Alice Cooper ‎– Love It To Death

Note the time on label for most UK pressing has Black Juju as 3.01 when it’s actually 9.12. Note also that some copies in this sleeve do not have 'Made in UK' at 9 o'clock above 33 1/3 on the record inside.

Note that Black Juju has the wrong time - it should be 9.12 and not 3.01

I randomly found a copy of this in a goodwill, and the A side is "Love it To Death" but the B side label is "American Beauty" by the Grateful Dead? My apologies if this is a newb question but I thought it was random! any info?

This isn’t a UK 1st pressing; the first UK pressing was on pink Straight labels.

My copy is exactly the same, only "Face 1" and "Face 2" are mentioned as "Face A" and "Face B"

Played this record Halloween of 2020. Do yourself a favor and search for a earlier pressing. Myself and 2 friends were listening to it and halfway through Second Coming which is where I started it I told my friends this thing sucks. I know I had a better pressing. Went and got my 1971 copy which is around a VG+. Though it was nosier it sounded so much better, This one just sounded boomy with less definition and without dynamics.

Forsaking acid-rock and ill-defined Frank Zappa allusions, Alice Cooper's "Love It To Death" demonstrated teenage pop anthems in a Stooges-tinged garage rock context, a move which would lead them towards even darker musical territory. Cooper restrained the psychedelic leanings of the songwriting and instrumentation, simultaneously overhauling their aesthetic from experimental and unfocused to trashy, violent and theatrical. Once the avant-garde disposition had been swapped out for commercial inclinations at the behest of new producer Bob Ezrin, the band retreated into the background whilst Alice Cooper entered the spotlight, although this album, especially the cover art, neglected to acknowledge this alteration. It was this shift that would chime with Alice Cooper himself, whose tendency for expanding and experimenting with his stage persona and core sound was perhaps borne out of the making of this album. It is important to note though, that this album was a collaborative effort, with all members contributing to the songs herein, and it shows. "Love It To Death" is unlike the future Alice Cooper albums in that it lacks the aggressive execution, sleazy, glam overtones and intensely idiosyncratic bent of their forays into vaudeville by way of heavy metal. I would classify it as psychedelic pop with Detroit rock tendencies and minimal horror presentations within the lyrics; an Alice Cooper album in name only that was unjustly overlooked despite being the freaky frontman's first classic, it is a refreshingly melodic and, for the most part, sonically and lyrically tongue-in-cheek, tonally even affair. Cooper would improve further upon the myriad of themes explored throughout, and it is exciting to hear a band finding their direction just as they are on the cusp of achieving mainstream attention.

"Love It To Death" is recognised as the blueprint of the high-energy, strutting hard rock sound and angst-laden, oftentimes macabre concepts that they would revise and perfect on their fourth album. It would see them break into the international music mainstream, propelled by the success of the album's standout track and enduring classic "I'm Eighteen". The Alice Cooper Group as they were formerly known, were developing at a breakneck pace, amending crucial areas of their repertoire in a bid to gain public consciousness, but unfortunately for established fans of the entire line-up, only the lead singer would go on to become an unequivocal rock icon.

Rating: 4.5/5

I have a copy of WS 1883,Green label w/ straight WB to right of center hole, thumb has been airbrushed and it does have the box with I'm Eighteen on it. It has a run out of WS 1883 39778-1 and a very faint p. Does anyone have any info on this release?

I was a little disappointed that Chris Bellman not involved on this one like some of the other recent Rhino reissues but that disappointment didn’t last long once it was spinning. Sounds great and very dynamic. No pressing issues on mine either. Perfect.