Constrictor (album)
Encyclopedia
Constrictor is the 16th studio album
by rock musician Alice Cooper
released on September 22 1986. After retiring from the music industry after the release of DaDa
, Cooper remained in seclusion for three years. He starred in Monster Dog
, a horror film for which he wrote two songs. He also guest starred on the Twisted Sister
track "Be Chrool to Your Scuel". It was Alice Cooper's first record to feature bass playing from Kip Winger
, who would later gain great fame with his own band, Winger.
Cooper sought the aid of heavy metal guitarist Kane Roberts
for the album, which resulted in a sound Cooper had never tapped into before. Constrictor exposed a whole new generation of teens to the original shock rocker, returning him to the charts at number 59 after his previous two releases Zipper Catches Skin
and DaDa
had entirely failed to crack the Top 200. The album also led to one of the most successful tours of the late '80s, "The Nightmare Returns" tour.
The horror series Friday the 13th teamed up with Cooper during this time to produce the theme song for its latest film. The song "He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)" was written for Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
. It went on to become a #1 hit in Sweden. Songs also featured in the film include "Teenage Frankenstein
" and "Hard Rock Summer", a song that did not end up on the album.
The track "The Great American Success Story" was apparently intended as the theme song to the Rodney Dangerfield
film Back to School, but was not actually used.
"He's Back (The Man Behind The Mask)" was recorded as a demo before the album & was totally different from the final album version. A reworked version of the "He's Back" demo landed on the album as "Trick Bag" instead. The version of "He's Back" that was featured in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives was remixed from the album version.
and Kane Roberts
, except where noted.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by rock musician Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
released on September 22 1986. After retiring from the music industry after the release of DaDa
DaDa
DaDa is the 15th studio album by Alice Cooper, released in 1983. DaDa would be Cooper's last album until his sober re-emergence in 1986 with the album Constrictor...
, Cooper remained in seclusion for three years. He starred in Monster Dog
Monster Dog
Monster Dog, also known as Leviatán, The Bite and Los Perros de la Muerte, is a 1984 horror film written and directed by Claudio Fragasso...
, a horror film for which he wrote two songs. He also guest starred on the Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
track "Be Chrool to Your Scuel". It was Alice Cooper's first record to feature bass playing from Kip Winger
Kip Winger
Charles Frederick Kip Winger is an American rock musician, both a member of the hard rock band, Winger, and a solo artist.-Early days:Winger was born in Denver, Colorado to parents who were both jazz musicians....
, who would later gain great fame with his own band, Winger.
Cooper sought the aid of heavy metal guitarist Kane Roberts
Kane Roberts
Kane Roberts,born Robert William Athas is a heavy metal guitarist best known for his tenure in Alice Cooper's band during the late 1980s...
for the album, which resulted in a sound Cooper had never tapped into before. Constrictor exposed a whole new generation of teens to the original shock rocker, returning him to the charts at number 59 after his previous two releases Zipper Catches Skin
Zipper Catches Skin
Zipper Catches Skin is the 14th studio album by Alice Cooper, released in 1982.Produced by Cooper and his bassist at the time, Erik Scott, Zipper Catches Skin is musically known for its dry and energetic pop-rock style with punk rock and post-punk influences and less emphasis on hard riffs,...
and DaDa
DaDa
DaDa is the 15th studio album by Alice Cooper, released in 1983. DaDa would be Cooper's last album until his sober re-emergence in 1986 with the album Constrictor...
had entirely failed to crack the Top 200. The album also led to one of the most successful tours of the late '80s, "The Nightmare Returns" tour.
The horror series Friday the 13th teamed up with Cooper during this time to produce the theme song for its latest film. The song "He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)" was written for Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives is a 1986 slasher film, the sixth film in the Friday the 13th film series. The film was written and directed by Tom McLoughlin...
. It went on to become a #1 hit in Sweden. Songs also featured in the film include "Teenage Frankenstein
Teenage Frankenstein
"Teenage Frankenstein" is the second single by American rock musician Alice Cooper from his 1986 album Constrictor. Though the single failed to chart, it helped to make Constrictor into Cooper's highest charting album since 1980's Flush the Fashion....
" and "Hard Rock Summer", a song that did not end up on the album.
The track "The Great American Success Story" was apparently intended as the theme song to the Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield , was an American comedian, and actor, known for the catchphrases "I don't get no respect!," "No respect, no respect at all... that's the story of my life" or "I get no respect, I tell ya" and his monologues on that theme...
film Back to School, but was not actually used.
"He's Back (The Man Behind The Mask)" was recorded as a demo before the album & was totally different from the final album version. A reworked version of the "He's Back" demo landed on the album as "Trick Bag" instead. The version of "He's Back" that was featured in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives was remixed from the album version.
Track listing
All songs written by Alice CooperAlice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
and Kane Roberts
Kane Roberts
Kane Roberts,born Robert William Athas is a heavy metal guitarist best known for his tenure in Alice Cooper's band during the late 1980s...
, except where noted.
- "Teenage FrankensteinTeenage Frankenstein"Teenage Frankenstein" is the second single by American rock musician Alice Cooper from his 1986 album Constrictor. Though the single failed to chart, it helped to make Constrictor into Cooper's highest charting album since 1980's Flush the Fashion....
" – 3:40 - "Give It Up" – 4:13
- "Thrill My Gorilla" – 2:56
- "Life and the Death of the Party" – 3:45
- "Simple Disobedience" – 3:30
- "The World Needs Guts" – 3:59
- "Trick Bag" (Cooper, Roberts, Tom KellyTom Kelly (musician)Thomas F. Kelly is an American musician, best known for his songwriting partnership with Billy Steinberg. Steinberg and Kelly co-wrote numerous hit songs for popular music artists, including five number-one singles on the Billboard Top 100 chart in the 1980s....
) – 4:18 - "Crawlin'" (Cooper, Roberts, Michael WagenerMichael WagenerMichael Wagener is a music producer, mixer, and engineer from Hamburg, Germany, best known for his work with many top hard rock and heavy metal bands in the late 80's. Wagener's works have sold over ninetyfour million albums worldwide. Wagener was the original guitarist for the German band Accept...
) – 3:22 - "The Great American Success Story" (Cooper, Roberts, Beau HillBeau HillBeau Hill is an American record producer who is best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Kix, Winger, Streets, Warrant, Fiona, Europe and Ratt....
) – 3:38 - "He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)"He's Back " is a song from American shock rock musician Alice Cooper's 1986 album Constrictor, and the theme song of Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, a slasher film and sixth part of the Friday the 13th film series released in the same year...
" (Cooper, Roberts, Kelly) – 3:49
Personnel
- Alice Cooper - vocals
- Kane RobertsKane RobertsKane Roberts,born Robert William Athas is a heavy metal guitarist best known for his tenure in Alice Cooper's band during the late 1980s...
- bass, guitar, keyboards, background vocals - Paul Delph - keyboards, background vocals
- Beau HillBeau HillBeau Hill is an American record producer who is best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Kix, Winger, Streets, Warrant, Fiona, Europe and Ratt....
- background vocals - Tom KellyTom Kelly (musician)Thomas F. Kelly is an American musician, best known for his songwriting partnership with Billy Steinberg. Steinberg and Kelly co-wrote numerous hit songs for popular music artists, including five number-one singles on the Billboard Top 100 chart in the 1980s....
- background vocals - Donnie Kisselbach - bass
- David Rosenberg - drums
- Kip WingerKip WingerCharles Frederick Kip Winger is an American rock musician, both a member of the hard rock band, Winger, and a solo artist.-Early days:Winger was born in Denver, Colorado to parents who were both jazz musicians....
- bass
Charts
Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | The Billboard 200 | 59 |