Alice Cooper - School's Out - Expanded Version

Again, this is a record that I owned in vinyl version since its release and CD version for decades, but had to pick up this extended release for the live show and studio outtakes. And again, CD 1 is the original album remastered and it sounds great, although I couldn't give you any real examples of any audio differences between this and the original album. Great record, of course, but it's the second CD that is the selling point.

This recording is taken from a show in Miami on May 27, 1972, just a month and a half after the show that appears on the Killer expanded version and so the set list is almost a duplicate, with a couple of songs moved around and the addition of "School's Out" (officially, this time, instead of just an instrumental jam, as on the earlier set). It's still super, naturally, and there are some variations here'n'there, and it is neat to hear how they changed things live, but it is too bad that it isn't a later set with more tunes from School's Out added.

That said, they again open with a wash of feedback, power chords, snappy drums and looping bass lines that kick into an edgy "Be My Lover", then more heavy chords, great lead work and some twin guitar attack for "You Drive Me Nervous" that segues immediately into the great "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" which gives Alice a chance to show off his considerable harmonica skills. They take a breather before Michael starts off their mega-hit "I'm Eighteen" with some mournful organ, which builds as Glen adds some cutting lead lines and the group powers in. Alice scats until the pre-chorus and by then, they are ready to take off for an amazing version of this anthem. A spot on take of their spy-themed epic "Halo of Flies" follows, then the drama of "Dead Babies" (Alice name-checking Miami for crowd reaction) and "Killer" (terrific dual guitar lines and dual guitar melodic feedback!) and Alice's execution. The band comes back with a somewhat formless jam that melds into "Long Way To Go" (somewhat clumsily, if I am to be truthful, but the song rocks fiercely - Neil really drives this one), then a quick transition to the latest hit, "School's Out", which is not easy to pull off in a live setting, so there are some changes made, and a longer solo added, and Michael makes a fast change from organ to guitar, there's a bass/drum breakdown (you'd be hard pressed to find a better rhythm section, ever), the band comes back and builds in intensity'n'speed until they can't go any farther so they stop and jump back into the tune! Whew! (And somehow, sometime, Michael finds time to get back on keys!) Back for an encore of "Is It My Body" with its wonderfully macabre ending and a wilder than usual jam section.

The sound is great throughout - I know that I heard bootlegs in the 70's that were pretty atrocious sounding, so I appreciate the clarity - and the band is pretty damn flawless. I only hope that they find more shows that were taped, as I'm sure there were more from this School's Out period.

The studio extras include the single version of "School's Out" (powerful as hell, still!), an edited, single take of "Gutter Cat" (surprisingly, abruptly shortened when you're used to the album version), an earlier version of "Alma Matter" that is much softer around the edges, but retains the basic arrangement, although Alice's rap is quite different. As "Reflected" evolves into "Elected" the structure appears pretty much fleshed out (other than the breakdown) but Alice's lyrics are extremely changed, although with the same concept - neat to see/hear the evolution before the announcer was added and before they knew how to end it!

As with the expanded Killer set, the booklet here is a real treasure with each surviving member talking about each song giving all kinds of background on the writing and how it relates to the rest of the record along with who was responsible for what, what extra personnel appeared and lots more. Again, this is the stuff that I love to read about and even being a huge AC fan, I certainly learned several things here. And again, there is an overview of the live CD, some cool pix and Bill Holdship's liner notes.
 

Another must have for fans!