Alice Cooper

Released: June 25, 1969

Songwriter: Dennis Dunaway Neal Smith Michael Bruce Glen Buxton Alice Cooper

Producer: Herb Cohen Ian Underwood Frank Zappa Alice Cooper

I'm changing, arranging
Things I never thought I'd move before
I'm changing, arranging
To your personality I asked for it before

I need a soul who'll never say what I feel
Just fearing that I will accept the ideal
I look up high and I swear all I see
It's a carbon copy image of me

I'm dying hard trying
Baby, baby, for the rest of my life
I'm trying and I'm dying
Maybe, maybe he's trying to be my life

I've got a never ending battle inside
Just trying to rectify my personal pride
I swear I don't know what it's got over me
But I know it doesn't wanna be free

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

Pretties for You

From the album

Pretties for You (1969)

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Changing ArrangingAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Pretties for You