Dirty Diamonds

by Alice Cooper

Overview

When the big fat advances from big fat record companies dried up, Alice Cooper pared down his sound and came to terms with his inner garage on the nearly overdubless The Eyes of Alice Cooper. The album was worthy redemption from the big-money blandness of his mid-'80s recordings and a nice return to form after flirting with the industrial-flavored metal that defined his late-'90s material. Dirty Diamonds stays the course, and while it's not Killer or Love It to Death, it at least sounds like it's from the guy who was responsible for those classics. Fortunately, Alice is well aware of his age, and without teen angst as his focus, he turns to hedonism, sexy women, and sly, sicko humor played bar band style by one of the tightest crews he's ever fronted. Delivered in an exaggerated Johnny Cash style, "I'm in jail in a Texas town/In my sister's wedding gown" opens the bizarre "The Saga of Jesse Jane," a tale of a trucker who drives his rig all night listening to Judy Garland. It's inspired, as is the cover of the Left Banke's "Pretty Ballerina" (harpsichord, flute, and all), the reckless party tune "Steal That Car," and the slinking "Six Hours," which smells a lot like Cooper during his Bob Ezrin heyday until the dramatic bridge comes along and makes the likeness uncanny. The album is filled with surprises, but recalling his Flush the Fashion era with the robotic snarl on "Your Own Worst Enemy" takes the cake for Cooper fanatics. The catchy "Perfect" is a worthy single and the filler is clearly marked "bonus track." Ending the album with the Southern-fried, horror show "Zombie Dance" would have made more sense, since "Stand" with rapper Xzibit -- lifted from Unity: The Official Athens 2004 Olympic Games Album -- is silly and forced. Those are traits the rest of this fine album avoids like they were poison, or for that matter, "Poison." ~ David Jeffries

Product Details

Release Date:	11/08/2019
Label:	New West
UPC:	0607396535514
Rank:	64303

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Alice Cooper   Primary Artist,Vocals,Harmonica
Chuck Garric   Guitar (Bass),Bass,Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Damon Johnson   Guitar (Bass),Bass,Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Xzibit   Featured Artist
Tony Gilkyson   Guitar (Electric)
Steve Lindsey   Organ,Piano,Guitar,Shaker,Keyboards,Moog Bass,Tambourine,String Ensemble,Moog Synthesizer
Edna Wright   Vocals (Background)
Lyle Workman   Guitar
John "4 Daddman" Robinson   Drums
Mark Hollingsworth   Flute,Saxophone
Mark Hudson   Vocals (Background)
Lenny Castro   Percussion,Tambourine
Peggi Blu   Vocals (Background)
Ryan Roxie   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Bridget Benenate   Vocals (Background)
Mike Elizondo   Bass,Guitar
Daniel Lenz   Synthesizer
Mark Lennon   Vocals (Background)
Jim Cox   Keyboards
Rick Boston   Bass,Guitar,Soloist,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (12 String)
Dinah Englund   Vocals (Background)
Tommy Cufetos   Drums,Vocals (Background)
Chris Tedesco   Trumpet
Teddy Andreadis   Organ,Piano

Technical Credits

Adam Hawkins   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Gabe Veltri   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Steve N' Rick   Audio Production
Alice Cooper   Composer,Group Member
Steve Lindsey   Producer,Horn Arrangements
Benji Hughes   Composer
Gavin Lurssen   Mastering
Mark Hudson   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Ryan Roxie   Composer,Group Member
Chuck Garric   Composer,Group Member
Bridget Benenate   Composer
Mike Elizondo   Composer
Damon Johnson   Composer,Group Member
Brian Nelson   Assistant
Dave Way   Mixing
Daniel Lenz   Loop
Xzibit   Composer
Rick Boston   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Horn Arrangements
Shep Gordon   Management
Anthony Lee   Assistant Engineer
Mando Gonzales   Photography
Toby B. Mamis   Management
Curtis Evans   Logo,Logo Design
Katrina Plam   Project Coordinator
Daniel Lee   Assistant Engineer
Tyler Hewitt   Assistant Engineer
Katherine Delaney   Design,Art Direction
Tommy Cufetos   Group Member