Alice Cooper Group: "Billion Dollar Babies" Album (1973)

Alice Cooper Group
Feb 25, 1973
2 min read

Updated: Sep 23

Alice Cooper Group’s Billion Dollar Babies was released as an LP album in the US by Warner Bros. Records (catalog number BS 2685) on February 25, 1973, with a UK release in March 1973 marking their sixth studio album and became their best-selling record at the time, reaching No. 1 on both the US Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart, later certified platinum by the RIAA. Recorded in Connecticut and London, England, and produced by Bob Ezrin, the album’s 40-minute, 51-second duration makes it the band’s longest studio effort. Its lyrics explore provocative themes like necrophilia, dental fear, horror, and sexual harassment, with Alice Cooper citing Chuck Berry as a key influence on his writing. The title, reflecting the band’s shock at their sudden wealth, inspired the later band name used by Neal Smith, Dennis Dunaway, and Michael Bruce post-split. Noted in a 1973 Rolling Stone review for its theatrical audacity, the album features standout tracks like “Hello Hooray” (written by Rolf Kempf, previously recorded by Judy Collins, styled as “Alice Cooper meets Cabaret”), “Elected” (a rewrite of Pretties for You’s “Reflected”), “Raped and Freezin’” (called “hilarious and gorgeously catchy” by Pop Matters’ Jason Thompson), “Unfinished Sweet” (with dental sound effects by Gerry Lyon), and “I Love the Dead,” a tongue-in-cheek take on necrophilia. The title track, co-written by Reggie Vinson (credited as R. Reggie), features Donovan’s vocals for a “horror story” vibe.Tracklist:

A1. Hello Hooray – 4:15

A2. Raped and Freezin’ – 3:19

A3. Elected – 4:05

A4. Billion Dollar Babies – 3:43

A5. Unfinished Sweet – 6:18

B1. No More Mr. Nice Guy – 3:06

B2. Generation Landslide – 4:31

B3. Sick Things – 4:18

B4. Mary Ann – 2:21

B5. I Love the Dead – 5:09

Note: The tracklist reflects the standard 1973 vinyl release (Warner Bros. Records).

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