From the Inside (Alice Cooper album)

From the Inside is the fourth solo studio album by American heavy metal singer Alice Cooper, released on November 17, 1978 by Warner Bros. Records. It is a concept album about Cooper’s stay in a New York asylum due to his alcoholism. Each of the characters in the songs were based on actual people Cooper met in the asylum. Among other collaborators, the album features three longtime Elton John associates: lyricist Bernie Taupin, guitarist Davey Johnstone and bassist Dee Murray.

From the Inside
Studio album by
Alice Cooper
ReleasedNovember 17, 1978
Genre
Length39:08
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerDavid Foster
Alice Cooper chronology
The Alice Cooper Show
(1977)		 From the Inside
(1978)		 Flush the Fashion
(1980)
Singles from From the Inside
  1. "How You Gonna See Me Now"
    Released: October 1978[1]
  2. "From the Inside"
    Released: February 1979[2]

The lead single from the album was the power ballad "How You Gonna See Me Now", which peaked at No. 12 in the US Hot 100 chart. A music video was also created for it. The 'Madhouse Rocks Tour' in support of From the Inside lasted from February to April 1979 and saw all songs from the album as regular parts of the setlist except "Millie and Billie", "For Veronica’s Sake" and "Jackknife Johnny".[3] Since 1979, however, songs from From the Inside have rarely been performed live, with the only cases being "Serious" on the 2003 'Bare Bones' tour and his 2018 One Night with Alice Cooper tour.[4] "Wish I Were Born in Beverly Hills" on the 2005–2006 Dirty Diamonds Tour,[5] "Nurse Rozetta" on the 'Descent into Dragontown' and 'Theatre of Death' tours,[6] and "From the Inside" between 1997 and 1999 and on the late 2000s 'Theatre of Death' tour.[7]

The album was adapted into a comic book, Marvel Premiere #50.[8]

Artwork and packaging

The album cover is a centre parting gatefold with Alice Cooper's face on the front. It opens up into a triple page image of a lunatic asylum. In the top left corner is a door with a sign above that reads "the quiet room"; this is a hidden flap that opens to reveal Cooper, sitting in a padded cell with a straitjacket by his feet. On the inside of the flap there is a message that reads "Inmates! In memory of Moonie", a nod to Cooper's old drinking buddy Keith Moon, who was the drummer for rock band the Who. The picture of Cooper in the cell is printed on the inner sleeve along with the song lyrics. On the rear of the album is a picture of the back of an asylum building with the track listing on the double doors, which open to show all the inmates stampeding down the corridor, waving papers in the air stating their release. Both the images hidden by flaps were printed on the inner sleeve.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Rolling Stone(mixed)[10]

Tom Carson of Rolling Stone, while stating that "the songs are full of good ideas", held that the songwriters and performers approached the concept too seriously, and that the album should have been done in a parody vein. He also criticized that the session band are too talented and precise, arguing that audiences had become enamored of Alice Cooper as a musician who does not strive for competence, and they would not accept such a fundamental change to his sound.[10]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Alex Henderson found the album lacks the immediate appeal of Cooper's most popular albums, and at points "is too self-indulgent and intellectual for its own good, but at its best as on 'How You Gonna See Me Now', From the Inside is as riveting as it is inspiring."[9]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Alice Cooper and Bernie Taupin; all music is composed by Cooper and Dick Wagner, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."From the Inside"
3:55
2."Wish I Were Born in Beverly Hills" 3:38
3."The Quiet Room" 3:52
4."Nurse Rozetta"
4:15
5."Millie and Billie" (performed by Cooper and Marcy Levy)
4:15
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Serious"
  • Cooper
  • Taupin
  • Foster
  • Lukather
2:44
7."How You Gonna See Me Now" 3:57
8."For Veronica's Sake" 3:37
9."Jackknife Johnny" 3:45
10."Inmates (We’re All Crazy)" 5:03
Total length:39:08

This was one of three Alice Cooper albums to be reissued in 1990 by Metal Blade Records on CD and cassette. The other two were Muscle of Love and Lace and Whiskey.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the From the Inside liner notes.[11]

Charts

Album – Billboard (United States)

Year Chart Position
1979 Pop Albums 60

Singles – Billboard (United States)

Year Single Chart Position
1978 "How You Gonna See Me Now" Pop Singles 12
1979 "From The Inside" Pop Singles -

"How You Gonna See Me Now" was released as a single worldwide in late-1978 with a B-side titled "No Tricks", a non-album track featuring Betty Wright on co-vocals, which was later included in the 1999 box set The Life and Crimes of Alice Cooper. Some releases of the single incorrectly credited "No Tricks" as from the LP "From The Inside".

"From the Inside" was released as a single in the US in early-1979 as a remixed edited version, with "Nurse Rozetta" as its B-side. The remix is also included in The Life and Crimes of Alice Cooper.

References
  1. http://www.45cat.com/record/wbs8695
  2. http://www.45cat.com/record/wbs8760
  3. Alice Cooper setlists
  4. 'Serious' in setlists
  5. ‘Wish I Were Born in Beverly Hills’ in setlists
  6. 'Nurse Rozetta' in setlists
  7. ‘From the Inside’ in setlists
  8. Brennaman, Chris (April 2014). "Marvel Premiere". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (71): 30.
  9. Henderson, Alex. "From the Inside – Alice Cooper". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  10. Carson, Tom (February 8, 1979). "Alice Cooper From The Inside Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  11. From the Inside (CD booklet). Alice Cooper. Warner Bros. Records. 1978.CS1 maint: others (link)
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