Search - Alice Cooper :: A Fistful of Alice

Not much of an improvement - IF ANY - over 1977's "The Alice

Robert | USA | 08/19/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

""A FISTFUL OF ALICE"



REVIEW:



"A Fistful of Alice" marks Alice's second live album (his first was 1977's "The Alice Cooper Show") and like the previous live album, "A Fistful of Alice" is again, too short. There are far too many tracks that are not included here but as it stands, this live album does have excellent sound quality. The main reason for fans to pick this album up is for the new studio track that caps it off. "Is Anyone Home?" is a great song that deals with a man's unhealthy obsession with the internet. Plus, it is good to hear such great songs like "Desperado" and "Teenage Lament '74" included in this live set. However, five of the twelve live tracks included here ("School's Out," "I'm Eighteen," "I Never Cry," "Billion Dollar Babies" and "Only Women Bleed") were all included previously on "The Alice Cooper Show". It would've been nice to hear some obscurities performed instead. I should note, however, that the worst live song on this album is the live rendition of Alice's 1991 mini-hit "Feed My Frankenstein". Rob Zombie - who shares lead vocals on the track with Alice - is absolutely horrendous.



MUSICIANS:



Reb Beach ... Guitar, Vocals

Ryan Roxie ... Guitar

Paul Taylor ... Keyboards, Guitar

Todd Jensen ... Bass, Vocals

Jimmy DeGrasso ... Drums

Slash (of Guns 'N Roses) ... Guitar on "Lost In America," "Only Women Bleed" and "Elected"

Rob Zombie (of White Zombie) ... Vocals on "Feed My Frankenstein" and "Elected"

Sammy Hagar ... Guitar on "School's Out"

Dan Wexler ... Guitar on "Is Anyone Home?"

Steve Farris ... Guitar on "Is Anyone Home?"

Matt Laug ... Drums on "Is Anyone Home?"

Merrit Morrison ... Bass on "Is Anyone Home?"

String Section on "Is Anyone Home?" ... Bennett Salvey, Peter Kent, Mario DeLeon, Darrin McCann and Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick



INTERESTING FACTS:



1. Released in June of 1997, "A Fistful of Alice" failed to chart on the Billboard Top 200.



2. Recorded live on June 2nd 1996 at the Cabo Wabo Club in Mexico - which is owned by Sammy Hagar.



3. Original title for "A Fistful of Alice" was "Viva Alice".



4. Joey Ramone, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai had originally agreed to appear at the event but in the end, they did not make it to the show.



5. Along with the 13 tracks released in the U.S., the Japanese release of the album feature the additional tracks of "Under My Wheels," "No More Mr. Nice Guy," "Bed Of Nails," and "Clones (We're All)".



PACKAGING:



Classy but at the same time, humorous album cover with loads of live photos in CD booklet. The CD is a picture disc of the album cover.



APPROX. RUNNING TIME:



55 min. and 6 sec.



FINAL ANALYSIS:



The live tracks do boast top notch sound quality and the studio track, "Is Anyone Home?," is an excellent addition to the Cooper catalog which makes "A Fistful of Alice" worth purchasing. However, it is not much of an improvement - IF ANY - over 1977's "The Alice Cooper Show". ***1/2 out of 5.



"

Get the Japan import *

Hoagie Mike | Sacramento, CA | 08/09/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded live at Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in June of '96, this is an awesome live cd from the Master of Shock rock, Alice Cooper. This rocks from start to finish, and every song is performed well. Alice's band was tight and heavy on here, plus it features guest appearances from Slash, and Rob Zombie. The only minor problem I have with this cd is with Paul Taylor's keyboards, it sounds generic, and too plastic- too bad they couldn't get a more "vintage" sounding organ on there when needed. All the big hits are here, like "I'm Eighteen", "School's Out", "Elected", and "Welcome To My Nightmare", plus rarely played gems like "Teenage Lament '74", "Lost In America" and "I Never Cry"-which was a huge hit single, in '76. Also included, is new studio track called "Is Anyone Home?", which is a melodic Beatle flavored number, to end the cd. I highly recommend you buy the Japan import version of "Fistful Of Alice", because it's got 4 live bonus tracks, including "Clones", "Bed Of Nails", "Under My Wheels", and "No More Mr. Nice Guy", all from the same show, which makes the cd flow even better. It's hard to find, but worth every penny. This is the definitive live Alice Cooper record, so far. Yes, the "Alice Cooper Show" album, from '77 is pretty good, but this one blows that away."

Cool, almost necessary live offering

Paul Lawrence | Australia | 03/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"OK, just a quick few thoughts on this disc which will hopefully inform your choice or give you some food for thought, because picking apart in a critical style tunes that presumably you (my dear reader) already know would be pointless.



Firstly this '97 release is well produced, well played and really finds it's function as a sort of greatest hits collection. The guest stars here comprise Rob Zombie, Slash and Sammy Hagar while the band for this rawk rock good time disc is Reb Beach (G), Ryan Roxie (G), Paul Taylor (keys), Todd Jensen (B) and Jimmy Degross (D). And the capable backing band really bring some of these older tunes that were a touch creaky when they were born to vibrant life. All the hits are here - check the track listing - and in order to get the completists to fork out their cash for tunes they already own we get a studio newie called 'Is Anyone Home' tacked unceremoniously on the end.



While it's up to you if you really feel you need a live version of tunes you may already own, it has to be admitted that this life affirming collection, with it's full bodied production, is a pretty good summation of AC's greatest hits. All played to a loving audience at the Cabo Wabo Cantina in Mexico. From the sounds of it, a good time was had by all and buying this disc will probably score you a good time listen as well."