In 1971, Alice Cooper released Love It To Death which contained his smash hit, I'm Eighteen that quickly turned into a teenage anthem that still rocks today 35 years later. Last year when my son turned 18, he was blasting 18 on the stereo just as I did many year ago.As you can see on the front cover, Alice is dressed to thrill, or at least entertain. Alice Cooper was the first band to bring showbiz and entertainment into their tours.
Although the shows were graphic and gruesome, (Plenty of fake blood, theatrics, wild gory scenes) they were also packed with great rock and roll music. The audiences every night were not just treated to Alice Cooper singing and playing, but were also entertained with mini Broadway type shows.
And oh yea, Alice Cooper is the artist formerly known as Vincent Damon Furnier. Alice had his name legally changed in the early 1970's.
The left side album jacket is dominated by a giant eye with heavy bushy eyebrow with streaked mascara. The eyeball has a picture of the band Alice Cooper. The bottom left side has the song tracks and credits.
Album Tracks Are:
Side One:
Caught in a dream
I'm eighteen
Long way to go
Black juju
Side Two:
Is it my body
Hallowed by my name
Second coming
Ballard of Dwight Fry
Sun Arise
The right side of the inside album jacket had another giant eye with yet another picture of Alice Cooper.
The back cover shows the Alice Cooper group with guitars ready. Alice is dressed in a leopard type cape and heavy mascara. The classic Alice cooper look.
If you put the inside jacket pictures together, you get a freaked out frantic Alice Cooper in mascara looking out at you. Marilyn Manson has nothing on Alice.
I'll leave you with the lyrics to the albums smash hit, I'm Eighteen.
Lines form on my face and hands
Lines form from the ups and downs
I'm in the middle without any plans
I'm a boy and I'm a man
Lines form from the ups and downs
I'm in the middle without any plans
I'm a boy and I'm a man
I'm eighteen
and I don't know what I want
Eighteen
I just don't know what I want
Eighteen
I gotta get away
I gotta get out of this place
I'll go runnin in outer space
Oh yeah
and I don't know what I want
Eighteen
I just don't know what I want
Eighteen
I gotta get away
I gotta get out of this place
I'll go runnin in outer space
Oh yeah
I got a
baby's brain and an old man's heart
Took eighteen years to get this far
Don't always know what I'm talkin about
Feels like I'm livin in the middle of doubt
Cause I'm
baby's brain and an old man's heart
Took eighteen years to get this far
Don't always know what I'm talkin about
Feels like I'm livin in the middle of doubt
Cause I'm
Eighteen
I get confused every day
Eighteen
I just don't know what to say
Eighteen
I gotta get away
I get confused every day
Eighteen
I just don't know what to say
Eighteen
I gotta get away
Lines form on my face and my hands
Lines form on the left and right
I'm in the middle
the middle of life
I'm a boy and I'm a man
I'm eighteen and I LIKE IT
Yes I like it
Oh I like it
Love it
Like it
Love it
Eighteen!
Eighteen!
Eighteen!
Eighteen and I LIKE IT
Lines form on the left and right
I'm in the middle
the middle of life
I'm a boy and I'm a man
I'm eighteen and I LIKE IT
Yes I like it
Oh I like it
Love it
Like it
Love it
Eighteen!
Eighteen!
Eighteen!
Eighteen and I LIKE IT
LURKING AND ROCKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL
I am sure you are aware, but I'll ask just in case? You know there were two different covers for this album, right? The other one looks almost exactly the same, however Alice has his finger sticking out from under his cape, and it looks like aP***s. And if I remember correctly that cover was for the "Initial" release of that album, and it is on a record label owned by Frank Zappa. I own a copy of that album, so if you are really interested I can get all the info for you. But then again, you probably already know all of this. Dig your blog.
ReplyDeleteFIM
Five, I did not know another album jacket existed. Would love a photo of it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info and comments.
I was going to find a copy on the web, but outside of a small version on Wikipedia, which also tells basically the same story. I had no luck. I will get a pic of the actual cover over in the next few days.
ReplyDeleteFIM
Hey, I know it has been like a month, but I haven't forgotten. I didn't end up getting a pic of my copy, but I did finally find one on ebay. (Of the album w/Cooper and his thimb.)
ReplyDeleteI will post it on my blog so you can take a look. Remember, it's all about the Thumb.
Take Care,
FIM
Five, your link doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteI remember the release of 'Love it to Death', on 8-track, of course. My peeps rode around listening to Alice, "Machine Head" by Deep Purple, and Zappa, with a healthy dose of 'Aqualung' by Tull. the chics were into Elton, Cat Stevens, and such, so we had to roll with them too. We all played guitars or drums; which, was a requirement if you lived in the Detroit suburbs. I saw Alice the first time, before he was published at a Catholic High School in Southgate, Michigan. Aquinas High. It cost $3 to see her. I thought I was going to see a 'chic' band. Their hair was down past their asses, and they sounded horrible, but they played on the cafeteria floor. I remember the one good song, Eighteen. But the PA and acoustics were so bad, it sounded like he was singing, "I ain't mean." Overall, it was a very curious and remarkable little concert. No one knew what to make of these guys. The equipment was overkill with each guitarist using two full sets of Fender bassmens. The were so loud, the school officials shut them down twice and they blew about 4 circuit breakers until they could run extension cords from other outlets to spread the load. Lots of really hot Catholic teenyboppers running around. Man, those were the good old days. Good bless Coop.
ReplyDeleteI just played golf with Alice last month at the Mill Creek Golf Course. He is very good.
DeleteI just played golf with Alice last month at the Mill Creek Golf Course. He is very good.
Delete