Released: June 25, 1976

Songwriter: Bob Ezrin Dick Wagner Alice Cooper

Producer: Bob Ezrin

You know I'm the coolest
That's ever come around
You'll notice things get hotter
Whenever I'm in town
I mean I gotta be the coolest
Who else could it be?
Everybody knows who's really cool
Me

Let's face it, I'm the greatest
I'm Mr. Number One
My hometown built a statue
To their favourite son
I mean I gotta be the greatest
I'm just a ball of fun
I mean I'm definitely the greatest
I'm also the coolest

You can't leave a package like me
Sitting on no shelf
Let me tell you I'm so cool sonny
I'm gonna save a little for myself

Baby, come over here a minute
Who is the coolest?
I mean how do I look?
Yeah

[Guitar Solo]

You can't leave a package like me
Sitting on no shelf
Let me tell you I'm so cool sonny
I'm gonna save a little for myself

You know the day I was born
There were these four dudes up on a hill
They said they saw this star
Hanging out over town
And the whole world seemed to stand still
It made the Sunday papers
I guess it proves for sure
I am the coolest
I am the greatest
I am the baddest
I am the smoothest
I'm just the best
Sand dancer come on
Ah yeah
Right

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper is the stage name and ‘fun villain’ character of Vincent Furnier. Cooper became the target of parents and ministers for his dark lyrics and gory theatrical performances that earned him the title Godfather of Shock Rock. Despite once claiming the name was conjured from a ouija board that told him he’s the reincarnation of a 17th century witch, Cooper laughs the topic off with flippant answers like “It was either a Scrabble board or a bowl of alphabet soup” and “I didn’t want a name like Iron Butterfly or Black Sabbath. I wanted it to be something your aunt might be called.”

The band Alice Cooper was originally signed by Frank Zappa to his own record label. Their first notoriety came when Cooper tossed a wayward chicken (possibly arranged by long-time manager Shep Gordon) into the crowd, who then tore it apart at the 1969 Toronto Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Festival. Newspapers claimed he’d bit the bird’s head off and drank its blood. Zappa advised them to not deny the story and Cooper used it as inspiration to make his character darker.

The band’s teaming with producer Bob Ezrin for their third album Love It To Death led to their US breakthrough with a top 30 hit “I’m Eighteen” in early 1971. By then, the band was already infamous for their stage show, which had escalated into simulated torture and executions. That same year, Killer was released with its two singles “Under My Wheels” and “Be My Lover” finding moderate US success, and both albums being certified gold the following year.