Alice Cooper is an iconic American rock musician known for his theatrical stage performances and darkly humorous lyrics. His album "From the Inside," released in 1978, was a departure from his usual hard rock sound, focusing instead on his experiences in a mental institution. The album was a critical and commercial success with its single “How You Gonna See Me Now” reaching #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. "From the Inside" showcased Cooper's ability to blend storytelling with rock music and was inspired by Cooper's real-life experiences in a rehabilitation center, where he sought treatment for alcoholism. This album is widely regarded as one of Cooper's most introspective and personal albums. Musically it changes from his first three solo albums by losing Bob Ezrin as a producer and being produced by David Foster who had previously produced George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart and others. This album has been described as being “slickly produced” and alienated many hard rock fans. One turn-off towards the album is that it is a product of session musicians, not a dedicated rock band. Thankfully guitarist Dick Wagner remained and wrote many songs with Alice for the album. I remember buying the album in November 1978 and not really connecting with a song until “Nurse Rozetta” came on and I thought “Now that sounds like Alice Cooper!” How has this album held up through the ages? Let’s see what we think with a modern re-listen.  Jeff

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   I feel compelled to admit I don't have nearly the knowledge of Alice Cooper that Mark and Jeff possess. I bought the album right after it came out, basically on a whim, when my grandmother took me to the hardware store in tiny Platte, SD that also sold vinyl. Being one of the extremely rare times that I didn't have a particular purchase in mind, I stumbled across the album and was curious, as my brother's band had recently added “Nurse Rozetta” to their set list and I absolutely loved that guitar riff.  Also, Circus magazine had run a recent feature detailing Cooper's recent rehab stay that he was using to formulate the songs for his new album. I spent the majority of the rest of my two-week stay immersing myself in the album. Though it's now trashed, the outer, kind of reverse gatefold nature of the cover, mimicking the doors of an asylum, was brilliant. Kip

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   As I was writing up last month’s Angel thoughts I got a call from Jeff. He was telling me that the day before he had a grumpy disposition listening to last month’s Angel album, but today he was fine with it. I kept that in the back of my mind as I’m listening again to this Alice Cooper album. I kinda get what he was talking about… don’t get me wrong l like this album, but today I’m not feeling too cozy with it. I think my problem is that I’m a band person, I get into the members of band. What they play. How they approach their instruments in the song. How the guitar/bass tone sounds…drum groove, and vocal performance. The Alice cooper band I could get into all that. Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith, and don’t forget Vince…are to me a gang of rock and rollers! They came up through the ranks by touring, making albums, touring, making albums, and so on. To me this album is more of a producer, record executive record. Ok, enough of my whinny intro.   Mark

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1. From the Inside (Cooper, Taupin, Wagner & Foster) B+

   This song is one of my favorite songs on this album! I didn't love it on first listen but as time passed I really grew to like this song and still have it on a playlist of Alice Cooper that I listened to this day. This song has a different guitar tone to it that I really wasn't used to… but to be fair Alice Cooper was changing his sound quite a bit and even with the last three Bob Ezrin albums the guitar sound had gotten a little smoother and not so raw fuzzed as earlier albums. The backup singers are almost a little too sweet for Alice Cooper in my opinion. It sounds like a Broadway musical piece but to be fair so does “Hello Hooray” at the beginning of Billion Dollar Babies. But through this album I can’t help wonder how it all would have sounded like if Bob Ezrin was producing. “From the Inside” is a song I still play often, I think it's catchy as hell, memorable and a great opening track to this album.

A

Jeff

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   Because I devoured every inch of every music magazine I could get my hands on, I knew that the album involved a number of outside people, chief among them, Bernie Taupin, Elton John's lyricist. I was not an Elton John fan at all, so his presence wasn't a positive to me. The opening, Eltonish, piano intro was not a good sign for me. I begrudgingly had to admit I liked the story vibe of the whole project, so I gave it a chance. The song works as it's intended; to introduce us to how Alice got “here,” both physically and emotionally. The song is ok; I love the guitar sound. Tough to go wrong with either Dick Wagner or, especially, Steve Lukather.

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B-

Kip

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I love the electric piano opening riff, and the galloping electric guitars, they really get this tune rolling. Alice sounds like he’s ready to tell a tale of woe and denigration. This will be good, I’m excited!

B

Mark

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2. Wish I Were Born in Beverly Hills (Cooper, Taupin, Wagner) C+

   OK getting past the slick production and the poppy sounding guitars… one of my main appeals of Alice Cooper is that I love his vocals and that's what carries this song is his vocals with this song.With this song he's got back his School's Out swagger and crustiness at times it reminds me a bit of “Guilty” from Goes to Hell. A Dick Wagner masterpiece! This is classic Cooper and would have easily fit on his other early solo albums.

A

Jeff

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   Beginning with a blatant Queen sounding, James Gang inspired guitar riff, I remember thinking, HERE we go.” Because I had little actual contact with actual Alice Cooper music, I also thought this was what I imagined he sounded like. A little dark, a little humorous. This is a decent little song.

B

Kip

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   I don’t think they’re could cram one more guitar part on this soggy mess. I’m not sure where this song fits in this album though. I think it’s another song of lost love and hope? (kidding) after scrutinizing all the measures I did find a nano beat a guitar part could have been jammed into. (also kidding) Too bad!  NEXT!

D+

Mark

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3. “The Quiet Room" (Cooper, Taupin, Wagner) C-

   Now I've had this album since it came out but I have never listened to this song more than a couple of times in all my years I didn't like it then and I don't like it now really that much it's just not an Alice Cooper song to me and I think I just don't think Maurice White from Earth, Wind and Fire fits with someone for the Coop to do a duet with. I just don’t think the tune is that good. just kind of meanders around and never comes together for me. I never really feel anything during this song and when it's over I'm not in any mood to ever want to hear it again really just didn't grab me.

D

Jeff

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   I'm a sucker for piano ballads, but this one drifted too far toward 70's soft rock, radio schlock for me. The lyrics are poignant and sad, but the Chicago sounding background vocals and cheesy keyboards took any emotional impact away from me. Even the guitar solo is thin and wimpy sounding. This would usually be the type of guilty pleasure song I enjoy, but the trappings ruin it.

C-

Kip

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   Someone got a new synthesizer! Man, that guy took a pretty cool tune and synthesized all over it. Alice brings the tune back to reality with a great lyric and vocal. Thank you.

B-

Mark

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4. Nurse Rozetta (Cooper, Taupin, Lukather & Foster) A

   Now with this song I have to say the opposite! I've listened to this a million times and loved it since I first heard it. For me this is the best song on the whole album! This is Alice Cooper! Getting apart from its highly sexualized lyrics I think this has the swagger and gruffness of Alice Cooper that I like; I wish the whole album could have sounded a little more like what this does! Love the guitar work of Steve Lukather, his song, his riff playing, awesome stuff! Lyrically this song may turn off some, which I get, but I focus more on the music and attitude/sound of the vocals that I love!

A+

Jeff

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   Now this works. My brother's band didn't have the cheesy keyboards, so their version was much heavier, but this still rocks. There's more snarl in his vocal delivery and dirty lyrics that I assumed were kind of standard fare for Cooper. The 80's foreshadowing keyboards are a negative, but that's the only knock on this song. If they had just had the guitar sound throughout that they use coming out of the bridge, this would have been an absolute home run for me. As it is, it's by far my favorite song on the album.

A-

Kip

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   Now this is what I’m talking about! This tune is great! A groovy rhythm that almost makes me want to disco:-) ok, it does make me want too. The real Alice Cooper is standing tall and defiant on this one. I think they needed to up his saltpeter though. Sheesh!

A

Mark

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5. Millie and Billie (Cooper, Taupin, Roberts) C+

   Oh boy, here we go, another duet. Never liked this one either. Always sounded like the Coop duetting with Olivia Newton John. I’ve nothing against Olivia, duets, or trying different things on new albums. I like the creative juice of Alice Cooper, but this song just falls flat again same as the Quiet Room did. Didn’t like it that much when I first heard it and don’t like it much today. Sorry another dud if you ask me.

C-

Jeff

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   This one took me a while, but it probably comes closest to the heart of what they were shooting for on this album. The sweetness of both of their vocals and even the country twang to the guitars really set up the emotional impact of this romance between two psychopathic lovers recounting the night they killed and dismembered her husband. Her imagining their awful unborn children is honestly creepy. The strings on the end of this song really work as well. Not really a guilty pleasure song, but I always felt a little creepy for liking this song as much as I did.

A-

Kip

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   Ok, Millie needs to go to a vocal spa or maybe use that tonsil massage coupon she been saving. She’s singing in tune, but for me not a pleasant voice. Maybe it’s because she’s criminally insane? The best part of this tune is the ending. Very dramatic. Someone should of make a stage play for this album. Alice is his usual perfect self.

C

Mark

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6. Serious (Cooper, Taupin, Foster, Lukather) B-

   Little "Cat Scratch Fever" here! Upbeat song that matches the theatrical catchiness of other songs on this album. Doesn’t feel unique like "Nurse Rozetta", but matches "Wish I was Born in Beverly Hills" in being an ok singalong rock song... but once again what would Ezrin have done with this song?

B

Jeff

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   Opening with a guitar riff that HAS to be Rick Nielson, this song is kind of all over the place. The most rocking riff leads into some Queen inspired “again, again, again” lead ins to an almost musical theater chorus. Just a mishmash of a song apparently about a degenerate alcoholic gambler. I just didn't care. Pass

D

Kip

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   Now this tune has some fangs! Great opening riff that takes a chunk out of your chin whiskers. Jeff says this reminds him of “Cat Scratch Fever” by old Teddypoo. Hmmm… If I squint my ears I can kinda sort of hear it… but I’m not taking him too serious ;-) Great tune thou!

A

Mark

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7. How You Gonna See Me Now (Cooper, Taupin, Wagner) B+

   I think this should have been the only soft song on the album. Not my favorite slow Alice (that goes to “You and Me” from Lace and Whiskey) but this gem worked for him as a hit. I love the middle 8 at 2:09 “Just like the first time…” I think that’s beautiful. I’m impressed with Dick Wagner’s rockers for sure, but he helped create some great slow songs with Alice!

B-

Jeff

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   An absolutely beautiful song that ended up being a radio staple that fit in with other songs of 1978. I have softened to this song, having watched people both succeed and fail with overcoming addictions. This was a vulnerable song that again fit the 70's. Again, man did they like Brian May's sound, as the guitar solo sounds like it could have come straight off News of the World.The outro guitar is nice. Definitely a song that showed up on the anthologies of the 70's collections. He sings this well, too.

B+

Kip

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   This is the first tune I heard from this album, and I love this song. Cool video as well.  The music and the lyric just melt together to form a perfect ballad. Overflowing with forgiveness and redemption. Great tune and for me a landmark song in the Alice Cooper musical universe. ‘’Please don’t see me ugly’’. So good.

A+

Mark

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8. For Veronica’s Sake (Cooper, Taupin, Wagner) C-

   Out of the rockers on this album it's my least favorite. The refrain always sounded a little forced to me. Maybe if I drunk a couple of beers and feeling no pain I’d be singing along with this song. I’m too old for any beers now so I usually pass on this song. Best part is the middle 8 at 1:45 then at 2:15 they sing the refrain a cappella over the guitar riff and handclaps. Once again I’d be totally interested to hear what Bob Ezrin would have done with this song.

C

Jeff

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   This one is a stretch. I guess, it's “clever,” writing about the  mundane worries of taking care of the dog that would be on the mental patient's mind. Ok. The piano overlaying the chorus just sounded too much like Abba for my hard rock loving ears. The 80's neutered guitar sound really irritates as well. I have to go there, right? This one's a dog.

D-

Kip

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I mean who hasn’t had a pooch waiting at home, sad and hungry waiting for you to escape the mental ward to give food and cuddles? I love Alice’s humor. He’s a funny dude. The guitars are so nasally though. Hmm… was this a purposeful thing? Or maybe there was a lot of Disney dust in the air? Maybe both? I do like this tune though. It’s has a great beat, and you can dance to it. Totally tubular bro.

B

Mark

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9. Jackknife Johnny (Cooper, Taupin, Wagner) C+

   Another slow one. The tune has moments that I like, but overall I don’t like the production of this song. The organ is too much and the slick production is not Alice Cooper of the past. Some synth sounds have dated poorly. Another song I skip.

C-

Jeff

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   I honestly didn't remember this one. Man, does that “Oh Johnny” sound like Christie McVie?? This one has that musical theater feel as well. The “sound” on this one is definitely a plus. The guitar solo is really nice, as well has the Hammond solo that follows. But the song itself just doesn't go anywhere. I really feel like without the goosebump inducing voice on the “Oh Johnny,” there's just not much here. Probably why I didn't remember it. Pass.

D+

Kip

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   Alice is a great story teller, and this is a really good example. Alice kinda half talks, half sings this one to wonderfully effect. The background vocals (deeear Johnny) are so good. And the guitar solo is perfection as it’s taken over by a sweet soulful hammond organ. I love it!

A

Mark

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10. Inmates (We’re All Crazy) (Cooper, Taupin, Wagner) A-

   Now you might think I'm on a big rant against all Alice Cooper slow songs, but I don't mind slow or moody songs as long as they fit and sound like what I expect from Alice Cooper. And that's where this song does work for me, it sounds like an Alice Cooper song! It's very catchy as an anthem that can register with most people. This is a song I find myself singing along to as it plays and I think it's a great closing piece for this album. This is one of my favorite songs from the album. This sounds like Alice!

A+

Jeff

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   Love the Beatles orchestration to open it. This really feels like a Taupin song that Cooper and Wagner added their names to. This is a complex piece. The musical build ups echo cool Cheap Trick songs. The background vocals really make this song. This obviously is supposed to be the “opus” that wraps up the asylum concept. The long fade out with all of the accents really hearkens to the Beatles as well. Didn't have the big emotional impact that songs like this are supposed to have, but there were definitely some cool elements.

B

Kip

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   Man, what a great ending to a really kinda swell concept album. I can picture a Broadway stage filled with all the characters from this album. That would be bananas! Thanks for listening… oh, I got to go. I think I hear the orderly coming with today’s Thorazine cleanse.

A

Mark