Classic Rock Album of the Day- Alice Cooper- Welcome to My Nightmare (1975) *** 1/2
The phenomenon known as Alice Cooper took the rock work like a storm 1971-1973, taking an obscure Detroit band to the stratosphere, with one part showmanship, one part a unique schtick, and one last part some really decent songwriting skills. The first 5 Warner Brothers dominated the charts and gave AC a huge arena and airplay presence. The original Shock Rocker Vincent Furnier, aka Alice Cooper basically invented this genre, giving rise to future bands like Kiss, Marilyn Manson, Gorillza, Rob Zombie, Gwar, and Slip Knot.
I was very attuned to this story even early on, and the process AC went through to transition between group and solo artist. This is just my take, but the massive success took its toll on the band, and a few of the AC members downwardly spiraled into drug problems. Yes AC had his problems with alcohol. but the entire band came crashing down in 1974 album Muscle of Love. The rapid decline in quality of the entire work package was so damned obvious, that even the most glancing of fans noticed the disaster.
With that, AC made an absolutely massive abrupt decision in '74, where he fired the entire band, secured copyright rights to the name, and subsequently changed direction in many ways. AC instead of a set band, he went the direction of hiring among the best technicians and studio musicians that were available at the time. Including Dick Wagner. The sound? Absolutely and step changingly different. It was a massive gamble, but AC pulled it off. This album is more conceptual, more pop, and musical variants way way way by far than any previous work by the band. This is not to say the album is perfect, as there is some filler. You may disagree, but I absolutely do not like his sappy ballads in this and subsequent albums too. I know some of these are some of his biggest hits, but this is not the reason I bought these albums. To me Only Women Bleed is pointless exception to broaden the appeal of AC to the pop market.
I was lucky, in the fact the one particular time I did see AC, was during this particular album's and Goes To Hell tour in 1976. Back in those days, and earlier, Alice Cooper had the greatest stage shows and production in the business. Yes, he looked drunk as hell, but the stage show by itself was worth the price of the ticket. Pretty much like watching a Broadway production.
Fun Fact: As a testament to his change of direction, 3 singles from this album charted in the U.S.
Side 1-
-----------
Welcome to My Nightmare- Solid Title Track, that is composed and performed in the vein of semi - croon broadway production, which makes sense when you remember the stage show. Song featured dancing monsters harassing him in menacing fashion- 4
Devil's Food- Much harder rocking and almost harkening back to the early 1970's in style. Excellent interplay of vocals and uniquely distorted guitar/bass. The latter part of the song used the great Vincent Price as a voice as a macrabe museum curator, which very nicely phases into ........ 2
The Black Widow- Nice Wagner guitar work and edgy AC vocals in a hard rocking background. Excellent 3
Some Folks- In attempt to be versatile, this barrel house almost turn of the century mixed one misses the mark. Not quite filler, but meh. 10
Only Women Bleed- Can you imagine how a rocking guy like me at age 18 would respond to this? Ugh. 11
Side 2-
---------------
Department of Youth- Upbeat rocker that has a nice feel, and hooks to be a welcome add. 5
Cold Ethyl- Nice rollicking rocker that features some more nice Wagner work. Great AC lyrical shocker that was very present in his earlier work. 6
10 Years Ago- Lead into the mental concept, that was last visited..... What Love it to Death? I understand the intent and horror feel, but the concept aspect is fragmented at best. This may have been more listenable if that was ID'ed and coherently understood while listening. This and the next two are of a hot mess of missed opportunities. .9
Steven- Song has an Oldfied Tubular Bells Motif. As far important to the LP? See 10 Years Ago. 8
The Awakening- See last two comments. 7
Escape- Talk about a shocker. After the previously listened 3 tracks, I thought this would be Side 1 only listenable piece. But..... Escape is fantastic, very hooked rocker that nicely packaged and performed in what I feel is the best song on the LP. The ultimate sleeper tune? Well at least for me. 1
The phenomenon known as Alice Cooper took the rock work like a storm 1971-1973, taking an obscure Detroit band to the stratosphere, with one part showmanship, one part a unique schtick, and one last part some really decent songwriting skills. The first 5 Warner Brothers dominated the charts and gave AC a huge arena and airplay presence. The original Shock Rocker Vincent Furnier, aka Alice Cooper basically invented this genre, giving rise to future bands like Kiss, Marilyn Manson, Gorillza, Rob Zombie, Gwar, and Slip Knot.
I was very attuned to this story even early on, and the process AC went through to transition between group and solo artist. This is just my take, but the massive success took its toll on the band, and a few of the AC members downwardly spiraled into drug problems. Yes AC had his problems with alcohol. but the entire band came crashing down in 1974 album Muscle of Love. The rapid decline in quality of the entire work package was so damned obvious, that even the most glancing of fans noticed the disaster.
With that, AC made an absolutely massive abrupt decision in '74, where he fired the entire band, secured copyright rights to the name, and subsequently changed direction in many ways. AC instead of a set band, he went the direction of hiring among the best technicians and studio musicians that were available at the time. Including Dick Wagner. The sound? Absolutely and step changingly different. It was a massive gamble, but AC pulled it off. This album is more conceptual, more pop, and musical variants way way way by far than any previous work by the band. This is not to say the album is perfect, as there is some filler. You may disagree, but I absolutely do not like his sappy ballads in this and subsequent albums too. I know some of these are some of his biggest hits, but this is not the reason I bought these albums. To me Only Women Bleed is pointless exception to broaden the appeal of AC to the pop market.
I was lucky, in the fact the one particular time I did see AC, was during this particular album's and Goes To Hell tour in 1976. Back in those days, and earlier, Alice Cooper had the greatest stage shows and production in the business. Yes, he looked drunk as hell, but the stage show by itself was worth the price of the ticket. Pretty much like watching a Broadway production.
Fun Fact: As a testament to his change of direction, 3 singles from this album charted in the U.S.
Side 1-
-----------
Welcome to My Nightmare- Solid Title Track, that is composed and performed in the vein of semi - croon broadway production, which makes sense when you remember the stage show. Song featured dancing monsters harassing him in menacing fashion- 4
Devil's Food- Much harder rocking and almost harkening back to the early 1970's in style. Excellent interplay of vocals and uniquely distorted guitar/bass. The latter part of the song used the great Vincent Price as a voice as a macrabe museum curator, which very nicely phases into ........ 2
The Black Widow- Nice Wagner guitar work and edgy AC vocals in a hard rocking background. Excellent 3
Some Folks- In attempt to be versatile, this barrel house almost turn of the century mixed one misses the mark. Not quite filler, but meh. 10
Only Women Bleed- Can you imagine how a rocking guy like me at age 18 would respond to this? Ugh. 11
Side 2-
---------------
Department of Youth- Upbeat rocker that has a nice feel, and hooks to be a welcome add. 5
Cold Ethyl- Nice rollicking rocker that features some more nice Wagner work. Great AC lyrical shocker that was very present in his earlier work. 6
10 Years Ago- Lead into the mental concept, that was last visited..... What Love it to Death? I understand the intent and horror feel, but the concept aspect is fragmented at best. This may have been more listenable if that was ID'ed and coherently understood while listening. This and the next two are of a hot mess of missed opportunities. .9
Steven- Song has an Oldfied Tubular Bells Motif. As far important to the LP? See 10 Years Ago. 8
The Awakening- See last two comments. 7
Escape- Talk about a shocker. After the previously listened 3 tracks, I thought this would be Side 1 only listenable piece. But..... Escape is fantastic, very hooked rocker that nicely packaged and performed in what I feel is the best song on the LP. The ultimate sleeper tune? Well at least for me. 1
