Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies (1973): Album Review, Tracklist & Fun Facts
Released in 1973, Billion Dollar Babies is Alice Cooper’s sixth studio album and the band’s most commercially successful release. Following the breakthrough of School’s Out, this record showcased a more polished, theatrical hard rock sound and solidified Alice Cooper’s status as a global rock phenomenon. The album combines dark humor, storytelling, and catchy riffs, making it one of the most iconic records of the 1970s.
Album Overview
Produced by Bob Ezrin, Billion Dollar Babies blends hard rock, glam, and theatrical elements. The album’s themes range from societal satire and rebellious youth to macabre storytelling, a hallmark of Alice Cooper’s signature style. It features some of the band’s most recognizable hits, including the title track Billion Dollar Babies and the hard-hitting Elected.
With polished production, layered instrumentation, and theatrical vocals, the album represents a creative peak for the original Alice Cooper band. The success of Billion Dollar Babies also expanded their international audience, reaching top chart positions in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.
Tracklist – Alice Cooper: Billion Dollar Babies (1973)
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Hello Hooray – 4:16
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Raped and Freezin’ – 3:25
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Elected – 3:41
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Generation Landslide – 4:57
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No You Don’t – 3:57
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Billion Dollar Babies – 3:20
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Unfinished Sweet – 3:01
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Five Years Dead – 4:36
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Sick Things – 3:44
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Mary Ann – 3:25
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I Love the Dead – 4:49
Album Review
Billion Dollar Babies is a showcase of Alice Cooper at the height of his early powers. The opener, Hello Hooray, is a theatrical anthem that sets a celebratory yet ominous tone. Elected, a political satire with driving riffs, demonstrates the band’s knack for social commentary with humor and energy.
The title track, Billion Dollar Babies, features a punchy groove and sardonic lyrics that highlight Cooper’s cynical perspective on fame and excess. Darker tracks like I Love the Dead and Sick Things push boundaries with macabre themes, perfectly reflecting the shock rock aesthetic.
Musically, Glen Buxton’s guitar work shines throughout, while Dennis Dunaway’s basslines and Neal Smith’s drumming create a tight, dynamic foundation. Bob Ezrin’s production enhances the band’s theatricality without sacrificing raw energy. Overall, Billion Dollar Babies balances commercial appeal with the dark, provocative edge that made Alice Cooper legendary.
Fun Facts, Trivia & Did You Know
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• Fun Fact: Billion Dollar Babies was Alice Cooper’s first album to reach #1 on the Billboard 200.
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• Trivia: The album’s cover, featuring the band with giant dollar bills, sparked controversy and was banned in some stores.
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• Did You Know? Elected was inspired by the political climate of the early 1970s and has become a perennial favorite in live performances.
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• Fun Fact: The album solidified the band’s signature shock rock imagery, including guillotines, fake blood, and theatrical props.
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• Did You Know? Alice Cooper’s success with Billion Dollar Babies helped him embark on international tours, expanding his influence across Europe and North America.
Billion Dollar Babies remains a landmark in Alice Cooper’s career, blending hard rock, glam, and theatrical shock into a commercially and artistically successful package. Its influence on rock and stage theatrics continues to be felt decades later.
