#191
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It's been a long time since I listened to the four albums from "the missing years" - 'Flush The Fashion', 'Special Forces', 'Zipper Catches Skin' and 'Dada' - so I am going to be interested in what I make of them now as well!! However, they are some way off yet, so stop jumping the gun Mr. Dike!
__________________ People try to put us down Just because we get around Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty |
#193
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The last song on the album is entitled 'My God', which is a strange song. It's a religious song that stars with a church organ, and then turns into something that The Who would have done on the 'Who's Next ' album! Alice Cooper - Vocals Dick Wagner - Guitars, Vocals Bob Ezrin - Keyboards, Vocals Steve Hunter - Guitars Babbitt - Bass Allan Schwartzberg - Drums Jim Maelen - percussion, vocals Jozef Chirowski - keyboards Ernie Watts - tenor sax and clarinet Douglas Neslund and the California Boys' Choir - vocals 10/10 My God (Cooper, Wagner, Ezrin) "If I should find myself in blackest night And fear is stabbin' me all over A tiny prayer cracks the dark with light And I hear sounds behind my wall Inside, a still small voice, it calls and calls Then like a thunder bolt it falls and falls My God! When life becomes more real than children's games Or we've become too old to play them We'll grow old gracefully, We'll hide our shame But there's that voice behind the wall And like my conscience it is still and small Each word is mercy, protects us all My God! (Choir) ? I was a boy, when tempted, fell sometimes And fell so low no one could see me Save for the eyes of Him that sees my crime When sheep like me, have drifted lost All frightened children who are tempest tossed Down flies His wrath like an albatross My God!" The tour to promote the album was called 'The King Of The Silver Screen' tour, and it was quite an extravaganza (as expected!). The center-piece was the 'magic screen' effect, based on a television set, with a split down the screen, where Alice could 'jump into the programmes'! Support acts for the tour included BeBop Delux, Blondie and AC/DC The touring band for the live shows consisted of: Dick Wagner - guitar Steve Hunter - guitar Prakash John - bass Penti 'Whitey' Glan - drums Fred Mandel - keyboards A sample setlist consisted of:
Sadly, by this time, Alice's drinking had got out of hand, and contemporary reviews contained words such as 'stale', 'shallow', lackluster' and drunk' Because of the extent of his drinking, Alice was regularly throwing up blood before shows, and Cheryl had threatened to leave him. There was only one thing he could do - enter rehab and get sober The last date on the tour was at The McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, and someone who was at the show says: "I had the extremely lucky good fortune to see Alice's last concert in Denver at the end of his LIVE SHOW tour, which was Alice's final record before getting sober. We had no idea at the time that Alice was slated for de-tox -- we were treated by a surprise at the end of the concert, when the entire cast of the show, including members of opening act Styx, roadies and all, gathered on stage; an announcement was made that Alice was going straight from McNichols Sports Arena to be committed to rehab after the show. Alice was then strapped in a harness and hoisted into the air above the stage, and everyone took a turn spraying him with agitated champagne bottles - a priceless and spectacular memory!!! Unfortunately, I had exposed too much of my smuggled super-8 film recording Styx, and I ran out just at the end of Alice Cooper's set -- therefore I had no way to document Alice's last intoxicated minutes for posterity - something I will forever regret."
__________________ People try to put us down Just because we get around Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty |
#194
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With Alice being 'out of action' while he cleaned himself up, Warner Bros (his record label) decided the time was right to release the First Official Live Alice Cooper Record Released in December 1977, 'The Alice Cooper Show' was recorded at two special shows, held at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas on August 19 and 20, 1977 It's not a bad record, but when the live music is divorced from the visuals of the theatrics, something is missing The band consisted of Dick Wagner - Guitars, Vocals Steve Hunter - Guitars Prakash John - Bass Fred Mandel - Keyboards Penti (Whitey) Glan - Drums and the recording was produced by Brian Christian and Bob Ezrin The track listing is
Alice himself has described this as the one album he wishes he had never made. Talking in March 1997, he said that he was contractually obligated to do a "live" album, but they (the record company) asked him to do it after he had just completed a very long two-year tour. He was very sick -- emotionally and physically --at the time (from all the booze) and did not want to do another two shows to make this album (the only time he remembers not wanting to go on stage).
__________________ People try to put us down Just because we get around Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty |
#195
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As I have already mentioned in this thread, the album 'From The Inside', released on November 28th, 1978, is one of my three favourite Alice Cooper albums. However, it is a record that seems to divide the fans - they either love it or they hate it It is a concept album, based on the time that Alice had just spent in rehab for his drinking. Pretty much ever song on the album is about the people he met there, or about his recovery The album is also notable for having been used to form the characters and storyline when Alice Cooper was featured in a comic book, Marvel Premiere #50. For the most part, Alice wrote the lyrics, while the music was written by fellow drinker Bernie Taupin, best known for his work with Elton John! Note: I do not have my notes handy, so I cannot comment on who plays on what song. The entire album features: Alice Cooper - vocals Dick Wagner - guitar Davey Johnstone - guitar Steve Lukather - guitar Jay Graydon - guitar, synthesizer programming David Hungate - bass Dee Murray - bass Rick Schlosser - drums Dennis Conway - drums Michael Ricciardella - drums Rick Neilsen - guitar Producer - David Foster The first song is the title track, 'From The Inside', and it is autobiographical, explaining how Alice ended up in the hospital. The line 'Proposed a toast to Jimmy's ghost' is another reference to Jim Morrison from The Doors (see 'Desperado' from the album 'Killer') The video is taken from the 'The Strange Case Of Alice Cooper' DVD, promoting the 'Madhouse Rocks' tour. It was the first song of the set, and the introduction is made by the Cyclops...voiced by Vincent Price! The vid shows Alice's sense of humour - a reformed drinker being tormented by bottles of alcohol! The featured line-up is: Davey Johnstone - guitar Steve Hunter - guitar Prakash John ("Johhny Stilletto") - bass Penti 'Whitey' Glan - drums Fred Mandel - keyboards Sheryl Cooper - dancer 01/10 - From The Inside (Cooper, Wagner, David Foster) "I got lost on the road somewhere Was it Texas or was it Canada Drinking whiskey in the morning light I work the stage all night long At first we laughed about it My long haired drunken friends Proposed a toast to Jimmy's ghost I never dreamed that I would wind up on the losing end I'm stuck here on the inside looking out I'm just another case Where's my makeup, where's my face On the inside You all got your kicks from what you saw up there Eight bucks even buys a folding chair I was downing seagrams on another flight And I worked that stage all night long You were screaming for the villain up there And I was much obliged The old road sure screwed me good this time It's hard to see where the vicious circle ends I'm stuck here on the inside, I'm looking out That's no big disgrace Where's my makeup, where's my face On the inside I'm stuck here on the inside looking out That's no big disgrace Where's my makeup, where's my face On the inside I'm stuck here on the inside, I'm looking out That's ain't no big disgrace Where's my makeup, where's my face On the inside" The second song, 'Wish I Was Born In Beverley Hills', is a strange one. I get the feeling that it was not written specifically for this album, but ended up being used for some reason. To make it fit, a verse mentioning 'a padded cell' was added Don't get me wrong - it is a great song, but to me it seems out of place 02/10 - Wish I Was Born In Beverley Hills (Cooper, Taupin, Wagner) "She looked so sleek and sassy Rollin' down Rodeo Drive She got her daddy's black Corniche And a tennis pro by her side And she wants her mother's lover To exercise her skill And if she don't score him fast She knows that her brother will Oh, I wish I were born in Beverly Hills I swear I couldn't drink half as much as she spills I want to live it up, get my kicks and thrills Be a gigolo lover and send her the bills She says that she's an actress Just never got a part Well now she's a teenage mess With a burned out Gucci heart She cracked one day at Cartier When things came to a head They put her trinkets away And wrapped her up instead Oh I wish I were born in Beverly Hills I swear I couldn't drink half as much as she spills I want to live it up, get my kicks and thrills Be a gigolo lover and send her the bills She bit like a dog and she screamed like hell "You ain't taking me to no padded cell You better take all your hands off my high priced tail" Oh I wish I were born in Beverly Hills I swear I couldn't drink half as much as she spills I want to live it up get my kicks and thrills Be a gigolo lover and send her the bills"
__________________ People try to put us down Just because we get around Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty |
#196
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I love From the Inside! However I hate seeing the concert footage of him on that tour he looks like death!
__________________ ![]() Triumphant sight on a northern sky |
#197
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He really DOES look ill and scary in that
__________________ People try to put us down Just because we get around Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty |
#198
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The third song on 'From The Inside', is the first of the ballads - 'The Quiet Room', and hopefully it wasn't autobiographical It tells of a person in 'the quiet room' (presumably a padded cell) who is contemplating suicide, but unable to perform the act It's a great vocal performance from Alice, and the delivery of the line 'I just can't get my damn wrists to bleed' is chilling Alice Cooper - vocals Dick Wagner - guitar Davey Johnstone - guitar Steve Lukather - guitar Jay Graydon - guitar, synthesizer programming David Hungate - bass Dee Murray - bass Rick Schlosser - drums Dennis Conway - drums Michael Ricciardella - drums Rick Neilsen - guitar 03/10 - The Quiet Room (Cooper, Taupin, Wagner) "The California air Your nightgown on the stair I remember every night Scenes from home in the Quiet Room How long have I been gone Did winter kill the lawn And all those polaroids you sent Are on the wall in the Quiet Room They've got this place Where they been keeping me Where I can't hurt myself I can't get my wrists to bleed Just don't know why Suicide appeals to me The Quiet Room Is sterilized and white It's like a tomb With just a moth stained naked light Plastic forks and spoon No laces in my shoes They all know what I tried to do Outside the Quiet Room This quiet place It ain't so new to me It's haunted atmosphere Has heard so many scream My home from home My twilight zone My strangest dream My confidant I have confessed my life The Quiet Room Knows more about me than my wife They've got this place Where they been keeping me Where I can't hurt myself I just can't I just can't get these damn wrists to bleed A mattress on the floor No handles on the door I really need nothing here I'm alone" Following this is 'Nurse Rozetta', a very catchy song, with a simple guitar riff. Yes, the lyrics are juvenile, but it's a very entertaining song 04/10 - Nurse Rozetta (Cooper, Taupin, Foster, Lukather)) [I] "I'm a shepherd for the pentecost I got my scriptures and my wires crossed I got no kids and I got no home They want us holy men to live alone Since I've been here for a little stay I see Rozetta day by day She turns my head makes me cough I want to tear my collar off And I just can't sleep at night Rozetta dressed in white She got the Devil's light Shinin' in her eyes I screamed my sermon damning sin and vice When underneath I was a regular guy My pulpit melted like a block of ice When a bolt of lightning hit me from the sky From a stretcher when they wheeled me in I stared directly in the eyes of sin Nurse Rozetta standing over me And I was helpless as a man of God could be I just can't sleep at night Rozetta dressed in white She got the Devil's light Shinin' in her eyes Nurse Rozetta, I won't let her Catch me peering down her sweater Fantasizing silk suspenders on her thighs Nurse Rozetta make me better Secretly my eyes undress her Let me feel your tongue depressor I'm suddenly twice my size My pants are all wet inside She's so creative with a bar of soap And so inventive with a stethoscope To check my pulse she gotta hold my hand And I blow the fuse on the encephalogram Satan sent her from the bowels of hell I should have recognized old Jezbel I surrendered to my urges felt She popped the buckle of my bible belt And I, I just can't sleep at night Rozetta dressed in white She's got the Devil's light Shining in her eyes I'd lick her nylon seams Like a hungry cat with cream Oh, what a vivid seam And I can't hold back no more No, I can`t hold back no more"
__________________ People try to put us down Just because we get around Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty |
#199
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The final song on the first side is 'Millie And Billie', another good ballad, but one with a twist - It's about two psychopaths who are in love! From the top of my head, this is the first time that Alice has performed a proper duet on one of his LP's. The featured female is Marcy Levy, but she is better known as Marcella Detroit, who went onto form the band Shakespeares Sister in the late 1980's 'Millie And Billie' could very easily have been the basis for the film 'Natural Born Killers,' over 15 years later 05/10 - Millie And Billie (Cooper, Taupin, Roberts) "[Millie] Billie I wonder why are we insane Will we ever get better Will we stay the same Billie I'm worried [Billie] Millie don't worry No one knows our pain Being in love is crazy, not alone that way I know you're worried today [Both] God made love crazy so he wouldn't feel alone He was thinking of us, he was thinking of us God made love crazy so he wouldn't feel so alone [Millie] Billie my mind seems to wander To events of a night long ago Driving alone with our guilt well concealed In the trunk of your '68 Olds [Billie] Millie our world's an asylum And our minds, like you say, ain't that straight But you know and I know our passion's Not deformed it's true to say [Both] We'll love our lifetime [Both] God made love crazy so he wouldn't feel alone He was thinking of us he was thinking of us God made love crazy so he wouldn't feel so alone [Millie] Billie I dream of our children They're frightening and gruesome and sad And I don't want them growing inside me They're no price for the love that we have [Billie] Oh Millie [Millie] Oh Billie [Both] Criminally insane [Billie] Oh Millie [Millie] Oh Billie [Millie]Oh Billie it's fresh in my memory, The night that it had to be done [Billie] You with your pick axe and scissors [Millie] And you with your shovel and gun [Billie] And I liked your late husband Donald But such torture his memory brings All sliced up and sealed tight in baggies Guess love makes you do funny things [Millie] Oh Billie [Billie] Oh Millie [Both] Criminally insane [Billie] W'ho Millie [Millie] Oh Billie Millie, Millie, Millie, Millie, Millie.................." Onto side two now, and ...oh 'Serious', how much do I love thee? It's a heavy, rockin' song, which is possibly the fastest one Alice has ever recorded It's about someone who is addicted to gambling, although the chorus is autobiographical - 'All of my life was a laugh and a joke, a drink and a smoke, and then I'd fall down on the floor'! The original title for the song was 'I Take That Serious' Steve Lukather from the band Toto plays guitar on the song Alice has stated that it's one of his favourite songs 06/10 - Serious (Cooper, Taupin, Foster, Lukather)) "When I look back at my time at the track And I played and I played and I played and I Was shooting the craps at the back of Fat Jack's Come on fade me Jake I'm a Las Vegas dreamer they took to the cleaners A bath what a bath what a bath I'd take A fish on a hook I was rattled and shook 'cause I lost my stake I took that serious All of my life was a laugh and a joke and a drink and a smoke And then I passed out on the floor Again and again and again and again and again I'm a gambling fool with a roll and cue Wanna play wanna play wanna play with me Put my ass on the line, rubbed my nose in the grime And they picked me clean The chance and the game drove Old Silkly insane What a pain what a strain on my brain it was A fish on a hook I was rattled and shook 'cause I lost my stake I took that serious All of my life was a laugh and a joke, a drink and a smoke And then I passed out on the floor Again and again and again and again and again Serious, it was serious, oh so serious Serious, it was serious, oh so serious All of my life was a laugh and a joke and a drink and smoke And then I passed out on the floor, or a friend Again and again and again and again and again All of my life was a laugh and a joke, a drink, a smoke And then I passed out on the floor Again and again and again and again and again and again And again and again and again and again and again And again and again"
__________________ People try to put us down Just because we get around Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty |
#200
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![]() 'How You Gonna See Me Now' is the third ballad on the album! The lyrics are based on a latter that Alice wrote to Cheryl shortly before he was released from his session in rehab. By his own admission, he was worried if she would still love him - 'she had never seen me sober,' he says! Because of this, it is possibly the most personal and heartfelt song that Alice has recorded It was the only single to be released from the album, and although it was a hit in America, Australia and the Netherlands, it hasn't been played live since 1980 07/10 - How You Gonna See Me Now (Cooper, Taupin, Wagner) "Dear darlin', surprised to hear from me? Bet you're sittin' drinkin' coffee, yawnin' sleepily Just to let you know I'm gonna be home soon I'm kinda awkward and afraid Time has changed your point of view How you gonna see me now Please don't see me ugly babe 'Cause I know I let you down In oh so many ways How you gonna see me now Since we've been on our own Are you gonna love the man When the man gets home Listen darlin', now I'm heading for the west Straightened out my head but my old heart is still a mess Yes I'm worried honey Guess that's natural though It's like I'm waiting for a welcome sign Like a hobo in the snow How you gonna see me now Please don't see me ugly babe 'Cause I know I let you down In oh so many ways How you gonna see me now Since we've been on our own Are you gonna love the man When the man gets home And just like the first time We're just strangers again I might have grown out of style In the place I've been And just like the first time I'll be shakin' inside When I walk in the door There'll be no place to hide How you gonna see me now Please don't see me ugly babe 'Cause I know I let you down In oh so many ways How you gonna see me now Please don't see me ugly babe 'Cause I know I let you down In oh so many ways How you gonna see me now Since we've been on our own Are you gonna love the man When the man gets home Yeah....... Oh so many ways...." 'For Veronica's Sake', lets get back to the guitar rockers! What can I say? It's another great song 08/10 - For Veronica's Sake (Cooper, Taupin, Wagner) "I got a name and number I got my bed assigned I got a dog in the city pound That I left behind I'm strapped down and wild-eyed She's locked up in a pen She needs somebody to feed her And I'm her only friend So for Veronica's sake I gotta get out of here Yeah for Veronica's sake, she can get pretty weird Yeah for Veronica's sake I gotta get myself out of here We both been put in cages We got our shots and tags I got my sweatin' fist to shake She's got her tail to wag She has to bark and whimper While I could scream and shout The clock above the psycho ward Says time is running out So for Veronica's sake I gotta get out of here Yeah for Veronica's sake, she can get pretty weird Yeah for Veronica's sake I gotta get myself out of here And I can see her howling all night at the lonely moon They're going to give her the gas if I don't get there soon I gotta get there soon For Veronica's sake I gotta get out of here Yeah for Veronica's sake, she can get pretty weird Yeah, For Veronica's sake I gotta get out of here For Veronica's sake I gotta get out of here Yeah for Veronica's sake, she can get pretty weird For Veronica's sake I gotta get out of here Yeah for Veronica's sake, she can get pretty weird (She can get really weird) For Veronica's sake I gotta get out of here Yeah for Veronica's sake, she can get pretty weird (She can get really weird)"
__________________ People try to put us down Just because we get around Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty |
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