Alice Cooper

Released: April 29, 1977

Songwriter: Charles Underwood

Producer: Bob Ezrin

Well, I rocked over Italy and I rocked over Spain
I rocked in Memphis;
It was all the same
Til I rocked to Africa
I rolled off the ship
I seem them natives doin' an odd looking skip
I parted the weeds
And I looked over the swamp
And I seen them cats doin' the Ubangi Stomp

Ubangi Stomp is a rock and roll
It beats anything that's ever been told
Ubangi Stomp, Ubangi style
When it kicks
It drives a cool cat wild

Well I looked up the chief;
He invited me in
He said, "A heap big jam session's 'bout to begin."
I grabbed up a tom and I picked up the beat
That crazy thing sent
Shivers to my feet
I rocked and I rolled
And I skipped with a smile
I did the Ubangi Stomp with a Ubangi style

Well, we rocked all night and part of the day
Had a good, rock-in' time
With the chief's daughter Mae
I'm makin' good time and I'm gettin' in the know
When the captain said, "Son, we've gotta go."
I said, "That's all right
You go right ahead
I'm gonna Ubangi Stomp til I roll over dead."

Ubangi Stomp is a rock and roll
It beats anything that's ever been told
Ubangi Stomp, Ubangi style
When it kicks
It drives a cool cat wild

Ubangi Stomp, thank you

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.

more tracks from the album

Lace and Whiskey

From the album

Lace and Whiskey (1977)

Alice Cooper popular songs

Ubangi StompAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Lace and Whiskey