The Albums of 1975: Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare

Release Date: March 11, 1975

Members: Alice Cooper (vocals); Dick Wagner (guitars); Steve "Deacon" Hunter (guitars); Prakash John (bass); Pentti "Whitey" Glan (drums)

Produced by Bob Ezrin

Side One: Welcome to My Nightmare; Devil's Food; The Black Widow; Some Folks; Only Women Bleed

Side Two: Department of Youth; Cold Ethyl; Years Ago; Steven; The Awakening; Escape

Alice Cooper's debut solo album, Welcome to My Nightmare, follows the dark visions of young Stephen. Bombastic and theatrical, fifty years later the album still rocks, reveling in its nightmarish themes.

The titular track "Welcome to My Nightmare" opens the record, both playful and menacing with its epic production. The song also sets up the theme of the record - living on the edge of sanity and madness. "Devil's Food" features a spoken word appearance by Vincent Price, joyfully describing the ways of the Black Widow, while the following song is told from the perspective of the deadly arachnid itself. "Some Folks" sounds like a lost song from West Side Story crossed with a standard '70s lament about rock star excess. "Only Women Bleed" is a somber ballad about a woman trapped in an abusive marriage. Released as a single as well, the album version features more orchestration. 

Often compared to Cooper's earlier hit "School's Out", "Department of Youth" is a rock and roll anthem for all the fans with a child chorus and all. "Cold Ethyl" somehow never made the playlists for FM classic rock radio, it sure as hell deserved a place with catchy guitars and macabre lyrics. "Years Ago" is a baroque psychedelia waltz told from the perspective of Steven's wounded psyche. "Steven" opens with hints of "Tubular Bells" and a nuanced performance by Cooper, sounding crazed and haunted throughout. "The Awakening" is a grim companion follow up to "Only Women Bleed." The album ends on a high note with "Escape", channeling the attitude of The Who in their rock opera era.

Welcome to My Nightmare plays like a slightly demented variety TV show with its Gothic playfulness. Cooper's vocals are wide ranging and convincingly inhabit other characters. The music's well produced and brings an essential element that makes it stand out - fun!