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'''''Billion Dollar Babies''''' is an album by American [[hard rock]] band [[Alice Cooper]], released in March [[1973 in music|1973]].<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/ |
'''''Billion Dollar Babies''''' is an album by American [[hard rock]] band [[Alice Cooper]], released in March [[1973 in music|1973]].<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/billion-dollar-babies-r4544|title=allmusic (((Billion Dollar Babies > Overview)))|last=Prato|first=Greg|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1= Neill |first1= Andrew |last2= Kent |first2= Matthew |title = Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of THE WHO 1958-1978 |publisher = [[Sterling Publishing]] |year = 2009 |page=219 |isbn = 1402766912}}</ref> The album became the best selling Alice Cooper record at the time of its release, hit number one on the album charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and went on to be certified platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]]. The album was heavily praised by such critics as [[Robert Christgau]], Greg Prato of [[allmusic]], and Jason Thompson of [[popmatters]], but ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the album only two and a half stars. |
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Songs were recorded in both the state of Connecticut and London, England. Lyrics cover topics and themes such as necrophilia, the fear of dentists, horror, and a comedic take on sexual harassment. |
Songs were recorded in both the state of Connecticut and London, England. Lyrics cover topics and themes such as necrophilia, the fear of dentists, horror, and a comedic take on sexual harassment. |
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==Recording and production== |
==Recording and production== |
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Drummer Neal Smith has said that the album can be traced back to the song "Caught in a Dream" from the album ''[[Love It to Death]]''. The first recording sessions for the album took place in [[Greenwich, Connecticut]] in a mansion called the Galecie Estate. To achieve certain vocal sounds and echos, microphones were run through rooms of various sizes and a greenhouse. Others sessions were held at Morgan Studios in London |
Drummer Neal Smith has said that the album can be traced back to the song "Caught in a Dream" from the album ''[[Love It to Death]]''. The first recording sessions for the album took place in [[Greenwich, Connecticut]] in a [[mansion]] called the Galecie Estate. To achieve certain vocal sounds and echos, [[microphones]] were run through rooms of various sizes and a [[greenhouse]]. Others sessions were held at Morgan Studios in London, where singer [[Donovan]] contributed to the album by singing on its title track. The album was produced by [[Bob Ezrin]].<ref name="Gibson">{{cite web|url=http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/Alice-Cooper-Billion-326/|title=Alice Cooper’s Billion Dollar Babies: Gibson’s Classic Album of the Month|last=Hall|first=Russell|publisher=[[Gibson Guitar Corporation]]|accessdate=2 August 2010}}</ref> |
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Guitarists, Glen Buxton and Michael Bruce, both used [[Gibson SG]]s for the album.<ref name="Gibson"/> Two more |
Guitarists, Glen Buxton and Michael Bruce, both used [[Gibson SG]]s for the album.<ref name="Gibson"/> Two more guitarists, [[Dick Wagner]] and [[Steve Hunter]], were also featured on the album to help cover for Buxton who at the time was suffering from [[substance abuse]].<ref name="TTTM">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=53iA5w5sR8wC&pg=PA296&dq=Alice+cooper+billion+dollar+babies+The+tombstone+tourist:+musicians&hl=en&ei=Eb5WTOOeIcG88gbBm9z1Ag&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=The Tombstone Tourist: Musicians|author=Stanton, Scott|page=296|publisher=Pocket Books|year=2003|isbn=0-7434-6330-7}}</ref> |
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==Lyrical themes and subjects== |
==Lyrical themes and subjects== |
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The album's title comes from the fact that Alice Cooper and the band were surpised about their success. Cooper |
The album's title comes from the fact that Alice Cooper and the band were surpised about their success. Cooper related: "How could we, this band that two years ago was living in the Chambers Brothers' basement in Watts, be the Number one band in world, with people throwing money at us."<ref name="Houston Chronicle">{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/5969321.html|title=Alice Cooper ready to bring mayhem to Houston|last=Dansby|first=Andrew|publisher=''[[Houston Chronicle]]''|accessdate=3 August 2010}}</ref> The title was also later used as the name of the group [[Neal Smith]], [[Dennis Dunaway]], and [[Michael Bruce (musician)|Michael Bruce]] formed after they left the band.<ref name="BBB">{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hpfqxqe5ldhe|title=allmusic (((The Billion Dollar Babies > Overview)))|last=Henderson|first=Alex|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=14 August 2010}}</ref> Cooper says "The whole idea behind the ''Billion Dollar Babies'' album was exploiting the idea that people do have sick perversions."<ref name="Creem">{{cite web|url=http://www.creemmagazine.com/_site/BeatGoesOn/MarilynManson/GoldenAgeOfGrotesque001.html|title=CREEM ONLINE: Marilyn Manson — The Golden Age Of Grotesque|last=Morgan|first=Jeffrey|publisher=''[[Creem]]''|accessdate=3 August 2010}}</ref> |
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Alice Cooper wrote the majority of the album's lyrics |
Alice Cooper, who wrote the majority of the album's lyrics, cited [[Chuck Berry]] as a key influence on his writing.<ref name="Gibson"/> "Hello Hooray", the album's opening track, was written by Canadian singer/songwriter Rolf Kempf and was previously recorded by [[Judy Collins]]. The band wanted their version of the song to sound like "Alice Cooper meets Cabaret."<ref name="Golf Monster">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=1I-lN2IAo_wC&pg=PA100&dq=Rolf+Kempf+Alice+Cooper&hl=en&ei=JY5lTKbUDYGclgfWqujWDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Rolf%20Kempf%20Alice%20Cooper&f=false|title=Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: A Rock 'n' Roller's Life and 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict|author=Cooper, Alice; Zimmerman, Kent; Zimmerman, Keith|page=100|publisher=Crown Publishers|year=2007|isbn=978-0-307-38291-7}}</ref> The album's third track, "Elected", is a rewrite of an earlier song by the band enititled "Reflected".<ref name="Allmusic"/> "Raped and Freezin'" has been called a "hilarious and gorgeously catchy" take on the idea of sexual harassment by [[PopMatters]]'s Jason Thompson<ref name="PM"/> "Unfinished Sweet" is about visiting a dentist.<ref name="PM">{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/c/cooperalice-billion.shtml|title=Alice Cooper: Billion Dollar Babies – PopMatters Music Review|last=Thompson|first=Jason|publisher=[[PopMatters]]|accessdate=2 August 2010}}</ref> The title track was co-written by Reggie Vinson, who had played guitar on and performed vocals for ''[[School's Out (album)|School's Out]]''.<ref name="The God pumpers">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=OsfyU-W7APUC&pg=PA150&dq=Alice+Cooper+Reggie+Vinson+Billion+Dollar+Babies&hl=en&ei=ZwFmTJKcC8KAlAeWl_GeDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Alice%20Cooper%20Reggie%20Vinson%20Billion%20Dollar%20Babies&f=false|title=The God Pumpers: Religion in the Electronic Age|author=Fishwick, Marshall William; Browne, Ray Broadus|page=150|publisher=Bowling Green State University Popular Press|year=1987|isbn=0-87972-400-5}}</ref> Donovan described the song as a "horror story song".<ref name="Donovan">{{cite web|url=http://www.creemmagazine.com/_site/BeatGoesOn/Donovan/MoltenTruths0506.html|title=CREEM ONLINE: Donovan – Molten Truths|last=Bowe|first=Brian J.|publisher=''[[Creem]]''|accessdate=14 August 2010}}</ref> The album's closing track, "I Love the Dead", is a [[tongue-in-cheek]] song about [[necrophilia]].<ref name="This Ain't the Summer of Love">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LqDJjAeYxssC&pg=PA70&dq=Alice+Cooper+I+Love+the+Dead&hl=en&ei=uJtXTIzHG8P-8Ab58_CoAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Alice%20Cooper%20I%20Love%20the%20Dead&f=false|title=This Ain't the Summer of Love: Conflict and Crossover in Heavy Metal and Punk |author=Waksman, Steve|page=70|publisher=University of California Press|year=2009|isbn=978-0520-25310-0}}</ref> |
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==Touring== |
==Touring== |
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After the album was released, the band embarked on a tour which broke the |
After the album was released, the band embarked on a tour which broke the United States box office records previously held by the Rolling Stones and included a scheduled sixty-four concerts in fifty-nine cities in ninety days. The gross revenue of the tour was anticipated to be close to [[Dollar sign|$]]20 million,<ref name="Bang your head">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=R9eEcRcEs4MC&pg=PA41&dq=Alice+cooper+billion+dollar+babies+tour&hl=en&ei=XMdWTI-rAoL78AaUyeHtBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Alice%20cooper%20billion%20dollar%20babies%20tour&f=false|title=Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal|author=Konow, Daivd|page=41|publisher=|year=2002|isbn=0-609-80732-3}}</ref> but only about $4 million was achieved.<ref name="Gibson"/> |
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The live performances featured |
The live performances featured Cooper wearing a dress with fake blood stains at the crotch, tearing apart baby dolls and attacking mannequins.<ref name="Rock eras">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=F0xAUXaBYqoC&pg=PA257&dq=Alice+cooper+billion+dollar+babies+tour&hl=en&ei=r8xWTPPNEMH88Aaj9PSpAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Alice%20cooper%20billion%20dollar%20babies%20tour&f=false|title=Rock Eras: Interpretations of Music and Society, 1954–1984 |author=Curtis, James M.|page=257|publisher=Bowling Green State University Popular Press|year=1987|isbn=0-87972-368-8}}</ref> Cooper has said that the mutilation of the dolls symbolize [[child neglect]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nwEkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BGcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7200,2349592&dq=alice+cooper+billion+dollar+babies&hl=en Alice Wants To Be Establishment]|last=Campbell|first=Mary|magazine=''[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]'' |date=22 June 1975}}</ref> Between forty and fifty people were employed and 26,000 pounds of equipment were used.<ref name="BB">{{Cite news |title=[http://books.google.com/books?id=AwkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=Alice+cooper+billion+dollar+babies+billboard&hl=en&ei=b89WTPzpKIT48AaSxs3nBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Alice%20cooper%20billion%20dollar%20babies%20billboard&f=false Travel Costs Acts $20–30 Mil Yearly] |last=Sippel|first=John|magazine=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' |date=29 September 1973}}</ref> In preparation for the tour, two [[semi-trailer truck]] carried a wide variety of props including a dentists drill, four whips, a surgical table, six hatchets, 33,000 program books, 300 baby dolls, 22,000 sparklers, 58 mannequins, 280 spare light bulbs, 1,000 patches, 6,000 mirror parts, 14 bubble machines, 28 gallons of bubble juice, and 250,000 packages of bubble bath.<ref name="BBB">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=dYFv3ifE0f4C&pg=PA139&dq=Alice+Cooper+Billion+dollar+babies+tour&hl=en&ei=MKBXTJfRE8L78AbIlPi1DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFAQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=Alice%20Cooper%20Billion%20dollar%20babies%20tour&f=false|title=Big Bang Baby: The Rock Trivia Book|author=Crouse, Richard|page=139|publisher=Dundum Press|year=2000|isbn=0-88882-219-7}}</ref> |
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== |
==Reception and influence== |
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{{Album ratings |
{{Album ratings |
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| title = |
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| rev4Score =(B+)<ref name="RC">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=M_WYoRHmwJEC&pg=PA92&dq=Alice+cooper+billion+dollar+babies+Robert+Christgau&hl=en&ei=L9dWTOXICoOB8gbUv8GDCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=Rock Albums of the '70s: A Critical Guide |author=Christgau, Robert|page=92|publisher=Da Capo Press|year=1981|isbn=0-306-80409-3}}</ref> |
| rev4Score =(B+)<ref name="RC">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=M_WYoRHmwJEC&pg=PA92&dq=Alice+cooper+billion+dollar+babies+Robert+Christgau&hl=en&ei=L9dWTOXICoOB8gbUv8GDCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=Rock Albums of the '70s: A Critical Guide |author=Christgau, Robert|page=92|publisher=Da Capo Press|year=1981|isbn=0-306-80409-3}}</ref> |
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}} |
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''Billion Dollar Babies'' was more successful than Cooper's previous albums; it went to No. 1 in the United Kingdom and |
''Billion Dollar Babies'' was more successful than Cooper's previous albums; it went to No. 1 in both the United Kingdom and United States.<ref name="Bang your head">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=R9eEcRcEs4MC&pg=PA41&dq=Alice+cooper+billion+dollar+babies+tour&hl=en&ei=XMdWTI-rAoL78AaUyeHtBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Alice%20cooper%20billion%20dollar%20babies%20tour&f=false|title=Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal|author=Konow, Daivd|page=41|publisher=|year=2002|isbn=0-609-80732-3}}</ref> The album's [[single (music)|singles]] "Elected", "Hello Hooray", "Billion Dollar Babies", and "No More Mr. Nice Guy", all became hits on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="Charts">{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fifyxqw5ldte~T51|title=allmusic (((Alice Cooper > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles)))|last=|first=|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=13 August 2010}}</ref> In March 1973 the album was certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] and in 1986, it went platinum.<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS|title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum|last=|first=|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|accessdate=14 August 2010}}</ref> |
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[[Allmusic]]'s Greg Prato gave the album four and a half out of |
[[Allmusic]]'s Greg Prato gave the album four and a half out of five stars and called it "one of Cooper's very best; it remains one of rock's all-time, quintessential classics."<ref name="Allmusic"/> Jason Thompson of [[popmatters]] praised the album, saying it was "arguably the original Alice Cooper Group's best album."<ref name="PM"/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' only gave the album two and a half stars and criticized songs like "I Love the Dead" for being "predictable".<ref name="RS">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&pg=PA12&dq=Alice+cooper+billion+dollar+babies+Rolling+Stone&hl=en&ei=19RWTNr-McP48Aa1h-CjAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|author=Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian|page=12|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8}}</ref> [[Robert Christgau]] awarded a B+ grade and called it Cooper's most consistent work.<ref name="RC">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=M_WYoRHmwJEC&pg=PA92&dq=Alice+cooper+billion+dollar+babies+Robert+Christgau&hl=en&ei=L9dWTOXICoOB8gbUv8GDCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=Rock Albums of the '70s: A Critical Guide |author=Christgau, Robert|page=92|publisher=Da Capo Press|year=1981|isbn=0-306-80409-3}}</ref> Daniel Bukszpan, the author of ''The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal'', called it a "classic" and "arguably the original band's finest offering."<ref name="TEoHM">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=YaDDsg0H35gC&pg=PT39&dq=Alice+Cooper+The+Encyclopedia+of+Heavy+Metal+Billion+Dollar+Babies&hl=en&ei=WPdlTIz4N4GClAep1NyuDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=1&ved=0CC0Q6wEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal|author=Bukszpan, Daniel; James Dio, Ronnie|page=40|publisher=Barnes & Noble Publishing Inc.|year=2003|isbn=0-7607-4218-9}}</ref> |
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[[Chris Cornell]] stated that it was one of his favorite records.<ref>{{Cite news |title=[http://books.google.com/books?id=msdh3F68Q44C&pg=PA42&dq=Alice+Cooper+Billion+Dollar+Babies+soundgarden&hl=en&ei=LLdkTLC0NoH98AbQy7GjCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Alice%20Cooper%20Billion%20Dollar%20Babies%20soundgarden&f=false Northwest of Hell]|last=Corcoran|first=Michael|magazine=''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' |date=December 1989}}</ref> The Norwegian group [[Turbonegro]] made a song called "Zillion Dollar Sadist" as a tribute to ''Billion Dollar Babies''.<ref name="TN">{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/t/turbonegro-ass.shtml|title=Turbonegro: Ass Cobra / Apocalypse Dudes – PopMatters Music Review|last=Begrand|first=Adrien|publisher=[[PopMatters]]|accessdate=1 August 2010}}</ref> [[David Byrne]] of the [[Talking Heads]] has said that the album inspired him to write the song, "[[Psycho Killer]]".<ref name="Mix">{{cite web|url=http://mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_talking_heads_psycho/|title=Classic Tracks: Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer"|last=Jackson|first=Blair|publisher=''[[Mix (magazine)|Mix]]''|accessdate=13 August 2010}}</ref> |
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==Track listing== |
==Track listing== |
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==Personnel== |
==Personnel== |
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;Credits<ref name="Credits">{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hifrxqe5ldae~T2|title=allmusic (((Billion Dollar Babies > Credits)))|last=|first=|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=3 August 2010}}</ref> |
;Credits<ref name="Credits">{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hifrxqe5ldae~T2|title=allmusic (((Billion Dollar Babies > Credits)))|last=|first=|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=3 August 2010}}</ref> |
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{{col-begin}} |
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{{col-2}} |
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*[[Alice Cooper]] – [[singing|vocals]] |
*[[Alice Cooper]] – [[singing|vocals]] |
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*[[Glen Buxton]] – [[guitar]] |
*[[Glen Buxton]] – [[guitar]] |
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*Frank Hubach – engineer |
*Frank Hubach – engineer |
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*Ed Sprigg – engineer |
*Ed Sprigg – engineer |
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*Logan Jervis – engineer |
*Logan Jervis – engineer{{col-2}} |
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;Credits continued<ref name="Credits"/> |
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*[[Shelly Yakus]] – engineer |
*[[Shelly Yakus]] – engineer |
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*Peter Flanagan – engineer |
*Peter Flanagan – engineer |
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*Norma Edwards – editorial research |
*Norma Edwards – editorial research |
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*Shawn Amos – editorial coordinator |
*Shawn Amos – editorial coordinator |
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{{col-end}} |
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==Chart positions== |
==Chart positions== |
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|1973 |
|1973 |
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|[[Billboard 200|US ''Billboard'' 200]] |
|[[Billboard 200|US ''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name="Bang your head"/> |
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|1 |
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|1<ref name="Bang your head"/> |
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|1973 |
|1973 |
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|[[UK Albums Chart]] |
|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref name="Bang your head"/> |
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|1 |
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|1<ref name="Bang your head"/> |
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|1972 |
|1972 |
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|"[[Elected (Alice Cooper song)|Elected]]" |
|"[[Elected (Alice Cooper song)|Elected]]" |
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⚫ | |||
|[[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] |
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|26 |
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⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
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|1973 |
|1973 |
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|"Hello Hooray" |
|"Hello Hooray" |
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|''Billboard'' Hot 100 |
|''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="Charts"/> |
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|35 |
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|35<ref name="Charts"/> |
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|- |
|- |
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|1973 |
|1973 |
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|"[[No More Mr. Nice Guy (song)|No More Mr. Nice Guy]]" |
|"[[No More Mr. Nice Guy (song)|No More Mr. Nice Guy]]" |
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|''Billboard'' Hot 100 |
|''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="Charts"/> |
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|25 |
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|25<ref name="Charts"/> |
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|- |
|- |
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|1973 |
|1973 |
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|"[[Billion Dollar Babies (Alice Cooper song)|Billion Dollar Babies]]" |
|"[[Billion Dollar Babies (Alice Cooper song)|Billion Dollar Babies]]" |
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|''Billboard'' Hot 100 |
|''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="Charts"/> |
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|57 |
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|57<ref name="Charts"/> |
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Revision as of 16:24, 16 October 2010
Untitled | |
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Billion Dollar Babies is an album by American hard rock band Alice Cooper, released in March 1973.[1][2] The album became the best selling Alice Cooper record at the time of its release, hit number one on the album charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and went on to be certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album was heavily praised by such critics as Robert Christgau, Greg Prato of allmusic, and Jason Thompson of popmatters, but Rolling Stone gave the album only two and a half stars.
Songs were recorded in both the state of Connecticut and London, England. Lyrics cover topics and themes such as necrophilia, the fear of dentists, horror, and a comedic take on sexual harassment.
Recording and production
Drummer Neal Smith has said that the album can be traced back to the song "Caught in a Dream" from the album Love It to Death. The first recording sessions for the album took place in Greenwich, Connecticut in a mansion called the Galecie Estate. To achieve certain vocal sounds and echos, microphones were run through rooms of various sizes and a greenhouse. Others sessions were held at Morgan Studios in London, where singer Donovan contributed to the album by singing on its title track. The album was produced by Bob Ezrin.[3]
Guitarists, Glen Buxton and Michael Bruce, both used Gibson SGs for the album.[3] Two more guitarists, Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter, were also featured on the album to help cover for Buxton who at the time was suffering from substance abuse.[4]
Lyrical themes and subjects
The album's title comes from the fact that Alice Cooper and the band were surpised about their success. Cooper related: "How could we, this band that two years ago was living in the Chambers Brothers' basement in Watts, be the Number one band in world, with people throwing money at us."[5] The title was also later used as the name of the group Neal Smith, Dennis Dunaway, and Michael Bruce formed after they left the band.[6] Cooper says "The whole idea behind the Billion Dollar Babies album was exploiting the idea that people do have sick perversions."[7]
Alice Cooper, who wrote the majority of the album's lyrics, cited Chuck Berry as a key influence on his writing.[3] "Hello Hooray", the album's opening track, was written by Canadian singer/songwriter Rolf Kempf and was previously recorded by Judy Collins. The band wanted their version of the song to sound like "Alice Cooper meets Cabaret."[8] The album's third track, "Elected", is a rewrite of an earlier song by the band enititled "Reflected".[1] "Raped and Freezin'" has been called a "hilarious and gorgeously catchy" take on the idea of sexual harassment by PopMatters's Jason Thompson[9] "Unfinished Sweet" is about visiting a dentist.[9] The title track was co-written by Reggie Vinson, who had played guitar on and performed vocals for School's Out.[10] Donovan described the song as a "horror story song".[11] The album's closing track, "I Love the Dead", is a tongue-in-cheek song about necrophilia.[12]
Touring
After the album was released, the band embarked on a tour which broke the United States box office records previously held by the Rolling Stones and included a scheduled sixty-four concerts in fifty-nine cities in ninety days. The gross revenue of the tour was anticipated to be close to $20 million,[13] but only about $4 million was achieved.[3]
The live performances featured Cooper wearing a dress with fake blood stains at the crotch, tearing apart baby dolls and attacking mannequins.[14] Cooper has said that the mutilation of the dolls symbolize child neglect.[15] Between forty and fifty people were employed and 26,000 pounds of equipment were used.[16] In preparation for the tour, two semi-trailer truck carried a wide variety of props including a dentists drill, four whips, a surgical table, six hatchets, 33,000 program books, 300 baby dolls, 22,000 sparklers, 58 mannequins, 280 spare light bulbs, 1,000 patches, 6,000 mirror parts, 14 bubble machines, 28 gallons of bubble juice, and 250,000 packages of bubble bath.[6]
Reception and influence
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
PopMatters | (Favorable)[9] |
Rolling Stone | [17] |
Robert Christgau | (B+)[18] |
Billion Dollar Babies was more successful than Cooper's previous albums; it went to No. 1 in both the United Kingdom and United States.[13] The album's singles "Elected", "Hello Hooray", "Billion Dollar Babies", and "No More Mr. Nice Guy", all became hits on the Billboard Hot 100.[19] In March 1973 the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America and in 1986, it went platinum.[20]
Allmusic's Greg Prato gave the album four and a half out of five stars and called it "one of Cooper's very best; it remains one of rock's all-time, quintessential classics."[1] Jason Thompson of popmatters praised the album, saying it was "arguably the original Alice Cooper Group's best album."[9] Rolling Stone only gave the album two and a half stars and criticized songs like "I Love the Dead" for being "predictable".[17] Robert Christgau awarded a B+ grade and called it Cooper's most consistent work.[18] Daniel Bukszpan, the author of The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal, called it a "classic" and "arguably the original band's finest offering."[21]
Chris Cornell stated that it was one of his favorite records.[22] The Norwegian group Turbonegro made a song called "Zillion Dollar Sadist" as a tribute to Billion Dollar Babies.[23] David Byrne of the Talking Heads has said that the album inspired him to write the song, "Psycho Killer".[24]
Track listing
LP
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Hello Hooray" | Kempf | 4:15 |
2. | "Raped and Freezin'" | Cooper, Michael Bruce | 3:19 |
3. | "Elected" | Cooper, Glen Buxton, Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith | 4:05 |
4. | "Billion Dollar Babies" | Cooper, Bruce, Smith, Vinson | 3:43 |
5. | "Unfinished Sweet" | Cooper, Bruce, Smith | 6:18 |
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "No More Mr. Nice Guy" | Cooper, Bruce | 3:06 |
7. | "Generation Landslide" | Cooper, Buxton, Bruce, Dunaway, Smith | 4:31 |
8. | "Sick Things" | Cooper, Bruce, Bob Ezrin | 4:18 |
9. | "Mary Ann" | Cooper, Bruce | 2:21 |
10. | "I Love the Dead" | Cooper, Ezrin | 5:09 |
Deluxe Edition CD bonus tracks
The 2001 CD reissue includes these additional tracks[25]:
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
11. | "Hello Hooray" | Kempf | |
12. | "Billion Dollar Babies" | Bruce, Cooper, Smith, Vinson | |
13. | "Elected" | Bruce, Buxton, Cooper, Dunaway, Smith | |
14. | "I'm Eighteen" | Bruce, Buxton, Cooper, Dunaway, Smith | |
15. | "Raped and Freezin'" | Bruce, Cooper | |
16. | "No More Mr. Nice Guy" | Bruce, Cooper | |
17. | "My Stars" | Cooper, Ezrin | |
18. | "Unfinished Sweet" | Bruce, Cooper, Smith | |
19. | "Sick Things" | Bruce, Cooper, Ezrin | |
20. | "Dead Babies" | Bruce, Buxton, Cooper, Dunaway, Smith | |
21. | "I Love The Dead" | Cooper, Ezrin | |
22. | "Coal Black Model T" | ||
23. | "Son Of Billion Dollar Babies (Generation Landslide)" | ||
24. | "Slick Black Limousine" | Cooper, Dunaway |
Personnel
- Credits[26]
|
|
Chart positions
Album
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
1973 | US Billboard 200[13] | 1 |
1973 | UK Albums Chart[13] | 1 |
Singles
Year | Chart | Position | Peak |
---|---|---|---|
1972 | "Elected" | Billboard Hot 100[19] | 26 |
1973 | "Hello Hooray" | Billboard Hot 100[19] | 35 |
1973 | "No More Mr. Nice Guy" | Billboard Hot 100[19] | 25 |
1973 | "Billion Dollar Babies" | Billboard Hot 100[19] | 57 |
References
- ^ a b c d Prato, Greg. "allmusic (((Billion Dollar Babies > Overview)))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
- ^ Neill, Andrew; Kent, Matthew (2009). Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of THE WHO 1958-1978. Sterling Publishing. p. 219. ISBN 1402766912.
- ^ a b c d e Hall, Russell. "Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies: Gibson's Classic Album of the Month". Gibson Guitar Corporation. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
- ^ Stanton, Scott (2003). The Tombstone Tourist: Musicians. Pocket Books. p. 296. ISBN 0-7434-6330-7.
- ^ Dansby, Andrew. "Alice Cooper ready to bring mayhem to Houston". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ a b Henderson, Alex. "allmusic (((The Billion Dollar Babies > Overview)))". Allmusic. Retrieved 14 August 2010. Cite error: The named reference "BBB" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Morgan, Jeffrey. "CREEM ONLINE: Marilyn Manson — The Golden Age Of Grotesque". Creem. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Cooper, Alice; Zimmerman, Kent; Zimmerman, Keith (2007). Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: A Rock 'n' Roller's Life and 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict. Crown Publishers. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-307-38291-7.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d Thompson, Jason. "Alice Cooper: Billion Dollar Babies – PopMatters Music Review". PopMatters. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
- ^ Fishwick, Marshall William; Browne, Ray Broadus (1987). The God Pumpers: Religion in the Electronic Age. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 150. ISBN 0-87972-400-5.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Bowe, Brian J. "CREEM ONLINE: Donovan – Molten Truths". Creem. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Waksman, Steve (2009). This Ain't the Summer of Love: Conflict and Crossover in Heavy Metal and Punk. University of California Press. p. 70. ISBN 978-0520-25310-0.
- ^ a b c d Konow, Daivd (2002). Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal. p. 41. ISBN 0-609-80732-3.
- ^ Curtis, James M. (1987). Rock Eras: Interpretations of Music and Society, 1954–1984. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 257. ISBN 0-87972-368-8.
- ^ Campbell, Mary (22 June 1975). "Alice Wants To Be Establishment". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
{{cite news}}
: External link in
(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|title=
|magazine=
(help) - ^ Sippel, John (29 September 1973). "Travel Costs Acts $20–30 Mil Yearly". Billboard.
{{cite news}}
: External link in
(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|title=
|magazine=
(help) - ^ a b Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 12. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Christgau, Robert (1981). Rock Albums of the '70s: A Critical Guide. Da Capo Press. p. 92. ISBN 0-306-80409-3.
- ^ a b c d e "allmusic (((Alice Cooper > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles)))". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ Bukszpan, Daniel; James Dio, Ronnie (2003). The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal. Barnes & Noble Publishing Inc. p. 40. ISBN 0-7607-4218-9.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Corcoran, Michael (December 1989). "Northwest of Hell". Spin.
{{cite news}}
: External link in
(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|title=
|magazine=
(help) - ^ Begrand, Adrien. "Turbonegro: Ass Cobra / Apocalypse Dudes – PopMatters Music Review". PopMatters. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ Jackson, Blair. "Classic Tracks: Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer"". Mix. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Prato, Greg. "allmusic (((Billion Dollar Babies Deluxe Edition > Overview)))". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ a b "allmusic (((Billion Dollar Babies > Credits)))". Allmusic. Retrieved 3 August 2010.