In the current issue of Rolling Stone, one of the feature columns is something called "The Playlist Issue" where different musical stars are given a topic of music and discuss their favorite artists or songs or whatever that relates to that particular topic. For example, Mick Jagger talks about Reggae and Cee Lo Green talks about Southern Based Rap. John Mellencamp talks about "Rebellion Songs" while Tom Petty talks about "Elvis songs".I guess the whole idea to is turn people on to different types of music outside the big hits that everyone already knows about.
Well, I was glancing through the magazine and thought to myself, I should do a playlist for Alice Cooper. Everyone already knows who Alice Cooper is, right? The old time rocker who had such hits as "School's Out", "No More Mister Nice Guy", "Poison" and "Eighteen". And those are all great songs. But with a man who has released 26 studio albums, 8 live albums, 9 compilation ablums and probably hundreds of bootleg albums piecing together songs from assorted albums and soundtracks, have you really heard the best stuff and do you really know who Alice is?
Yeah, I'm a big fan of Alice Cooper and I have in my possession, on either album, cassette or CD every single legitimate Alice Cooper album with one exception. I haven't been able to find "Along Came A Spider" yet so if anyone wants to buy me an early Christmas present, that is an option.
Now what was I saying? Oh yeah, Alice has had a few hits and during his career, spanning 41 years so far, he's sold over sixty-million albums. But if all you know are just the hits, you're missing the best of Alice. I decided to go through all his albums and try to compose a list of the great Alice songs that weren't hits, but are damn good anyhow. These are what I consider the "must hear" songs of Alice Cooper.
I went through every album tracklist and narrowed it down to about thirty-five songs. And then worked that down to twenty. And from there to thirteen songs. And that's what I've got here. These aren't the hits - these are the hidden treasures buried deep inside the albums that I've discovered over the years. If you're a fan of Alice Cooper, these are songs you may or may not already know, but you should listen to again. And if you're not a fan of Alice Cooper, go to YouTube or ITunes and find these songs and give them a listen anyhow. You'll become a fan. It's true. It's damn true.
This is only my opinion, but it's a good one. Trust me.
The Must Hear Songs of Alice Cooper Playlist...
No Tricks (featuring Betty Wright)
This was released as the B-side track of the single, "How You Gonna See Me Know", which was off of 1978's "From The Inside" album. Alice was just getting over a major stay in rehab and this song details efforts to stay clean, while R&B songstress Betty Wright ("No Pain, No Gain", Mother Wit") provides additional lyrics and a bluesy sound saying that you can't always believe what someone tells you. It's an amazing song and one of my favorites. I've always told myself that if I had a voice and a chance to make an album, this song would be one of the first tracks recorded. It's not typical-Alice by any means. It's Alice branching out and expanding himself, pushing the envelope (especially for 1978). And it's good.
No Time For Tears
This song was recorded especially for the movie "Sextette" starring Mae West and was never released on any album until the 1999 Box Set "The Life And Crimes Of Alice Cooper", which is incredible, by the way. I heard this song and it's so simple and yet so real and moving. I would say that it'll bring tears to your eyes, but as the song title says, there's no time for that. Not all all.
The Quiet Room
Another track from 1978's "From The Inside" album. The whole album, based on Alice's stay in a rehab facility, is incredibly deep and a great look into not only the wounded and deranged psyche of Alice, but also of many of his fellow patients who made such an impression on the man that he (along with writer Bernie Taupin) had to immortalize them in song. With this particular song, you can feel the anguish and pain in Alice's voice as he reflects on the times spent in isolation, looking back on his life and wondering just exactly what is going on. Anyone who has moments where they just feel isolated from the world can listen to this song and identify. A great track.
King Of The Silver Screen
This one comes from the 1977 "Lace & Whiskey" album and it's Alice's homage to his love of classic Hollywood and the old movies, the same ones we now watch on the Classic Movie Channels. He talks about how he watching those movies and gets swept away in the characters and the stories and it's almost like being there himself. The whole concept, from what I can gather, is ways to escape life and reality for just a little while. This was in one of his heaviest drinking stages of his life and it's amazing that a person who was so incapacitated so often could work and create such revealing and moving songs. But he managed.
Give The Kid A Break
This one comes from the "Alice Cooper Goes To Hell" album and it's pretty straight forward. The main character of this concept album, Alice, is faced with the Devil and he's pleading and making an argument for leniency, but it just isn't getting through and his arguments fall on deaf ears. Just a great song where Alice shows a lot of different vocal ranges and plays two characters (Alice and The Devil) to the max.
Blow Me Away
A track from the 2000 album "Brutal Planet". It's a little more hard rocking than some of Alice's earlier stuff, but the music rocks and the song really hits a chord with a great message about how brutal and insincere people can be. It takes ahold of the hypocrisy that rules our world and how if you're different from someone else, you're looked down upon and frowned upon, all with an Alice twist.
Stolen Prayer
This whole album, "The Last Temptation" from 1996, was Alice's message to all of those who had trouble believing that a person (Alice) can be religious, but still be a great rock singer and musician as well. It tells the story of a young boy (Steven), tempted by evil andtemptation (Alice) and overcoming the challenge in the end. It's a concept album with biblical overtones that most wouldn't get unless they were looking for that message. The vast majority would just say that this is a damn good rock album and one of Alice's best ever - and it is. The song "Stolen Prayer", written by Alice and Chris Cornell (Soundgarden), just happens to be one of my favorite tracks from the album as Alice talks about dealing with the Prince of Lies and weighing his options. Cornell does back-up vocals and really adds some extra dimensions to the song as well. Just an amazing track, but the whole album is incredible.
Ballad of Dwight Frye
This comes from the 1971 "Love It To Death" album and it's a mixture of a tribute to legendary actor Dwight Frye (he played Renfield in the Bela Lugosi film "Dracula") and Alice's (the character) descent into madness. It's just an amazing song and once you've heard it, you'll never forget it.
Only My Heart Talking (featuring Steven Tyler)
A truly great and incredible love song from Alice's 1989 "Trash" album. Steven Tyler (Aerosmith, American Idol) provides the backing tracks and we get to hear Alice open up his heart and say the things that a person wants to say when their mouth just isn't able to speak clearly and get the message out to the one they love. People tend to underestimate Alice's singing talents, but he manages to stay right there with Steven Tyler and that is definitely no easy task for anyone. Just a great and heart-wrenching song. At least I think so.
Gutter Cat versus The Jets
Alice meets Broadway as he takes the central theme and idea from the movie "Westside Story" and the musical genius of Leonard Bernstein and gives it an Alice twist to create this great number from the 1972 album, "School's Out". This is such an amazing song that works so well on stage during Alice's concerts (and usually leads into "Only Women Bleed") - it's like watching a Broadway presentation dead smack in the middle of a rock concert. Not many people could pull that off - Alice does it easily.
Dead Babies
An Alice look at child abuse and parental neglect from the 1971 "Killer" album. I think this is the song that originally gave the parents and politicians, who were still on the fence about Alice in his early days, the extra fire to crucify and go after the man and proclaim him as bad and evil and everything that was wrong with the world. Alice creates some scenarios in the song where the innocent, babies, are hurt and in the end, Alice, representing those who were responsible for the misdeeds, pays the supreme price. Just a moving and way ahead of it's time song that also works really well in the theatrical parts of Alice's concerts. Chilling!
Pain
This one comes to us from the 1980 "Flush The Fashion" album, which was Alice's response to the Disco movement, as well as an album that now, Alice claims to have no recollection of making and recording. The song is really good though and it gives an identity and substance to everything that is wrong with the world and the dealing with this entity called "Pain". It's like we're face to face and "pain" tries to explain why it does what it does and the pleasure it gets from our suffering. It's a unique and totally surreal way of looking at things, from a totally different perspective than anyone else has ever done, and Alice manages to pull it off. A great track.
I Love America
This comes from 1983's "Da Da" album, which is another album that Alice claims to have no recollection of recording and making. It's probably one of the most artsy albums Alice ever made and there is no particular rhyme or reason as to the songs and the way they're laid out or even why they're there. Coming from a man who perfected the art of "concept albums", there is no concept at all to this one. But the songs are good and moving and easy to get pulled into. This entire album is like a weird dream, brought on by a spicy bowl of chili right before bed - you don't know what to expect or where you're headed and you're relieved when you wake up, but the dream stays entrenched in your mind and leaves you scared, but asking for more. Does that make sense? Probably not.
And this song, strictly tongue in cheek, is just a great centerpiece for this roller coaster ride. It's Alice, explaing why he loves America, just as the title says. I wish he'd make a remake of this song, just to see the video that would accompany it. It's a visual spectacular waiting to happen. If I ever run for a political office (Lord help us all), this song, along with the rock-anthem "Elected", would be my campaign music. It's just a fun track with a cynical, yet eye opening look at some of the things that are great about our country.
And that's my "Playlist" of thirteen songs that everyone, whether or not you're a fan of Alice Cooper or not, should hear. If you listen to these songs and still don't like Alice Cooper, I would recommend a few weeks in the "Quiet Room" for you. And you're a racist. (Not really, but since the popular thing today is to call anyone who doesn't agree with your point of view a racist, I decided to jump on the bandwagon... lol).
Anyhow, these are all good tracks and I think everyone should listen to them (and the entire albums they come from) and make your own decisions from that. Forget what you've heard from others - listen to the music yourself and make up your own mind and I'm sure that you'll end up agreeing with me that Alice C. is "de' man!" At least I think so.
By the way, Alice has a new album out called "Welcome 2 My Nightmare", a long awaited (almost 30 years) follow up to the classic "Welcome To My Nightmare" album, that came out a few weeks ago. And it's good! It's damn good! Check it out if you get the chance. It's probably (in my estimation) the best overall Alice album since 1996's "The Last Temptation". It's a concept album (which Alice specializes in) and Steven (the main character from Alice's first Nightmare album, as well as the Last Temptation album) is being taken once more on a scary and truly unforgettable ride. Check it out on ITunes or in stores near you.
That's it for me. I'm Doug and I'm outta here. Until the next time, Ubuntu!
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