the space boss

Reading the reviews of MUSCLE OF LOVE on Amazon, many fans say "It was
clear things were over for the Alice Cooper Group by the time of
Muscle of Love..." and that there was nowhere to go but in the
direction Alice went: solo, Welcome to my nightmare, etc..

Would you agree? Are things finished because of a bad album? Or could
they have come back with another "Billion Dollar Babies"?

The truth is, sometimes a band NEVER REALLY DOES recover from a bad
album. Take KISS's "Dynasty".. things were never, ever the same after
that album. Ever.

Then again, you have to take the Amazon reviews with a grain of salt,
as you've got people saying that "From the Inside" is the greatest
Alice Cooper album OF ALL..

el marko

They were probably, unfortunately, finished. A lot of factors come into
play here:

1. Buxton had become a non-functioning member of the band at this time.
2. With one or two exceptions, Mike wrote all the music and the well was
running dry.
3. Exit Ezrin. Douglas's production on this was very dry. Which makes no
sense because his work with Aerosmith at this time was incredible.
4. MOL shows a major shift in in album "personality". No menace, no
snarl, no creepiness at all. There's a lot of "Puttin' on the Ritz"
attitude. All the edginess was smoothed out to a shiny polish. It almost
plays like a Bob Hope Texaco Special with its all-star cast. Liza
Minelli, Pointer Sisters, Ronnie Spector.
5. "Pretties" was recorded back when they were all barely 20 years old.
By the time MOL was done, they were all around 25. They had all changed
as people and musicians to the point where being locked in a studio or
bus or jet airplane with each other endlessly had become very unpleasant.
6. Bob Greene's book published the things none of them would say to each
other.

Bands can and do "come back" from an album that tanks. Witness Rush or
ZZ Top still cranking them out. But the popular music business is
fickle. What is outrageous, fresh, and edgy today is cliched, stale and
tired tomorrow. And your label will drop you if you can't sell enough
product.

I'm going to retract a bit from an earlier discussion. While "Nightmare"
or "Goes" have no stylistic resemblance to "Killer" or "School's Out",
they are VERY similar to MOL.

the space boss

THANK YOU for this. I am going to listen to Muscle of Love for the
comparisons. Very, very
interesting.......................................

valley

"From the Inside" is one of my favorite albums and is highly underrated.
Wonderful stuff - The Quiet Room, the title track, Serious, Wish I was
Born in Beverly Hills. Great guitar work, great lyrics, and it was made
into a comic book...

michael

It is wonderful to see activity on these boards:

For one: I'd rather there be activity in the Cooper camp then have "nothing
to talk about". Alice was a man "bearly alive" during the recordings
"Zipper" and "Dada" which, as much as I love and worship the man, it was not
an ideal time for him. With our Alice there are always catchy lyrics and a
sense of fun. These are 2 of my least favorite moments from him, but still
fun. Sometimes people read too much into a single release. Love the MAN.
Love the show, and, love the history.

If anyone says anything negative about "From the Inside" I will rage. It
was an incredible effort in the face of enormous changes. For god's sake he
was writing with Bernie Taupin and Cheap Trick.....amazing sounds and
lyrics! A totally classic record. Remember the punk thing and the
post-punk thing and how he pre-figured the whole idea?? Give the credit
where credit is due. Enough is enough.

As far as the 80's go...hey man, you gotta roll with the times. Where are
all these "shite bands" now? I just saw a stunning tour at the Mohegan Sun
with other headliners (Sabbath and Queensryche). Where are the other
"great" bands from the 80's, etc.? I guess that gave up and died, NOT
ALICE!!

The 70's were kind to Alice and kind to us as well. Roll with the punches
people!! Just for the record, Alice has no recollection of "The Alice
Cooper Show, live" from 1977, he HATED that record. That's why the Cabo
Wabo CD was released....as a refresher course...

And, of course he was pure show biz. You can't be "Creepy" at all times.
Vincent Price is long gone!

ALL HAIL OUR PERSONAL ELVIS......ALICE!!!!!

stl mongo

I agree with your take on "From the Inside"... It's still one of my
favorite albums... a very personal glimpse into what Alice had just gone
through, but still had some great humor mixed in... you gotta love such
a sweet and sensitive love song as Millie & Billie.

I also like Flush the Fashion, Alice could have made one hell of a punk
rocker.

Mongo

spinal kiss

Schmitty Jane, don't listen to those Amazon Fanbois... I love Muscle
Of Love! It kinda sounds like Hotter Than Hell don'cha think?

the space boss

You are the SECOND person who has said this so I most certainly will
check this out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!