Jeff: Alice Cooper is my full introduction into being a fan of a Rock -n- Roll band. I had enjoyed The Beatles as a kiddo, but when I was 13 I was turned onto the album Billion Dollar Babies, and I honestly have never been the same since. Becoming a fan of the Alice Cooper band made me want to delve deeper than I’d ever done before on any band I’d kind of liked in the past. I wanted to read books about the band. I begin to understand what a producer's role was and how much I liked Bob Ezrin’s production. I wanted to collect band pictures and decorate my bedroom walls. I marveled at their creativity and their unique stage shows and most of all I want to own every album they’ve ever made. At 14 I started working cleaning a building at night and knew that with my checks I was going to begin exploring the world of rock music. Alice Cooper was the fuse that lit that journey that I continue today. I have about 130 songs of Alice Cooper in my iTunes library and to narrow down as a top 10 was tough. My top ten are songs are ones I’ve never grown sick of and I’m still just as passionate about them now as I ever was in the past.

 

10. Wish You Were Here: This is a Dick Wagner & Bob Ezrin powerhouse of a track. I love the production because it’s Ezrin right after Kiss Destroyer. It has that slick clean production that was present on Destroyer and Ezrin adds that sheen to this awesome track that showcases Cooper’s vocals, and the band’s instrumental talents. This has always been my favorite on Goes to Hell and I still blast this today. Its hypnotic beat and that instrumental break at 3:11 are so vivid and explosive; both Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner really shine here!

 

9. Ballad of Dwight Fry: What I always liked about Alice Cooper is that the band was never just a hard rock unit. They could rock as well as anyone, but they could also create dramatic theatre rock, like this wonderful track from the Love it to Death album. From its childlike piano to great acoustic guitar and then the building tension with a clever series of mood changes as Alice sings about being locked up in a mental asylum. Some of best vocals Alice ever laid down on tape.  Wow! at 2:47 “When I’ve gone insane…” and then that instrumental break afterwards is the beauty of Ezrin providing his production genius.

 

8. Cold Ethyl: Did I say Alice Cooper could rock! That’s what I love is the contrast in the songs. This rocker is written by Ezrin with deviant lyrics by the Coop. All the little rock riffs thrown into this thing by Wagner and Hunter, it had to be blast to create and play! Turn it up and enjoy that sneering attitude of Cooper that is complemented by a blasting wall of angry fuzzed guitars with some tight leads that really deliver!

 

7. You and Me: Did I say there is a contrast in the music created by Alice Cooper. This love song is my ultimate love song. Written by Dick Wagner it showcases that not only could this man write killer rock pieces, but when given the chance he could create songs that Paul McCartney would envy. Cooper’s lyrics are poignant and for me is the most touching love song for its recognition of people aren’t all movie stars and that there is nothing more heart-rending than holding each other and watching TV while eating popcorn. Every girlfriend got this on their mix-tape from me.

 

6. Desperado: I have to admit it isn’t all Bob Ezrin or the songwriting of the original band and others that worked with Cooper that makes this band so engaging for me. It all is kept to perfection for me by Alice Cooper’s charismatic vocals. I think he has one of the best rock voices out there. Not only can he sing as beautiful as John Lennon (listen to “Hard Hearted Alice” on Muscle of Love) but he can snarl and growl like no other. This song showcases that vocal with a wonderful western narrative. I liked the original Alice Cooper band so much because they had the listener stepping out of their regularly programmed consciousness and stepping into something completely novel.

 

5. Luney Tune: I think this is a fave for Cooper’s lyrics and his vocal delivery. We return to the insane territory that Dwight Fry explored, but this song is bit more of a rocker with a great middle eight (1:21). I love that Ezrin added strings and horns to so many of these songs, it reminds me of George Martin’s additions to Beatle songs. “I can’t find the exit, I quit looking for doors!” is one of my all-time favorite lines in any song.

 

4. Is It My Body: What a killer guitar lick and then add Dunaway’s bassline, it’s impossible to not like this! I love at the second verse the guitars change it up and the song chugs along with more power. This song has it all: tough guitars, confident vocals and an ingenious bassline. I always love that it was the first song my daughter Aimee ever told me that she liked. She was like two. If you really like this song, it is worth noting that there are two versions available. There is the mix that is on the original album Love it to Death and then Jack Richardson remixed this song and others for the 1974 Greatest Hits album.

 

3. Muscle of Love: One of the greatest riffs ever! The throbbing bass and drum pattern pulsates with sexual tension egged on by spiky guitar outburst with vocals that drip with menace and foreboding! Pure Magic! I can still remember the first time I heard this track from a little tape recorder from my friend Paul Wells. Even on a three-inch speaker it rocked! One better is Michael Bruce’s version of this track! His version takes it to 11.

 

2. No More Mister Nice Guy: Paul McCartney told Alice Cooper that this song scared him, it was that good. You think I would get sick of this, but nope! I think it is three minutes of pop/rock magical perfection. This was written by Michael Bruce. He was the last to join the band, but he added so much by creating a number of classic Alice Cooper songs! This track is a great example of his songwriting talent!

 

1. Billion Dollar Babies: One of the coolest songs ever! Absolutely staggering heavy guitars full of surprising twist and flurries and the thunderous drumming of Neal Smith that all together make this a classic from the second the song starts until it finishes. Thank God Donavan was recording next door in England while the band created this track. His vocals are a perfect match to Alice Cooper vocals; the vocal riffing between the two is an incredible way to close the song. Also, big shout out to Reggie Vinson for creating that great riff. Michael Bruce asked him if was going to do anything with it and he luckily said no. Michael Bruce turned that riff into a hell of a song, and we can’t forget Neal Smith’s creative drumming which adds so much to the originality of this juggernaut.

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Kip: I am definitely the weak link in this particular discussion, as I have a very superficial knowledge of Alice Cooper's catalog. I definitely READ a great deal about the band and man growing up, but not as extensive of knowledge as Jeff and Mark.

 

10. Desperado - I have always been a fan of the soft beginning into the harder riff motif that was particularly popular in the 70's. While this is a very solid tune, it jumped to mind immediately for the absolute gorgeous acoustic guitar sound that introduces it. Just beautiful production.

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9. Muscle of Love - I remember liking this song immediately because of the riff and the amazing bass playing. I laughed as I got older, because of COURSE I liked the riff as it is very similar to “Rat Bat Blue” by Deep Purple. A classic Alice song in sound, lyric and title.

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8. Elected - This one always hit for me, as it really hit with the mocking sarcasm of the lyrics. I think I heard it on the radio late one night and I recall thinking, “man, can you immediately identify an Alice Cooper song” without even being a big fan of his.

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7.  Welcome to My Nightmare - This was the first album of his that I ever bought, I'm fairly sure because of the connection with Ezrin and Kiss. As I had heard very little of the early 70's stuff, I had an imagined idea of what his stuff would sound like. Having this as the opener/title track only confirmed what I had imagined. The sneering vocal delivery, the spooky lyrics and the guitar sound, all were what I had conjured in my mind while reading about him/them.

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6. Cold Ethyl - My musician older brother had told me of this song, which had gained notoriety in the trade papers because of the lyrical content. This one really hit with me from first listen and I always had a very visual image of this song when listening.

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5. No More Mr. Nice Guy - I remember having a first reaction to the riff for this as sounding like a Keith Richards/Rolling Stones vibe (another band I have little knowledge of). I'm a sucker for good choruses and this one really works.

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4. Feed My Frankenstein - I admittedly heard this song first in the live setting by Beasto Blanco, whose lead singer/ring girl is Alice's daughter. This led me to look it up on Youtube and I came to really like Alice's version. The song really fits his motif, but more importantly, it just rocks in a live setting. It has that “God of Thunder” plodding pace, which really works for Alice to work the stage. A recent favorite.

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3. I'm Eighteen - Now we're getting into the tunes that almost suffer from over saturation on rock radio, but this is just a song that defines an era. The riff is just cool and the chorus had to really hit home with kids, especially males, who were hitting that age. A career defining song for him/them.

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2. Nurse Rozetta - My brother's band doing this song led me to the little exploration I did with Alice. I just love the riff, especially the atonal bit, and the lyric is hilarious. From the Inside was so overproduced that I never liked his version as much as my brother's more straight ahead Marshall sound, but even so, I never fail to play air guitar when this one comes on.

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1. School's Out - Again, this song suffers from being over played, but it is the song that allowed him to have a career. It works as a defiant fist in the air for long suffering kids, but it is also so well crafted. The sing-song break down that is both a tribute to fairy tales and a dark, sneering anti-establishment cry. It just works on every level and is the song he will always be remembered for.

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Mark: Now let’s contemplate the good Reverend Smedley shall we. Quiet you mind… let go of the daily hustle and bustle…be calm… nice deep breaths…innnnnn…ouuuuut. Picture him in your mind? …peaceful… serene. Can you visualize him? Now run like a gazelle because he sees you and he’s coming to punch you in the nose!

 

10. You're a Movie: Coming in at number 10 on the Rev. Smedley high karate nose punch scale or the RSHKNPS: is…You’re a Movie. This one always makes me giggle and smile. Move aside mere drop of water let the ocean pass. You can’t see, but I’m smiling and giggling right now.

 

9. How You Gonna See Me Now: Ok number 9 on the RSHKNPS is… How You Gonna See Me Now. Yes, I love a good oldie, I just got outta rehab, and you probably hate me but, I’m coming home whether you like it or not power ballad. Don’t you? This one has a real high nose bleed quotient, please don’t see me ugly babe, Ok, I won’t.

 

8. Muscle of Love: Now number 8 as was given to me from the RSHKNPS system. Which is. Muscle of Love. This guitar riff is so punchy, so hard hitting…Well… you better just be careful or else. So there. Who’s the cream of the crop? Donny Osmond! WHAT!?

 

7. You Drive Me Nervous: Next up on the RSHKNPS At number 7 is…You Drive Me Nervous. Ah yes teenage angst is on full display here. I mean who wants to be parented by of all people your parents?One of the big questions in life I think: Nervous! Nervous! Nervous! Super short tune, but has a wicked upper cut. Bob and weave baby. Bob and weave.

 

6. Cold Ethyl: At number 6 Cold Ethel yes, straight from page 666 thru 668 of the evil, the spooky and like wow Bad karma man Necronomicon. How else could a skeleton kiss be so compelling? Right? No wonder the good reverend got so pissed when you mention: Cold Ethel, cold cold Ethel. Refrigerator heaven is within reach.

 

5. Billion Dollar Babies: You’ve heard of a song being a toe tapper haven’t you? Well this one’s a nuclear face slapper! An atomic skull crusher! A… A gut punch from beyond the grave! Yeah I went there! Coming in at number 5 is Billion Dollar Babies! This song has launched many an air to scrotum missile in its day. I’m telling you it really is devastating. Really…

 

4. Under My Wheels: Rev will put you over his knee With this pick. In At Number 4 with a bullet is… Under My Wheels. A more violent mental picture I can not well… Picture. Oh so worth of the terrible Reverend Smedley so don’t Answer the phone what ever you do.

 

3. Serious: This slick rocker comes in at number 3. This is one of Rev. Smedley’s favorite tunes to punish. To pile drive you into submission. This song Is not a laugh a joke, a drink or smoke. You will fall down on the floor. And like it! Sweet pain- ain -ain -ain. Your love will drive me insane… wait, wrong band.

 

2. It’s Hot Tonight: Good ole Reverend Smedley really let one fly with this one. The opening riff is so good you don’t really mind getting smacked around. Do you? You little pervo. Now I know why the RSHKNPS is nessesary. It’s for your own safety. It’s a good thing… really.

 

1. Hello Hooray: And finally number 1 on the Rev Smedly duck or else sweepstakes Hello Hooray. This was the first Alice cooper song I ever heard… probably. For me it’s the best song on the best album the band ever did. And this is a perfect album. Perfect !!! From the art work to the songs to the production. It's a masterpiece. A knock out in the first round from the Smedinatore Rex! And face down on the mat at his feet is you with a goofy grin on your face. Nice, looking good.

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Bonus Top Ten

Jeff: My brother Todd who proclaims himself,"The World's Number One Alice Cooper Fan" (he has attended 16 concerts and counting, plus fortunate enough to have had dinner with the man!) created his own top ten after hearing that we were working this. He broke his list into two parts, one for the original band's material and the second list for the solo work of Cooper.

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Original Band (1969 - !974):

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10. Under My Wheels

9. You Drive Me Nervous

8. My Stars

7. Dead Babies

6. Killer

5. Public Animal Number 9

4. Ballad of Dwight Fry

3. Billion Dollar Babies

2. I'm Eighteen

1. School's Out

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Solo Alice Cooper (1975 - 2024)

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10. Brutal Planet

9. I'm Alice

8. Burning Our Bed

7. Pain

6. The Quiet Room

5. Only Women Bleed

4. When Hell Comes Home

3. Drunk And In Love

2. Cold Ethyl

1. Welcome To My Nightmare

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