Creepy, yes, but it's all in good fun. How else can you explain how I was first introduced to this album? That's right, I saw Alice Cooper sing "Welcome to my Nightmare" on the Muppet Show, and was hooked right there. When you listen to the album, don't take it too seriously. (Did ANYONE really believe anyone in Kiss was from outer space or that AC/DC was made up of Statan worshipers?) While you're at it, imagine how much more fun it might be in concert. Ah, the '70s!


Alice Goes Solo   December 12, 2006
Steven Sly (Kalamazoo, MI United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

A new era starts for Alice. Gone is the original band as Alice goes solo teaming up once again with producer Bob Ezrin and new co-writer guitarist Dick Wagner to create Alice's vision of grand rock theater. "Nightmare" is considered a classic by most Cooper fans and indeed it is a great album albeit different from what his fans at the time might have been used to. The album is a concept piece revolving around the main character "Steven" (who is really Alice) sleeping through a nightmare...........or is it real? This album was conceived and written for the stage as Alice took a full theatrical production of this work on the road. Part rock, theater, Broadway, ballads, and even jazzy at times "Nightmare" covers a lot of ground. Several huge hits came from this album and they are all good ones. The title track with its horn section blaring out the main theme is very different from anything The Alice Cooper Band ever did. "Only Women Bleed" was Alice's first hit ballad. "Department Of Youth" was another big one that although a great song, does not really fit in the context of the album concept. The album tracks are mostly strong as well with "Devils Food / The Black Widow" still playing a part in Alice's set today. Vincent Price's creepy narration during "Black Widow" is a bit corny, but I get the feeling that is the way Alice wanted it to be. "Cold Ethyl" is similar to "I Love The Dead" from the previous album, only this one is totally done as a black comedy. The album closes with four songs that run together "Years Ago", "Steven", "The Awakening" , and "Escape" telling the story of Steven (Alice) and some of his mental.......lets say issues. The Steven character would show up on several later Cooper albums as well. For fans of progressive rock Tony Levin (King Crimson, ABWH, Peter Gabriel) played bass on this one. Although this album was a big departure from the original band's material it stands on it's own as a great piece of work.


Been listening to this for 30 years and I'll listen for another 30...!!!   July 31, 2006
John H. Rasmussen II (Middletown, PA United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Unquestionably one of the albums nearest-and-dearest to my heart, it can instantly transport me through time and I'm a teenager again....which isn't to say I want to live in the past (heck, I LIKE being middle-aged!) but it's a declaration of the sheer power of this album. Alice's greatest album, bar none....and that's saying alot.

This is one of those few-and-far-between albums that you have to commit yourself to when you fire up the stereo to listen to it: it just feels WRONG to interrupt it for any reason. (The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", "Imperial Bedroom" by Elvis Costello and "Ritual De Lo Habitual" by Jane's Addiction are others that fall into this category.) Every song is of the highest quality; there are no dips in quality in the entirety of this exquisitely well-written and performed drama. The Bob Ezrin production is superb, bringing Alice's vision to vivid, haunting life. The band is in total synch and at the top of their game. Alice growls, pleads, shrieks, mocks, whispers and raves with equal, mesmerizing effect, like a character actor running wild with the juiciest role of his career.

If someone told me I could only have 60 minutes of recorded music, the closing sequence of "Years Ago" > "Steven" > "The Awakening" > "Escape" just might make the cut. Alice Cooper at the peak of his powers, this amazing sequence can still produce goosebumps on my arms. The nightmare-carnival of "Years Ago", the glorious, powerhouse orchestration of "Steven", the creepy, childlike tinkling piano which introduces "The Awakening".....WOW, what a show! When the opening chords of "Escape" come bounding out of my speakers, I'm instantly on my feet singing along in delirious rapture. (This album has the very same effect on my older sister Cindy. Put it on and you won't find two happier people anywhere!)

"Welcome To My Nightmare" is indeed the stuff of legend and hopefully will be listened to for many generations to come!



"If I could only have one CD for the rest of my life..."   September 23, 1999
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

...then yes, this would be it. I have owned it for over 10 years, and could never ever get sick of this album.

WELCOME TO THIS NIGHTMARE! This is a total masterpiece- I don't know how else to put it. This one CD will get your feet tapping and head nodding, it will make to laugh, it will make you think, it will scare the ever living crap out of you, and it will bring you back to reality. This is the album to which I've introduced many to Alice Cooper, and almost all of them later became big Alice fans.

The album appropriately starts off with "Welcome to my Nightmare". "Devil's Food/Black Widow" includes a haunting dialoge by Vincent Price (which years later inspired Micheal Jackson to use Price on his song "Thriller"). "Some Folks" blends finger-snapping swing and twistedness in a way only Alice could pull off. Next is the hit ballad "Only Women Bleed". The album continues with the bratty-sounding "Department of Youth" and black-humorous, guitar-driven, ode to necrophelia "Cold Ethyl". Next comes the dark depths of the nightmare, the haunting song trio "Years Ago", "Steven" and "The Awakening", which to this day still literally send shivers down my spine. But the up-beat hard rock of "Escape" closes the album and brings you out of the Nightmare and back into the real world.

For me, Welcome To My Nightmare is more than just an album. It's a whole experience, and nothing short of genius. I've also heard it particularly recommended by a number of big name musicians like Marilyn Manson and Slash.


BY FAR ALICE'S BEST SOLO ALBUM   October 24, 2004
Chris Walczak (Shamokin , PA USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Being an Alice Cooper fan I have EVERY album including the imports the man has ever put out. And up until Recently Love it to Death was by far my favorite. And as for the Alice Cooper Group Love it to Death still is my favorite. But Welcome to my Nightmare was and still is Alice's BEST solo Album, if you have the chance buy this album but also purchase the Welcome To My Nightmare DVD , the concert is by far one of the best I have ever seen, live or on DVD. I saw Alice in concert Sept of 2004 and he is still the best I have ever seen, even with age knocking at his back door, he still seems to have the stage magic we all learned to love with Alice. This album not only rocks, but tells a twisted story, which helps tie all tracks together and make it a gem to any collection. No matter what you pay , you will see that your money is well spent. Even if you arent an Alice fan , if you have blood in your veins and have a pulse you will enjoy the music and creativity of this album. A Halloween must , but dont mothball it for the rest of the year, because once you listen to it , it will be stuck in your head, and you will want to hear it again and again , top hats off to Mr. Cooper on this amazing album.