Tracklist, Album Covers, Info, Fun Facts and Trivia
Overview
Released on March 11, 1975, "Welcome to My Nightmare" marks Alice Cooper’s first solo album after the original band split. Produced by the iconic Bob Ezrin, the album blends rock, horror, theater, and narrative storytelling into a concept album that dives deep into the subconscious of a child named Steven, haunted by fears, fantasies, and nightmares.
It’s dramatic, eerie, and theatrical—an album that helped define the shock rock genre and took Alice Cooper’s dark persona to an entirely new, cinematic level.
Tracklist
Welcome to My Nightmare
Devil’s Food
The Black Widow
Some Folks
Only Women Bleed
Department of Youth
Cold Ethyl
Years Ago
Steven
The Awakening
Escape
Album Information
Artist: Alice Cooper (solo)
Album: Welcome to My Nightmare
Release Date: March 11, 1975
Label: Atlantic Records
Genre: Shock rock, theatrical rock, hard rock
Length: 43:47
Producer: Bob Ezrin
Notable Songs & Highlights
“Welcome to My Nightmare” sets the tone with creepy cabaret-style rock, inviting listeners into Steven’s dark dream world.
“Only Women Bleed” was a surprise hit, a sensitive ballad about domestic abuse. It reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and showed a more emotional side of Cooper.
“Department of Youth” is a rebellious, glam-infused anthem with children’s choir backing vocals.
“Steven” is a chilling, theatrical centerpiece that explores madness, fantasy, and psychological horror.
“Cold Ethyl” is a macabre rocker about a man in love with a corpse—pure Alice Cooper shock rock.
Fun Facts & Trivia
Vincent Price Feature: Horror icon Vincent Price delivers the ominous monologue in “The Black Widow,” adding cinematic horror flair.
TV Special: Welcome to My Nightmare was also turned into a televised concert special featuring Cooper, Price, and full theatrical staging—one of the first of its kind.
New Band, New Sound: Cooper recruited Lou Reed’s backing band (including guitarists Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner) for a more polished, art-rock-influenced sound.
“Steven” Becomes Canon: The character Steven would return in future Alice Cooper albums, becoming a central figure in Cooper’s horror-rock mythology.
Stage Spectacle: The Welcome to My Nightmare tour was a massive production, considered the first full theatrical rock tour, complete with dancers, giant spiders, and elaborate set pieces.
Film Connection: The album is often cited as a rock opera and laid groundwork for later multimedia concepts like The Wall or Bat Out of Hell.
Legacy
Welcome to My Nightmare is not just a solo debut—it’s a milestone in rock theater. It elevated Alice Cooper from a bandfront man to a full-blown rock icon, embracing his horror-loving persona with open arms.
The album influenced generations of theatrical rockers and heavy metal bands, and it remains one of Cooper’s most beloved and best-selling releases, going Platinum in the U.S. and spawning a legacy of concept albums and horror-themed rock.
Keywords (Tags)
Alice Cooper Welcome to My Nightmare review, Only Women Bleed meaning, Vincent Price rock collaborations, Steven character Alice Cooper, 1975 rock concept albums, Bob Ezrin production, theatrical rock albums, shock rock history
