Lou Reed (Hunter/Wagner/Glan/John) - Rock n Roll Animal
Ok now I'm not saying Lou Reed played with Alice although there was one show a sort of benefit or something like that which Lou Reed sang "Walk On The Wild Side" and Alice came out with other artists for the background vocals. But this isn't the reason why I posted this album. This is actually before Alice went solo. When Bob Ezrin produced Welcome To My Nightmare they used musicians Ezrin was familiar of working with and he choose the whole backing band from Lou Reed's "Rock n' Roll Animal" album. So you have Dick Wagner on guitar, Pentti Glan on drums, Prakish John on bass, Steve Hunter on guitar. Keyboard player Ray Colcord was the only person Ezrin didn't pick but that's probably because Ezrin plays keyboards so I assume that's the reason.

So what else to say but this is an excellent album with an extended version of "Sweet Jane". Includes other great tunes as "Heroin", "White Light/White Heat" and "Rock n' Roll" of course.
This album was produced by Steve Katz & Lou Reed.
"Berlin" is another Lou Reed album that includes most of these guys and produced by Bob Ezrin.

Steve Hunter - Swept Away
Released in 1978 after the Welcome To My Nightmare tour Steve Hunter came out with this solo album. But the credits indicate that it was recorded in two years. In Toronto on Aug 18-28, Oct 24-29, Nov 24-28 in 1976. Then in L.A. on Dec 17-19 in 1976 and Jan 8-10 1977. Out on Acto label a division of Atlantic who produced Alice's WTMN album.

His backing band was pretty much the same people who work with Alice on WTMN and Go To Hell album. Steve Hunter on all guitars and vocals, Prakash John on bass, Jim Gordon on drums and Bob Ezrin on keyboards, percussion, and vocals. Bob Ezrin who also produced this album along with Brian Christian. Some other guest include Jim Malen on percussion and Jozef Chirowski plays Fender Rhodes on "Eldorado Street" track.

Steve covers "Eight Miles High" by The Byrds. Steve plays an instrumental version of this song which is amazing and I also love the drums by Jim Gordon. Another cover is "Sail On Sailor" a Beach Boys song.

Steve Hunter shows off his guitar work on this album and is done very well. It's more of a laid back sound. It reminds me of being on a tropical island. I also like "Of All Times To Leave" which is a short song written by Hunter.

Dick Wagner - Richard Wagner
Self title as Dick uses his full name Richard. This is also released in 1978 but different than Early Frost. Quite a number of people credited on this album came from Alice's solo tours. There are more musicians but I'm just noted the Alice related artist. Produced by Bob Ezrin and Brian Christian who both produced Steve Hunter's album too. Musicians that played with Alice goes as followed Drums by Whitey Glan and Allan Schwartzberg, bass by Prakish John, guitar by Richard Wagner and Steve Hunter, keyboards by Bob Ezrin and Fred Mandel. Alice didn't contribute any lyric or vocals but Wagner gives special thanks to Alice Cooper on the inside credit sleeve.

So this comes out the same year as Early Frost but by listening to it the songs are much better than previous one. Maybe touring with Alice has rubbed off on Wagner. By no means is this sounding like an Alice Cooper album but it's lyrics and musical arrangements are an improvement. Wagner's vocals are stronger. Also Richard does some guitar solos that show his gift as an axeman. One of my favorite tracks is "Don't Stop The Music".

The Kings (prod by Bob Ezrin) - Amazon Beach
Produced by Bob Ezrin. Besides that no other reason this is related to Alice Cooper.
I got this cause of the cover it reminded me so much of pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. By the way this cover was done by Ron Larson. I was in my college years taking up art courses thinking I was going to change the world with my art. Ah...to be young and delusional again.
Anyway I found this in a bargain bin for a $1 or so and since Ezrin name was on it. I was interested in hearing him work with unknown artist. I could of listen to Pink Floyd or Kiss but The Kings I never heard before. Now I can tell why.

Recorded in 1981 released on Elektra label these guys are not punk or new wave I would say more like pop or rock. The Kings are: David Diamond - lead vocals and bass, Sonny Keyes - keyboard, Max Styles - drums, Zero - lead guitar. Don't know what became of these guys...Ah...to be young and delusional.

Kane Roberts - Kane Roberts
Produced by Michael Wagner although the credit has a typo and leaves the "r" off his name. Wagner who produced Alice's "Raise Your Fist & Yell" album produces Kane Roberts pretty much on the same level as well. Very loud and strong guitars with heavy metal lyrics.

I was born with a shotgun in my hand
a street tough kid trying hard to be a man
metal-studded, flat-busted
bad-blooded and I can't be trusted...
from "Outlaw"

Kane's "Manowar" band is Kane Roberts: lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, Steve Steele: bass, vocals, Victor Ruzzo: Drums, vocals. Some extra help from RYF& Y tour was Paul Horowitz: synthesizers, Kip Winger:background vocals and co-wrote two tracks with Kane. Then you have one track "Full Pull" co-written by Kane and Alice Cooper. I have to say that's the only track I truly enjoy. Very 80's Hair Metal such as Motely Crue, Poison, Ratt...

As for the artwork I guess MCA Label uses a template and just changes the picture on the cover and lyrics on the back. This looks like it came from the same cookie cutter artwork as "Constrictor" and "RYF&Y" album.

Hurricane (prod by Bob Ezrin) - Over The Edge
Executive Produced by Bob Ezrin in 1987 and seeing a cover of "I'm Eighteen" on this album made me pick it up. Released in 1988 on Enigma Records, Hurricane consist of Kelly Hansen - vocals, Jay Schellen - drums, Tony Cavazo - bass, Robert Sarzo - guitar.

Hurricane's version of "I'm Eighteen" is done very well as they add a little more of their sound and not copy the Alice Cooper vocals. I'm just not much into this album other than the Alice cover. Hurricane has that Ratt, Quiet Riot sound.

Guy Mann Dude - Sleight of Hand
It's hard to believe Guy played on Robin Beck's album. 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 off counting then ends the track by growling the title.

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

Dick Wagner - Rock HITstory
Last time we heard from Dick Wagner was his co-writing "Might As Well Be On Mars" on Alice's "Hey Stoopid" which I thought it to be one of the best songs on that album. Wagner in 1995 released this collection of songs he wrote and co-wrote from his solo career as well as being with Alice Cooper. There's "Mystery Train" from his Early Frost album and "Motor City Showdown" from his self title "Richard Wagner" album. There is even the song "Just As I Am" Wagner wrote that was on Air Supply which I just found out when I wrote this review.

Then of course you have five songs from his collaboration with Alice. But since this is Wagner's album he sings vocals on these songs which are "I Might As Well Be On Mars", "How You Gonna See Me Now", "You And Me", "I Never Cry", and "Only Women Bleed". It's interesting to hear his version of the songs but have to say I'm use to Alice's vocals. But Wagner's guitar seems to sound much stronger on these tunes which I believe that was his intension of doing since he is an excellent guitarist.

The artwork on the inside booklet shows some pictures of Wagner with Alice and on tour. There is a 1976 picture of the Alice Cooper during The Welcome To My Nightmare Tour with the band holding a Gold Record that was presented to them in N.Y.C. The other picture show Wagner on stage with black top hat in the 1975 WTMN tour. Also a picture of Wagner from 1978 King Of The Silver Screen tour which was Alice's "Lace & Whiskey" album. Then there are some other pictures from earlier groups and performances that are Pre-Alice.
I notice none from his time with Lou Reed.