is It My Body
6. I Never Cry
7. Billion Dollar Babies
8. Devil's Food/The Black Widow/You And Me
9. I Love The Dead/Go To Hell/Wish You Were Here
10. School's Out

The Alice Cooper Show
Considered Alice’s first official live recording during the end of his “Welcome To My Inebriated” tour. Alice wasn’t in full form at this time. Alice was obligated with Warner Brothers to release a live album so they schedule 2 shows at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 19 and 20, 1977.
Alice even mentioned he wasn’t pleased with final cut of these performances. But he was backed by an excellent band that included Dick Wagner, Steve Hunter on guitars, Prakash John on bass, Pentti (Whitey) Glan on drums and Fred Mandel on keyboards.

One of my favorite songs is “I’m Eighteen” that was done just as good as the original band. Just listen to the guitar work on it is amazing. This isn’t really as bad as Alice notes but I believe he wasn’t happy with the way he felt during this time. After this concert Alice would admit himself into a rehab to return with one remarkable album in 1978.


Artwork: The cover consist of pics from Alice’s live shows. The back cover lists credits and track lists has more live pics plus one pic from his Killer photo shoot of Alice in noose. The inside sleeve is all black background with 2 small pics in black & white from live shows. It also lists a Thanks to...and some other credits.

1978
1. From The Inside
2. Wish I Was Born In Beverly Hills
3. The Quiet Room
4. Nurse Rozetta
5. Millie And Billie
6. Serious
7. How You Gonna See Me Now
8. For Veronica's Sake
9. Jackknife Johnny
10. Inmates (We;re all Crazy)

From The Inside
After Alice’s release from New York State Hospital he came out with one of the best conceptual albums of his time. Every song is related to his time in rehab. Of course with Alice’s use of creative license he creates characters that would make author Ken Kesey "One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest" proud.

Produced by David Foster and some of the musicians involved are guitarist Dick Wagner (who co-wrote 7 tracks) and Fred Mandel on keyboards on a few tracks. Flo and Eddie from The Turtles on background vocals. Alice also brought in some new musicians such as Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen (guitar on Serious), Toto’s Steve Lukather (co-wrote a 2 tracks). Kiki Dee sings backup on the title track and Marcy Levy who sang duet on “Millie & Billie”.
Some trivia here is Marcy Levi was backup singer on Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally” and later changed her name to Marcella Detroit when with the band Shakespeare’s Sister in 1990.

Alice co-wrote the whole album with Bernie Taupin (Elton John’s co-writing partner).
" From The Inside" is very autobiographical in a number of songs. The first track “From The Inside” starts it off with an outstanding bass line and lyrics that Alice lived from previous tours.

I got lost on the road somewhere, was it Texas or Canada
drinkin’ whiskey in the mornin’ light, I’d work the stage all night long

Alice mentions his drinking buddy Jim Morrison again.

at first we laughed about it, my long hair drunken friends
proposed a toast to Jimmy’s ghost,
I never dreamed that I would wind up on the losin’ end

“The Quiet Room” is another good song about being in a padded cell. I can picture Alice singing this while in a straitjacket.
“Nurse Rozetta” is very cleverly written about a priest in the hospital being tempted by Nurse Rozetta.

Then we have the chance to listen in on “Millie And Billie” bizarre love affair. As they tell us what love means to them.


and like your late husband Donald
but such torture his memory brings
all sliced up and sealed in baggies
guess love makes you do funny things

After Alice’s rest he still came up with a ballad “How You Gonna See Me Now” and this one fits the album theme. It’s a letter Alice writes to his wife wondering if she’ll love him when he comes back.

One of my favorite tracks is “Jackknife Johnny” and the final track “Inmates (We’re All Crazy)” has the inmates in unison all singing

...we’re all crazy, we’re all crazy...

This is a very visual album you can picture the characters in each song as it plays through to the next.

If you happen to get Marvel Comics 50th Issue of Marvel Premiere that came out in 1979 it gives you a humorous look at "Tales From The Inside" as Marvel has titled it.

Artwork: This album is designed just as creative as Alice’s older lps from “Billion Dollar Babies” or “School’s Out”. “From The Inside” front cover shows a close up of Alice’s face being superimposed on the hospital doors. Also the inmates are shown in Alice’s eyes looking out at the viewer. It's interesting to point out that this is the only album which has no title or the name Alice Cooper printed on the front cover.

The front also opens up as 2 doors which leads to the inside to show the interior of the hospital as characters from the songs are positioned about. There is a door in the top left corner on the inside as well. As you open it it shows Alice in “The Quiet Room” on the back of the door is written “Inmate: In the memory of Moonie” who is Keith Moon. Keith was a good friend of Alice.

The back of the album shows the doors of the hospital with the track list on each door. As you open the backdoors the inmates with Alice leading them are bolting out all holding forms with large print on top reading “Released”. Behind the back of the doors are the credits and guest lists. The sleeve of the album includes the lyrics on one side with Alice in the quiet room on top left corner. The other side is the release of the crowd when you open the back doors.

1980
1. Talk Talk
2. Clones (We're All)
3. Pain
4. Leather Boots
5. Aspirin Damage
6. Nuclear Infected
7. Grim Facts
8. Model Citizen
9. Dance Yourself To Death
10. Headlines

Flush The Fashion
In 1980 Alice turns New Wave and will produce three (some say four including “DADA” but I’ll talk about that when we get to it) albums in this style. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker (producer of The Cars and Queen). Alice changes his music style as well as his character. Alice no longer with black mascara make up turns into some sort of Joan Crawford with hair in a pug and some 90 pounds lighter. Plus his vocals also changes into a more snotty turned up nose role as being superior. Such as the New Wave or Punk attitude.

Alice comes into this decade with new back up band. Guitarist Davey Johnstone (Elton John’s guitarist), Dennis Conway on drums, John LoPresti on bass. Only person from the past is Fred Mandel on guitar & keyboards. Plus back up vocals Flo & Eddie.

All the songs co-written by Alice except “Clones” and “Leather Boots” plus cover of “Talk Talk” by Music Machine recorded back in 1964. Matter of fact Alice covered “Talk Talk” back in his early high school band days as The Spiders. Alice clamed all the song titles came from headlines in the National Enquirer.

“Clones (we all)” came out to be the single. It wasn’t written by Alice but it included a line that could of came from a tv show The Prisoner which we all know Alice likes pulling something from tv since it's one of his favorite pastimes.

6 is having a problem adjusting to his clone status

Patrick McGoohan who played on The Prisoner was known as “Number 6”
Later on Smashing Pumpkins also cover this song.

“Pain” is my favorite song on this album. To me it's closet to the Alice I have grown to love with his growl and amazing lyrics.


I’m the salt in the sweat on the cuts of the slaves
I’m the wound in the side while Jesus prayed
I was the filthiest word at the vandalized grave

Also all the songs lead into each other with no break or until you flip the lp over.
It’s not a bad album but not one I play a lot.

Artwork: Cover art consist of a painted surface being defaced by Alice himself. Alice scratching the paint off exposing the metal underneath as it spells out the title of the album. You can see Alice’s initials on bottom right. Above the graffiti in green type “Alice Cooper ‘80” the cover also has a little orange paint dripping off to the side.

Back cover is a pic of Alice standing in front of a chain link fence wearing a black nylon jacket holding a riding crop. Above the Alice pic is the track list and Produced by and Engineered by... The bottom of pic has fan club info Warner Brothers Records info.

The inside sleeve is just a gray with $2 for a Warner Brothers sample double vinyl. No credits or anything. I found out some people got an inner sleeve with another pic of Alice and list of musicians. I have no idea why I didn’t get the other version since I bought this when it was a new release.
On my CD it shows another pic of Alice sort of like what’s on the back cover only Alice biting the riding crop.

Trivia note: on credits Alice gives a special thanks to Basil Fawlty. Character from British series Fawlty Towers staring John Cleese (formerly of Monty Python).

1981
1. Who Do You Think We Are
2. Seven And Seven Is
3. Prettiest Cop On The Block
4. Don't Talk Old To Me
5. Generation Landslide 81
6. Skeletons In The Closet
7. You Want It, You Got It
8. You Look Good In Rags
9. You're A Movie
10. Vicious Rumors

Special Forces
Not a sequel to “Flush The Fashion” but more along the same music style. Produced by Richard Podolor “Special Forces” come with new musicians such as Duane Hitchings on keyboard, Danny Johnson and Mike Pinera on guitar, Craig Krapf on drums, Erik Scott on bass.
Two songs from this album were co-written during “Flush The Fashion” time are “Prettiest Cop On The Block” and “Don’t Talk Old To Me” by Davey Johnstone and Fred Mandel. “Seven & Seven Is” a 1967 song from the band Love. “Generation Landslide ‘81” which is an update version of “Generation Landslide” from Alice’s “Billion Dollar Babies’ album is listed as live but it was recorded in the studio.

This is pretty much like “Flush The Fashion” there a few good songs such as “Who Do You Think We Are” starts off with sounds of helicopters and the album ends off the same way. “Who Do You Think We Are” has a military fashion to it.

I’m machinery with a semi-automatic heart
I’m unclassified, I terminate, I tear apart

Pretty much most of the album has that militant theme.

“You Look Good In Rags” is another good song but it’s one of those albums I rarely play when I want to hear Alice Cooper.


Artwork: Very simplistic album design in which the front cover shows a portrait of Alice (really a photo)in a frame positioned on the floor leaning against the wall. Two daggers are crossed in the foreground with small type “Alice Cooper" on top left corner and title of album on bottom right corner.

Back cover is same layout only the portrait is missing and the daggers are both facing down as if someone broke in and stole it. There is also a cool logo on the back. It’s sort like the military logo of Special Forces with a skull in beret. The back also includes credits and track list which includes the last track as “Look At You Over There, Ripping Sawdust From My Teddybear” a song that was cut at the last minute. It would turn up later on the “Life And Crimes...” Box set.

Another tv reference in the credits a special thanks to Count Floyd who was a character played by Joe Flarity on Second City Television.

1982
1. Zorro's Ascent
2. Make That Money (Scrooge's Song)
3. I Am The Future
4. No Baloney Homosapiens
5. Adaptable (Anything For You)
6. I Like Girls
7. Remarkably Insincere
8. Tag, You're It
9. I Better Be Good
10. I'm Alive (That Was The Day My Dead Pet Returned To Save My Life)

Zipper Catches Skin
Still in his New Wave phase Alice drops his military persona. This is a pretty good album for it's style. I remember this coming out in late Summer of 1982. I was up Maine when I heard UNH (University of New Hampshire) radio station play “No Baloney Homosapiens”. I believe this may be Alice’s first time writing about UFO’s rather than horror genre.

Hey you up there in outer space
you’re lookin’ at some style and grace
the blood and gutty human race...

The return of Dick Wagner since “From The Inside” lp co-wrote 4 songs w/ Alice and played guitar on the album. Also backing band from previous album return as well as backing vocals by Flo & Eddie. Guest vocalist is the late Patty Donahue from the 80’s band The Waitresses. ZCS was noted as being produced by Alice Cooper and Erik Scott.

One of my favorite songs is “I Am The Future” a track that was made for the movie “Class of 1984” which stared a young Michael J. Fox. A very good movie if you get a chance to view it. This was the only song that wasn’t written by Alice.

Another good tune is a 2 parter “I Like Girls” which includes (The Waitresses) Patty Donahue.
She definitely played the part well for this track.

new luggage? Did you say you were going somewhere?
Oh just out for some fresh air
does she have a nice pair?

Followed by it’s sequel “Remarkably Insincere” which Alice gives his rebuttal.

My dearest darling
you know that luggage
it belonged to the blonde with the nice pair

Alice still gives us his Stephen King song “Tag, You’re It” which shows us Alice hasn’t forgotten his horror roots. A sort of song that could be from “Halloween” or “Friday the 13th”

Now here’s the chiller
he’s the killer
you’ve discovered
you’re trapped alone, you’re scared

One of the songs I’m not that crazy about is “I’m Alive (that was the day my dead pet returned to save my life)” I have to admit the title is very funny & the lyrics as well has the Alice humor.
I guess I just didn’t care for the chorus part.
It’s not that bad an album but I have to admit it’s not one I play that often.

Artwork: Concept of the cover was by Alice and photographer Jonathan Exley. The cover is the lyrics to the album. If you notice there are some red letters throughout the black text. As you stand back a bit you see “ALICE COOPER” on the top part of the album spelled out in the red lettering. Also the title of the album “Zipper Catches Skin” is in red in the lyrics of the song “I Better Be Good” which is underlined by a smug of blood that was donated by Brian Nelson, Alice's assistant aka Renfield.

The back cover shows Alice in a shirt and tie with his hair tied back to make it look short. Alice gives an expression of being in pain as his arms are positioned cut out of the frame of being below his waist which gives us the theme from the album title.

Below the picture is the track titles and credits plus other info. Alice does give credit to “Salem’s Lot”. As for the inner sleeve it’s just acetate sleeve. This is pretty much it just the previous 2 lps.
I don’t know why Alice was so simplistic with the designs on the new wave albums.

1983
1. DaDa
2. Enough's Enough
3. Former Lee Warmer
4. No Man's Land
5. Dyslexia
6. Scarlet And Sheeba
7. I Love America
8. Fresh Blood
9. Pass The Gun Around

DADA
In 1983 came one of the most darkest, obscure and cerebral albums of Alice’s creation. I would say this is the most underrated album by Alice. I only wish someday this gets the recognition it deserves. Alice notes as this being his “Lost Weekend” album and is quoted as saying he doesn’t remember much of the making of it. This came about during Alice’s fall off the wagon. Actually Alice started to fall during “Special Forces” album but this was his bottoming out period. Either way it’s amazing the lyrics Alice comes up with on this album. It’s one of the most innovative records. I would say this is Alice’s period of “The Wall” by Pink Floyd.

DADA brings us the return of Dick Wagner and Producer Bob Ezrin who’s last lp produced Alice’s “The Alice Cooper Show” in 1977. Bob also brings in a CMJ Fairlight Computer to serve as drum tracks. Only 4 tracks feature live drums by Richard Kolinda. Ezrin daughter Sara is featured as the eerie voice of Da Da which starts off the first track.

Alice wrestles once again with his character and his sanity. DADA starts off with an instrumental and a conversation in a psychiatrist office.

She takes care of me, He takes care of me, do you believe I have a daughter too.
You don’t have a daughter, a son, you have a son
No, I, no I, all I have, I have, I have a son I have a son and a daughter, and a daughter.
No, I have a son, daughter...

“Former Lee Warmer” talks about his strange brother who’s locked up in his room a sort of Boo Radely character.

In an upstairs room under lock and key
it’s my brother, Former Lee
all the mops and brooms keep him company

One of Alice’s most black humorist lyrics I would say is “Dyslexia”

Sometimes my world is goes upside down
sometimes I see things backwards....
....Is dis love?
or is dyslexia...

Alice’s use of S&M lyrics in “Scarlet And Sheeba” will even make Marque De Sade grin.

Scarlet likes to scold me, showers me with all her love
Sheba’s in a bad mood, sharpening her black fur glove
with blood and honey attitude
they’ll never know my gratitude
I’m crossed with longitude and latitude
upon my back with a crack

Alice still shows his humor again in “I Love America”

I love General Patton in World War II
my Pocket Fisherman and my Krazy Glue
I love the Beav and Wally too, yeah
I love America

In “Fresh Blood” Alice presents us with his horror movie side.

Plus one of my favorite tracks is “Pass The Gun Around”
This could also be considered semi autobiographical


Sonny wakes up in the morning, there’s a stranger in his bed
someone’s pounding on the hotel door, he wishes he was dead
I’ve had so many blackout nights before
I don’t think I can take this anymore

This track closes with a loud slam and the eerie voice of Da Da echo at the end.
Very creepy.

Inclosing I would love to hear any out takes from this album. Who knows maybe someday they may issue it on CD with bonus tracks. Also to note that this is the last time Alice records on The Warner Brothers Label. Alice will be leaving to sober once again for good and search to sign with a new record label.


Artwork: DADA title could be taken on different levels. You have the paternal Da Da or the beginning of the Surrealist movement which came from the DADA period. You see DADA period was short lived from 1916 - 1922. Which spawned the Surrealist period and one of the leading artists was Salvador Dali who collaborated with Alice back in the 1970’s on an art project the hologram.
A very cool cover which was taken from Dali’s “Slave Market with the Disappearing Bust of Voltaire”

Artist Glen McKenzie did his interpretation of it with the emphases of the disappearing Bust section of the painting. The original shows 2 slave girls in the market facing 2 ladies dressed in black & white. As you stand away from it the 2 ladies resemble the sculpture bust of Philosopher Voltaire. In McKenzie’s interpretation Alice is where the elderly ladies sit and you still see the sculpture bust of Philosopher Voltaire.

On the back of the cover are the lyrics to the album including the credits. Also on the top is a open locket with 2 pics. One is a young Vincent Furnier pre-Alice holding a pup the other is an old man. Just to be noted the pic of the old man is just some stock photo. It isn’t anyone special.

Alice includes in the credits a special thanks to Judge Joseph A. Wapner from tv’s “People Court”. Inside sleeve is again acetate.

1986
1. Teenage Frankenstein
2. Give It Up
3. Thrill My Gorilla
4. Life And Death Of The Party
5. Simple Disobedience
6. The World Needs Guts
7. Trick Bag
8. Crawlin'
9. Great American Success Story
10. He's Back (The Man Behind
The Mask)

Constrictor
After a well rested 3 years Alice returns in 1986 with a new band and new sound called “Splatter Rock” with music influences that of “B horror films”. Which is a good opportunity to do a soundtrack cut for “Friday The 13th VI: Jason Lives” titled “He’s Back (Man Behind The Mask)”. Another song which didn’t make it to a soundtrack was “The Great American Success Story” for Rodney Dangerfeild’s “Back To School” movie.Too bad it wasn’t used cause it sounded pretty good. I would say I like the last half of this album. From “The World Needs Guts” to final “Man Behind The Mask”.

Two of the new band members consist of muscle man Kane Roberts on guitar and Kip Winger (misspelled Wringer on credits) on bass who will later make their own solo albums. Kane also co-wrote all the songs with Alice on this album.

On newly signed MCA Label Alice’s second label since he started in ‘69 and produced by two producers Michael Wagner who produced two tracks “Trick Bag” and “He’s Back”. Beau Hill who produced the rest of the album. Beau Hill produced Ratt which explains it all. It just has that “hair spray band sounds like all those 80’s bands. Of course I was glad it didn’t have any ballads which was a first since Alice’s solo albums. It was good to have Alice back to at least show the public he’s back with a vengeance.


Artwork: Close up on Alice’s face on the cover with a snake wrapped around his face and snake’s head coming out of his mouth. the right corner has the splatter “Alice Cooper” logo which is larger than the title “Constrictor” that lies below it. The back shows the lyrics for all to see. The track lists are at the bottom along with credits.
Also a picture behind the lyrics show a snake wrapped around Alice’s legs. A trivia note is for the shooting they used Alice’s assistant Brian “Renfield” Nelson legs to stand in for Alice.

Inside the the lp comes in a clear acetate sleeve and a white sheet of paper w/ a picture of Alice and band lists along with credits and Thank You’s.

1987
1. Freedom
2. Lock Me Up
3. Give The Radio Back
4. Step On You
5. Not That Kind Of Love
6. Prince Of Darkness
7. Time To Kill
8. Chop, Chop, Chop
9. Gail
10. Roses On White Lace

Raise Your Fist And Yell
Pretty much a cookie cutter from the previous album. This isn’t a sequel but it follows the same method as that of Constrictor. I do like the musicians used in this album which are those who accompanied Alice on the previous tour. The band includes Kane Roberts, Kip Winger, Ken Mary & Paul Horowitz.

Kane Roberts again co-wrote all the songs with Alice except for “Gail” which Kip Winger co-wrote w/ Alice & Kane. Produced by Michael Wagener this was also the last album from the MCA label.

The songs are a little better still I just like about half of them. “Freedom” was the single and another anthem song which Alice has a gift of writing.

Freedom, we’re gonna ring the bell
Freedom to rock, freedom to talk
Freedom, raise your fist and yell

One of my favorite tracks is “Time To Kill” and then you have a trilogy at the end of the album.
“Chop, Chop, Chop”, “Gail”, “Roses On White Lace”.
This album could be a good soundtrack to a B-horror movie.

Artwork: A template from “Constrictor” with the lyrics on the back including band credits and a distorted picture of Alice on top left. On the cover an illustration of a fist with Alice’s face on the palm of the hand. Inside the lp comes in a clear acetate sleeve. Includes a white pull out with one side shows a hugh dripping “Alice Cooper” font and title of album plus at bottom tack list and credits. On other side is a black & white drawing of half Alice face half skull with title of album.

1989
1. Poison
2. Spark In The Dark
3. House Of Fire
4. Why Trust You
5. Only My Heart Talkin'
6. Bed Of Nails
7. This Maniac's In Love With You
8. Trash
9. Hell Is Living Without You
10. I'm Your Gun

Trash
In 1989 Alice gets commercial which is a taboo word among some fans. I have to agree I wasn’t into this album as it was produced by Desmond Child who also worked w/ other bands like Bon Jovi and Aerosmith. Not the good Aerosmith but the Aersosmith of 80’s.

This is also on Epic label another change for Alice. Alice’s backing B horror movie band is slaughtered except for Kane and Winger who appear as guests. Alice’s other guests are Aerosmith (except Brad Whitford), Jon Bon Jovi, Ritchie Sambora, Steve Lukarther (Toto), and Guy Mann-Dude who’s an extraordinary guitarist.

Too many of these songs sound like other bands such as “Poison” starts off like “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns N’ Roses. “Spark In The Dark” sounds like Bon Jovi and “House of Fire” sounds like Joan Jett even though she co-wrote it along w/ Alice & Child.
Desmond Child co-wrote all the songs with Alice plus others. The theme was sex which Alice thought of the title “Trash”.

There are some songs I do like but only a few “Only My Heart Talkin’” which Steven Tyler uses his trademark scatty vocals especially at the end.
“Trash” is another good track which originally came from a Boston band called Unattached. Mark Frazier and Jamie Sever of Unattached wrote a song titled “Downtown Prayer” Alice altered the lyrics and would become the album title. “I’m Your Gun” is the last song that sounds just as good.

Desmond Child is much a control freak and Alice’s vocals sound too rehearsed. Such as in “Hell Is Living Without You” when Alice sings the fist two lines he just stretches the words into too many syllables. In articles I’ve read Alice does mention singing the tracks over a number of times which is more often than he usually does in recording. Alice also mentions his vocal chords were raw at times from so many takes.

The only thing good that came from this album it produced a major hit “Poison” which brought Alice back out in the spotlight. I wasn’t crazy for the songs and I get much flak from people who adamantly disagree with me. But then I’m far from commercial and one who thinks “DADA” and “Pretties For You” are great albums.

Artwork: the cover is of Alice standing off to one side staring down with the boxy Alice Cooper logo and the title TRASH scrawled over it on top right. The back is large print of the tracks. Inside is filled both sides with lyrics and credits.
On my CD I have two images of Alice. The cover the same as on the album but back of CD booklet is another pic of Alice staring down but you can see more of his face.
Very slick cover just like the slickness of the recordings.
Although I have to add it’s a great album to have Alice sign which I did back in ‘96. The position of Alice off to one side gave room for him to legibly sign it.