Alice Cooper: DaDa (1983)

The last of Cooper's so-called blackout records is Dada. This is by far the most interesting of the records. The opening track, DaDa, is a weird, abstract piece that I find quite unusual and interesting. It might be the oddest track in his whole catalogue. Sadly, the remainder of the record is not quite as interesting.

Alice Cooper: Zipper Catches Skin (1982)

This is number three of Cooper's four blackout albums, or records that he has no memory of making. The others are Flush the Fashion, Special Forces, and Dada. I find that fascinating. I remember David Bowie saying once that he had no memory of making Station To Station. It's amazing what drugs and alcohol can do to the brain.

It makes me wonder how either of them managed to write the songs in the first place. In this case, the question leads to the unavoidable answer that Cooper probably doesn't want to remember writing this record. It just isn't very good, or perhaps it's simply better left to the die-hard Alice fans.

Alice Cooper: Special Forces (1981)

On CD, I have the first 6 or 7 Alice Cooper albums. On vinyl, it seems that I have a few of his weaker releases. Special Forces was kind of a let down after Flush the Fashion. Generation Landslide mentions Billion Dollar Babies, which is cool, but it leaves me wanting to hear that song, not this one. The music pales in comparison to the early stuff.

Alice Cooper: Flush the Fashion (1980)

I have to say that the title of this record - Flush the Fashion - seems wildly inappropriate since Alice decided to join the musical fashion trend of the day by co-opting a new wave sound (there's even a Devo reference in one of the tracks). So, it should be more like, Hop on the Bandwagon. He brought in Roy Thomas Baker, who produced those slick Cars records. At times, the album sounds like a weak Gary Numan record, but there are a few rockers that hearken back to the old days. As a pseudo Alice Cooper fan, and someone who was really into new wave, I decided to buy this record, which I got in downtown Kitchener when it came out.

There are certain records that remind me of certain people, and this one reminds me of Philip, who lost his life just after high school in a car accident. We both bought this record at about the same time. When I hear these songs, I think of him.

Alice Cooper: Welcome to my Nightmare (1975)

So, I guess this is the album where Alice started his campy horror thing. The record even features Vincent Price. This album is OK and has a number of recognizable songs, but I still prefer the original Alice Cooper Band.

Alice Cooper: Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits (1974)

"She said i used to be a speed shooter.
went out deep for guys that looked like Alice Cooper. "

-  Sketchy Metal, The Hold Steady

I had a copy of this record on cassette when I was a young man and I played it so much that the cassette disintegrated. Years later, I found a cheap copy on vinyl and I had to buy it.

I love all of the tracks on this album, with one exception: School's Out is a ridiculous song. It's infantile and moronic and, even when I was yearning for summer break, I never identified with the song or it's juvenile delivery. On the other hand, there are some really great songs. I'm Eighteen, Under My Wheels, Muscle of Love, etc. I know, some people think that Alice is heavy metal. At this stage, there was no metal. These are well-crafted rock songs. This is the record you want if you want to hear classic Alice Cooper. I give the collection a 9.5 out of 10. It loses half a point for the ridiculous School's Out.