Alice Cooper has made it out the pile and back on top of the record player.

I’m a definite fan, but it’s been ages since I gave the band any real appreciation. We dug Billion Dollar Babies out at the record fair at The Church, St. Stephens – it’s got a few kinks and crackles, as should every well-listened Cooper record.

Alice Cooper are just awesome, man.

I mean, the sleeve on the album is a green snakeskin billionaire’s wallet for duck sake – complete with billion-dollar inserts. Questionable taste, undeniable genius.

This album was recorded in 1973, when Alice Cooper were at their commercial peak, coming off their first US number one. They were working closely with producer Bob Ezrin, who was a major force in shaping the album’s sound.

Ezrin brought a more structured, theatrical approach to the recordings, helping frame the band’s shock rock persona at that time into something more deliberate and conceptual- layering in horror aesthetics, political satire, and exaggerated glam excess.

This was also the last truly cohesive album from the original Alice Cooper band before tensions, egos and exhaustion grew, and started pulling things apart.

Here’s a few more intriguing bits about the album:

No More Mr Nice Guy came from Cooper reacting to being labelled a “bad influence” by parents and media.

Elected grew out of a mock presidential campaign he staged around the 1972 US elections.

The title track Billion Dollar Babies was targeted at themes of excess and twisted romance from that glam era, where everything was very decadent and over the top on purpose.

I Love the Dead pushed boundaries hard at the time, mixing horror, taboo, and dark humour in a way that unsettled people more than it entertained them.

Notable tracks:
 • No More Mr Nice Guy
 • Elected
 • Hello Hooray
Chart performance:
 • UK Albums Chart: No. 1
 • US Billboard 200: No. 1
Notable detail: Original pressings featured a textured, fold-out sleeve designed to resemble a snakeskin wallet, complete with billion-dollar bill inserts.