Easy Action
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
Easy Action is the second studio album by Alice Cooper, released by Straight Records in March 1970. The title comes from a line in the musical film West Side Story, which was one of the band's favorite films. As with Pretties For You, the band's debut from the previous year, Easy Action was neither a commercial nor critical success.
Drummer Neal Smith later said of the record producer David Briggs, "David hated our music and us. I recall the term that he used, referring to our music, was "Psychedelic Shit". I think Easy Action sounded too dry, more like a TV or radio commercial and he did not help with song arrangement or positive input in any way." [1]
A small number of early U.S. copies were pressed on the blue Bizarre Records label. These copies carry the same catalog number WS-1845 and album cover as the regular Straight Records release. Copies of this rare pressing have recently sold for more than $600 on e-Bay.
Track listing
All songs written by Alice Cooper, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith.
- "Mr. & Misdemeanor" – 3:05
- "Shoe Salesman" – 2:38
- "Still No Air" – 2:32
- "Below Your Means" – 6:41
- "Return of the Spiders" – 4:33
- "Laughing at Me" – 2:12
- "Refrigerator Heaven" – 1:54
- "Beautiful Flyaway" – 3:02
- "Lay Down and Die, Goodbye" – 7:36
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [3] |
| Rolling Stone | (unfavorable)[4] |
| Robert Christgau | C[5] |
Allmusic's Joe Viglione rated Easy Action three out of five stars. He explained that it "might be the perfect picture of an evolving Alice Cooper Group." He also stated that it "gives evidence that Cooper has more of a voice than he got credit for." He concluded by saying: "That this band could run the gamut from [Frank] Zappa to [David] Bowie, and perhaps inspired both, makes Easy Action a good study and entertaining record."[3] The staff of Rolling Stone found the album unfavorable. They stated that "there's nothing nearly that interesting" and that "the pretty stuff sounds like something Walt Disney had the good sense to leave in the can."[4] Robert Christgau, in The Village Voice, rated it a C, explaining that it has "its pseudo-decadent and -psychedelic charms, [...] only not as many". He also stated that it contains "tuneless singing, tuneless playing, tuneless tunes, and pseudo-musique concrete."[5]
Personnel
- Alice Cooper – vocals
- Glen Buxton – lead guitar
- Michael Bruce – rhythm guitar, piano, lead vocals on "Below Your Means" and "Beautiful Flyaway"
- Dennis Dunaway – bass guitar
- Neal Smith – drums
- David Briggs – piano on "Shoe Salesman"
External links
- Easy Action ⚠ "
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References
- ^ "March Delights from Warner/Reprise Records (Advertisement)". Rolling Stone (55). Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.: 27 April 2, 1970.
- ^ Peter Buckley, The Rough Guide to Rock, Rough Guides, 2003, p.224 ISBN 1-84353-105-4
- ^ a b Viglione, Joe. Easy Action - Alice Cooper at AllMusic. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
- ^ a b Rolling Stone staff (April 16, 1970). "Easy Action by Alice Cooper". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved July 06, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Reviews: Alice Cooper". The Village Voice. Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved July 06, 2011.
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