The Last Temptation Era

Background

The Last Temptation is the 20th 'Alice Cooper' studio album and was released in 1994. With the music landscape having shifted since Hey Stoopid to embrace the wildly popular grunge scene, Alice wisely changed direction, stepping away from hair metal and embracing a more refined mixture of garage rock with a modern twist. This was aided by working with Chris Cornell (of Soundgarden), who was a key figure in grunge at the time and helped keep Alice in the minds of the record buying public.   

 

The new album also saw Alice deliver his strongest overarching concept since Welcome To My Nightmare, with him telling the story of a boy (Steven) and his battle against the temptations of a supernatural 'Showman'. This concept was superbly enhanced through the parallel release of a three-part comic book series, which helped capture the imagination of the reader. Is the Steven in question the same boy who appears in Welcome To My Nightmare and at the very end of Hey Stoopid? I assume so!

 

Sideshow sets the stage as Steven outlines his dull life and a thirst for excitement. Nothing's Free sees Alice (A.K.A. The Showman) at his sinister best as he attempts to persuade Steven to join his 'production'.

 

Lost In America, the lead single from the album is a straight up garage rocker about the vicious circle that is often American life. Sonically, it is a somewhat similar detour to this album as Department Of Youth was to Welcome To My Nightmare, although you could argue that the lyrics are still relevant (i.e. they illustrate Steven's personal frustrations).

 

Returning to the concept, Bad Place Alone and You're My Temptation have ghoulish undertones, but it's the serene beauty of Stolen Prayer that really chills the bones when listening in dark surroundings. The intense, Cornell-inspired, Unholy War propels Alice into bold and aggressive new territory that is tailor-made for him. Lullaby sees a war of words between Steven and The Showman as the former battles his newly-found demon. It's Me, the customary ballad, is a classy affair with the chameleon-like lyrics and delivery that only Alice does better than anyone. The epic Cleansed By Fire captures the chaotic ending of the relationship between Steven and The Showman, who descends back to the fire pits of hell (at least for now).

 

There is no doubting that The Last Temptation is up there with the very best work of Alice's career. But the real beauty here is that the overall experience (the music, the concept, the comics) is even better than sum of its parts.

 

The Last Temptation was Alice's third and final album with Epic Records, with all future releases made under lesser-known emerging labels.

The Last Temptation Album Cover

The Last Temptation Promotional Cassette Album

1994, Epic, ET 52771

To the best of my knowledge, no promotional CD or vinyl copies of The Last Temptation were produced. However, two different USA cassette versions were distributed, which were principally identified by having either a white or red 'J Card' insert. This copy is the white variant and includes track listings on both the cassette and J Card, the former of which states 'For Promotional Use Only - Not For Sale' on either side.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Last Temptation Promotional Cassette Album

1994, Epic, ET 52771

This is the alternative USA promotional cassette with the red J-Card. In addition to being a different colour, it is also reconfigured, with the track listings now promoted to the front and an additional 'For Promotional Use Only - Not For Sale' notice on the rear. The cassette is exactly the same as the white version though. Why were 2 versions produced? I have no idea!

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Last Temptation 12" Vinyl Album

1994, Epic, 4765941

This European 'Special Limited Edition' 1st pressing of The Last Temptation, the last Alice Cooper release under the Epic label, features a simple card sleeve design, complete with hype sticker, and includes a dust sleeve featuring track listings, lyrics and credits. Also provided is Book I of The Last Temptation comic book series (the album cover version).

 

Both the front cover and comic book feature the same striking artwork by English artist Dave McKean, with an image of Alice surrounded by fire and mysterious looking characters.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Last Temptation 12" Vinyl Album

2016, Friday Music, FRM 52771

This USA 180 gram vinyl limited edition re-issue of The Last Temptation features a gatefold design. Inside are track listings, lyrics and credits with the nice translucent blue disc housed in a clear dust sleeve.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Last Temptation 12" Vinyl Album

2018, Music On Vinyl, MOVLP1846

This further vinyl re-issue of The Last Temptation comes in a simple card sleeve. Inside is an insert featuring track listings, lyrics and credits on one side and an extract from The Last Temptation comics on the other.  

 

The disc is a nice partially translucent orange marble effect, so it looks quite similar to that used on some of the colour vinyl releases of Dragontown.

 

It is limited to 2,000 individually stamped copies (of which mine is #0,264) as indicated by the gold hype sticker on the front. The unique number is stamped on the rear of the sleeve.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Last Temptation Cassette Album

1994, Epic, ET 52771

This USA 'Special Package' version of The Last Temptation on cassette comes in a shrink-wrapped plastic tray, complete with hype sticker, and includes the album and Book I of The Last Temptation comic book series (the album cover version). An identical CD version was also produced.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Last Temptation Cassette Album

1994, Epic, 4765944

This European cassette version of The Last Temptation features similar, abridged, artwork to the vinyl version (above).

 

A 'Special Limited Edition' cassette version was also produced, which was the same as the CD version (below) but contained this cassette instead.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Last Temptation CD Album

1994, Epic, 4765942

This UK 'Special Limited Edition' version of The Last Temptation on CD comes in a plastic wallet, complete with hype sticker, and includes the album in a jewel case and Book I of The Last Temptation comic book series (the album cover version).  

 

The CD includes a fold-out leaflet that features extracts from the comic book, track lyrics, credits and a few images of Alice.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Last Temptation CD Album Box Set

1994, Epic ECSA, 5969~60

This excellent Japanese box set features the album, Book I of The Last Temptation comic book series (the album cover version) and an additional Live At Electric Lady CD, all of which are housed inside a nice box. The live CD (recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York on 13th September 1991) features 7 songs, the most interesting of which is a medley of Only Women Bleed and Wind Up Toy (the latter of which is not available anywhere else as a live track). 

 

It's a shame this wasn't released in other countries as it's a really nice item and worth hunting out for your collection.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Last Temptation CD Box Set

1994, Epic, ESCA 5989-90

This further Japanese release is a simplified version of the above set and features a double jewel case. Included are The Last Temptation and Live At Electric Lady CD's but no comic book. The booklets are exactly the same.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Last Temptation CD Album

2014, Cherry Red Records, HNECD034

This European '20th Anniversary Edition' CD re-issue of The Last Temptation by Cherry Red Records doesn't provide listeners with any additional tracks (unlike their previous releases of Trash and Hey Stoopid). You do, however, get a nice 'Digifile' sleeve featuring images from the time of release and a booklet that provides an interesting insight into the album by journalist Malcolm Dome. Within the booklet, Alice is quoted as saying:

 

"I've noticed that a lot of bands are doing the whole of one classic album during their live performances. And if someone asked me, then I'd love to do The Last Temptation in sequence. What I'd do is open the set with a few hits, then play the entire album, before finishing with a few more hits. It's something I've not thought about doing until now, but you know what, I'd love to do that!"

 

We can but hope!

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Last Temptation CD Album

2021, Bad Reputation, BAD211001

This French CD re-issue of The Last Temptation by Bad Reputation comes in a 'Digpak' sleeve featuring reconfigured artwork from the original release. An affixed booklet is also provided, which contains track listings, lyrics and credits plus images from The Last Temptation comic books. An image of Chris Cornell is also provided with a note stating that the re-issue is dedicated to him. The CD also provides an image from the comic books.

 

The most interesting aspect of this release is that it includes four bonus tracks. Sadly, any excitement is ill-placed as these are previously available live tracks recorded in Birmingham, UK in 1989 (i.e. No More Mr Nice Guy, Ballad Of Dwight Fry and Welcome To My Nightmare, which appeared in the Alice Cooper Trashes The World release) and Cincinnati Gardens, Ohio in 1987 (i.e. Cold Ethyl, which appeared as B sides on various Trash era singles). This is, therefore, a somewhat unessential release.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

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

The Last Temptation MiniDisc Album

1997 (Approx), Epic, EPC 4765948

Along with Hey Stoopid, The Last Temptation was the only other Alice Cooper studio album to be released in Europe on Sony's ill-fated MiniDisc format (the Classicks compilation album was also released). As with Hey Stoopid, this features a slightly simplified version of the CD booklet plus the album artwork on the disc.  

 

No MiniDisc versions of this album came with the comic book as it was produced several years after its initial release date.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Unholy War Promotional CD Single

1994, Epic, ESK 5995

 

This USA promotional one-track CD comes in a jewel case with a simple paper inlay. The sticker on the front promotes that fact that Chris Cornell (from Soundgarden) features in the song.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Lost In America 12" Promotional Vinyl Single

1994, Epic, XPR 2048

 

This UK 12" promotional vinyl single features orange Epic labels, comes in a generic card sleeve (with cut-out label hole), and includes Lost In America (from The Last Temptation album) and a live version of Hey Stoopid on Side A and further live versions of Billion Dollar Babies and No More Mr Nice Guy on Side B (all three live tracks were recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York on 13th September 1991).

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Lost In America 12" Vinyl Single

1994, Epic, 6603476

 

This UK 12" picture vinyl single features the same tracks as the promotional copy (above). A double-sided inlay contains lyrics to Lost In America, track listings and credits.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Lost In America Cassette Single

1994, Epic, 6603474

 

This UK cassette single features similar artwork to the vinyl version (above) but only includes Lost In America and the live version of Hey Stoopid (which are repeated on both sides of the cassette). Inside is a clear cassette.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Lost In America Promotional CD Single

1994, Epic, ESK 6045

 

This USA one-track promotional CD comes in a jewel case without inlays and includes only the album version of Lost In America (from The Last Temptation album).

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Lost In America Promotional CD Single

1994, Epic, 660377 2

 

This Australian promotional CD comes in a simple card sleeve and includes Lost In America (from The Last Temptation album) and live versions of Poison, Billion Dollar Babies and Only Women Bleed (recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York on 13th September 1991). Oddly, Billion Dollar Babies has "(Live)" written next to it, whereas the other two live tracks do not (despite the fact that they also are).

 

On the rear of the sleeve are track listings and credits. Also provided is a gold 'PROMOTION ONLY NOT FOR SALE' stamp.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Lost In America CD Single

1994, Epic, 6603472

 

This UK CD single comes in a slimline jewel case, features a half width inlay with picture disc and includes Lost In America (from The Last Temptation album) and live versions of Hey Stoopid, Billion Dollar Babies and No More Mr Nice Guy (recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York on 13th September 1991).

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Lost In America CD Single

1994, Epic, 6603472

 

This European CD single comes in a slimline jewel case and includes the same product code and tracks as the UK version (above). However, this version does not include a picture CD and instead features more traditional packaging.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Lost In America CD Single

1994, Epic, 6603471

 

This further European CD single comes in a card sleeve and includes Lost In America (from The Last Temptation album) and a live version of Hey Stoopid (recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York on 13th September 1991).

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

It's Me 12" Vinyl Single

1994, Epic, 6605636

 

This European 12" picture disc, limited to 5,000 individually numbered copies (of which mine is #2,172), features a superb drawing of Alice and includes It's Me and Bad Place Alone (both from The Last Temptation album) on Side A plus live versions of Poison and Sick Things on Side B (recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York on 13th September 1991). An inlay contains lyrics for It's Me, track listings and credits.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

It's Me 12" Vinyl Single

1994, Epic, 6605636

 

This further copy of the It's Me European 12" picture disc is exactly the same as the above version only that it does not feature a number stamp. I can only assume that it is either a test pressing, promotional, or spare copy that did not find its way to retailers. 

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

It's Me Cassette Single

1994, Epic, 660563 4

 

This UK cassette single features abridged artwork compared to the vinyl version (above) and only includes It's Me and Bad Place Alone (which are repeated on both sides of the cassette). Inside is a clear cassette. 

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

It's Me Promotional CD Single

1994, Epic, XPCD 455

 

This European one-track promotional CD single comes in a slimline jewel case and includes only the album version of It's Me (from The Last Temptation album).

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

It's Me Promotional CD Single

1994, Epic, 660509 1

 

This Australian promotional CD comes in a simple card sleeve and includes It's Me and Bad Place Alone (both from The Last Temptation album).

 

On the rear of the sleeve are track listings, credits and promotional material for the The Last Temptation Album. Also provided is a gold 'PROMOTION ONLY NOT FOR SALE' stamp.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

It's Me CD Single

1994, Epic, 6605632

 

This European CD single comes in a slimline jewel case and includes It's Me and Bad Place Alone (both from The Last Temptation album) plus live versions of Poison and Sick Things (recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York on 13th September 1991).

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

It's Me CD Single

1994, Epic, 6605635

 

This further European CD single comes in a slimline jewel case and includes the same content as the above version only that Bad Place Alone is omitted. The CD is also silver instead of black.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

For the The Last Temptation comics Click Here.

For the Brutal Planet era Click Here.