Zipper Catches Skin

[Maurice]

Yeah, like 'oink off'

Precisely! Ha ha ha ha!

Which, (back in the day) was the ultimate feminist 'put down' for an M.C.P.!

[AC Collect]

That term was used in Generation Landslide '81 too. Been reading around on Sickthings and it turns out Renfield wrote that in the song. Whether he wrote it for 'I Like Girls' or not.

[Maurice]

In Generation Landslide '81 (the Special Forces version which has this additional verse) the line is;-

"No one give an oink about Prom night or football
etc........."

I think in this context the word 'oink' possibly replaces something far more harsh, also single syllable, four letters and ending with k!

When Patty says "Oink off", the same could apply, but the additional reference is to Alice behaving like a "Male Chauvinist Pig" which was a common female slur on men of that period, behaving in that fashion - multiple girl friends, etc.

[AC Collect]

Yeah. Plus what I forgot to say earlier. Zipper has it's dark humour elements too, as well as DaDa. For example: 'I'm Alive (That was the day my dead pet returned to save my life)'

[Shoesalesman]

I thought I'm Alive was more silly humor than dark humor. One of the better songs on ZCS though.

I wasn't too fussy over I Am The Future when I first heard it... but it has grown on me slowly over the past several years. Adaptable, Zorro's Ascent... the best songs on the album.

[AC Collect]

I'd say one of the worst songs on the album is 'No Baloney Homosapiens'.

[Shoesalesman]

My vote goes to Tag You're It as my least favorite. NBH is sort of catchy in a weird, dysfunctional way.

[AC Collect]

I quite like 'Tag You're It'. It's kinda creepy in a classic Alice way. I would like to know what people think is the best song of this album.

[While Heaven Wept]

Tag You're It is one of my fav's on this album, along with Adaptable and Make That Money

[AC Collect]

Adaptable has to be my favourite, along with 'I Like Girls' and Remarkably Insincere'.

[SickThings]

Special Forces and Zipper Catches Skin are two of my most-favorite Alice albums. I especially love the humor and riffs through ZCS.

I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said, but I will share my "cover" story.

When I bought ZCS, I could never figure out how anyone was supposed to know it was an Alice Cooper album. The front cover simply had all those lyrics, with the blood smear, but Alice's name was nowhere to be found on the front cover, which I thought was bizarre.

About a year later, I was pointing this out to my girlfriend (now wife), and she looked at me like I was crazy. She said, "It says ALICE COOPER right across the top." I replied, "No, it doesn't." "Yes, it does." We then showed it to my roommate, and he said, "Yeah, it says ALICE COOPER." "What? You're crazy."

Turns out that I have a degree of color blindness, and I cannot see the ALICE COOPER outlined in red in the lyrics. When scanners first became affordable in the '90s, I scanned the CD cover and played around with the color and contrast---and was amazed to sort of see ALICE COOPER revealed at the top. That was the first time I'd ever actually seen it.

Even knowing it's there, I can't see it in the album or CD cover.

Hunter

[Maurice]

Even knowing it's there, I can't see it in the album or CD cover.

Hunter

When the album was actually in the record racks it wasn't too easy to spot either, even with full 20/20 Technicolor vision! I also only 'stumbled' across it by accident. At the time, I think this L.P. was possibly Alices' best kept secret, and a bit of a 'Spinal Tap' type of cover moment!

[While Heaven Wept]

funnily enough it took me about a year to notice that it said Alice Cooper on the front!

[Parish]

I'm actually reviewing the re-releases of Special Forces, Zipper and Dada so I got to back and really give a listen to all three of these once again.

Zipper Catches Skin is still the worst record I have ever heard.

Special Forces has its moments...

Dada is brilliant...

[AC Collect]

funnily enough it took me about a year to notice that it said Alice Cooper on the front!

If you look carefully, Zipper Catches Skin is also highlighted as well as Alice Cooper. I noticed right away.

[RemarkablyInsincere]

I've always enjoyed all 3 of these albums. I think on the whole they're stronger in some ways than what came before and after. All 3 of them are really "fun" albums in my mind.

I never view DADA the same was as FTF, SF and ZCS as it's really a return to the 75-78 sound.

[AC Collect]

You can check out a Video Review of ZCS and SF here http://www.youtube.com/user/DRDOOM25#p/u/15/-4lP9J4TBh8

[While Heaven Wept]

Yeah, it kinda annoys me that Dada gets lumped in with the 3 previous albums as it really stands out on its own.... it's a very 'one-off' record, and one that i absolutely adore.

Exactly why i adore Dada is still a mystery to me though

[Ted Sallis]

...I decided to buy Ozzy's "Diary of a Madman". Was at the counter and cashier was ringing up my purchase. Out of the blue I asked,"Any new Alice Cooper coming out soon?" He told me that in fact yes there was a brand new one. He went and got me a copy. I put back "Diary" and bought ZCS.

I think you made the wrong choice...in fact, I consider 'Diary' to be much better than any AC solo album I've heard. Of course if you compare 'Diary' to any ACG album from LITD on it's a different story.

Ted

[TEENAGE NITEMARE]

ZCS is an awesome album there is'nt a song on there that i really dont like. I love Zorro's ascent.

On the first listen of special forces I didnt really like it but I find that its one that grows on you and now it's one of my favourite albums (Don't talk old to me is an awesome song)