The Toy Box

Retro Spins: Alice Cooper - Constrictor

By 1983, Alice Cooper was in a bad spot. Career wise, his albums were selling less and less, and his popularity declining with each new release. Worst of all, he was so dependent upon drugs and alcohol, that he would state retrospectively that he didn't even remember recording music between 1981 and 1983. His health had not only severely declined, but his marriage was on the brink of being over, with his wife filing for divorce.

At the bequest of his manager and wife, he'd return to rehab, his second since his failed 1977 attempt at cleaning himself up. This time, he'd not only complete the course successfully, but recommitted his life to Jesus. Cooper was not only able to salvage his marriage, and remains with Sherly Goddard to this day, but he hasn't relapsed once!

By 1985 he was ready to make a comeback. Though I wasn't able to pinpoint the actual timeframe, during the early 80's Twisted Sister frontman would be giving an interview, which during he would continuously sing the praises of Cooper not only for his music, but the inspiration he bestowed upon him. Cooper would hear about the interview, and call up Snyder, thanking him for the kind words. This would lead to not only a long-time friendship between the two, but collaboration on Be Chrool to Your Scuel from Sister's 1985 album, Come Out And Play.

This was followed by him starring in the b-flick, Monster Dog, which he also contributed two songs to. However, the true test would be when he returned to the studio to record and release 1986's Constrictor. Could he be a devout Christian and Alice Cooper? Would the world accept this? Did he have any music worth listening to?

The answer was yes. Cooper has not only had a storied second half of his career, but Constrictor was met with praise from critics. The album even saw his return to the Billboard 200, and gold sales certification.

What I was hoping to get out of it was a glimpse of the things to come with 1989's Trash. Fortunately, this happened in abundance. It's a solid rock album from start to finish. The guitars are back, the synthesizer used in moderation, and Cooper's voice booming with power.

While I won't call it perfect from front to back, it's a solid entry. If nothing else, it's great to hear a straightforward rock album in comparison to he's previous "experimental" albums. Tracks Teenage Frankenstein, Life And Death Of The Party, and The World Needs Guts stand out for me. The latter thrashing with sweet guitar licks.

Also included on the album is Cooper's contribution to Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, the track, He's Back (The Man Behind The Mask). It's not so good, but it's awesome that he contributed to the franchise. Considering there wasn't a soundtrack until 2019, and that only includes the score, it's cool to have the song included on the album. Otherwise, it's likely it would end up as lost media, and who wants that?

Always the showman, he entered 1987 in style, making an appearance in WrestleMania 3, appearing in behind-the-scenes monologues with Jake The Snake, and escorting him to the ring. Jake would go on to (scripted) loose that match, prompting Cooper to throw his snake on Jimmy Hart. Man, those were the days of good WWF rastlin'!

Back to the studio, he'd release Raise Your Fist And Yell in September of that year. That's where we dive into tomorrow, and it's actually my last album in his discography to play through, as I've already done a Retro Spin on 1989's Trash. See you tomorrow for the wrap party!

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Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.

Retro Spins: Alice Cooper - DaDa

I'm all for a good time, but not when that good time involves being so black out drunk and high that you don't remember three years of your life. Yet, that's exactly where Alice Cooper found himself between 1981 and 1983. By his own admission, he doesn't even recall recording any albums in that period, yet at this point he'd released 1981's Special Forces, 1982's Zipper Catches Skin, and today's Retro Spin, 1983's DaDa.

Upon its release, Dyslexia was intended to be released as the lead single in the USA but ultimately wasn't. Oddly, the track, I Love America, was chosen for release in the UK, but failed to chart. As a whole, the album did pretty terrible, continuing the downward trend of Cooper.

Starting it up, it has an 80's horror flick to it. The instrumental DaDa sets a chilling mood and easily could have fit over the background of A Nightmare On Elm Street.

Here's the thing though. It doesn't stay that way. Out of nowhere, track two hits you with synth pop, and from there, things only get stranger. I'm talking to the point where I thought I was listening to an album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. I present to you for consideration verse six of I Love America:

I watch the A-Team every Tuesday night
I graduated, but I ain't too bright
I love Detroit 'cause I was born to fight
(I love America)

The whole song was pretty much over the top like this.

Just typing all of that made me have to pause, and literally say, "Um..." because I just didn't know where to go from there. I suppose the only thing more I can really say is that DaDa is a strange one. Is it bad? Is it good? I don't know. Let's just say that it's unique.

I suppose that it's not surprising. Things were at a head for Alice Cooper. Not only had substance abuse caused him to mentally lose years of his life by 1983, but he was to the point of cirrhosis of the liver. Further, his wife of seven years, Sherly Goddard, had also had enough, and the two filed for divorce.

His wife and manager checked him back into rehab, his second time since initially going in 1977, but relapsing. The happy ending to the story, but not his 80's discography, is that Alice successfully completed rehabilitation, and has remained sober since. Further, at some point between 1985 and 1986, he recommitted his life to Jesus, and his Christian faith.

Though he remained relatively out of the spotlight between 1984 and 1985, it was during this period that he realized that being a Christian didn't mean he couldn't be a rock star. Rather, that he just needed to change his lifestyle and focus. A refocused Cooper would return to the studio, and release 1986's Constrictor, which is where we pick up tomorrow.

However, before I do, I will also call out one more standout track, and that was Pass The Gun Around. I think it may very well be the only song that features a guitar. It was either really good, or the only standout track that sounded like a straightforward Alice Cooper song. Either way, I dug it.

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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 300

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 300
Release Date: May 1988

Highlights

First appearance of Venom, AKA Eddie Brock

Some, including Todd McFarlane consider issue 299 to be his first appearance

First appearance and death of NYPD officer, Jack Sr.
First appearance of Lyden House Hotel, Bedford Towers, and Our Lady Of Saints Church
Mary Jane sits in the corner of their apartment, tears rolling down her eyes, she's afraid of the beast she's just seen

Peter returns home, still in his black suit, she doesn't immediately recognizes him, and begs him to stay away until he removes his mask

Mary Jane explains the features of Venom, though she doesn't know or say his name

She tells Peter she can't stay in the apartment, and Peter tells her he'll pack a bag for them to go to a hotel

Reference is made to Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars 9, Web Of Spider-Man 1, The Amazing Spider-Man 259, and Spider-Man Versus Wolverine
Though he doesn't know who the man wearing it was, Peter deduces that what Mary Jane explained was someone in his symbiote suit
Mary Jane tells Peter she was able to secure them a condo in Bedford Towers, and Peter agrees to move
Spider-Man borrows the sonic blaster from the Fantastic Four, the same blaster which Reed Richards used to remove the symbiote from Spider-Man back in The Amazing Spider-Man 258
Peter feels like he's being followed down the street, but his spider sense isn't picking up any danger
Peter and Mary Jane visit the condo, and Peter starts to feel bad that he won't have the type of money it will take to actually contribute to the expense

Mary Jane suggests he switch to fashion model photography, and says he can get some practice on her with some photos for their private collection, as she slips out of everything

Peter and Mary Jane have dinner at Aunt May's home that evening, and Mary Jane ensures his Aunt that they both want her in their lives
Eddie Brock has broken into Our Lady Of Saint's Church, the place where the symbiote first found him

Office Jack thinks Eddie is the one who's been stealing from the offering box, and finds out the hard way that there's something much more going on than mere robbery

The symbiote kills Jack

Peter and Mary Jane's friends all work together to get them moved relatively quickly
Robbie and Peter talk on the balcony, and Peter tells him there's something he needs to take care of

That something is seeing Venom webbing through the city

Spider-Man follows Venom to an abandoned building, thinking his spider sense will warn him of any danger as he enters

He's wrong

Eddie Brock reveals himself to Spider-Man, and he recognizes him immediately

Eddie tells him how Peter Parker ruined his career at the Daily Globe

These events unfolded "between the lines of Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 107 - 110"

Eddie was writing a story on who Sin-Eater was, but he was using the sources of a chronic confessor, who wasn't really the killer

When Sin-Eater was revealed by Spider-Man, Eddie was chastised and fired

The symbiote found Eddie at his lowest point, ready to commit suicide

After bonding with him, the two shared an equal purpose - Get revenge on Peter Parker, AKA Spider-Man

After a short battle, Spider-Man is able to blast Venom with the sonic blaster, but the symbiote and he don't separate

Spider-Man realizes that the symbiote has completely bonded with Eddie, and to separate the two, he'd have to kill them both

He won't do that, and attempts to leave to formulate another plan

Venom webs him, and the battle continues, though an even shorter one as Venom quickly knocks Spider-Man out

Spider-Man comes too, and is webbed to the bell tower of the church

When Venom takes his leave, so as to not be affected by the sonic waves of the bells as they crash into Spider-Man webbed between them, Spider-Man is able to break free

Venom returns to find his foe not dead, and the battle continues atop the church tower roof

Remembering what Puma told him about the webbing being organic, Spider-Man deduces that it's actually part of the symbiote, and that every time it's used, the alien must heal to replenish it

Cutting the web each time Venom uses it results in the villain continuously using it to stop from falling, draining the suit from Eddie's body

Spider-Man takes Venom to the Baxter Tower, where Ben Grimm receives instructions from Reed Richards on containing him in a sonic cylinder until he can be moved to a specially built prison
Spider-Man returns home, and is greeted by a cold Mary Jane

She tells him that after all they were just through, she can't look at his black suit

Peter agrees he can't wear the costume which looks like a homicidal killer either, and throws it in the fire lit in the fireplace, burning it up

Peter tells Mary Jane he's going to look silly in his underwear spinning webs, and she pulls out his red and blue suit, or rather, the costume version he got from the shop in Spider-Man Versus Wolverine
Spider-Man is back in his classic red and blue suit

The art work in this issue is fantastic! Todd McFarlane is making it his own

Low Points

None

Oddities

None

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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Retro Spins: Alice Cooper - Zipper Catches Skin

As a teenager, Alice Cooper's Trash (1989), and Hey Stoopid (1991) were the only albums. This was eventually followed by his 1994 album, The Last Temptation Of Alice Cooper. After playing it, it was the last album I purchased from him (at the time). I not only didn't hear anything reminiscent of the previous two albums but recall not liking it as a whole. Pretty soon, the artist was nothing more than a footnote in my music collection, and I eventually parted with the albums.

When I eventually began rebuilding my CD collection, Trash, and Hey Stoopid were among must haves for me, and I checked them off relatively quickly. Years would pass by, and I'd find myself at the local used CD shop, as I often did. Pursuing through the multiple rows, I came across his section and found multiple studio albums. I'm not sure what it was that compelled me, but I ended up picking them all up.

From the band era, I had managed to collect five albums, and from his solo area, also an additional five. However, what I soon found out was that this was not only just the tip of the iceberg, but that there were four remaining just from the 80's. Still, they weren't a priority to me. This became all the more so after playing through their 1969 debut, Pretties For You. That listening session didn't go well.

Still, every now and then I would look into those "missing" 80's albums, look at the prices, and move on. It wouldn't be until about a month and a half ago (as of the date of this post), that I'd finally decide to pull the trigger. This all came about when watching a Youtube video from Michael Noland on Cooper. It dawned on me just how old the artist was, and having seen what happened with the prices of Ozzy's lower print latter discs, I felt I best get the remaining ones checked off before the same thing happened with him. Like my comment on Noland's video said, I can only imagine how much more expense these albums would have been had I waited. As it was, it cost me close to two hundred dollars to grab them.

Mind you, if I wanted to collect the rest, there are still thirteen more out there. Thankfully, as of now, I don't have any intensions of doing that. But I suppose I said that about Ozzy too and ended up eventually grabbing all of those.

Over the past few days, I've been working through my 80's discography, starting with 1980's Flush The Fashion, and chronologically reaching today's entry, 1982's Zipper Catches Skin. Failing to chart, nor reach any sales certifications, it was a massive flop.

This is ironic because as I played through it and picked out the songs I was digging, that essentially became the whole album. I daresay it was a practically perfect album.

In retrospective reviews, it appears many people seem to have that opinion. Even Alice himself has said he should go back and re-record this, and his other "blackout era" albums, to give them the justice they deserve.

I mentioned yesterday that Zipper Catches Skin was noted as being a mash up between the Knack and Cars, and I stated that it sounded good on paper. It appears in execution, it works.

Unfortunately for the artist, he continued in a downward spiral. There was no tour to promote the album, probably contributing to its failure. Further, not only did his next album, DaDa (1983), also fail, but he would reach a point in his life where his drug and alcohol abuse was causing physical damage to his body. If that weren't enough to pile on, his wife was at a point where she simply couldn't take any of it anymore. That story all unfolds tomorrow.

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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 299

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 299
Release Date: April 1988

Highlights

Disputed first appearance of Venom

Though it's largely accepted that this is a second cameo, and issue 300 is his full appearance, many site this issue as his first appearance, among them, Todd McFarlane himself

First appearance of Annie Deitz, and Paul
First appearance of The Spawning Club, and Sanctum Maximus
Spider-Man has tracked his spider tracer to an eighteen wheeler truck, but as it gets gridlocked in traffic, a kid in the car ahead tips the driver to his presence

A cop sends Spider-Man packing

Reference is made to Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 128
The still unconscious Chance is delivered to the Life Foundation's fortress, Sanctus Maxiumus
Peter and Mary Jane go the the Spawning Club, where they see Eddie Murphy and Paul Schaefer

Spawning Club? Foreshadowing? Nah, it can't be

The Life Foundation tells Chance that their plan is to duplicate his wrist blasters and ankle jets, but their scientists can't figure it out

They tell Chance he'll give them the information they want if he knows what's good for him

Always a gambler, Chance simply responds, "Wanna bet?"

After tracking Carlton Drake's records at the Bugle to a withdrawn donation at ESU, Peter visits Annie Deitz in the administrative office at the school who tells him that she can't share the information with him he wants, but that he shouldn't look while she goes to powder her nose, wink wink

Finding the information he needs on her computer, Peter tracks the Life Foundation to New Jersey

Spider-Man sneaks into Fortress Maximus by clinging to the bottom of a truck entering the facility

Inside, his spider sense kicks in, picking up on the tracer he planted on Chance in the previous issue

Spider-Man finds a severely beaten up Chance, and frees him

Chance tells him that the Life Foundation think the world will soon plunge into total chaos, and Fortress Maximus is full of luxury condos and amenities, which they're selling to millionaires at five million dollars per home

While the Life Foundation has armed a private military with the weapons Chance stole for them from the pier, the Foundation want to arm themselves in the event of an uprising from said military with the weaponry Chance uses
Spider-Man and Chance are forced to team up as the alarms in the place sound
Chance blasts the munitions crates, blowing the place sky high, but not before grabbing Spider-Man, and rocketing clear
Mary Jane returns home from a night of shopping, miffed with Peter for not calling or leaving a message

She sees what she thinks is him in the shadows of their apartment...it's not

Venom is here

Low Points

None

Oddities

Chance gives Spider-Man a lift back to New York...on his back

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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Retro Spins: Alice Cooper - Special Forces

Yesterday, I not only touched on the 1980's Alice Cooper album, Flush The Fashion, but also the history of the original iteration of the band, featuring the lineup of Vincent Furnier, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith, who stayed together until 1974. Today, I continue my journey with 1981's Special Forces, and will also deep dive into the solo years of Alice Cooper.

When the band broke up, Furnier was interested in continuing a solo career. As of 1968, people had begun to refer to him directly as Alice Cooper, and wanting to continue using the name without any legality issues, would choose to change his name to that in 1975. Building off the momentum of the band's success between 1971 and 1974 with hits such as I'm Eighteen, School's Out, Billion Dollar Babies, and No More Mr. Nice Guy, Cooper returned to the studio to release the 1975 classic, Welcome To My Nightmare.

This was followed by 1976's Alice Cooper Goes To Hell, and 1977's Lace And Whisky. However, a steady decline, fueled mostly by drug and alcohol abuse, would begin with 1979's From The Inside, and continue throughout the 80's. Cooper himself would state that he was so heavily using cocaine during this time that he doesn't even remember recording albums between 1981 and 1983.

1981's Special Forces would be his last album to peak on the Billboard 200 (at 125), until 1986's Constrictor. It would also be his last album that he would tour for until the aforementioned '86 release. Forces would also continue the trend of changing musical styles, with the sleek hard rock sound being pushed aside for synth pop. It went as far as to reimagine one of his own previous tracks in this new style, Generation Landslide '81, and as a whole confused long time fans.

Though I'm no Alice Cooper aficionado, I do hear the very different musical style from what once was he shock rocker of the 70's. It's as if he's trying to keep up with he likes of the Cars, which is unfortunate. Alice Cooper was a persona who built himself from the ground up, so to hear him trying to be like other bands of the time is a bit disappointing.

While certainly a misstep, I won't say it's a total failure. There are standout tracks here, such as Who Do You Think We Are, Seven And Seven Is, Skeletons In The Closet, and You're A Movie. But as a whole, this doesn't sound like an Alice Cooper album, and that's ultimately not what you want when you put on one of his albums.

Cooper would release the pop-punk oriented, Zipper Catches Skin, in 1982. Critics would describe it as a mixture of the Knack and Cars, which sounds great on paper. However, as I said above, one doesn't pick up an Alice Cooper album with the intensions of not hearing an Alice Cooper album. Who knows, maybe it will turn out o be a hidden gem. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 298

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 298
Release Date: March 1988

Highlights

Todd McFarlane takes over pencil duties on The Amazing Spider-Man
First cameo appearance of Venom
First appearance of Sandy Kintzler, Stephanie, Mr. MacVay, the Life Foundation, and its leader, Carlton Drake
First appearance and death of Orin Concardi
First appearance of the East Village, Hearth, and the Upper West Side's Endicott Building
Chance ambushes Orin Concardi as the feds are escourting him to court

As the feds scramble to ward him off, Concardi takes off in their car

Chances takes the opportunity to explode the vehicle with his lasers, killing Concardi in the process

Chance reports to Mr. Treece that he's won the bet, and will be by for his $10,000.00

After completing her fashion shoot, Mary Jane attempts to call Peter at home, but gets the answering machine
Peter informs Robbie the two are probably moving to the Bedford, and when Robbie asks if he can afford the place, Peter tells him he can't even afford the YMCA
Peter asks if there are any assignments, and is told no

Joy Mercado overhears, and tells Peter he can't keep sitting around waiting for news - He has to get out there and chase it

She gives him a tip on foreign arms being unloaded at a pier the next evening, and says if he wants to get the photos, she'll write the story, and they can split the proceeds

Peter agrees

After complaining that Mary Jane making more money bothers him, Peter realizes he's being a jerk, and decides to do something for her

That something is dawning a red speedo, and greeting her as she comes home to a set table of wine and chicken McNuggets

Mary Jane opens the door further to introduce him to her friend, Sandy

After losing a bet of $500.00 to a cab driver, Chance reminds the readers that he wagers for everything, including every job he takes
Carlton Drake contacts Chance, and tells him he wants his help
The Life Foundation wagers Chance $20,000.00 that he can't get them the weapons being offloaded at the pier, he takes the bet
As Spider-Man watches the weapons being unloaded, preparing to take photos, Chance strikes
Reference is made to Web Of Spider-Man 15, and X-Factor 25
As Spider-Man hits Chance with a spider tracer, and comes up with a plan, the entire city goes dark
Though Spider-Man makes an alternate plan (see oddities), when Chance wounds a solider running for his rifle, our hero has no choice but to take action
After delivering the weapons, the Life Foundation double crosses Chance, knocking him out with a bobby trapped pen which sends volts of electricity through him
Mary Jane tells Peter he needs to stop worrying about making money so much
A shadowy figure stands before a wall of Spider-Man news clippings, vowing revenge for what he's done to him

As he pounds his fists, the black symbiote goo forms a familiar black glove

Venom is coming - Ooh la la, the chills!

Low Points

It appears the chronological reading order is off

This issue has Mary Jane calling Peter and telling him she's going to check out the condo at Bedford Towers, which she says they have a chance of getting

However, chronologically, the last issue read, Web Of Spider-Man 38, had them throwing a moving party at their old apartment

Oddities

Spider-Man decides to let Chance go after he steals the munitions because he wants to turn the opportunity into another money making photo session, when he goes after the thief - That's not very hero like

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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Retro Spins: Alice Cooper - Flush The Fashion

Getting into the 80's albums from Alice Cooper is something a long time in the works. Beyond his album Trash (1989), I honestly didn't know anything from this era. Couple with the relative rarity of this period of work on CD, and high prices associated with it, it took me a long time to finally come around to it, and commit.

At the age of sixteen, Vincent Damon Furnier, was eager to participate in a high school talent contest. The problem was, he didn't have a band. As such, he quickly gathered four friends from his cross-country team, forming the Earwigs with Glen Buxton, Dennis Dunaway, John Tatum, and John Speer. The problem was that only Buxton and Tatum actually knew how to play an instrument, so while they played guitar, the rest mimed along. Their parody rendition of Beetles songs overwhelmed the audience, winning them the talent show.

Inspired by the results, the guys decided to give it a real go, changing their name to the Spiders, and leaning on Buxton to teach everyone how to play. He'd also serve as main song writer, and take inspiration from the Rolling Stones, Who, Kinks, Doors, and Yardbirds. The band would perform regularly around the Phoenix area, with Furnier on vocals, Buxton on lead guitar, Tatum on rhythm guitar, Dunaway on bass, and Speer on drums. They would record their first single in 1965, Why Don't You Love Me, with a B-side of Marvin Gaye's Hitch Hike. Mascot Records would release it locally and bring the Spiders in as a house band at his club, Stage 7, which later became VIP Club. The would prove beneficial, and the band would find themselves opening for the Lovin' Spoonful, Yardbirds, Them, the Animals, Kings, and Byrds.

After graduating high school in 1966, Tatum would be replaced by Michael Bruce. It as sited that his reason for departing was that he didn't feel the Spiders would make it. He instead would instead join a group with Bill Spooner (later of The Tubes). Undeterred, the band released their second single, Don't Blow Your Mind, with B-side, No Price Tag. They would follow this in 1967 with several road trips to Los Angeles to play shows. This would come with a name change to Nazz, and a new single, "Wonder Who's Lovin' Her Now, backed by Lay Down And Die, Goodbye. Speer would be frustrated by the slow pace of progress the band was making, and would opt to leave the band, being replaced be Neal Smith. So far, all I'm seeing is two people making big mistakes.

As 1986 rolled around, the band learned that Todd Rundgren was already using the name Nazz, necessitating a name change. Legend has it that a session with a Ouija board led to the name Alice Cooper being chosen. While that sounds like a pure rock and roll story, it's also an urban legend which Furnier would debunk. Instead, Furnier suggested to his bandmates that they come up with a wholesome name, like someone's aunt. Thus, Alice Cooper, the band, was born. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, people started referring to Furnier as Alice Cooper. Embracing this, he would eventually have his name changed legally.

The classic lineup would consist of Vincent Furnier, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith, and stay intact through 1974. Together, they'd release their 1969 debut, Pretties For You, 1970'S Easy Action, and 1971's Love It To Death, which would serve as their breakthrough album. That same year, Killer would be released, and then 1972's School's Out, 1973's Billion Dollar Babies, and also in that year, Muscle Of Love. Hindered by severe substance abuse, creative exhaustion, and a desire to pursue solo projects, the band would break up in 1974. While Cooper would go on to a storied solo career, this wouldn't be the end for the original lineup, who would reunite in 1999, and eventually release The Revenge Of Alice Cooper in 2025.

Cooper would go on to an illustrious solo career, and though there would be albums released between 1975 and 1979, the first of the 80's decade would be Flush The Fashion, released in 1980. Though it would peak on the Billboard 200, it would also be the beginning of a steady decline for the artist, and his last certified selling album until 1986's Constrictor.

As I played through it, I felt it had a very new wave, and 70's classic rock sound. For example, Pain stands out as a track that could easily have been included in Queen's A Night At The Opera with its catchy piano work, and Brian May reminiscent guitar riffs. Truthfully, while I enjoyed hearing something "new" from Alice Cooper, the album as a whole was just okay. The only other track which stood out to me was Clones. I also appreciate that it was one of his earlier works to receive a music video. Though of course at the time there was no MTV to play it on.

I would definitely say that if this were my first introduction to Alice Cooper, I probably wouldn't have gone any further. In retrospect, like I said, it was great to hear something I'd never heard from him before. With that hindsight, I can also appreciate it a bit more than I normally would have.

As noted above, Cooper would find himself in a steady decline of sales and popularity over the next several years. But down doesn't mean out, and he would eventually have a massive resurgence towards the end of the decade. However, before we can get to that point, we need to first dive through a slew of other albums. That continues next time with 1981's Special Forces.

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Comics Corner: Web Of Spider-Man 38

Title: Web Of Spider-Man
Issue Number: 38
Release Date: May 1988

Highlights

First appearance of Barney Muggins, Fran, Mindy, Jasmine, and Dick Wagner
Jason Macendale Jr., AKA Jack O'Lantern, but now Hobgoblin, streaks through the sky on his glider

He explodes his way into Kingpin's tower, searching for the crime lord

Arranger halts the battle by telling Hobgoblin that they should talk like the businessmen they are

When in a private office, Hobgoblin demands to know why he's been blacklisted, and not received any assassination assignments, and is told it's because he's a boor, and an incompetent idiot who's only success is stealing the identity of someone else

Arranger tells him that he proposes a test to see if he deserves the mantle of Hobgoblin

It's proposed he kill Spider-Man

When the meeting is over, Tombstone walks up behind Hobgoblin, and tosses him out the window

He's able to call his glider at the last moment, saving himself from death

Hobgoblin vows he'll not only kill Spider-Man, but then Arranger

Mary Jane has thrown a massive party in the apartment, and Mrs. Muggins, who is searching for her husband, is none to pleased with all the noise

It's a moving out party, as the two will soon be relocating

Spider-Man is downing the punch that Mary Jane is serving, not knowing it's not just punch

Hobgoblin searches the city for the perfect battle ground to challenge Spider-Man, and finds it in the Lincoln Tunnel
Reference is made to The Amazing Spider-Man 261
Harry Osborn calls Peter from his car phone, and informs him that he and his wife are stuck in the Lincoln Tunnel, and that the radio has announced that Hobgoblin is onsite causing problems
Peter explains the situation to Mary Jane, and heads out

The punch starts to kick in, and a drunk Spider-Man not only misses his web shots, but starts slurring his words

A drunk Spider-Man goes into battle with Hobgoblin, and it isn't pretty

He only wins the fight when Hobgoblin crashes his glider into a tower, causing it to go haywire, launching him off into the distance

When he returns home, Peter demands to know who spiked the punch, only for Mr. Muggins to admit it was him
Mrs. Muggins sees her husband, and attempts to chase after him

Peter stops her, and when she says she won't miss him, he tells her that he'll miss her, and plants a kiss on her

The party commences

Low Points

It's really just a trope to hammer home the "drinking is bad" monicker

Regardless, it's amusing and humerous

Oddities

It's odd that Arranger would propose that Hobgoblin kill Spider-Man, calling him an obstacle for Kingpin, when the crime lord has often stated that Spider-Man serves a purpose to him
A "friend" of Mary Jane's at the party hits on Peter, telling him she'd love to be the other woman in his life, and that his wife need not know
Drunk Spider-Man

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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Retro Spins: Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)

Between 1985 and 1986, Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers spent a lot of time on the road. This kicked off with their appearance at Live Aid, which was followed by their own world tour, and subsequent live album, Pack Up the Plantation: Live! Rather than return to the studio, the band instead took Bob Dylan up on an offer to join him on the road for his True Confessions Tour. They would then join the Grateful Dead for a few shows between 1986, and 1987. Because of this, it would be two years since his last studio album before Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) would be recorded and released.

It would receive a generally mediocre reception, with critics calling it simple and fragmented. The overall lackluster opinion of it would also translate to sales and charts, making it one of the worst in the band's career since 1978's You're Gonna Get It!

If I'm being honest, I tuned most of this album out. There wasn't much, if anything, which grabbed my attention. By track six, I couldn't even tell you what any of the previous sounded like. It was all relatively forgettable.

All the momentum Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers had built up with me on 1982's Long After Dark, had began to falter under the drastic musical change of 1985's Southern Accents, and with Let Me Up, was pretty much gone.

It's a shame. This isn't how I wanted my listening sessions to go. I wanted to walk away from it all saying that while I may have been burned out on Free Falling, that there was a reason they were a legacy band. At the end of it, I'm just not seeing the mass appeal. Candidly, I can't even say there was a standout track in it all. Everything was just sort of, blah.

Rather than jump into another studio album, Petty instead joined George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne to record the song, Handle Me With Care. It would initially be planned as a B-side to one of Harrison's singles but be deemed too good for that. The end result was the birth of The Traveling Wilburys, and their album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, released in 1988 by Warner Bros.

Petty would then release his own solo album in 1989, Full Moon Fever. While many of the Heartbreakers would contribute to the recording sessions, so to did the likes of George Harrison, Del Shannon, Roy Orbison, Jim Keltner, and Jeff Lynne. While the album was released by MCA, Petty too would shift to Warner for his next studio album, 1994's Wildflowers.

Despite his solo success, the Heartbreakers were far done. The line-up of Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Howie Epstein, Benmont Tench, and Stan Lynch would continue through 1991's Into The Great Wide Open. Lynch would depart in 1994, citing creative issues with Petty, and the band would continue on as a four piece through 1999's Echo.

Struggling with a heroin addiction, Epstein would be fired in 2002. With his departure, the band would not only replace him with previous member Ron Blair but expand to a six-piece with the inclusion of Scott Thurston, and Steve Ferrone. This iteration would finish out the storied career of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers with three more albums; The Last DJ (2002), Mojo (2010), and Hypnotic Eye (2014). Petty would also release his third and final solo album, Highway Companion in 2006.

The Tom Petty Radio channel launched in 2015 on Sirius Radio, and by 2017, the band was embarking on a 40th anniversary tour. The tour wrapped up on September 25 of that year, and tragically, it was reported that Petty had passed away just seven days later. The worst part about it, his death could have been avoided. It was ruled an overdose from opioids and antidepressants, which he was taking to aid him with severe pain from several medical conditions, including a fractured hip.

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Comics Corner: Web Of Spider-Man 37

Title: Web Of Spider-Man
Issue Number: 37
Release Date: April 1988

Highlights

First appearance of Elyse Nelson, Harvey Finklestein, Leslie, and Officer Richardson
The story opens on a crime scene, where the police have found a dead body at the river

The police have been on the hunt of a serial killer murdering fashion models, but have no leads, and no suspects

The detective on-site speaks to Dakota North, the PI hired by several modeling agents to investigate

Side note - Dakota is an obscure character introduced in her own five issue limited series in 1986, Dakota North Investigations

As he's suiting up, the security guards of the building he's on the roof of show up

Without his mask on, Peter jumps over the edge, and comes across an open window with a half naked Elyse inside - To which he thinks to himself, "Man is she cute." All of this in the same breath of thinking to himself that he's supposed to be meeting his wife

It turns out this has a point in the long run, establishing that Elyse is quite the knock out

A man named Harvey manages to get past security, and bring Elyse flowers to her dressing room

As he's ushered out, Harvey grumbles to himself that Elyse and her friend, Mary Jane, are probably laughing at him

He bumps into Peter, who's spider sense activates

Elyse makes a comment to Mary Jane that she thinks herself to be fat, which Mary Jane informs her is quite to the contrary

We're seeing Elyse has a complex that doesn't visually fit her physical attributes at all

As Peter and Mary Jane leave, she tells him that her and Elyse will be in the upcoming fall fashion show
Peter tells Mary Jane he can't attend the show because he's got a photography job out of town, and the money will pay his taxes

Mary Jane informs him she's paid it, and it makes him feel bad

After telling Mary Jane that maybe he will decline the job and attend the show, she tells him not to
As Harvey walks through the unemployment office, he grumbles about being an unemployeed actor, and ponders how to get Elyse to notice him

When he bumps into Leslie, a large man reading a paper, he notices the slasher headline, and asks the guy if he wants to make a few bucks

The man put's Harvey's plan into action, holding Elyse in her apartment with a knife

When her doorbell rings, the killer takes off, and Elyse begins scream, prompting Mary Jane and Peter to enter the home

Peter gives chase, but instead of finding the man, runs into Dakota

As Dakotah meets with Elyse, Peter chastises himself for losing the killer, and says there's no way he's leaving town now

At Leslie's apartment, Harvey shrugs off that the plan didn't go off as expected, but then notices that Leslie has an awful lot of clippings of the slasher, and a lot of knives

Leslie plays it off as being a character actor, and just him getting into character

The next day at the shoot, Peter is sneaking in with a disguise on, after telling Mary Jane he was leaving for his assignment, and unknown to him Leslie is also working his way through the event
Leslie, disguised as a security guard, enters the room of Mary Jane and Elyse

Outside, Harvey knocks on the door, ready to play his part as protector, but as the girls and Leslie come crashing out of the room, he informs Harvey that his plan isn't working

Meanwhile, outside the building, Peter has been taken into custody for sneaking around the bushes

Hearing the ruckus upstairs, Dakota spring into action, as does Peter, who forgoes his secret identity, breaks his cuffs, and runs for the building after tossing the officers off of him

They both give chase after Leslie, only for him to confess that he's just an actor

Meanwhile, as Elyse and Mary Jane continue to run away, Elyse pulls out a knife

Elyse tells Mary Jane that she's so pretty as compared to herself, and chases after her

Spider-Man webs her up

Low Points

The whole story crumbles under its hokey narrative, and Dakota's closing words (see oddities)
The story just ends abruptly, and the whole thing is dumb

Oddities

Ricky, Dakota's brother, reminds her that tomorrow is their father's birthday, and proceeds to produce an 8 X 10 headshot of him, all this while standing at their car at a crime scene

Does he always carry around such large photos of his dad? Maybe I should read that limited series and find out

After the introduction to Dakota at the crime scene, we cut to Peter suiting up, and it says, "Days later in New York City," but we're not told where the opening portion of the story took place
When Dakota shows up after Spider-Man has webbed up Elyse, she says, that Dakota had a history of mental illness, and was always her prime suspect - What? No way, that's not even believable it's just conveniently hokey

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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Retro Spins: Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Southern Accents

Led by its lead single, and quirky Alice in Wonderland homage music video, Don't Come Around Here No More would catapult the band into the MTV era. However, the album would be far from what it was initially planned out to be.

When Petty conceived Southern Accents, it was intended to be a concept album. However, this would quickly turn murky when Eurythmics alum Dave Stewart stepped in to co-write tracks. With him also came a shift in musical style. While it would still ultimately be labeled a Southern rock album, the truth was that the boys were dabbling into a more synth pop sound.

Some critics would call it ambitious, while others would say it got lost in its own ambition. Then there would be those who would rank it among the best from the band. In the end, the opinions didn't hinder the albums momentum up the charts, where it peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200. Further, it would once again return them to platinum selling artist status.

For me, Southern Accents includes my favorite tune from them, and that of course is the aforementioned Don't Come Around Here No More. I remember when I first saw the video on MTV, though not the timeframe it was. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. Visually, it was amazing, and the song itself resonated in my mind. Ironically, as I got older, I actually thought it was a tune from the 90's. I was ecstatic to learn it could be added to my 80's collection.

As for the rest of the album, you can definitely hear the influence of Stewart, not only in his three contributions, but across others. However, with that said, it's definitely a departure from Petty's previous work, and candidly, it kind of threw me off. With his previous album, Long After Dark, I had finally embraced the band's sound, and it made me eager to hear more. So, going from that to this, was a bit of a shock.

It's a decent album, and there's standout tracks in It Ain't Nothing To Me, and Mary's New Car. However, as a whole, it was really unexpected. I suppose it was also not what I really wanted. Like I said, I'd come around to the sound of the band, and my ears were ready, and maybe even anticipating hearing more of that.

The next stop for Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers was Live Aid, where they took the stage in Philadelphia to perform American Girl, The Waiting, Rebels, and Refugee. From there, they embarked on a massive world tour, which led to the live album Pack Up the Plantation: Live!, released that same year. Rather than return to the studio, the band would instead take Bob Dylan up on his invitation, and head out with him for his True Confessions Tour. Finally, in 1987, the world would receive their next album, Let Me Up (I've Had Enough), and that's where we go tomorrow.

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Comics Corner: The Spectacular Spider-Man 136

Title: The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 136
Release Date: March 1988

Highlights

Death Of Sin-Eater, AKA Stan Carter
First appearance of the little boy, Skip
Mary Jane buys Peter a copy of the Daily Globe, but cuts out all the portions about Spider-Man's failure against Electro
Peter once again confides in her, saying he feels guilty for crippling Stan Carter, AKA Sin-Eater
Mary Jane tells him that he needs to go speak with Carter, and then uses Rocky III as an analogy

Peter replies that using Rocky as a life lesson is like taking opera lessons from Twisted Sister

A citywide blackout occurs, and Spider-Man heads out to get some photographs of the impact
Stan Carter hits record on a tape recorder, and beings narrating his memoire

The ongoing visions of Sin-Eater continue to haunt him

Reference is made to Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 5
Through his visions of Sin-Eater and Jean DeWolff, we learn that Stan had to kill her first to fully commit himself to his holy mission
Spider-Man comes across a woman in labor, trapped in the gridlocked traffic

He convinces the man driving her to allow him to take her to the hospital

And then learns that the man isn't her husband

The woman tells Spider-Man she wants to name the child after him, and asks for his real first name

Spider-Man responds that it's Poindexter

While at the hospital, an officer tells Spider-Man that Electro is the cause of the outage, and that he's at the Con Ed Station

Spider-Man actually doesn't want to go and confront him, instead stating the police can handle one guy

Electro tells Sergeant Tork that he can overload every television in the city, turning them into bombs in everyone's home, or short out all critical hospital equipment, and will start doing so in one hour if he doesn't receive ten million dollars
Spider sees some kids robbing a store, and webs them to a wall

The kids clap back that he'll face off against children, but not against a real threat

Spider-Man goes to Carter's apartment, and is told by the man that everyone has to face their demons on their own

Carter also tells him that his doctor's say his injuries are psychosomatic

Spider-Man tells him he's headed to Con Ed to exercise his demon, and when he leaves, Stan says that he is too, and puts on his Sin-Eater mask

Spider-Man confronts Electro, and tells him that if he thinks he's so tough, then come fight him knuckle to knuckle, and not using electricity
A child named Skip, who was outside the power station with his mother, wants to see the fight up close, and sneaks off to get a closer look only to be confronted by Sin-Eater

Sin-Eater takes him hostage, putting a gun to his head

The cops surround him, pleading with him to put the gun down, but he tells them that Sin-Eater has to have his moment, that he won't leave him alone until he does

Inside, Spider-Man mops the floor with Electro
Outside, Stan tells the cops that Sin-Eater thinks he can take them, he doesn't think he can, and tosses the kid aside, baring his gun on the officers

They open fire, filling him with lead

As Spider-Man exits the building with a webbed up Electro in arms, he sees the slumped over body of Stan

Spider-Man rushes over to him, asking him what he's done

In his final breaths, Stan says that he's won - With Sin-Eater dead, he can finally live

Stan, and Sin-Eater, die

Spider-Man tells Tork that Stan was so far gone that he really thought he and Sin-Eater were two different people

Tork informs him that he, Stan, got the last laugh against the villain then because the gun wasn't even loaded

Low Points

None

Oddities

The opening page of the issue, which is laid out like the front page of a newspaper, retells the ending of the previous issue, where Electro, AKA Max Dillon, challenged Spider-Man to a fight live on camera, but the hero didn't engage

The odd part is that it then goes into detail on how Dillon robbed a jewelry store the previous day, but yet no cops bothered to try and arrest him at the studio?

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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