Billion Dollar Babies [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Alice Cooper

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 6, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1973
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B000056W0F
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  DVD Audio  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,892 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The original Alice Cooper band was one of the finest hard-rock units of the early '70s, which is why the second disc of this remastered version of Billion Dollar Babies is such a treat. Eleven bonus tracks from the band's 1973 tour display the Cooper band's taste for pop-culture--and a sense of humor, as Alice quotes from Don McLean's "American Pie" on a wonderful version of "I'm Eighteen," while the band delivers a ripping "Theme from Perry Mason" during an extended workout of "Unfinished Sweet." Rounded out with session outtakes, the second disc will have fans praying that Rhino unearths more live material. As for Billion Dollar Babies itself, it may not be the Cooper band's best album, but it was the final release of a quartet of extraordinary Bob Ezrin-produced hard-rock records (rounded out by Love It to Death, Killer, and School's Out), and it captures the moment when the band was at their peak. Including three hit singles in "Hello Hooray," "Elected," and "No More Mr. Nice Guy," the album--from Donovan's exciting cameo on the title track to the closing "I Love the Dead" (probably the prettiest ode to necrophilia ever recorded)--still sounds terrific. And the packaging, production, music, and imagery has inspired followers as diverse as the Sex Pistols, Marilyn Manson, and Hole. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ol' Black Eyes Remastered and Expanded, December 26, 2001

By	Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

For me Alice Cooper's career divided neatly into two parts: Alice Cooper the band and Alice Cooper the solo artist. I never was captivated by his solo career, but the Alice Cooper band was one of the best rock bands of the early Seventies. From 1971's Love It To Death through 1973's Billion Dollar Babies, the band produced a series of rock solid albums--and I even saw them in concert twice, including their Billion Dollar Babies Tour.

That's what makes this reissue such a treat. The second disc provides killer live versions of eight of the ten album tracks--only "Generation Landslide" and "Mary Ann" are not included. One track each is also included from their three earlier albums: Love It To Death ("I'm Eighteen"), Killer ("Dead Babies") and School's Out ("My Stars"). In addition you get the Elvis-inspired outtake "Coal Black Model T," which eventually evolved into "Slick Black Limousine" (also included here). The other outtake is "Son of Billion Dollar Babies," which is essentially an alternate take of "Generation Landslide" minus the lyrics from the second half of verse two.

The expanded 24-page booklet is also a treat. [Check out the photo on page 11 of Donovan recording the title track with Alice!]

Sure, Alice Cooper is probably most remembered for the mascara, boa constrictors and guillotines. However, if you listen to the music, you'll discover one of the tightest rock bands of the era. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go ask Alice., February 7, 2001

By	Stephen Caratzas (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Warner Brothers has done a superb job with this deluxe edition reissue of "Billion Dollar Babies", arguably the pinnacle of Alice Cooper's influential career. Every aspect of this product is top-notch, and an incredible value for the price.

First of all, the album itself still rocks with a tight, muscular power that puts all the pretenders and wannabes who have followed in Cooper's tracks firmly in their place. The original Alice Cooper group was captured at its peak here, with assistance from guitar virtuosos Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner (both of whom would later play on Lou Reed's legendary "Rock n Roll Animal" before becoming mainstays in Cooper's revamped band). "Billion Dollar Babies" spawned many of the band's biggest hits ('Hello Hooray', 'Elected', 'No More Mr. Nice Guy', and the title cut), and features 'Generation Landslide' - a wry piece of socio-political commentary from Cooper.

The package contains a generous second CD of well-recorded live material (taken from the tour supporting "Billion Dollar Babies"), as well as studio outtakes. The original album jacket artwork has been recreated, along with lyrics, photos and some illuminating commentary in a 24-page booklet. Remastering was coordinated under the supervision of the album's original producer, Bob Ezrin.

One listen to this beautifully restored classic, and you may well wonder what all the fuss is about characters like Marilyn Manson.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alice Cooper has two best studio albums... and this is one of them, December 22, 2006

By	R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

THE BAND: Alice Cooper / Vincent Furnier (vocals), Glen Buxton (guitar), Michael Bruce (guitar), Dennis Dunaway (bass), Neal Smith (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (1973) 10 tracks clocking in at approximately 41 minutes. Included with the disc is a 6-page booklet containing song titles/credits/times, song lyrics, black & white band member photos, and thank you's. This is the band's 6th album. Produced by the notable Bob Ezrin (who has also produced band's like Kiss, Pink Floyd, Rod Stewart, Peter Gabriel and Lou Reed). Remastered in 2001 - containing an additional 14 tracks on a 2nd disc (57+ minutes - 11 live renditions of the album's songs, and 2 outtakes, and 1 unreleased song), and an extensive 26-page booklet. Label - Rhino / Warner Bros.

COMMENTS: I have two favorite albums from Alice Cooper - this one, and the earlier "Killer" from 1971. You'll see numerous reviews here raving about each... but they're both deserving of 5-stars and all the attention brought to each. Four Top 100 hits from "Billion Dollar Babies" - including the title track, "No More Mr. Nice Guy", "Elected" and "Hello Hooray". Not to mention some great deep album cuts in "Raped And Freezin'", "Generation Landslide", "I Love The Dead", and the strangely out-of-place piano tune "Mary Ann". The album was the band's most commercially successful album - reaching #1 in the US and the UK. Having tasted some fame with "Love It To Death" in '71, more fortunes with "Killer" and "School's Out"... the band was clearly at the height of their career with "Billion Dollar Babies". Polished, slick, and no filler to be found (okay, "Sick Things" is easily the weakest track here). The baby on the album cover - is that where Kiss' Gene Simmons got the idea for his make-up (looks pretty close to me... and we Kiss fans know they credit Alice Cooper for helping found onstage shock rock and theatrics). The four hits mentioned above plus "Generation Landslide" made it to Cooper's best single disc compilation "Monsters & Mascara" (2001)... the most from any one album of theirs. Rhino did it correctly in leaving the original remastered album by itself on disc-1, and the bonus tracks on disc-2. You will not go wrong starting your Alice Cooper collection here. This is classic Alice (5 stars).