 "from the inside" | 2009-08-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1S292MH5ZPEK2 |
even after 35 years die-hard alice fans are still upset over the break-up of the original alice cooper group. while we all hold our breath for a long overdue reunion, we can take comfort in the fact that @61, alice still performs most of his classics on tour and with each new studio release proves that he at least still has a sense of humor.
after admitting himself into the new york state hospital to help cope with his alcohol addiction, alice cooper returns to the studio and releases "from the inside", his fourth solo album. this overlooked gem is easily his best lp since "welcome to my nightmare" and rivals "billion dollar babies" in packaging. (it's one of my favorite cover photos from any artist). the music contains some excellent guitar work from vets dick wagner and steve lukather (toto), and the lyrics are probably the best in alice's catalog thanks to a collaboration with bernie taupin. (ironically a former drinking partner). offering a wide range of interesting characters, rumored to be based on actual individuals from the hospital, this album has something for everyone to sink their teeth into.
although sounding slightly dated (recorded at the height of disco) "from the inside" is a good opening semi-rocker that gives you a brief introduction into the life of alice on the road. containing the heartfelt hit "how are you gonna see me now", alice delivers his best ballad, and the semi-ballads "the quiet room" and "jackknife johnny" could easily appear on an elton john album. the album contains great two rockers; "wish I were born in beverly hills" and "serious" (guest guitarist rick nielsen). "millie and billie", although somewhat haunting, is also somewhat silly as well as "veronica's sake", about a dog. the best songs on the album are "nurse rozetta" with the classic lyric: "she popped the buckle off my bible belt" and "inmates (we're all crazy)", a minor masterpiece.
the "mad house rock" tour, promoting the "from the inside" album featured a healthy alice back with a vengeance. although retaining the giant screen with new pre-filmed images, there was a greater emphasis placed on several other props and new characters, including his wife sheryl, and the return of the electric chair for the popular execution sequence. eddie money and blondie were among the opening acts. -- set list: from the inside/serious/nurse rozetta/the quiet room/i never cry/devil's food (intro only)/welcome to my nightmare/billion dollar babies/only women bleed/no more mr. nice guy/i'm eighteen/the black widow (instrumental)/wish i were born in beverly hills/dead babies/balled of dwight fry/all strapped up/it's hot tonight (instrumental)/go to hell/wish you were here/how you gonna see me now/inmates (we're all crazy)/school's out
released december 1978 it reached #68 usa and #61 uk - single: how you gonna see me now b/w no tricks (#12) - from the inside (edit) b/w nurse rozetta (#0)
every alice cooper album has great songs that never made radio. it's not the hits, but the deeper cuts that are the real black beauties... blinddog pick: nurse rozetta / inmates (we're all crazy) |
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 "Pure Alice Cooper" | 2009-08-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: A82SZJEXMOW4I |
| This album may not be the best known or have the best known songs on it, but it would have to be the best all over Alice Cooper album ever made. |
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| "Forever Alice" | 2009-06-01 |
| - Reviewed By evoice |
| I won this album in a radio contest in 1980 and have held onto the LP ever since. I tried to get a copy on CD for years, but gave up until recently, when I was thrilled to find it had finally become available in 1999. Needless to say, I still know all the words to all the songs by heart--ah, high school! It isn't what a lot of people think of when they think "Alice Cooper," I suspect: more ballads, and less raw vocals over all. The entire album is built around the theme of mental asylum patients, with a healthy dose of tongue in cheek humor. It was perfect for my 15-year old angst-ridden self, and I still love it today. And true to Alice form, it isn't really--with the exception of Sister Rosetta--inappropriate or truly violent, just over the top entertainment. |
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| "Re-Coop-Eration :)" | 2009-05-12 |
| - Reviewed By roseheart1 |
I have the CD of this album, as well as the orignal LP with the fold-out jacket (too cool!), and the corresponding comic book by Marvel (very well done!). The CD itself is excellent, and I love the songs. "Nurse Rozetta" is my favorite. I can understand where Alice is coming from, here. I am so glad that he was able to "dry out" and save himself. One of the best things he ever did.
This my favorite album by Alice Cooper, and it's neat how he's willing to share his personal experience with his fans. That's brave. My best to Alice for an excellent album! :) |
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| "One of Alice's best concept albums." | 2009-04-27 |
| - Reviewed By cousinitt2 |
| Maybe partially because it's based off of true characters he knew... I dunno. I remember my older cousin back in the 80's told me this was "where Alice's music started becoming too weird for me to listen to". Can't figure that out, the music isn't anything too far fetched from any other album he has done. |
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 "Probably Alice's best solo effort next to "Nightmare"" | 2009-04-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: A141B209U26UCQ |
While still a spotty record, Alice had a pretty cool concept this time. After a stint in rehab, Alice pens songs (along with Bernie Taupin) about the characters he met. The title track, "From the Inside", "Wish I were Born in Beverly Hills", "Nurse Rosetta" and "Serious" all have some gritty old time Alice guitar work. All pretty rocking songs. "How you gonna see me Now" is the ballad of the album. I guess Alice hit a goldmine with "Only Women Bleed" and had to keep the ballads coming with each subsequent release. I didn't think this song was as good as "I never Cry" or even "You and Me"...but he still decided to release it as a single. Not sure why.
Bernie Taupin was an asset on this record if only to help Alice douche out some of his typical solo cornball lyrics. I know in each review I say there are cornball lyrics in Alice's solo records but perhaps it is more his delivery of these words and not JUST the words. Alice was in a full swing caricature mode at this point of his career. There were no band memebers, just hired guns...so there was no one to tell him "NO"! Just like what happened with some solo McCartney (for example, Give My Regards to Broadstreet) but not to this extreme.
I really thought Alice should have released a rocker as the first single on this record. It would have showed the FM 70's audience that he was at least trying to get back to old form.
The album cover is pretty cool though and I think that actually helps me like this record. You probably won't get the same affect of it on a CD so if you're in the market for this album, check out a good vinyl copy. Besides it isn't like you're going to want to keep the disc in your car stereo for weeks at a time. :) |
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