Here is a collection of covers Alice Cooper has recorded mostly from his albums. Some other are from soundtracks, compilations and other studio recordings. I didn't count bootleg recordings such as The Beatles "Hard Days Night" Alice sings w/ Flo & Eddie during '73
concert or The Who's "I'm A Boy" from '99 British Rock Symphony. The latter was shown on tv but didn't make it to the official VHS/DVD.
So I think I covered it all...
Sun Arise - Love It To Death - 1971 (4th single by Australian singer, songwriter Rolf Harris in ‘61)
Hello Hooray - Billion Dollar Babies - 1973 (written by Rolf Kempf covered first by Judy Collins in 1968)
Never knew it was a cover until years later. I guess if you are a Collins fan you would of known. Alice makes this song his own and generally over shadows Judy Collins version.
I’m Always Chasing Rainbows - Goes To Hell - 1976 (Popular vaudeville song written by Joseph McCarthy music by Harry Carroll back in 1917. Sung by many popular singers such as Judy Garland in 1941 “Ziefield Girl” movie.
The biggest hit version in 1946 by Perry Como.
Ubangi Stomp - Lace And Whiskey - 1977 (written by Charles Underwood and first sung by Warren Smith in ‘56. Jerry Lee Lewis covered it in ‘58 and The Stray Cats in ‘81 among others.)
Because - Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - 1978 (Lennon and McCartney, not many can cover The Beatle songs and they still can’t but Alice does a good version making it his own)
Talk Talk - Flush The Fashion - 1980 (written by Sean Bonniwell singer of The Music Machine in 1966)
Alice actually performed this cover back in his Spider days.
Clones (We’re All) - Flush The Fashion - 1980 (written by David Carron who had played in Arlo Guthrie’s Shenandoah. This song was later covered by The Smashing Pumpkins and others.)
Seven & Seven Is - Special Forces - 1981 (another 60’s band Love written and sung by Albert Lee in ‘66)
I Got A Line On You - Iron Eagle 2 - 1988 (1968 written and sung by Randy California of the band Spirit)
Fire - Classicks - 1995 (Jimi Hendrix written and recorded in ‘67)
King Herod’s Song - Jesus Christ Superstar Highlights - 1996 (from the popular 70’s musical. Alice using his Special Forces vocals)
Start Me Up and 5:15 - British Rock Symphony - 1999 (Start Me Up written by The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger & Keith Richards in ‘81. The Who 5:15 written by Pete Townshend in ‘73)
My Generation (Live) - Brutal Planet Limited Edition - 2001 (by Pete Townshend of The Who in ‘65)
Pretty Ballerina - Dirty Diamonds - 2005 (written by Michael Brown the pianist of The Left Bank sung by lead vocalist Steve Martin Caro in ‘66) kind of an obscure cover.
Hey Bulldog - Butchering The Beatles - 2006 (from The Beatles written by John Lennon credited as Lennon and McCartney in ‘69. Alice has an All Star backing band and follows w/ his own style)
Santa Claws Is Coming To Town - We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Happy New Year - 2008 (Except for the play on word from “Clause” to “Claws”. Written in 1934 by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie and first sung by Eddie Cantor in 1934. This song has been covered by many from Bing Crosby in 43 to Danni Minogue in 2013 and will be covered in perpetuity)
Eleanor Rigby - The Art of McCartney - 2014 (karaoke version of The Beatles)
Alice is known to mimic and guess he couldn’t help but give it an english accent. I know he did this w/ “Because” in the studio but George Martin told Alice not to sound like Lennon and use his voice that I wish he did on this track. On episode one on iTunes “Inside The Art of McCartney” Alice says he’s a bit more threatening which doesn’t sound like it to me.
You have the lyrics “...Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name...
...Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave...” it sounds like a song straight out of “Raise Your Fist And Yell” but Alice performs it like he’s in a karaoke bar.
I heard the rest of this CD and only a handful use their own signature sound such as Bob Dylan (no mistaken that voice), Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley, and Heart to name a few.
Smile Away - The Art of McCartney Limited Vinyl Set - 2014 (from Paul McCartney’s “RAM” solo I only heard a sample and Alice gives it his personal growl that is his signature sound. I wish he did that on Eleanor Rigby).
I hope they release this for download.
So far for Beatles covers Alice is 3 out of 4.
Following are from Alice Cooper Raises The Dead Live From Wacken - 2014 CD/DVD
Originally recorded in 2013
Break On Through - The Doors
Revolution - The Beatles
Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix
My Generation - The Who
Another Brick In The Wall, pt 2 - Pink Floyd (excerpt in "School's Out")
All of these covers are great live. Alice uses his vocals so there is no mistaken it’s him. Maybe because it’s a live recording Alice gives it his own sound and his band is amazing on these songs.
Partial cover excerpts from West Side Story songs were in the following 3 songs (West Side Story music by Leonard Bernstein lyrics by Stephen Sondheim ‘57)
Still No Air - Easy Action - 1969
Gutter Cat vs The Jets, and Grande Finale - School’s Out - 1972
Excerpt of "Another Brick In The Wall, Pt 2" by Pink Floyd was part of a live
"School's Out" appeared in No More Mr Nice Guy Live! - 2011 CD
and Alice Cooper Raises The Dead Live From Wacken - 2014 CD/DVD
