Alice Cooper

Released: June 25, 1969

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

Producer: Herb Cohen Frank Zappa Alice Cooper Ian Underwood

Today Mueller, let it happen
Happy slappin', tappin' paddy-oh
She'd like to give her life away
Like to stay another day
Try it out another way

Arh, today, today, today, today mueller
Give your notice of your leaving
Arh, today, today, today, today mueller
Don't tell them you can't go with me

This will always be, red rover, red rover
Pass under, pass over, pass through
And over, and over the White Cliffs of Dover with you
Today mueller
Make it happen

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)

Alice Cooper popular songs

Today MuellerAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Pretties for You