Alice Cooper – Alice Cooper Goes to Hell (1976): Album Review, Tracklist & Fun Facts
Released in June 1976, Alice Cooper Goes to Hell is the second solo album by Vincent Furnier (Alice Cooper) and serves as a direct sequel to his 1975 concept album Welcome to My Nightmare. The album continues the narrative of Alice’s descent into a personal hell, blending hard rock, theatrical storytelling, and dark humor. It’s a significant release in Cooper’s solo career, showcasing his flair for drama and musical experimentation.
Album Overview
Produced by Bob Ezrin, Alice Cooper Goes to Hell mixes hard rock, glam, and theatrical elements with occasional pop sensibilities. The album tells the story of Alice’s journey through sin, temptation, and personal torment, featuring dramatic musical arrangements that support the narrative. With lush keyboards, layered vocals, and cinematic production, it expands on the concept-album approach introduced in Welcome to My Nightmare.
The record emphasizes thematic cohesion while maintaining radio-friendly singles, blending shock-rock theatrics with accessible songwriting. This balance helped solidify Alice Cooper’s reputation as a master of theatrical hard rock.
Tracklist – Alice Cooper: Goes to Hell (1976)
-
Go to Hell – 3:55
-
I Never Cry – 5:02
-
You’re So Vain – 3:18
-
Guilty – 3:33
-
Wish You Were Here – 4:35
-
King of the Silver Screen – 3:50
-
Detroit City – 3:45
-
I’m Always Chasing Rainbows – 2:44
Album Review
Alice Cooper Goes to Hell is a darkly cinematic album that blends storytelling with rock theatrics. The opener, Go to Hell, is an energetic hard rock anthem that sets the tone for the album’s narrative of damnation and rebellion.
I Never Cry, a poignant ballad, showcases Alice Cooper’s emotional range and became a hit single, demonstrating that his music could balance drama, theatricality, and genuine vulnerability. Tracks like Guilty and King of the Silver Screen highlight the album’s glam-rock influences, while Detroit City returns to gritty rock roots.
Bob Ezrin’s production elevates the theatricality, emphasizing dynamic contrasts, layered instrumentation, and sound effects that reinforce the narrative of Alice’s descent into hell. The album balances accessible songwriting with experimental and cinematic touches, making it one of Cooper’s most ambitious solo works.
Fun Facts, Trivia & Did You Know
-
• Fun Fact: I Never Cry became one of Alice Cooper’s most enduring ballads, reflecting on personal loss and the darker side of fame.
-
• Trivia: Alice Cooper Goes to Hell is considered a concept album sequel, continuing the nightmare story introduced in Welcome to My Nightmare.
-
• Did You Know? Bob Ezrin’s production on this album added orchestral and choral elements, giving it a cinematic, almost musical-theater quality.
-
• Fun Fact: Songs like Go to Hell and Detroit City were staples of Alice Cooper’s live shows, often performed with elaborate stage props and theatrics.
-
• Did You Know? The album reached #21 on the Billboard 200, maintaining Cooper’s commercial momentum as a solo artist.
Alice Cooper Goes to Hell is a key entry in Alice Cooper’s solo discography, combining hard rock energy, theatrical storytelling, and emotional depth. Its blend of narrative and musical experimentation cements its status as a milestone in 1970s rock and concept-album history.
