Ticket 2 Ride

Celebrating 50 years, Warner Bros. re-released two Alice Cooper Group albums from the early 1970s. Each album is remastered and includes a second disc of live and alternative mixes.

Many people refer the band as “Alice Cooper,” which I do not. The name was intended to collectively represent the group, but became synonymous with the lead vocalist, who took the name when he went solo. So, I reference the band as the ACG.

Killer and School’s Out were two of ACG’s best albums. Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce and Dennis Dunaway were the main songwriters with “Alice” providing lyrics. The entire band frequently wrote together so you see group-compositions that were crafted from blazing jams, with everyone pitching ideas. Like the Doobie Brothers and Black Sabbath, ACG was a guitar band.

The public heard about the outlandish theatrical staging and female name used by the lead singer who wore makeup and wrapped himself in a snake, and the longhaired band members who looked like bikers that came back from hell, by way of the graveyard. Parents naturally hated the band.

It was the music that attracted me, not the ghoulish dress or theatrics. In the early 1970s, groups like KISS, Sweet, David Bowie The Pretty Things, Roxy Music and others had the glam, androgynous and costume look. ACG had radio hits, and some came from these two albums. ACG hooked up with Bob Ezrin, who would later work with Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Deep Purple, Aerosmith, KISS and many others. Ezrin knew how to make tough, powerful, hard rock into mass selling albums that also received airplay.

Both albums were produced by Bob Ezrin. He captured the heavy sound of the band, polished the roughness a bit, but did not lose any power. Strategic use of strings, horns and keyboards really highlight certain songs. Ezrin knew what he was doing and was the perfect producer for the ACG. The music does not sound dated, which is a relief. Yes, it was recorded over 50 years ago, but it’s smart, creative and original.

Overall, the remastering of these two albums is clean and the sound is tight, as it seems to contain the compression in the original mastering. I always thought they cut off the top end, but that’s a minor complaint. One of those involved in the recent remastering was Bill Inglot, who was at the front of the movement to remaster old recordings.

Killer (1971)

The fourth Alice Cooper Group album. The first two songs are ACG favorites. “Halo of Flies” is a suite of song parts attached like Frankenstein’s monster that somehow works. Way back when, Killer was not one of my favorite ACG albums, but listening to the new remastered version, there is a lot it enjoy. No, it’s still not my favorite, however it has moved up the list.

Song list:

“Under My Wheels”
“Be My Lover”
“Halo of Flies”
“Desperado”
“You Drive Me Nervous”
“Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”
“Dead Babies”
“Killer”

Included in the Killer set is a concert recorded at Mar Y Sol Pop Festival, Puerto Rico, April 2, 1972. These versions are not the slick, polished studio recordings. Don’t worry, there are no 20 minute drum solos, but these are looser, harder rocking versions. Just from the sound, you can heard why the ACG was a constantly touring band. They were a popular attraction.

“Be My Lover”
“You Drive Me Nervous”
“Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”
“I’m Eighteen”
“Halo of Flies”
“Is It My Body”
“Dead Babies”
“Killer”
“Long Way to Go”
“Under My Wheels”

The disc finishes with alternate versions of “You Drive Me Nervous,” “Under My Wheels”, “Dead Babies.”

School’s Out (1972)

This was album number five and what a jazzy set of bluesy rock & roll. This band was on fire and rather than repeat the formula from Killer, the band had other ideas. Instead of straight, power chord rock, the band mixed Broadway, jazz and nostalgia into their palette. Maybe this was considered experimental back in 1972, but it showed that ACG were a bit deeper than their reputation. Does this sound dated? Much less than many albums from the same period.

“School’s Out” is the lead track and a major hit. This quickly became an anthem for a generation. Perfect, melodic power chords. Either this song or “Elected” would be my favorite ACG song.

“Luney Tune” – A slower paced rocker, great guitar tracks. An orchestra provides trippy support. A song about a crazy dream provides a lot of classic ACG imagery.

“Gutter Cat Vs. The Jets” – Adapted from the musical West Side Story, but most of the song is pulsating ACG.

“Stage Fight” – A short instrumental with a pulsating bass line. The outro from the previous song.

“Blue Turk” – A back alley fight will happen between cool cats. Very jazzy, swinging song with a sax and horns along for the ride. A band composition. Great stretch of musical solos. A reminder that these cats were real players, not three-chord plodders.

“My Stars” – A very frenetically paced song. Nice piano part contributed by Bob Ezrin.

“Public Animal #9” – A rock-blues song with swagger, this sounds like The Rolling Stones or J. Geils Band.

“Alma Mater” – With a groove like “House of the Rising Sun,” this nostalgic ode to your high school days.

Grande Finale – Based on a song from the film, Walk on the Wild Side. This is a heavy rock recreation of the song with horns and strings. An instrumental.

Live tracks recorded May 27, 1972 in Miami. Song from School’s Out, plus a few earlier songs and a coup from Billion Dollar Babies. “Be My Lover,” “You Drive Me Nervous,” “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Halo of Flies,” “Dead Babies,” “Killer,” “Long Way to Go,” “School’s Out” and “Is It My Body.” Live, the ACG is as raw and rowdy as you might imagine. These are pretty good versions, and sound distorted and funky.

A few more bonus cuts fill out the CD. A single version of “School’s Out” and “Gutter Cat.” Alternate take of “Alma Mater” and early take of “Elected.”