Cult Labs

Go Back   Cult Labs > Entertainment > Music

Like Tree1346Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #241  
Old 20th April 2016, 08:31 AM
Justin101's Avatar
Cult Veteran
Cult Labs Radio Contributor
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Liverpool
Default

I get the feeling that you don't particularly like Constrictor! Which is a surprise.
__________________


Triumphant sight on a northern sky

Reply With Quote
  #242  
Old 20th April 2016, 09:14 AM
Demdike@Cult Labs's Avatar
Cult King
Cult Labs Radio Contributor
Senior Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Lancashire
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin101 View Post
I get the feeling that you don't particularly like Constrictor! Which is a surprise.
To my ears it's a good album with it's standout tracks opening and closing the album. Lord knows how many times i've listened to it since it was released - thousands. The last time being on Sunday. Alice's follow up record, Raise Your Fist and Yell is far better quality wise.
Justin101 likes this.
Reply With Quote
  #243  
Old 20th April 2016, 01:48 PM
Susan Foreman's Avatar
Cult Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Childhood home of Billy Idol - Orpington
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin101 View Post
I get the feeling that you don't particularly like Constrictor! Which is a surprise.
Constrictor is an OK album. It's not Alice's best, but it's by no means the worst

For me, the problem with the record is the fact that previously, Alice had been a leader. The records he released in the 70's (both solo and with the ACG) contained music that was innovative and new - it was influential and important, with many bands from The Sex Pistols to Guns And Roses to Marilyn Manson to Lady Gaga using them as a starting point

In contrast, the albums that were released after 'From The Inside' had Alice trying to find a new direction, leading to the four experimental albums between 1980 - 1983, and the heavy metal influenced 'Constrictor' in 1986

During the time he was 'away', music had changed, and Instead of leading the pack, Alice was now a follower, hence my comments about the songs on this album being inter-changeable with other bands from the era, and the over reliance on the Eddie Van Halen guitar dramatics

However, there was one place where Alice proved he was still very much a pioneer, and that was on the live stage, but more about that in a few posts time...
__________________
People try to put us down
Just because we get around

Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty
Reply With Quote
  #244  
Old 20th April 2016, 02:12 PM
Justin101's Avatar
Cult Veteran
Cult Labs Radio Contributor
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Liverpool
Default

That makes sense, it's difficult for me to put that all in context because my exposure to Alice came in 1989 and it wasn't until I was older that I discovered the wealth of the career. Constrictor, I didn't discover until around 1990 and by then it was already 4 years old and I had no reference point to compare it stuff because I was 9 when it came out and I wasn't listening to Metal I was listen to Madonna 7" singles and my mums Bananarama tapes
__________________


Triumphant sight on a northern sky

Reply With Quote
  #245  
Old 20th April 2016, 08:51 PM
Susan Foreman's Avatar
Cult Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Childhood home of Billy Idol - Orpington
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin101 View Post
That makes sense, it's difficult for me to put that all in context because my exposure to Alice came in 1989 and it wasn't until I was older that I discovered the wealth of the career. Constrictor, I didn't discover until around 1990 and by then it was already 4 years old and I had no reference point to compare it stuff because I was 9 when it came out and I wasn't listening to Metal I was listen to Madonna 7" singles and my mums Bananarama tapes
Hey - no worries. Sadly, I can put it into context because I was there in 1986 when it was happening - an avid reader of Kerrang magazine and a devout listener to the Tommy Vance show on the radio
Justin101 likes this.
__________________
People try to put us down
Just because we get around

Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty
Reply With Quote
  #246  
Old 22nd April 2016, 05:53 AM
Susan Foreman's Avatar
Cult Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Childhood home of Billy Idol - Orpington
Default

The next song on the album, 'Trick Bag', has an interesting history. Musically, it started out as the demo version of 'He's Back' for the film 'Jason Lives', but it was rejected by the films' producers as it was "too heavy". The lyrics were re-written, and it became this song instead.

The 'He's Back' demo can be found on the 'Life And Crimes Of Alice Cooper' box set, while the finished song will be discussed in the next post

07/10 - Trick Bag (Cooper, Roberts, Wagener)



"Tie you up baby, really tight
In a lover's knot
I'm in the mood for my leather boots
With the leopard spots
Take you down to my side of town
Where I learned to love
Strap you down, honey
Pet you nice with my velvet glove

You dial my number
So let me take the lead
I'm the man, understand
With the smooth slight of hand
And all the magic you need

T-t-t-t-t trick bag, sit back and just enjoy the show
Burn you with desire
Trick bag, come on and let your body go
Gonna lay it on thick
So the memory'll stick

Chew me up with your perfect mouth
Don't you spit me out, yeah..
Teach you good, Little Miss Hollywood
What it's all about
You call me up baby, in the middle of the night
You say you're sweating red
And you're dripping on your bed
T-tripping in the moonlight

T-t-t-t-t trick bag, sit back and just enjoy the show
Burn you with my fire
Trick bag, come on and let your body go
Gonna lay it on thick
So the memory'll stick

Yeah, right there

You call me up baby in the middle of the night
You say you`re sweating red
And you`re dripping on your bed
Tripping in the moonlight

T-t-t-t-t trick bag, sit back and just enjoy the show
T-t-t-t-t Trick bag, come on and let your body go
I'm Gonna make it stick
T-t-t-t-t trick bag, sit back and just enjoy the show
Whoa....
Trick bag, come on and let your body go
Yeah, my hands are quick
T-t-t-t-t trick bag, sit back and just enjoy the show
Whoa....
Trick bag, come on and let your body go
G-g-g-g-go
Trick Bag
Trick Bag
Trick Bag
Trick Bag
(fade..)"


Following this is 'Crawlin'', which is the albums 'sex song'

08/10 - Crawlin' (Cooper, Roberts)



"Your dress is hangin' on a hook on the door
My jeans are lying in a pile on the floor, yeah
Flat on my back, tryin' to catch my breath
When we were rockin' tonight
I thought that we were gonna rock to death

But what's that in your eyes?
I'm no longer paralysed
Here we go again

Crawlin', you come crawling to me
I go crawling to you
We come crawling
You come crawling to me
I go crawling to you

Your hair is tangled and your lipstick is gone
You're stretched out, calling my name
With just your high heels on
We hunt each other on our hands and our knees
Well I'm an alley cat
And you're a hot little Siamese

But what's that in your eyes?
I'm no longer paralysed
Here we go again

Crawlin', you come crawling to me
I go crawling to you
We come crawling
You come crawling to me
I go crawling to you

Come on baby
Slither on over here

Crawlin', come crawlin'
Crawlin'
You come crawling to me
Like a snake in a tree
Crawlin', come crawlin'
Crawlin'
I come crawling to you
Slither right back to me
Crawlin', come crawlin'
Crawlin'
You come crawling to me
I think this will bump your knee
Crawlin', come crawlin'
Crawlin'
You come crawling to me
C'mon
C'mon and crawl to me
Crawl to me, crawl to me..
(adlib to fade)"
__________________
People try to put us down
Just because we get around

Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty

Last edited by Susan Foreman; 22nd April 2016 at 10:18 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #247  
Old 24th April 2016, 08:20 AM
Susan Foreman's Avatar
Cult Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Childhood home of Billy Idol - Orpington
Default

The penultimate song on the album is 'The Great American Success Story', which was originally written for the Rodney Dangerfield film 'Back To School', although it was not ultimately used - the producers went with the band Oingo Boingo instead

It's a standard mid-paced rocker

The final credited songwriter is Beau Hill, who is an American record producer, who has worked with (amongst others) Streets, Warrant, Fiona, Europe and Ratt

09/10 - The Great American Success Story (Cooper, Roberts, Hill)



"He was born in a depressed nation
Started tough and worked his way right off the street
Thumbed his nose at a graduation
Wheeled and dealed, his education was complete

He's got all his hair, but his life is a wreck
Always been a brat, he don't get no respect
He's got the time, he's got the money baby
You better get out of his way
You better watch out for him, sonny

Back to school
He's gonna take that plunge
Gonna jump back in there
Back to school
He's gonna shape his mind
Gonna shed old skin there

Spent some time in appreciation
Of finer arts and the human body mysteries
Scoring high in procreation
Got an 'A' in the study of female anatomy

He thinks about his teacher in his literary class
He's staring at her legs
But he's dreaming 'bout her face
He's got the time
He's got the money baby
You better get out of his way
You better watch out for him, sonny

Back to school
He's gonna take that plunge
Gonna jump back in there
Back to school
He's gonna shape his mind
Gonna shed old skin there
Back to school
He's gonna take that plunge
Gonna jump back in there
Back to school
He's gonna shape his mind
Gonna shed old skin there

He's got all his hair, but his life is a wreck
Always been a brat, he don't get no respect
He's got the time, he's got the money baby
You better get out of his way
You better watch out for him, sonny

Back to school
He's gonna take that plunge
Gonna jump back in there
Back to school
He's gonna shape his mind
Gonna shed old skin there
Back to school
He's gonna shape his mind
Gonna shed old skin there
Back to school
Back to school
Back to school
Back to school
(fade...)"


The last song on the album is probably the best known one to people on the forum. 'He's Back (The Man Behind The Mask' was used in the film 'Friday 13th Part VI: Jason Lives'. As already noted this was the second version of this song.

It's a synth-based song, which is also a throwback to the kind of music he was producing on the four previous albums. Personally, I would have liked this one to be a bit rockier, but the rock song that was originally produced for this film was 'too hard', so it had to be completely re-written

The song was produced by Beau Hill and Michael Wagner

The credited writer is Tom Kelly, who also seems to have made a career out of writing very popular soft-rock songs, including tracks for Cyndi Lauper ('True Colours'), Heart ('Alone'), The Bangles ('Eternal Flame'), The Pretenders ('I'll Stand By You'), Madonna ('Like A Virgin') and Whitney Houston ('So Emotional')

10/10 - He's Back (The Man Behind The Mask) (Cooper, Roberts, Kelly)



"You're with your baby, and you're parked alone
On a summer night, you're deep in love
But you're deeper in the woods
You think you're doin' alright

Did you hear that voice? Did you see that face?
Or was it just a dream, this can't be real
That only happens, babe
On the movie screen

Oh, but he's back
He's the man behind the mask
And he's out of control
He's back
The man behind the mask
And he crawled out of his hole

You're swimmin' with your girl out on lovers' lake
And the wind blows cold. It chills your bones
But you're still on the make
That's a bad mistake

But the moon was full and you had a chance
To be all alone but you're not alone
This is your last dance
And your last romance

Oh, but he's back
He's the man behind the mask
And he's out of control
He's back
The man behind the mask
And he crawled out of his hole

Oh, if you see him comin' get away if you can
Just keep on runnin', run as fast as you can
He's a dangerous, dangerous man
And he's out tonight
And he's watchin' you
And he knows you house
No, don't turn out the lights

Yeah `cause he's back
He's the man behind the mask
And he's out of control
He's back
The man behind the mask
And he`s after your soul
Oh, but he's back
He's the man behind the mask
And he's out of control
He's back
The man behind the mask
And he`s after your soul
He's back
He's the man behind the mask
And he's after your soul
He's back
The man behind the mask
And he`s out of control
(repeat to fade)"
__________________
People try to put us down
Just because we get around

Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty
Reply With Quote
  #248  
Old 24th April 2016, 08:20 AM
Susan Foreman's Avatar
Cult Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Childhood home of Billy Idol - Orpington
Default

There was one more song that Alice recorded at this time, although it didn't appear on the 'Constrictor' album. 'Hard Rock Summer' , was also used in the 'Friday 13th' film. However, it didn't appear on record until it was included in the 'Life And Crimes...' box set

It's a good rock song



Alice had not toured since 1982 ('Special Forces'), and he was set to re-ignite the flames! Although a few 'warm-up' shows were played (with Guns And Roses supporting), the official start of the tour, billed as 'The Nightmare Returns', was in his hometown of Detroit on his national day (Halloween) in 1986. Home town + Halloween + Alice Cooper = guaranteed success, eh? Alice has admitted to being terrified before this show. It was the first time he had played completely straight and sober, and he was worried that he would step onto the stage, and 'Alice wouldn't appear'! The triumphant homecoming show was broadcast live on MTV

It was the most theatrical show that Alice had produced up to this point!

Randy Piper (ex-Wasp) was hired for the Nightmare Returns tour. However, he was fired for not being able to play his instrument during the first rehearsals. In 2005, in an interview with the Rock Eyes site, he explains: ""Yeah I played with Alice for a while. I didn’t end up touring but I worked on the “Constrictor” album. But I really don’t think I had my shit together, it’s a long story. Blackie… Oh well I did not have any gear or my guitars. They have not come back from Japan and when they did Blackie kept all my shit, my amps and everything and made it really hard on me to do that thing with Alice. I was struggling borrowing ****’n piece of junk from people you know what I mean. I really did not have my shit together. Kane Roberts and I did not gel together. We really didn’t get along. He’s a nice guy but I got along really good with Alice but I just did not have my shit together enough to go out on a tour. I just got back from Japan and went over to Germany for a month. I came back and said it’s time I start my own band.""

The touring band consisted of:

Alice Cooper - Vocals
Kane Roberts - guitar
Devlin 7 (Arthur Funaro)- guitar
Ken Mary - drums
Kip Winger III - bass
Paul 'Horrors' Horowitz - keyboards

UK dates were played between November 23rd - December 5th 1986, and were at Wembley, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham. Support at Wembley were 'Dr And The Medics', while 'Alien Sex Fiend' were on the rest of the tour

Alice would return to England on August 30th, 1987 to play the last date of the tour as a headline spot on the Sunday night of the Reading festival, which was celebrating its 25th anniversary. During a radio documentary at the time, the organisers said that they'd 'wanted someone really special to close that years show'.

The setlist for this tour was:
  • Welcome to My Nightmare
  • Years Ago - Billion Dollar Babies
  • Years Ago - No More Mr. Nice Guy
  • Be My Lover
  • I'm Eighteen
  • The World Needs Guts
  • Give It Up
  • Cold Ethyl
  • Only Women Bleed
  • Go to Hell
  • Ballad of Dwight Fry
  • Teenage Frankenstein
  • Sick Things
  • I Love the Dead
  • School's Out
  • Elected
  • Under My Wheels

'The Nightmare Returns' DVD, from the Halloween show, was released in 2006. In addition to the full concert, the DVD also includes the promo videos for 'Teenage Frankenstein' and 'Freedom', which was to be included on the next album release. It is a good one, and if you don't have it, go and get it at the first opportunity, however be aware that there is some misinformation on the DVD box. The stated running time is noted as being 170 mins (approx), although it actually comes in a lot shorter than that

For reasons that no-one seems to know, the song 'I'm 18' is listed as being called '18 (Little Flowers Of Ulysses)' on the DVD case

As a 'taster' for the DVD, the video to 'Teenage Frankenstein' feature a lot of clips from the show. If this doesn't convince you to get it, nothing will!

Attached Images
File Type: jpg 001 - nightmare returns nurse.jpg (9.4 KB, 2 views)
File Type: jpg 001 - alice reading.jpg (106.0 KB, 5 views)
File Type: jpg 001 - alice nightmare returns.jpg (8.6 KB, 17 views)
__________________
People try to put us down
Just because we get around

Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty

Last edited by Susan Foreman; 24th April 2016 at 08:32 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #249  
Old 24th April 2016, 12:56 PM
Demdike@Cult Labs's Avatar
Cult King
Cult Labs Radio Contributor
Senior Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Lancashire
Default

I recall getting Kane Roberts solo album which he released after Raise Your Fist and Yell i think. It was a decent record with a suitably musclebound cover but it's not one i still own.

People probably don't agree but Alice returned with a strong band with Constrictor. Roberts was a good shredder and was what was needed at the time, Ken Mary was an excellent drummer who was also a member of Chastain, Impellitteri and Fifth Angel at the time and went on to form the excellent rock band House of Lords. Bass player Kipp Winger went on to achieve his own fame with his band Winger (Name supposedly picked by Alice) who were MTV darlings throughout the late 80's and early 90's. Incidentally he also sang backing vocals on two songs from Alice's Welcome 2 My Nightmare album in 2011.
Susan Foreman likes this.
Reply With Quote
  #250  
Old 24th April 2016, 06:49 PM
Susan Foreman's Avatar
Cult Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Childhood home of Billy Idol - Orpington
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs View Post
I recall getting Kane Roberts solo album which he released after Raise Your Fist and Yell i think. It was a decent record with a suitably musclebound cover but it's not one i still own.
I didn't have any of Kane's solo albums. I'm not really a fan of flashy guitarists

Quote:
Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs View Post
People probably don't agree but Alice returned with a strong band with Constrictor. Roberts was a good shredder and was what was needed at the time, Ken Mary was an excellent drummer who was also a member of Chastain, Impellitteri and Fifth Angel at the time and went on to form the excellent rock band House of Lords. Bass player Kipp Winger went on to achieve his own fame with his band Winger (Name supposedly picked by Alice) who were MTV darlings throughout the late 80's and early 90's
I think that the band at the time worked better on the live stage than they did on record

Quote:
Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs View Post
Bass player Kipp Winger went on to achieve his own fame with his band Winger
Beavis and Butthead hated them, and so did Metallica!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs View Post
Bass player Kipp Winger went on to achieve his own fame with his band Winger (Name supposedly picked by Alice) who were MTV darlings throughout the late 80's and early 90's. Incidentally he also sang backing vocals on two songs from Alice's Welcome 2 My Nightmare album in 2011.
'Ghouls Gone Wild' & 'The Congregation' which, the way things are going, I should get to sometime in 2019!
__________________
People try to put us down
Just because we get around

Golly, Gee! it's wrong to be so guilty
Reply With Quote
Reply  

Like this? Share it using the links below!

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Our goal is to keep Cult Labs friendly. If you feel discouraged from posting by certain members' behaviour then you can e-mail us in complete confidence.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
All forum posts are contributed by members of the site; Cult Labs cannot take responsibility for all content posted on the site. If you have an issue with content posted on the site please click the 'report post' button.
Copyright © 2014 Cult Laboratories Ltd. All rights reserved.