Alice Cooper

Released: June 25, 1969

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

Producer: Herb Cohen Ian Underwood Alice Cooper Frank Zappa

Forget, remember nothing
The force came from the flame
I pass along the path inside
My light shining always
We'll get there first a name cried out
And looked back all the way
Recall falling down a lot of time was spent that way
But this story starring me has already begun
'Cuz I had some vision in my sight
On the journey to be one
Help me, help please, help me please
The screaming starts again
But the trick I find something hid
You look, you find, I win
While working while the play was on
The play was alright then
Think thought, big thoughts
Take off and go back again next week
Right then my story ended
And a new one had begun
'Cuz I had some vision in my sight
On the journey to be one

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.

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Pretties for You

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Pretties for You (1969)

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Pretties for You