THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

427-Alice Cooper-Teenage Lament ’74.

1973-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 2.42. ‘We’re not worthy, we’re not worthy.’

Alice Cooper, also known as the ‘Alice Cooper Band’ can trace their roots back to ‘Cortez High School,’ in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, where in 1964, 16 year old Vincent Furnier, and his school friends formed a band to enter a local annual ‘Letterman’s’ talent show which they subsequently won using the stage name ‘The Earwigs’ (a probable nod to the Beatles.) They soon renamed themselves ‘The Spiders,’ and recorded their first single ‘Why Don’t You Love Me’. By 1967 the band members had graduated from high school, and once again changed their stage name, this time to ‘Nazz,’ but after finding out that the artist Todd Rundgren (see also best songs 90 and 22) was already using that name for his backing band, they settled upon ‘Alice Cooper’ in 1968, Alice Cooper was a character in the 1960’s, and 1970’s American television series ‘Mayberry R.F.D.’ The band remained active until 1975, with the line up consisting of Vincent Furnier, (vocals, and harmonica) Glen Buxton, (1947-1997) (lead guitar) Michael Bruce, (rhythm guitar, and keyboards) Dennis Dunaway, (bass) and Neal Smith (drums.) Two additional members, Mick Mashbir, (guitar) and Bob Dolin, (keyboards) performed with the band in 1973-1974. When the Alice Cooper Band split in 1975 the lead singer Vincent Furnier legally changed his name to Alice Cooper, so that he could continue to perform with that stage name.

The discography of the Alice Cooper Band includes seven studio Albums released between 1969-1973, and 16 singles released between 1969-2016, there are also two official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. As ‘The Spiders’ they issued two singles, in 1965, and 1966, and as ‘Nazz,’ they issued one single in 1967. The Alice Cooper Band have had five top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, with ‘School’s Out’ peaking the highest at Number 7 in 1972, while ‘Teenage Lament ’74’ reached Number 48. In the UK, they have also had five top 40 hits, with ‘School’s Out’ making the Number 1 spot in 1972.

Alice Cooper was born Vincent Damon Furnier, on February 4th, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan, United States. As Alice Cooper he has gone on to have a very successful solo musical career, he has also acted in several films, and appeared on many television programmes. When a member of the ‘Alice Cooper Band’ he became famously known for his elaborate stage shows, and eccentric behaviour when performing. The music press dubbed this ‘Shock Rock,’ and Cooper is recognised as a major influence on future ‘Heavy Rock’ performers. Alice Cooper has said that it was seeing the English singer Arthur Brown performing ‘Fire,’ (1968-UK Number 1 & Billboard Number 2 single) that inspired his live stage shows, ‘Can you imagine the young Alice Cooper watching that with all his make-up and hellish performance? It was like all my Halloweens came at once!’ Cooper has also said, ‘British rock always was more theatrical than its U.S. counterpart. Often this involved destruction or macabre gimmickry, that’s why most people thought we were British at first.’ In 2005 Alice Cooper was asked how much longer he would go on performing, to which he answered, ‘I look at Mick Jagger, (see also best songs 933-662-452-160 and 77) and he’s on an 18-month tour, and he’s six years older than me, so I figure, when he retires, I have six more years. I will not let him beat me when it comes to longevity.’

As a solo artist, as ‘Alice Cooper,’ he has released 22 studio Albums between 1975-2023, and 48 singles within the same time period, there are also three extended plays, (EP’s) 19 official compilation Albums, and eight live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, six of his solo singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Poisen’ peaking the highest at Number 7 in 1989, while in the UK, he has charted within the top 40 on seven occasions, with ‘Poisen’ peaking the highest at Number 2.

‘Teenage Lament ’74’ was the first of two singles released from ‘Muscle of Love,’ the seventh and final studio Album by The ‘Alice Cooper Band,’ from November 1973, the song was co-written by Alice Cooper, and fellow group member Neal Smith, with the production being by Jack Douglas, and Jack Richardson (1929-2011.) ‘Teenage Lament ’74’ tells of a young boy working his way through adolescence, with all the usual trials and tribulations. He thinks that being 15 will be a breeze, but trying to impress his peers, and hearing his parents squabble is taking it’s toll. The song is also noteworthy for it’s female backing vocals, which include contributions from Liza Minnelli, (see also best songs 182) Ronnie Spector, (1943-2022) (see also best songs 127) Labelle, and The Pointer Sisters.

‘Well I cut my hair weird, I read that it was in. I looked like a rooster that was drowned and raised again.’