EvenSpot Speaks

Thursday, July 3, 2014

ALICE COOPER - BEST OF JULY 14 PREVIEW

In The Studio With Redbeard

Alice Cooper back to visit In the Studio the week of July 14th

http://www.inthestudio.net/previews/alice-cooper-best-of-preview/

2013 - 14, Classic Rock, Currencies.co.uk AD

This full page from Classic Rock has been running for a few years

Advertiser is Currencies.co.uk

I thought I posted this a while back since the mascot resembles Alice Cooper

with eye make up and top hat but kept putting it off.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

1989, Deadringer - Electrocution Of The Heart, cassette

1989, cassette tape

Electrocution Of The Heart

Deadringer

I found this at Strawberries Record Store at Wellington Circle in Everett, MA.

Funny how I remember certain purchases.

Deadringer's members are drummer Neal Smith and bass player Dennis Dunaway of the original Alice Cooper band.

Joe Bouchard on keyboards of Blue Oyster Cult plus two other musicians Charlie Huhn on lead vocals who played with Ted Nugent on a few albums and on Gary Moore's "Dirty Fingers" among other bands. Jay 'Jesse' Johnson on guitar who played in Arc Angel and a number of other bands. All of them worked on backing vocals. Neal co-wrote four songs and Dennis three on those songs.

Buck Dharma (from BOC and Flat Out lp) gave them "Summa Cum Loud" which is probably the only good song on this album. I've played this tape a few times trying to get into it but only like a few songs. I don't hear any hints of the Alice Cooper sound. Some songs remind me of Twister Sister, BOC and "When You're In You're In" brings to mind of AC/DC. Although I know a few Alice Cooper fans who like this better than "Battle Axe" album.

Cover

Cassette spine cover and credits panel

Inside lyrics panels

Side 1

Side 2

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

1983, Michael Bruce - Rock Rolls On, vinyl

1983, vinyl

Rock Rolls On

Michael Bruce

A pretty short album with only seven tracks. Most of the material on this record are from the past two albums "In My Own Way" and "Battle Axe." From "In My Own Way" album they redo "Rock Rolls On" that doesn't include Alice Cooper originally guest vocals also it was titled "As Rock Rolls On". Then "Lucky Break", "In My Own Way" and the cover of The Rascals "Friday On My Mind". As for the "Battle Axe" material it includes "Too Young". The only original tracks are "Gina" and "Do You Wanna Know". Last track "Do You Wanna Know" co-wrote by Neal Smith which I have to say it the best song on this album. Michael's vocals on this track is amazing and the musical arrangements are outstanding. Again one of the best tracks

I heard outside of the Alice Cooper Group along with the "Battle Axe" album.

Some of the musicians on this album are Mick Mashbir and Bob Dolin who played with Michael back in the Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies Tour days. Of course Dolin also played with Bruce from the Battle Axe album as well.

Cover

Back Cover

Side 1

Side 2

Monday, June 30, 2014

2001, Billion Dollar Babies - The Complete Battle Axe, 3 CD Set

2001

The Complete Battle Axe, 3 CD Set

Billion Dollar Babies

Battle Axe has always been my favorite post Alice Cooper album from the original band.
The original Battle Axe vinyl came out in 1977 that I posted yesterday.

This 3 CD Set is not an Official release "Battle Axe" in my opinion is the best recording that combined the remaining Alice Cooper Group Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith although Glen Buxton wasn't involved at the time.

Two other musicians included Bob Dolin who worked with the Alice Cooper Band back during The Billion Dollar Babies Tour and Mike Marconi who worked on Neal Smith's solo album in '74 which never got released until 1999.

It is known in the internet circles that at first Neal Smith didn't acknowledge this 3CD set release and publicly wrote an open letter via internet expressing his opinion then later excepted it later on in interviews. I'm glad as an Alice Cooper fan of the original band it's out and it doesn't dimness them in my eyes or ears.

This 3 CD set goes as follows:

Disc 1: The Original "Battle Axe" Lp that was released. From what I'm told this is a copy of the vinyl burned on CD. I have the Lp but skips and crackles with age I am happy to get a clean version for myself. I know it's not studio enhanced & touched up in volume etc...but it's better than what I have in my collection.

Disc 2: Bonus Original Demos. Alternative lyrics and musical arrangements of songs that made "Battle Axe" plus some songs that didn't make it. It's interesting to hear the process of these songs and the finished product.

A correction on the 2nd Disc is an unlisted track "I Don't Know Babe", between tracks 10 & 11. Correction of track 11 "Wallow Through This Madness" (not “Madhouse”).

Disc 3: First ever Live Show Flint, Michigan 1977.

This is the only live recording of the Billion Dollar Babies. They sound primed and haven't missed a note. They perform their "Battle Axe" songs as well an Alice Cooper medley of tunes "No More Mr. Nice Guy", "Elected", "I'm Eighteen", "School's Out" and close the concert with "Billion Dollar Babies".

The 3 CD set comes with a booklet of rare photos of the band performing as the Billion Dollar Babies and an interview with Michael Bruce from June 2001.

Front Jewel Case

Inside Front Jewel Case

Back Jewel Case

Disc One & Two

Disc Three

Front Cover of CD Booklet

Pg 1 & 2

Pg 3 & 4

Includes a 2001 interview with Michael Bruce

Pg 5 & 6

Pg 7 & 8

Pg 9 & 10

Pg 11 & 12

Pg 13 & 14

Pg 15 & 16

Pg 17 & 18

Back Cover of CD Booklet

Sunday, June 29, 2014

1977, Billion Dollar Babies - Battle Axe, vinyl

1977, vinyl

Battle Axe

Billion Dollar Babies

First let me say Billion Dollar Babies "Battle Axe" is my all time favorite band

from any post Alice Cooper project. I remember where I purchase this LP. I was on summer vacation up

North and was in Portsmouth, New Hampshire at King's Department store when I spotted this album.

I read about it earlier and kept it in the back of my mind. I always

use to search the Alice Cooper bin whenever I went into stores and there it was "Battle Axe."

I still listen to this recording and still consider this one of the best post Alice Cooper records.

With three of the original Alice Cooper Group, Michael Bruce, Neal Smith, and Dennis Dunaway regroup to create one of the best albums of their solo careers. Two other musicians included Bob Dolin who worked with the Alice Cooper Band back during The Billion Dollar Babies Tour and Mike Marconi who worked on Neal Smith's solo album in '74 which never got released until 1999 on Neal Smith's own label.

This is the closest sound to being a part of the Alice Cooper music. Although if Alice was involved I'm sure he would of changed most of the lyrics to these songs to give it his style. But it shows it took more than one person to make the original Alice Cooper sound.

All of the songs on this album are great! The guitar work is also one of the best with Bruce and Marconi trading licks. Some of my favorite tracks are "I Miss You", "Wasn't I The One", "Love Is Rather Blind", "Rock Me Slowly". The album had a theme on a sort of a futuristic warrior that is shown on the cover somewhat from the Rollerball movie. Although it wasn't a conceptual album they had a trilogy section near the end starting with instrumental "Ego Mania" with excellent guitar work followed by "Battle Axe" the epic tale of the warrior sung by Michael Bruce then Dolin on "Sudden Death" which sounds like Yes or ELP. "Winner" finishes off the album with victorious cheers of the crowd as the band pronounces their triumph in battle.

It's a shame this album never got the recognition it deserved. I think it would of done well with Alice Cooper fans.

You have to excuse the poor scanning. I have a small scanner so I had to piece the vinyl art together.

The back cover was more of a project since it was done on an angle but I did my best.

Cover