Goes To Hell Era

Background

Goes To Hell is the 9th 'Alice Cooper' studio album and was released in 1976. Following the success of Welcome To My Nightmare, it sees the return of Steven, who this time travels in his sleep to the fiery pits of hell. 

 

Included with the album is 'A Bedtime Story' from Alice to Steven, which reads as follows:

 

"Lay still, Steven, and I'll tell you a bedtime story. I'll tell you a bedtime story that's not for all children. It's a very special story, that only special children will understand. It's a half-awake story, and it will be better if you close your eyes. It's a story that takes place in a dream, like other nightmares you have known. It's a dream that Alice has dreamed. You can dream along with him. You can follow Alice down the staircase, deep, down the stairs to the pit where he doesn't want to go, but he has to.

 

If you go to sleep now, Steven, you can go down the long and endless staircase and sing sweet songs to Alice and free him. And if you can't get to sleep, Steven, and in the middle of night you get out of bed, when everything is quiet and the trees are still and the birds are hiding from the dark, you can lay down on your bedroom floor and press your ear tightly to the boards. If you listen very carefully you can hear Alice searching for a way out, forever chasing rainbows.

 

Sleep tight, Steven. And have a good night"

 
Despite the intriguing concept, it is not unkind to say that this album failed on pretty much every level to match its magnificent predecessor. Welcome To My Nightmare was always going to be a hard act to follow, but even considering this, Goes To Hell failed to come close due to notably weaker material and an ill-judged attempt to light-heartedly embrace the popular disco culture of the time that was sweeping the music industry (the idea being that disco was seen as 'hell' to Alice).
 
Nevertheless, there are still some great tracks on offer, such as Go To Hell, I Never Cry and Guilty, but these fail to carry much weaker material like You Gotta Dance, I'm The Coolest and Wish You Were Here, which were just too far removed for much of Alice's loyal fanbase.
 
The album's chances of success were also not helped by the alarming deterioration in Alice's health due to alcoholism, which contributed to the entire Alice Cooper Goes To Hell tour being cancelled. 
Goes To Hell Album Cover

Goes To Hell 12" Promotional Vinyl Album

1976, Warner Brothers, BS 2896

This USA 12" promotional copy of Goes To Hell comes in a simple card sleeve which, like Welcome To My Nightmare, is a significant departure from the majesty of the Alice Cooper Group releases. What makes matters worse is that the image of a green-faced Alice on the front is actually an edited version of one originally used on the inside sleeve of the Billion Dollar Babies album (i.e. where he is holding baby Lola). This is pretty criminal and indicates that Alice was already a non-priority artist for Warner Brothers, which seems odd given that this was his first solo album under their label (Welcome To My Nightmare being released by Atlantic in the USA). On the rear of the sleeve is a picture of Alice walking down a flight of stairs (also understood to be an edited stock image), plus track listings and credits.

 

The inner sleeve includes track listings, lyrics and credits and the 'Bedtime Story' from Alice to Steven.

 

As this is a promotional copy, it includes an additional pink Warner Brothers 'PROMOTIONAL COPY NOT FOR SALE' sticker on the front. The disc features Palm Tree Warner Brothers labels, which are identical to USA stock copies (i.e. the sticker on the front is the only way to differentiate promotional copies from stock copies).

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Goes To Hell 12" Vinyl Album

1988 (Approx), Warner Brothers, WB 56171

This European 12" vinyl re-issue of Goes To Hell is similar to the USA promotional copy (above) only that it features cream Warner Brothers labels, the bedtime story is printed in blue (rather than red) and there is no promotional sticker on the front of the sleeve.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Goes To Hell 12" Vinyl Album

2018, Rhino Entertainment, RCV1 2896

This 140 gram USA vinyl re-issue of Goes To Hell was limited to 4,000 copies and closely resembles the original release (above) with the notable exception that it features a striking opaque orange vinyl. It was released as part of the 2018 'Rocktober' event along with re-issues of Lace And Whiskey and From The Inside.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Goes To Hell 8-Track Album

1976, Warner Brothers, M8 2896

This USA 8-Track album features a black cartridge and includes the original album cover artwork and track listings on the front. The wrap-around sticker also provides the product code on the side.

 

One notable aspect of this release is that the track order is different to the usual arrangement, with the majority of them appearing out-of-place. Also, Didn't We Meet spans more than one of the 'programs' on the cartridge (meaning that it had interrupted playback as the reading head changed position). This illustrates the limitations of this music format. 

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Goes To Hell 8-Track Album

1976, Warner Brothers, K8.56171

This UK 8-Track album features a white cartridge and includes the original cover artwork and track listings on the front. The wrap-around sticker also provides the product code and album details on the side and further track listings and credits on the rear. This copy also includes a matching blue card sleeve.

 

The track listings are in the same reconfigured order as the USA 8-Track version (above).

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Goes To Hell 8-Track Cartridge

1976, Warner Brothers, 8TS-65-17

This sealed Portuguese 8-Track album features a white cartridge and includes the original cover artwork and track listings on the front. The wrap-around sticker also provides the product code and album details on the side and further track listings and credits on the rear.

 

Like the USA 8-Track version (above), the track listings are in a reconfigured order, but the order is different again. Also, Wake Me Gently is now the track to span more than one of the 'programs' on the cartridge.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Goes To Hell Cassette Album

1976, Warner Brothers, M5 2896

This USA cassette version of Goes To Hell features a simple single-sided J-card containing abridged artwork and track listings. Inside is a white tape providing additional track listings.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Goes To Hell Cassette Album

1976, Warner Brothers, M5 2896 C 114446

This USA cassette 'Club Edition' of Goes To Hell features a single-sided J-card containing abridged artwork and track listings. Inside is a white tape providing additional track listings.

 

As the name suggests, Club Editions were distributed through mail-order subscription clubs. In this case the club in question was the RCA Music Service with the packaging being unique to this particular edition.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Goes To Hell Cassette Album

1976, Warner Brothers, K.4.56171 

This UK cassette version of Goes To Hell features a simple J-card containing abridged artwork, track listings and credits. Inside is a black tape with stickers providing additional track listings.  

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Goes To Hell Cassette Album

1976, Warner Brothers, 456 171

 

This French 1st edition cassette version of Goes To Hell features a simple J-card containing abridged artwork and track listings. Inside is a white tape which provides additional track listings.

 

One notable aspect of this release is that the track order is different to the usual arrangement, with You Gotta Dance and Wish You Were Here appearing out-of-place compared to the original vinyl release (above). Additionally, Didn't We Meet is incorrectly spelt 'Dion't we meet' throughout.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Goes To Hell Cassette Album

1976, Warner Brothers, 456 171

 

This Portuguese 1st edition cassette version of Goes To Hell features a single-sided J-card containing abridged artwork and track listings. Inside is a white tape with orange stickers providing additional track listings.

 

As with the French cassette version (above) You Gotta Dance and Wish You Were Here appear out-of-place (albeit in a further variation) compared to the original vinyl release. 

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

NOTE: A further cassette copy of this album is featured in the Compilations section of this website.

Goes To Hell CD Album

Unknown Year, Warner Brothers, 2896-2

This USA CD album comes in a jewel case and features a 12-page booklet containing track listings, lyrics, credits and Alice's 'Bedtime Story' for Steven from the original vinyl release (above). There is also a useful 'Notes' page featuring a short history of Alice Cooper Group up to and including the Goes To Hell era.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Goes To Hell 'Mini LP' SHM CD Album

2011, Warner Brothers, WPCR-14307

In 2011, all the Alice Cooper albums from Pretties For You through to From The Inside were re-issued in Japan on 'Super High Material' (SHM) CD format. SHM CD's are, apparently, made of improved material, that provides a clearer medium for the reading of the data and so reduces read errors and thus can improve sound quality.

 

A notable feature of all the SHM releases is that they closely replicate the original packaging of the vinyl releases. In the case of Goes To Hell, this is a basic sleeve, so this is obviously reflected here. An additional black-and-white bilingual lyric booklet and external 'Obi Strip' are also provided (both of which are common features of Japanese music releases). 

 

What would have been really cool though is if they had made the CDs look more like miniature vinyl discs. What is offered is still more than satisfactory though and the SHM releases are definitely the quintessential Alice Cooper CD editions of all the available variants out there.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here 

NOTE: Further CD copies of this album are featured in the Compilations and The Studio Albums 1969-1983 sections of this website.

I Never Cry 7" Vinyl Single

1976, Warner Brothers, K16792

This UK 7" vinyl single features Palm Tree Warner Brothers labels, comes in a paper sleeve and includes I Never Cry on Side A and Go To Hell on Side B (both from the Goes To Hell album).  

 

The sleeve has the same image of Alice on the front that features on the front of the Goes To Hell album (above) and on the back are track listings and some promotional text for the album. Oddly, I Never Cry is not mentioned on the front of the sleeve, with just 'Goes To Hell' (i.e. the album name) stated instead.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

I Never Cry 7" Vinyl Single

1976, Warner Brothers, 16792

This French 7" vinyl single features Palm Tree Warner Brothers labels, comes in a card sleeve and includes I Never Cry on Side A and Go To Hell on Side B (both from the Goes To Hell album).  

 

The sleeve has the same image of Alice on the front that features on the front of the Goes To Hell album (above) and on the back is promotional material for other Alice Cooper releases.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Wish You Were Here / I Never Cry 7" Vinyl Single

1976, Warner Brothers, WB 16802

This German 7" vinyl single features Palm Tree Warner Brothers labels, comes in a paper sleeve and includes Wish You Were Here on Side A and I Never Cry on Side B (both from the Goes To Hell album). It's a bit of a mystery why I Never Cry was not selected as the lead track, but you will note from the Portuguese release (below) that this was not the only example of this happening.

 

The sleeve has the same image of Alice that features on the front of the Goes To Hell album (above) on both the front and back.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

I Never Cry 7" Vinyl Single

1976, Warner Brothers, N-S-63-107

This Portuguese 7" vinyl single features Palm Tree Warner Brothers labels, comes in a paper sleeve and includes Go To Hell on Side A and I Never Cry on Side B (both from the Goes To Hell album). As with the German release (above), it's a bit of a mystery why I Never Cry was not selected as the lead track, like most other countries.

 

The sleeve has an image of Alice performing live on the front and on the back are track listings and credits.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

I Never Cry 7" Vinyl Single

1976, Warner Brothers, 45-1393

This Spanish features Palm Tree Warner Brothers labels, comes in a paper sleeve and includes I Never Cry on Side A and Go To Hell on Side B (both from the Goes To Hell album).

 

The sleeve features an image of Alice in snake-eye makeup on the front (from the Welcome To My Nightmare era) and on the back are track listings, credits and promotional material for other Alice Cooper releases.

 

A detachable paper index tab is provided on the rear of the sleeve. Often found folded into the sleeve for protection when not used, these provided basic details of the release and were presumably there to help DJs easily locate them amongst other records. It's my understanding that these were only found in the French 7" of Under My Wheels and a few other early solo Spanish releases.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

I Never Cry 7" Vinyl Single

1976, Warner Brothers, P-46W

This Japanese 7" vinyl single features Palm Tree Warner Brothers labels, comes in a Warner Brothers paper sleeve complete with colour insert, and includes I Never Cry on Side A and Go To Hell on Side B (both from the Goes To Hell album).  

 

The insert features the same image as used on the rear of the Goes To Hell album sleeve but with additional Japanese hype text and track listings, lyrics and credits on the back.

 

A promotional copy of this release also exists, which is identical except that it features white vinyl labels instead.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

I Never Cry 7" Vinyl EP

1977, Warner Brothers, 96.011

This unique Brazilian 4-track 7" EP features Palm Tree Warner Brothers labels, comes in a card sleeve and includes I Never Cry and Didn't We Meet on Side A and Wake Me Gently and You Gotta Dance on Side B (all from the Goes To Hell album).

 

The sleeve has the same image of Alice that features on the front of the Goes To Hell album (above) on the front and on the back are track listings and credits.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

For the Lace And Whiskey era Click Here.