Friday, January 2, 2009

Friday Flashback

I'm wondering how I went over 36 years without ever hearing this drop dead awesome live version of one of the greatest Rock 'n Roll songs ever. Strong words? Yes, but damn this song blows the doors off of basically everything new I've heard in a very, very long while. I think Alice Cooper's legacy in Rock has been lost through the decades, but his early stuff wasn't yet wrapped up in schlocky themes. It's just pure energy and cuts right to the marrow.

Alice has apparently had one too many in this old TV clip from 1972, and who cares if he forgets some of the words then ad libs towards the end, the band is clearly doing some serious jamming and that finale is worth waiting for.

This one needs to be cranked up. Let it build through to the end, and enjoy Eighteen by Alice Cooper.

Happy New Year, and have a Rockin' weekend.

~Sham, Quixotic Referee

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hell Yes! When Rock -n- Roll works, it doesn't matter if it's old or new or if you've heard it a million times before. It triggers a visceral reaction. You get the feeling these guys are dangerous and anything might happen, moments just occur naturally.

I think that's been Alices problem ever since about 1975. Everything since then has been way too planned out.

But even after 36 years we can all feel the immediacy of 1972 and Eighteen.