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Alice, Sweet Alice
1971 was a monster year in popular music. Some say the best ever: Carole King’s “Tapestry,” “Who’s Next,” “Aqualung,” Led Zeppelin IV,” “Nilsson Schmilsson,” “L.A. Woman,” “Sticky Fingers,” Joplin’s “Pearl,” plus vital, essential releases from Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, Elton John, Santana, Carly Simon, and many more. In the words of Frank Sinatra: “It was a very good year.” Its achievement enough to release one classic album, but one artist in particular released two groundbreaking albums that year: Alice Cooper!
Up first in ’71, “Love It To Death” which featured the classic hit “I’m Eighteen” and the nightmarish “Ballad of Dwight Fry.” Then later that year came the hit-laden “Killer.” With smashes like “Under My Wheels,” “Be My Lover,” and the moody, evocative, Jim Morrison-influenced “Desperado:“
And then the following year, they released what would become their signature song:
Then in 1973 came “Billion Dollar Babies.” The multi-platinum #1 smash that produced four hit singles: The title track “Billion Dollar Babies” with guest vocalist Donovan, “Hello, Hooray,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” and “Elected:“
And after that, it was pretty much all downhill. “Billion Dollar Babies” was followed by the weak “Muscle Of Love” album, then came the dissolution of the original band, the lawsuits, the rancor, and finally, Alice’s descent into alcoholism, schmaltz, and appearances on “The Hollywood Squares” and “The Muppet Show“:
“The Muppet Show” notwithstanding, Alice Cooper’s contribution is undeniable, and in 2011, the Alice Cooper Band was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
But Alice Cooper sobered up a long time ago and is still making great music! His recent outing with Joe Perry and Johnny Depp, among others, dubbed “The Hollywood Vampires,” was very well-received and his latest, “Detroit Stories,” is a rockin’ return-to-form! And a couple of weeks ago, it was #1 on the Billboard album charts. (Way to go, Alice!) 50 years after his first chart appearance …. And his voice hasn’t changed a bit! He sounds just like he did in 1971:
And just when you thought he couldn’t get any cooler: Alice Cooper is a Republican!
By the way, “Alice, Sweet Alice” is the name of a movie …. A very disturbing movie! Perfect for a post about Alice Cooper.
Published in General
Was a Cooper fan since 1972. Saw him on his Welcome to My Nightmare tour.
I love this story he told:
https://www.npr.org/2011/03/04/134230317/alice-cooper-the-gentle-man-behind-the-shock-rocker
Despite appearances, he was the real deal in rock ‘n’ roll.
Never cared much for his music, but Wayne’s World made me love him forever.
I’ve called Milwaukee The Good Land ever since.
You just can’t beat this for timelessness:
A Republican and a golfer.
Also, I heard him mention on the Dennis Miller podcast (RIP), he still holds a track record he set in high school in Arizona.
I should have mentioned his turn in 2018’s “Jesus Christ Superstar!” Alice Cooper was in “Jesus Christ Superstar?” Yes! And he killed, or rather, crucified! Alice played King Herod. The King Herod of the Broadway and film versions were …. *shaking head* …. Well, take a look:
Now compare it to a strutting, menacing Alice Cooper. (Sorry, but NBC has pulled all the video of this.)
1973: Alice Cooper’s “Billion Dollar Babies” …. Also in 1973: Roe v. Wade …. COINCIDENCE???!!1! …. Yes.
Oh yes! An awesome performance.
Here, found it on Vimeo:
Also, this interview with Biblical Scholar Alice Cooper is pretty great, too. And you know, it’s not all that different from his recounting the history of Milwaukee in Wayne’s World.
MY HERO! Thanks, noD!
I saw Wayne’s World at the Mill Road theater in Milwaukee with an old high school friend. When Wayne and Garth journeyed to Milwaukee, did the homage to Laverne & Shirley, and had the hilarious backstage conversation with Alice Cooper about The Good Land, everyone in the theater was clapping and cheering throughout those scenes. It was one of the best times I’ve had at a theater.
Of those albums released in 1971 mentioned in the OP, I have two of them – Led Zeppelin IV and Tapestry. I was a huge Zeppelin fan in undergrad and read a few books about the band. Time and time again the books described how Led Zeppelin IV couldn’t dislodge Carole King’s Tapestry from the #1 spot on the album charts, so I finally bought the album to try and understand why. “It’s Too Late” is a wonderful song, but I still like Led Zeppelin IV more than Tapestry.
OK, since we share a last name, and you brought it up, I have to share this…
Many years ago — late 90s or so, which doesn’t seem so long ago — my wife’s grandmother came to a family function. I am pretty sure it was the last time I talked to her. I had recently taken up the ukulele, and I had a songbook full of numbers from the 1920s and 1930s, and since I couldn’’t read music, and had never heard most of the songs, I pulled out the book and my Magic Fluke uke and asked her about them.
She knew the songs. She knew them all. She sang them for us while I played along. One of them, I believe it was “Sonny Boy,” was written by Al Jolson (among others). I asked her about it, and she launched into a story about her father, who managed a hotel in Philadelphia, and how Al Jolson came to the hotel, and her father — my wife’s great-grandfather — took her to work to meet him, and he sang her “Sonny Boy.”
She knew Al Jolson.
I don’t know what it means, but connections like that, especially ones that link popular culture of one age to another, fascinate me.
And…he’s been a Sunday school and Bible Study teacher off and on over the years.
Rock ‘N’ Roll Icon Alice Cooper: ‘I Teach Bible Study’ (Video) – The Christian Post
Cooper talks mostly about his close friendship with Glen Campbell in this 2017 interview, but in an indirect way, it says a lot about Cooper’s admirable character:
I feel fortunate I got to see Alice Cooper at the Peach Tree Festival in Rockingham, NC, way back in 1972. Here’s a list of who played:
Alice Cooper (Original Lineup)
The James Gang (With Dominic Troiano and not Joe Walsh)
Three Dog Night (Original Lineup)
Fleetwood Mac (Mick Fleetwood, Christie McVie, Bob Welch, Danny Kirwan)
Poco
Bloodrock
Black Oak Arkansas
Goose Creek Symphony
Rory Gallagher
Birtha (All female rock band that kicked butt that morning when they played!)
Fabulous Rhinestones
There were other bands, so the list is by no means complete.
The “mini-Woodstock” was held at the Motor Speedway, and here’s a short article about the event:
https://bluenc.com/content/70s-rock-festival-sen-tony-rand-and-alice-cooper
I have a friend in her 60s that still holds the Connecticut state record for women’s high school 100 yard dash. The year after she set the record, they went to meters.
Coop’s current line up has the shred-tastically hot Nita Strauss on guitar. Schwing!
Just going to leave this here…a semi-related blast from the past (at least the first couple of sentences). :-)
Sweet!