Customer Reviews

Welcome to My Nightmare

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Do NOT I repeat do NOT buy the MP3 version of Welcome To My Nightmare here... For whatever ridiculous reason they give you the single version of the title track which is over 5 minutes long but here is a mere 3 minutes but if that wasn't enough Only Women Bleed which is another popular hit on this album is also edited this song is in fact over 5 minutes also & here on the MP3 version is only 3:36 A COMPLETE & TOTAL RIPOFF!!!! Fans see for yourself compare the times if you don't believe me...... Tom

A new era starts for Alice. Gone is the original band as Alice goes solo teaming up once again with producer Bob Ezrin and new co-writer guitarist Dick Wagner to create Alice's vision of grand rock theater. "Nightmare" is considered a classic by most Cooper fans and indeed it is a great album albeit different from what his fans at the time might have been used to. The album is a concept piece revolving around the main character "Steven" (who is really Alice) sleeping through a nightmare...........or is it real? This album was conceived and written for the stage as Alice took a full theatrical production of this work on the road. Part rock, theater, Broadway, ballads, and even jazzy at times "Nightmare" covers a lot of ground. Several huge hits came from this album and they are all good ones. The title track with its horn section blaring out the main theme is very different from anything The Alice Cooper Band ever did. "Only Women Bleed" was Alice's first hit ballad. "Department Of Youth" was another big one that although a great song, does not really fit in the context of the album concept. The album tracks are mostly strong as well with "Devils Food / The Black Widow" still playing a part in Alice's set today. Vincent Price's creepy narration during "Black Widow" is a bit corny, but I get the feeling that is the way Alice wanted it to be. "Cold Ethyl" is similar to "I Love The Dead" from the previous album, only this one is totally done as a black comedy. The album closes with four songs that run together "Years Ago", "Steven", "The Awakening" , and "Escape" telling the story of Steven (Alice) and some of his mental.......lets say issues. The Steven character would show up on several later Cooper albums as well. For fans of progressive rock Tony Levin (King Crimson, ABWH, Peter Gabriel) played bass on this one. Although this album was a big departure from the original band's material it stands on it's own as a great piece of work.

Unquestionably one of the albums nearest-and-dearest to my heart, it can instantly transport me through time and I'm a teenager again....which isn't to say I want to live in the past (heck, I LIKE being middle-aged!) but it's a declaration of the sheer power of this album. Alice's greatest album, bar none....and that's saying alot.

This is one of those few-and-far-between albums that you have to commit yourself to when you fire up the stereo to listen to it: it just feels WRONG to interrupt it for any reason. (The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", "Imperial Bedroom" by Elvis Costello and "Ritual De Lo Habitual" by Jane's Addiction are others that fall into this category.) Every song is of the highest quality; there are no dips in quality in the entirety of this exquisitely well-written and performed drama. The Bob Ezrin production is superb, bringing Alice's vision to vivid, haunting life. The band is in total synch and at the top of their game. Alice growls, pleads, shrieks, mocks, whispers and raves with equal, mesmerizing effect, like a character actor running wild with the juiciest role of his career.

If someone told me I could only have 60 minutes of recorded music, the closing sequence of "Years Ago" > "Steven" > "The Awakening" > "Escape" just might make the cut. Alice Cooper at the peak of his powers, this amazing sequence can still produce goosebumps on my arms. The nightmare-carnival of "Years Ago", the glorious, powerhouse orchestration of "Steven", the creepy, childlike tinkling piano which introduces "The Awakening".....WOW, what a show! When the opening chords of "Escape" come bounding out of my speakers, I'm instantly on my feet singing along in delirious rapture. (This album has the very same effect on my older sister Cindy. Put it on and you won't find two happier people anywhere!)

"Welcome To My Nightmare" is indeed the stuff of legend and hopefully will be listened to for many generations to come!

Welcome to my Nightmare gives us some of the best from both musician Alice Cooper and producer Bob Ezrin (Kiss, Peter Gabriel, numerous bad Pink Floyd albums). This brilliantly produced and engineered album features the work of a room or two full of the finest studio musicians, and also has some of the creepiest lyrics you'll ever hear.

Creepy, yes, but it's all in good fun. How else can you explain how I was first introduced to this album? That's right, I saw Alice Cooper sing "Welcome to my Nightmare" on the Muppet Show, and was hooked right there. When you listen to the album, don't take it too seriously. (Did ANYONE really believe anyone in Kiss was from outer space or that AC/DC was made up of Statan worshipers?) While you're at it, imagine how much more fun it might be in concert. Ah, the '70s!

...then yes, this would be it. I have owned it for over 10 years, and could never ever get sick of this album.

WELCOME TO THIS NIGHTMARE! This is a total masterpiece- I don't know how else to put it. This one CD will get your feet tapping and head nodding, it will make to laugh, it will make you think, it will scare the ever living crap out of you, and it will bring you back to reality. This is the album to which I've introduced many to Alice Cooper, and almost all of them later became big Alice fans.

The album appropriately starts off with "Welcome to my Nightmare". "Devil's Food/Black Widow" includes a haunting dialoge by Vincent Price (which years later inspired Micheal Jackson to use Price on his song "Thriller"). "Some Folks" blends finger-snapping swing and twistedness in a way only Alice could pull off. Next is the hit ballad "Only Women Bleed". The album continues with the bratty-sounding "Department of Youth" and black-humorous, guitar-driven, ode to necrophelia "Cold Ethyl". Next comes the dark depths of the nightmare, the haunting song trio "Years Ago", "Steven" and "The Awakening", which to this day still literally send shivers down my spine. But the up-beat hard rock of "Escape" closes the album and brings you out of the Nightmare and back into the real world.

For me, Welcome To My Nightmare is more than just an album. It's a whole experience, and nothing short of genius. I've also heard it particularly recommended by a number of big name musicians like Marilyn Manson and Slash.

Being an Alice Cooper fan I have EVERY album including the imports the man has ever put out. And up until Recently Love it to Death was by far my favorite. And as for the Alice Cooper Group Love it to Death still is my favorite. But Welcome to my Nightmare was and still is Alice's BEST solo Album, if you have the chance buy this album but also purchase the Welcome To My Nightmare DVD , the concert is by far one of the best I have ever seen, live or on DVD. I saw Alice in concert Sept of 2004 and he is still the best I have ever seen, even with age knocking at his back door, he still seems to have the stage magic we all learned to love with Alice. This album not only rocks, but tells a twisted story, which helps tie all tracks together and make it a gem to any collection. No matter what you pay , you will see that your money is well spent. Even if you arent an Alice fan , if you have blood in your veins and have a pulse you will enjoy the music and creativity of this album. A Halloween must , but dont mothball it for the rest of the year, because once you listen to it , it will be stuck in your head, and you will want to hear it again and again , top hats off to Mr. Cooper on this amazing album.

With the Alice Cooper group on permanent hiatus,Alice gathered together a top notch group of musicians(many of whom had worked on Lou Reed's opus,BERLIN).In a Canadian studio with regular producer Bob Erzin and new songwriting sidekick Dick Wagner, Alice set about creating a horror concept album.What resulted was the tale of Steven,who is being driven mad by his nightmares that just may turn out to be reality .Here is a rundown of the tracks:

WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE : Superb opener.A creepy mixture of a Broadway show tune and straight ahead rock.The horns on this track enhance the atmosphere.Dick Wagner's descending guitar at the climax of the song sounds like a crawly thing scuttling down a wall towards you.

DEVIL'S FOOD - Anyone who still says that Alice had lost his hard rock edge after listening to this song should have his/her head examined.I wish I could get my hands on a copy of the longer version of this song.

BLACK WIDOW - Vincent Price lends his gloriously evil intonations to the proceedings;seven years before a certain megastar ripped off the concept for THRILLER.Song attains the sound that Alice would later use on the RAISE YOUR FIST AND YELL. You can imagine a giant black widow spider sitting on a throne.

SOME FOLKS - A soft shoe shuffle for the demented.This is the Coop in white tie and tails;turning into a werewolf in the choruses.I've loved this album since 1975 and I still don't get what this song is about.It is cool,though.

ONLY WOMEN BLEED - A whole new side to the Coop;a song decrying domestic violence and neglect.Perhaps Alice's best ballad,and a song for which he should be remembered.It surprised a lot of critics when they first heard it.

DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH - Another anthem of rebellion,in the vein of SCHOOL'S OUT or ELECTED.Alice also takes a pot shot at teen idols ;notably,Donny Osmond(to this day,Donny wears it like a badge of honour!).This should have been a bigger chart hit than it was.

COLD ETHYL - A combination of I LOVE THE DEAD and REFRIGERATOR HEAVEN.A cheerful romp about about Alice's love affair with a Girl who doesn't say(or do)much(of anything . .hint hint).

YEARS AGO - Steven has a conversation with himself.A eerie, demented fairground feel to this track.There are also people talking in the background in a language I don't know.Perhaps it is backwards taping?

STEVEN - Steven fights his nightmares.NIGHTMARE has a gothic horror feel to it;STEVEN is a prime example.Lumbering,hard rock backing with piano.

THE AWAKENING - Steven realises he has done something wrong.Drums,strings and keyboards dominate the song's mix.

ESCAPE - Steven now knows he has got to escape his nightmares,but realises that it may be all to late.Staight ahead rocker,with lyrics that mirrored Alice's situation at the tme(the endless touring,the alcohoism).Classic ending: Alice babbling,"I gotta get outta here,I gotta get outta here!"(a reference to BALLAD OF DWIGHT FRYE)

NIGHTMARE is the all time Solo Cooper classic;the yardstick that all other Alice Cooper albums had to measure up to.It proved that Alice could make it on his own without the other members of the Alice Cooper Group.It also proved Alice right in increasing the theatrics (not reducing them,as the remaining ACG members wanted).To all novice alice fans,I say that nightmare is the first solo Cooper classic to get your hands on.There is not one duff track on this album.put on this album,close your eyes . . .and experience the nightmare.REMEMBER THE COOP!

One of the big thrills of the original vinyl album was hearing Vincent Price's narration to Black Widow. Price was essential to nailing down the creepy feeling to the whole album. Lugubriously, this audio is missing from the mp3 album download. I feel cheated.

Alice Cooper offers a mixed bag of tunes. There are a couple of catchy anthem-type rockers ("Department of Youth" and "Escape"), but most sound like numbers from a twisted musical about necrophilia and serial murder. The trilogy of "Years Ago/Steven/The Awakening" is too heavy-handed and obvious, but the rest of the album offers prime examples of why Cooper became rock's premiere showman during the 70s. Vincent Price's cameo at the beginning of "Black Widow" is fun.

GREAT GREAT CLASSIC ALBUM by mr coop. I once wrote a review on this and gave it four stars and called it a bit over-rated. I am very ashamed of that today, but the rewiew didnt get added here, Maybe I did something wrong - (thank god.) Anyway, this album is all that great people say it is. It's an exiting journey through alice nightmare. Some creepy songs, some more straight ahead rock n roll songs, all of great quality, and in concept of the nightmare. Some of Alice finest songs ever is included here such as "Welcome to my N", "Steven", "Department of Youth" "Cold Ethyl" and "Only women bleed". The song-trilogy (years ago, steven and the awakening) is fantastic with a haunting feeling that penetrating the room. If you are an alice fan this is a must! BUY BUY BUY!