Alice Cooper: "DaDa" Album (1983)

Alice Cooper’s DaDa, his eighth solo studio album, was released in the US as an LP by Warner Bros. Records (catalog number 9 23969-1) on September 28, 1983, with a UK release following in October 1983. Produced by Bob Ezrin, it combined surreal, experimental rock with Cooper’s signature theatrical style, reflecting his personal struggles during that period. Though the album failed to chart, it was praised in a retrospective 1983 Creem review for its dark and quirky narrative and eventually gained a cult following among fans.

US front cover vinyl album Warner Bros. Records. 1-23969

Tracklist:

A1. DaDa – 4:45

A2. Enough’s Enough – 4:19

A3. Former Lee Warmer – 4:07

A4. No Man’s Land – 3:51

A5. Dyslexia – 4:25

B1. Scarlet and Sheba – 5:18

B2. I Love America – 3:50

B3. Fresh Blood – 5:54

B4. Pass the Gun Around – 5:46 Note: The tracklist is based on the standard 1983 vinyl and CD release (Warner Bros. Records).

Commercial Performance: DaDa failed to chart in the US (Billboard 200) or UK. Its release came during a period when Cooper’s label support was waning, and Warner Bros. did little to promote it.

Background and Context: By 1983, Alice Cooper was at a low point in his career. After his 1970s peak with albums like Billion Dollar Babies (1973) and Welcome to My Nightmare (1975), he struggled with alcoholism and a decline in commercial success through albums like Lace and Whiskey (1977) and From the Inside (1978). His early 1980s albums—Flush the Fashion (1980), Special Forces (1981), and Zipper Catches Skin (1982)—leaned into new wave but failed to recapture his earlier popularity. DaDa, his final album for Warner Bros., was recorded during a period of personal turmoil, with Cooper in the depths of addiction and later claiming no memory of the recording process due to blackouts. The album marked a return to his theatrical, shock rock roots while retaining new wave influences, and it was his last studio release before a three-year hiatus and his 1986 comeback with Constrictor.

Recording and Production: DaDa was recorded in 1982-1983 at ESP Studios in Buttonville, Ontario, Canada, produced by Bob Ezrin, who had shaped Cooper’s classic albums like Love It to Death (1971971) and Billion Dollar Babies. Ezrin co-wrote most tracks and played a key role in crafting the album’s concept and sound. The band included Dick Wagner (guitar, bass, co-writer), John Prakash (bass), Richard Kolinka (drums), and Karen Hendricks (backing vocals), with additional contributions from Ezra Klinger (synthesizer) and others. The album was a loose concept piece about a character named DaDa, possibly an alter ego or a metaphor for Cooper’s fractured mental state, blending horror, humor, and surrealism. The recording process was chaotic, reflecting Cooper’s personal struggles, but Ezrin’s production gave it a polished, theatrical edge.

US back cover vinyl album Warner Bros. Records. 1-23969

Track Listing: The original LP release of DaDa (Warner Bros. 9 23969-1) contains nine tracks:

1. DaDa (4:45)

2. Enough’s Enough (4:19)

3. Former Lee Warmer (4:07)

4. No Man’s Land (3:51)

5. Dyslexia (4:25)

6. Scarlet and Sheba (5:18)

7. I Love America (3:50)

8. Fresh Blood (5:54)

9. Pass the Gun Around (5:46)

Notable Tracks: DaDa, the opening track, sets a creepy tone with spoken-word narration and eerie synths, introducing the concept. Former Lee Warmer is a haunting ballad about a forgotten family member locked in an attic, showcasing Cooper’s storytelling. I Love America is a satirical rocker with humorous lyrics praising American excess, while Scarlet and Sheba blends horror and sensuality. Pass the Gun Around, the closing track, is a dark, introspective ballad hinting at Cooper’s struggles with addiction.

Musical Style and Themes: DaDa combines theatrical hard rock, new wave, and elements of Cooper’s classic shock rock sound. The album features driving guitars, atmospheric synthesizers, and Ezrin’s cinematic production, blending punk-influenced energy with horror-inspired theatrics. Lyrically, it explores themes of mental instability, identity, societal satire, and personal struggle, with the loose concept of “DaDa” evoking surrealism and psychological fragmentation. Tracks like Dyslexia and I Love America add humor, while Former Lee Warmer and Pass the Gun Around delve into darker, introspective territory. The album’s tone reflects Cooper’s troubled state but maintains his trademark wit and theatricality.

US cover Cassette Album Warner Bros. Records 9 23969-4

Singles Released: No official singles were released from DaDa in the USA or UK, a reflection of Warner Bros.’ lack of promotion and Cooper’s diminished commercial status at the time. The album was poorly marketed, with no music videos or significant radio push, contributing to its obscurity upon release. Some sources mention I Love America as a promotional track in limited markets (e.g., radio play in the US), but no formal 7" or 12" single releases are documented on platforms like Discogs or 45cat. The lack of singles underscores the album’s commercial neglect, despite its artistic merit.

Critical Reception: DaDa received minimal attention upon release, with few contemporary reviews due to its lack of promotion and Cooper’s career low point. Critics who covered it were mixed, with some praising its return to theatrical rock and Ezrin’s production, while others found it uneven or too experimental. Retrospectively, DaDa is considered a hidden gem in Cooper’s discography. AllMusic rates it 4/5 stars, calling it “an ambitious, creepy, and underrated work” with strong storytelling. Fans on Discogs and Rate Your Music praise tracks like Former Lee Warmer and Scarlet and Sheba, with user ratings averaging 3.8/5. The album’s cult status has grown, particularly among fans who appreciate its dark humor and concept-driven approach.

Legacy and Influence: DaDa is now regarded as one of Alice Cooper’s most underrated albums, appreciated for its bold experimentation and return to theatrical roots. It marked the end of his Warner Bros. tenure and his early 1980s new wave phase, paving the way for his glam metal comeback with Constrictor (1986). The album’s cult following has grown, with fans citing its influence on later theatrical rock and concept albums. Tracks like I Love America and Former Lee Warmer are occasionally performed live, and the album is available digitally on platforms like Spotify. A 2017 vinyl reissue by Rhino Records and a 1996 CD reissue (paired with Zipper Catches Skin) have kept it accessible. The album’s surreal artwork, featuring a distorted Salvador Dalí painting, reflects its avant-garde tone and adds to its collectible appeal.

Additional Notes:

- The album’s cover, inspired by Dalí’s surrealism, was designed by Pacific Eye & Ear and features a warped image of a face, tying into the “DaDa” theme.

- Released on vinyl, cassette, and 8-track in the US, with international pressings in Canada, Germany, and Japan (Warner Bros. P-11396).

- Cooper’s lack of memory of the recording process, as noted in interviews, underscores the album’s chaotic creation during his addiction struggles.

- No music videos or live performances were recorded, as Cooper was not touring at the time, making DaDa a studio-only project.

Sources and Verification: Information is drawn from my knowledge of Alice Cooper’s discography and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, and Wikipedia. Release details are confirmed by 45cat and Rhino Records reissue notes. The release date is verified by Discogs and fan sites.