Compilations 2

Poison CD Album

2003, Sony Music Media, 5113052

 

This European compilation CD features two discs and includes tracks from the Sony catalogue of Alice Cooper albums Trash (seven tracks), Hey Stoopid (seven tracks) and The Last Temptation (seven tracks). Rather than listing the tracks that are included, it's easier to simply state the ones that DO NOT feature. These are Spark In The Dark, This Maniac's In Love With You and Trash (Trash), Snakebite, Little By Little, Die For You, Dirty Dreams and Wind-Up Toy (Hey Stoopid) and Why Trust You and This Maniac's In Love With You (Trash) and Nothing's Free, Bad Place Alone, You're My Temptation and Unholy War (The Last Temptation).

 

Also included are three tracks from Sony's live catalogue (School's Out, Billion Dollar Babies and No More Mr Nice Guy), which means they are sourced from previously released recordings from either the Cincinnati Gardens (1987), Trashes The World at Birmingham NEC (1989) or Electric Lady Studios (1991) shows. Finally, the cover of Jimmy Hendrix's Fire from the Hey Stoopid era is also included.

 

The packaging features photos from the Brutal Planet tour, which is rather odd seeing as no material from that era are present here.

 

Inside is a rather disappointing folded paper inlay, which contains only track listings and credits. Also, Fire is described as "previously unreleased" but that isn't true as it had turned up several times before (most notably as a B Side to the Hey Stoopid era single Love's A Loaded Gun).

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Legends CD Album

2005, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, 82876709092

 

This European compilation CD set features three separate jewel cases housed in a slipcase. The first two discs contain material from the Trash (i.e. Poison, Spark In The Dark, House Of Fire, Only My Heart Talkin', Bed Of Nails and Hell Is Living Without You), Hey Stoopid (the entire album except Dirty Dreams) and The Last Temptation (i.e. Sideshow, Lost In America, You're My Temptation, Stolen Prayer, It's Me and Cleaned By Fire) albums. 

The cover of Jimmy Hendrix's Fire from the Hey Stoopid era is also included.

 

The third disc features tracks from Sony's live catalogue, which means they are sourced from previously released recordings from either the Cincinnati Gardens (1987), Trashes The World at Birmingham NEC (1989) or Electric Lady Studios (1991) shows.

 

The most notable aspects of this release are the reference to Bed Of Nails Of Nails being a 'Clean Version' and the inclusion of the live version of Spark In The Dark (from Birmingham NEC), which had not previously been released on any official CD. However, Bed Of Nails doesn't appear to be any different to the album version (with Alice still promising to "drive you like a hammer on a bed of nails") plus Spark In The Dark (and Poison) do not seem to play at the right speed, with them sounding faster than expected.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Best Of Alice Cooper (Spark In The Dark) CD Album​

2009, Sony Music, 88697536532

 

Not to be confused with either The Best Of Alice Cooper (the other one) or The Beast Of Alice Cooper (both featured earlier), this two-disc compilation by Sony Music features a whopping 29 tracks from the Trash, Hey Stoopid and The Last Temptation albums in a mixed order. Rather than listing the tracks that are included, it's easier to simply state the ones that DO NOT feature. These are Why Trust You and This Maniac's In Love With You (Trash) and Lullaby (The Last Temptation).

 

Also provided are three live songs, No More Mr Nice Guy, Billion Dollar Babies and School's Out, which means they are sourced from previously released recordings from either the Cincinnati Gardens (1987), Trashes The World at Birmingham NEC (1989) or Electric Lady Studios (1991) shows.

 

Other than this, all you have is a simple booklet featuring a very short biography by author and journalist Patrick Humphries together with a very images of Alice (one of which acts as the front cover of the album). 

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Original Album Classics CD Album

2011, Sony, 86979 44462

 

This European three-disc CD compilation set contains the trio of solo Alice albums released under the Sony label (i.e. Trash, Hey Stoopid and The Last Temptation). For about £10 all you get are the CD's in simple card sleeves, which are housed in a slipcase, but you can't really complain for the price, making this an ideal introduction to some of Alice's most popular solo work.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Three Temptations From Alice CD Album

2021, Floating World Records, FLOATD6415

 

This UK two-disc CD compilation set again contains the trio of solo Alice albums released under the Sony label (i.e. Trash, Hey Stoopid and The Last Temptation). Included is a 12-page booklet featuring a short biography, background information on the three presented albums, original album artwork, track listings and credits. Again, this is good introduction to some of Alice's most popular solo work with the only downside being that Hey Stoopid is spread over both discs, meaning that playback is interrupted.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Brutal Planet and Dragontown CD Album

2007, Snapper Music, SMDCD584

 

This European compilation CD includes the full Brutal Planet and Dragontown albums (minus any bonus material) on two separate discs, housed in a clear jewel case. The bespoke blue and purple themed artwork includes a few images derived from the original Dragontown album.    

 

The eight-page booklet contains track listings and an interesting, albeit not entirely accurate, biography of Alice by music journalist Tim Jones.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Wicked Young Man CD Album

2007, Weton-Wesgram, BB2218

 

This further European compilation CD of Brutal Planet and Dragontownagain includes the full albums (minus any bonus material) on two separate discs, housed in a double jewel case complete with slipcase.

 

Gone is the nice original artwork from these albums, which are replaced by a black-and-white theme together with a picture of a snake on the front. No booklets of any kind are provided, making this a very simple product.  

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

2 Originals CD Album

2008, Eagle Rock Entertainment, EDGCD381

 

This further European compilation CD originally retailed for about £5 and includes the full Brutal Planet and Dragontown albums (minus any bonus material) on two separate discs, housed in a clear jewel case. A simple paper inlay is provided, containing track listings and credits for both albums plus an image of Alice from the original Brutal Planet album booklet.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Armoury Classics CD Album​

2013, Armoury Records, ADMCD554

 

This further European compilation CD of Brutal Planet and Dragontown again includes the full albums (minus any bonus material) on two separate discs, housed in a clear jewel case. This is better than the previous release by Eagle Rock Entertainment (above), with presentation more in keeping with the original releases plus the addition of a slipcase.  

 

The 18-page booklet contains abridged material from the original album releases and includes track listings, lyrics and credits. Oddly, each album is oriented a different way, which means that the cover of Dragontown is upside down inside the case and that the images where the two booklets meet in the centre are also displayed in opposite directions.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

2 Originals CD Album

2008, Eagle Rock Entertainment, EDGCD382

 

This European compilation CD originally retailed for about £5 and features the full Dirty Diamonds (including Stand) and The Eyes Of Alice Cooperalbums on two separate discs, housed in a clear jewel case. A simple paper inlay is provided, containing track listings and credits for both albums plus an image of Alice from the original Dirty Diamonds album booklet.

 

If we're going to picky then the albums aren't presented in the right chronological order, as The Eyes Of Alice Cooper was released in 2003 and Dirty Diamonds in 2005.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Eyes Of Alice Cooper and Dirty Diamonds CD Album

2014, Armoury Records, ADMCD555

 

This further European compilation CD of The Eyes Of Alice Cooper and Dirty Diamonds again features the full albums (including Stand) on two separate discs, housed in a clear jewel case. This is better than the previous release by Eagle Rock Entertainment (above), with presentation more in keeping with the original releases plus the addition of a slipcase.  

 

The 18-page booklet contains abridged material from the original album releases and includes track listings, lyrics and credits. Oddly, each album is oriented a different way, which means that the cover of Dirty Diamonds is upside down inside the case and that the images where the two booklets meet in the centre are also displayed in opposite directions.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

For The Life And Crimes Of Alice Cooper box set Click Here.