With the future of the original
Alice Cooper band in doubt by mid-1974 (they would soon break up for good with
Alice going solo), Warner Bros. decided to issue a best-of compilation entitled
Greatest Hits. If you're a newcomer to
Alice, this 12-track compilation is a must-hear -- all the selections are exceptional. While many have chosen to focus primarily on
Cooper's theatrics over the years, the original bandmembers were indeed supreme rock songwriters; such anthems as "I'm Eighteen," "Under My Wheels," "School's Out," and "No More Mr. Nice Guy" are unquestionably among the finest hard rock tracks of all time. And the other selections prove to be just as strong -- "Is It My Body," "Desperado," "Be My Lover," "Elected," "Billion Dollar Babies," and "Muscle of Love" are all outstanding as well. The only criticism of the original release is that the collection overlooked the band's key album tracks never issued as singles. ~ Greg Prato