Flash Fearless Versus The Zorg Women Parts 5 & 6
A musical for the stage such like The Rocky Horror Picture Show which never came to be. Flash Fearless was a spoof of the Sci-Fi character Flash Gordon. Recorded in '74 this was a list of an all star cast of musicians. Produced by John Alcock playing bass on all tracks is The Who's John Entwistle. Alice's two songs "I'm Flash" and "Space Pirates" are now on his "The Life And Crimes" the Box Set.

Alice's vocals are good on both tracks recorded his vocals in New York's Record Plant Studio as the rest was recorded at Chrysalis Studio in London. It put such musicians together I would never think of collaborating with Alice. On "I'm Flash" includes Robert A. Johnson, Johnny Weider, The Who's John Entwistle, and Yes's Bill Bruford. As for "Space Pirates" Moody Blue's Justin Haywood, Small Face's Kenny Jones, The Who's John Entwistle and Keith Moon, Nicky Hopkins, Steve Pettican.

Some other musicians who perform on this album if you ever find it are Elkie Brooks, Jim Dandy from Black Oak Arkansas, Frankie Miller, Carmine Appice from Vanilla Fudge and Eddie Jobson.
This album came with a comic book if you find that good luck.

Michael Bruce - In My Own Way
Whole review of this album is on Alice Cooper Group Solos section.
From Michael Bruce's first solo album this is a pretty good song for 1975. Alice assist as co-vocals on this one track "As Rock Rolls On" written by Michael Bruce. This reminds me the beginning of the "Battle Axe" album with Michael, Neal & Dennis recorded 2 years later.

Michael talks from experience what does it take to sell a big hit.

As rock rolls on I sometimes wonder
what it 's coming too
to sell another plastic album
the things I have to do
should I set myself on fire
spray my hair bright green
paint my face, don't forget the glitter
I'm looking like a queen

Also two other musicians on this track, guitarist Mick Mashbir and keyboards Bob Dolin played with the Alice Cooper Band during the Billion Dollar Babies Tour.

Carole Bayer Sager - ...Too
Carole Bayer Sager album "...Too" from 1978 which is around the same time Alice was working on his "From The Inside" album. The song "Shadow" on "...Too" album is written by Carole Bayer Sager, Bruce Roberts, and Alice Cooper.

wonder why I'm scared of shadows
they don't bite and they don't hurt me
they start out small then suddenly
I notice they're bigger than me...

Background vocals by Alice and Bruce Roberts although I can't pick out Alice's voice in the background.This song is like a lullaby with only a piano played by Bruce Roberts. It might of sounded better with Alice singing it. If there is a demo of this I'd like to hear Alice's version. As for Carole Bayer Sager singing I guess you have to acquire her sound. The album itself isn't that good either. I mean I like mellow music but this just doesn't do it for me.

Some other guest on this album are Melissa Manchester, Mike McDonald, Steve Lukather.
Bruce Roberts also wrote two other tracks w/ C.B. Sager as you know Roberts also co-wrote "Millie And Billie" on Alice's "From The Inside" album.

Derringer - If You Weren't So Romantic, I'd Shoot You

By the band Derringer featuring Rock n' Roll Hoochie Coo's Rick Derringer. Alice Cooper and Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics of "If You Weren't So Romantic, I'd Shoot You" while Rick Derringer wrote the music. Again in 1978 same time as Carole Bayer Sager album came out. This could of came from the brain tank of "From The Inside" album since Taupin and Alice co-wrote that whole album together. "If You Weren't So Romantic, I'd Shoot You" is not only the third track it's also the title of the album as well. This is one of my favorite Alice material written for another artist. It comes across as a ballad sort of like "How You Gonna See Me Now" on Alice's "From The Inside" lp.

Also this album itself is very good to listen too. Unfortunately Alice doesn't make an appearance other than writing the song. This album also has a song "Sleepless" written by Patti Smith. "Power Of Love" written by Dan Hartman and Warren Zevon's "Lawyers Guns And Money". Derringer's band consist of Kenny Aaronson and drummer Myron Grombacher (pre Pat Benetar). Rick Derringer also has a song he wrote titled "EZ Action" I thought funny since Alice's second album was titled "Easy Action".

Gentlemen After Dark - Gentlemen After Dark
By band of the same name, Gentlemen After Dark was a Phoenix group that came out with an EP which included the credit Produced by Alice Cooper and Dick Wagner. Consisting of 4 songs this record came out in 1983 which was during Alice's New Wave career. Gentlemen After Dark sounded a little like Human League, Bauhaus, well along those lines you get the picture.
Gentlemen After Dark later became The Beat Angels in 1996. Consisting of songwriter & vocalist Brian Smith who later co-wrote "Sideshow" on Alice's "The Last Temptation" lp. Also drummer Winston A. Watson Jr. who played drums for Alice a few times also played for Bob Dylan as well as other artists. Other members of GAD were Brian's brother Barry Smith, Robin Johnson, and Fred Cross.

I read once that Alice said he really didn't produced the record as Wagner was more into the technical aspect of it. Alice would just give his opinion on the sounds of the music so to speak.
I have to say The Beat Angels are much better but it's good to hear how they grew in time.

To note singer Brian Smith also is a writer for Phoenix News and wrote the liner notes for the Deluxe "Billion Dollar Babies" double CD.

Guy Mann Dude - Sleight Of Hand
It's hard to believe Guy played on Robin Beck's album listed above. Guy also played on Alice's "Hey Stoopid" and "The Shocker" soundtrack. Guy Mann-Dude is a great metal guitarist in the realms of Yngwie Malmsteen or Tony MacAlpine. Alice lends his voice for Guy's "Instra-Metal" album. The only spoken part on this record is the first track "On The Verge" which Alice starts counting off

1, 2, 3,

about 3 minutes and 15 seconds of speed metal guitar then at the end Alice returns to say with a sneer

on the verge

this is a very good speed metal guitar album. Guy also does an excellent cover of The Stones "Paint It Black" which is another great track on this album.

Guns N' Roses - Use Your illusions I
Alice's second collaboration with GnR's. The first one was the soundtrack of "Decline Of The Western Civilization II" which they join Alice on "Under My Wheels". "The Garden" is an excellent song which Axl and Alice's voice compliment each other. Alice sounding like the snake in the garden.

turned into my worst phobia
a crazy man's utopia
if you're lost no one can show ya
but it sure was glad to know ya

Also I notice Shannon Hoon from Blind Melon was on background vocals along with Axl. Just to point out Shannon Hoon was an underrated performer.

This whole album is excellent both Illusions I & II. This would be the last recording from Guns N' Roses.

Jake Trout and The Flounders - I Love To Play
Golf players Peter Jacobson, Mark Lye and Payne Stewart form a golf band with cover songs but change the lyrics to Golf terms. Such as "I Love To Play" is Randy Newman's "I Love L.A.", "Struggle's Blues" is Glenn Frey's "Smuggler's Blues" and of course Alice's "I'm Eighteen" is "I'm On Eighteen".

I'm on 18 and I don't know what to do
18 - I just don't know what to do
18 and I'm away
I gotta pull a club today
I gotta hit and get out of the way

Alice does background vocals on this song. Besides the lyrics being hokey the band plays this as good as any cover band.

This is also CD Enhanced so you get a lot of funny stuff telling the history of the band. Alice does a brief interview playing along saying how he stole the song from Jake & The Flounders and made it his own song without the golf lyrics. There is other artists on this CD as well like Glenn Frey, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills ...

This isn't something I play (and golf neither). I just keep it for my Alice collection. I guess if you're into golf you'll enjoy it. It comes with golf tips on the CD Enhanced too.

The Official Athens 2004 Olympic Games Album
Unity Athens 2004
'Stand' by Alice and Xzibit is the only reason I give this CD 3 eyes rating. The rest of this CD seems slow and drawn out. Before hearing this track I was worried Alice would rap. If you read some of my other reviews such as 'DragonTown' or 'Shocker' you know why. Thankfully he left it to the professionals and Xzibit does a damn good job. Alice uses his rock n roll voice which is what he delivers in full force. Inspired from G.K. Chesterton Alice gives the following line in the chorus.

...if you don't stand for something
you will fall for anything...

As for the rest of the CD I say from track 11 on down isn't bad. Some of the other artists who collaborate are Moby & Public Enemy, Sting & Mariza, Eno, Skin & Rachid Taha to name a few.
I won't even get into Avril Lavigne butchering Dylan's 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door'.

Avantasia - The Scarecrow
German metalist Tobias Sammet from the band Edguy creates this follow up to Metal Opera I and Metal Opera II. As some of the German metal bands they have been influenced by Classical Music. Tobias is another one that not only plays intricate chords but at times makes it simple as to not overwhelm the listener. I'm also just amazed by guitarist Sascha Paeth. Sascha played w/ a number of bands such as Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, After Forever, Epica to name a few. Anyway the guy is amazing.

Alice does an excellent job on “The Toy Master” it sounds like Tobias wrote it w/ Alice in mind. This could fit in an Alice album it sounds so much like his style. Lyrically it reminds me of Alice's "The Last Temptation" album w/ music from "Brutal Planet" or "Dragontown".

Don't you be afraid
Come and step inside and take a look around
I'm your holy grail in your candy store...

Other artists appearing on The Scarecrow CD are Alice Cooper (vocals) , Roy Khan (KAMELOT/vocals), Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY/guitars), Oliver Hartmann, Jorn Lande (ex-MASTERPLAN/vocals), Bob Catley (MAGNUM/vocals), Michael Kiske (ex-HELLOWEEN/vocals), Rudolph Schenker (SCORPIONS/guitars) and Amanda Somerville (vocals).

A bonus DVD includes video clips, an electronic press kit, the making of, an interview & 2 bonus tracks.
The contents include: 1.Song By Song (interview) 2.Carry Me Over (video clip) 3.Carry Me Over (making of the video clip) 4.Lost In Space (electronic press kit) 5.Lost In Space (video clip) 6.I Don’t Believe In Your Love (alternative version) 7.The Toy Master (alternative version)

Plus a Japan Import includes Toy Master [Alternative Version] and Carry Me Over [Multimedia Track].