Easy Action (Jewl)

Alice Cooper | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 10, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino Encore
• ASIN: B0016OMGHY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,067 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mr. & Misdemeanor

2. Shoe Salesman

3. Still No Air

4. Below Your Means

5. Return of the Spiders

6. Laughing at Me

7. Refrigerator Heaven

8. Beautiful Flyaway

9. Lay Down and Die, Goodbye

Editorial Reviews

Limited Edition. Easy Action is the second studio album by Alice Cooper, released by Straight Records in June 1970. The title comes from a line in the musical film West Side Story, which was one of the band's favorite films.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lost Classic, October 21, 2003

By 

Fred Rayworth (Las Vegas, NV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Easy Action (Audio CD)

I bought Pretties for You when it first came out and the Alice Cooper Band sounded so weird that I loved them instantly. As quirky and muddy as the sound was on Pretties, this their second album, Easy Action, sounded a whole lot better. I love every track on this album and it is still my favorite out of their catalogue. The songs are strange and not nearly as commercial as their later work for Warner Brothers. I met Alice in the mid eighties and had him autograph my copy of this album and he was surprised to see someone actually had it. Right after I bought this album, I saw them play live at the Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino, around 1970. Their live show was great and they played cuts off both Pretties and Easy Action, starting off with Mister and Misdemeanor. As a guitarist, I tried to learn this album note for note and almost succeeded. If you want to get to the really great beginnings of the Alice Cooper Band, this is the perfect album. I was able to thank Michael Bruce for the great music, but it is just too bad my guitar hero Glen Buxton passed on before I could thank him too.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Action. Easy to Love., August 2, 2003

By 

Mike D (Independence/Kansas City, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Easy Action (Audio CD)

From the dreamy, Lennonesque "Shoe Salesman" & "Beautiful Flyaway" to the hard-rocking "Lay Down & Die, Goodbye" & "Return of the Spiders," the Alice Cooper - in 1970, a GROUP not just one, master showman - skillfully delivers the goods.

"Easy Action" is every bit as good as the more commercial "Killer" & "Love It To Death," which both followed a year later. This album hypnotically rocks the listener into a state of post-psychedelic, proto-metal frenzy.

Quite possibly the first album to use the line, "got a rocket in your pocket" (which KISS shamelessly stole, in 1976, on "Take Me" - track 2 on "Rock 'N Roll Over"), the underrated "Easy Action" was a blueprint of creepy, eerie, long-haired, things to come in the '70s and '80s.

I would consider "Easy Action" every bit an equal to Deep Purple's seminal masterpiece, "In Rock." Any serious fan, who is interested in the origins of hard rock should buy this long obscured classic.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "You are the only censor. If you don't like what I say, you have a choice. You can turn me off.", August 17, 2005

By 

Robert (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Easy Action (Audio CD)

"EASY ACTION"

REVIEW:

This is the Alice Cooper Group's second album and it certainly shows you signs of where this band was eventually headed. Producer David Briggs, who at one time also produced Neil Young, does a fine job of helping the band develop their sound. The album is diverse with psychadelic-like rockers to Beatles-esque tracks to more conventional 70's rock, "Easy Action" is an album that is often overlooked (even by some Alice Cooper fans) and is definitely worth picking up. Standout tracks: "Mr. And Mrs. Demeanor," "Below Your Means" and "Lay Down And Die, Goodbye".

BAND:

Alice Cooper ... Vocals
Neal Smith ... Drums and Vocals
Dennis Dunaway ... Bass and Vocals
Glen Buxton ... Lead Guitar
Michael Bruce ... Rhythm Guitar, Vocals, Piano and Organ
David Briggs ... Piano (on "Shoe Salesman")

INTERESTING FACTS:

1. Released in June of 1970, "Easy Action" would peak at #89 on the Billboard Top 200.

2. Rhythm Guitarist Michael Bruce's lead vocals (not Alice's) are featured on both "Beauftiful Flyaway" and "Below Your Means".

3. It is Tom Smother's voice who says, "You are the only censor. If you don't like what I say, you have a choice. You can turn me off" at the beginning of "Lay Down And Die, Goodbye".
PACKAGING:

Nothing really special. Just some group photos and nothing more.

APPROX. RUNNING TIME:

33 min. and 23 sec.

FINAL ANALYSIS:

"Easy Action" is not as great as its follow-up "Love It To Death," but it is certainly better than their debut release. The album could benefit from being remastered but as is, I'll give it **** out of 5.