Alice Cooper all but created the shock rock that spawned Kiss and eventually Marilyn Mason and Rob Zombie. Beginning as Vincent Furnier and becoming the lead “persona” for the band that had changed it’s name to Alice Cooper, he eventually accepted the moniker as his own and began a solo career.
The story goes that Alice Cooper, a 17th century witch, had been reincarnated as the man who eventually took the name after communicating with her via Ouija board. The story has changed at various times throughout the course of his career, but it is by far the most interesting story of the bunch.
He found himself in treatment for drugs and alcohol, eventually cleaning himself out and acting as a positive influence to others in his situation and has apparently remained clean and sober.
This column breaks down the author’s Top 10 Alice Cooper songs. A career that has spanned through five decades – the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and the millennium – has produced something to the order of 28 studio albums.
From those albums spring my Top 10 Alice Cooper songs of all time.
10. “Poison” from Trash
Produced by the man who helped resurrect Kiss’ career, Desmond Child, the album Trash helped resurrect Alice’s career by producing this hard rock hit. There’s nothing truly about this song that makes it a great record, I have just always found it to be a fun song. It’s the only representative of Alice’s mid- to late-1980’s and later work. For me, it’s one of those dusty songs from young adulthood that still has that element about it that makes it a great song while in the car.
9. “Remarkably Insincere” from Zipper Catches Skin
Zipper Catches Skin was released when Alice was going through some pretty dark days personally and it would seem the production of this record reflects it. It does have it’s redeeming qualities. While many an Alice fan would be turned off by this album, one of my favorite songs comes from it. “Remarkably Insincere” is the basic story of a liar, but I could never really be sure if it was a Machiavellian tale or if this was someone thinking of all the things he’d like to say to someone.
8. “School’s Out” from School’s Out
One of the earliest records from Alice Cooper, the Band, features this title track. I think the lyrics capture the feelings of almost anyone who has finally made it to the last day of school. One of the finest pieces of musical double entendre is evident in the lyric: “Well we got no class, and we got not Principles…” It hit #7 in the United States and was ranked as #319 on Rolling Stone magazine’s top 500 songs of all time, according to wikipedia.
7. “Clones (We’re All)” from Flush the Fashion
It was at this point that Alice was firmly ensconced in alcohol. He may have had a vision of where he wanted to go, but it was somehow shrouded by the pink elephants. Flush the Fashion was an attempt to remake the image and adopt a new wave style, but it failed miserably as a commercial enterprise. Clones” is one of the few songs that are remembered from this record – lyrically, there’s not much different here from other Alice Cooper work, but the words speak to two truths: 1) the musical style and theatrics that had done so much for him had been done (Kiss, and the other glam rock bands of the 1970’s) (“We’re all clones…”) and 2) perhaps he was realizing that his additions were getting the best of him (“I’m all along, so are we all…I just want to be myself…”). This was a statement song, but sadly, not many heard the statement at the time.
6. “Welcome to my Nightmare” from Welcome to My Nightmare
The album itself was designed as a concept album – a trip through the now solo-act night terrors. The song itself sounds oddly welcoming, almost soothing with horns and synthesizers until the very end. It hints at something more sinister, but doesn’t go beyond that hint. I have always found it to not only be a new direction – very well produced and choreographed, particularly in relation to the album preceding it – the last Alice Cooper Band record.
5. “Go To Hell” from Alice Cooper Goes To Hell
The concept here is simple: Alice’s soul is sent to perdition for his anti social behavior as theatre. It’s the second such “concept album” in which the theatrics take over. The title song sets the stage for the concept – where the voices in his sleep are telling him what he has done and what about his character flaws that deserves the trip to hell. While it promises an horrific ride, a quick listen to the lyrics will tell even the casual listener that this is more about humor than horror – “You’d gift-wrap a leper and mail him to your Aunt Jane.” It’s an absolutely accessible song complete with a few giggles.
4. “Be My Lover” from Killer
“Killer,” Alice Cooper, the Band’s, fourth album, is seen by many as one of the best. It has a garage band quality to it, but it also demonstrates a growth – while not “professional,” it does seem more serious in nature. “Be My Lover” shows a rye wit to it – “She asked me why the singer’s name was Alice, I said listen baby you wouldn’t understand.” Of course not, how would you explain to the subject of your affection that the lead singer took his name from the witch contacted via Ouija board. It’s a solid rock song, with humor, but by a demonstrably serious band.
3. “Only Women Bleed” from Welcome to my Nightmare
It’s hard for me to figure out how this is Alice’s nightmare, and as such how this actually fits into the concept album, but I’ve always enjoyed the music and appreciated the lyrics. It does seem odd to hear the creepy, glam rocker belt out a ballad aimed at the repressed woman. Perhaps it was an attempt to align the idea that the “nightmare” he suggests in the album title, isn’t just his nightmare, but society’s as well.
2. “Billion Dollar Babies” from Billion Dollar Babies
From one of the more heavily produced early albums by Alice Cooper Band, the song is apparently about the excesses of the wealthy – perhaps Paris Hilton wasn’t that far off in his thinking, although this song predates her by a good eight or nine years. It hit the top spot on the music charts in both the US and UK and remains Alice Cooper’s (either the solo act or the band’s) biggest hit.
1. “I’m Eighteen” from Love it To Death
Despite the appeal of many Alice Cooper songs to many adolescents, this was absolutely my favorite one as I grew up. There was something about the acknowledgement that at 18 you’re at once fully grown, yet not quite ready for taking on the world alone – “baby’s brain and an old man’s heart.” The way I would describe 18 would be the way I think many people who have been 18 and lived through it: you know enough to be dangerous. “Love It To Death” was rightfully Alice Cooper’s big break. While “School’s Out” (#8 on this list) charted at #319 on Rolling Stone’s top songs, “I’m Eighteen” only charted at #482 on the magazine’s list. Clearly, it performs better here.
RESOURCES:
The Official Alice Cooper Website, URL: http://www.alicecooper.com
Wikipedia entry on Alice Cooper, URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Cooper
George Starostin’s “Only Solitaire” entry on Alice Cooper, URL: http://starling.rinet.ru/music/alice.htm
