Muscle of love expanded

[steven_crayn]

Answering myself here, but apparently it was created in 1973 as a guitar/vocal mix/demo and has simply been cleaned up in 2024. So it IS genuine.

That's good! I don't agree with the "less is more" comment though. The original is a great song through and through.

Hey, to each his own, right? As a paltry explanation, I see this new version exhibiting Alice’s gifts as a vocalist. Glad to finally hear him without the obtrusive (and IMO unnecessary) background vox, which (to me) were too strong in the original mix. To me, Labelle has lived longer through this song than they did on their own.

Just pointing out my opinion. Happy to know other takes on this topic.

PS: I’m going to trust that it’s Glen strumming that acoustic guitar. Don’t tell me otherwise.

There’s no Patti LaBelle, so it’s only two thirds of Labelle, but the backing vocals Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash added to Lady Marmalade, a #1 hit single for Labelle in the USA, Canada and Holland, because of it’s success, has to live longer than what they did on Teenage Lament.

But the backing vocals on Teenage Lament fit the song perfectly, talent like Liza Minnelli, Ronnie Spector and The Pointer Sisters, also on the track, doesn’t detract from Alice’s lead vocal, but embellish it.

You don’t have to hear a stripped down version, to know what a great vocal Alice did on that classic.

[patrick]

listening right now to Teenage : sounds perfect to me like it is . This btw was the first song I heard back in time, on a tiny radio receiver, broadcasted by an at the time pirate-sender , so I have a special appreciation for this song, and the album, which later appeared to be the last ACG album..

[del]

Just listened. Enjoyed it. Felt a bit raw but that made it for me. I’m not a fan of deluxe albums which dump everything they can find on you. If this is typical of MoL then I’m in for it.

[Daggers & Contracts]

Pointer Sisters, also on the track, doesn’t detract from Alice’s lead vocal, but embellish it.
You don’t have to hear a stripped down version, to know what a great vocal Alice did on that classic.

I'm really impressed that for the MOL version, Alice's vocal didn't change much at all.
Perfect Bonus Track!

[rgallie]

Hmm i know a poster has said its a 1973 recording but something makes me feel otherwise.

But maybe not, why bother including it when they have other extras that are early takes etc if it was not genuine.

[zzz]

It seems they (WB/Rhino) have problems to find decent extra's for the LitD set.
But let us first enjoy this release!!

That's surprising, there are a bunch of demos floating around out there, they briefly find their way to YouTube every so often

[Dannorama]

As I stated at the top of my post, the release date is November 20.

I'm not discounting you, SickThings, but it may be that you saw the digital release date, which is indeed November 20. Alice himself recently emailed me personally, and told me personally,
"ALICE COOPER EXPANDED MUSCLE OF LOVE WITH ROBUST DELUXE EDITION OUT NOW
AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE CONFIGURATIONS 2LP, 1CD/BLU-RAY, & DIGITAL
INCLUDES 11 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS & ALTERNATE MIXES & BRAND NEW LINER NOTES."

(Yes, I know... It wasn't personal.)

I have ordered mine already. I wish I could have gone through this site, but it's apparently only a Rhino.com thing.

This makes it the (quick math...) 7th time I've bought this album.

[ikbenalicefan]

https://store.warnermusic.ca/search?q=a ... ix%5D=last

[Si]

https://store.warnermusic.ca/search?q=a ... ix%5D=last

That's the Canadian store (I'm sure you knew that ). It's also in Australian one, but NOT the UK/Europe one yet...

[SickThings]

I'm not discounting you, SickThings, but it may be that you saw the digital release date, which is indeed November 20.

You are correct, the date I saw was on the YouTube video, and looking at it again now, it does refer to the digital release.

[tuneylune]

The release date is November 20.

https://store.rhino.com/en/rhino-store/ ... 13956.html

Track listing for the 3 CD/BD bundle. There's a vinyl release, too.

Disc 1
1. Big Apple Dreamin’ (Hippo)
2. Never Been Sold Before
3. Hard Hearted Alice
4. Crazy Little Child
5. Working Up A Sweat
6. Muscle Of Love
7. Man With The Golden Gun
8. Teenage Lament ’74
9. Woman Machine

Disc 2
1. Big Apple Dreamin’ (Hippo) (Early Version)
2. Never Been Sold Before (Early Version)
3. Hard Hearted Alice (Alternate Mix)
4. Crazy Little Child (Early Version)
5. Working Up A Sweat (Alternate Mix)
6. Muscle Of Love (Alternate Mix)
7. Man With The Golden Gun (Early Version)
8. Teenage Lament ’74 (Acoustic Diversion)
9. Woman Machine (Alternate Mix)
10. Teenage Lament ’74 (Single Version)
11. Muscle Of Love (Single Version)

BluRay Disc Featuring The Quad Mixes

1. Big Apple Dreamin’ (Hippo)
2. Never Been Sold Before
3. Hard Hearted Alice
4. Crazy Little Child
5. Working Up A Sweat
6. Muscle Of Love
7. Man With The Golden Gun
8. Teenage Lament ’74
9. Woman Machine

Thanks for the info, ST! This news has gotten me excited-I feel MOL is an unfairly overlooked album, although probably any album They may have put out after SO and BDB might have been found lacking. It certainly has been the case with many bands.

I have very fond MOL memories; my Grandparents sent it and LITD for Easter of 1976, not the best time. My parents had begun a contentious split and being a military brat, knew We were due to move for a new locale again. Both albums helped make Me a little happy, at least.

I think I know what my daughter is getting Me for my birthday ...

[forglasgowonly]

I know it was released elsewhere before, but I would have thought they would have included Respect for the sleepers in this deluxe for completeness

[mestreech]

Is there any American sickthing who already has this one delivered.
I know some of you already got shippingnotes.

[Dannorama]

Is there any American sickthing who already has this one delivered.
I know some of you already got shippingnotes.

As a matter of fact, YES.

[Dannorama]

Holy crap. Disc 2 is far worth the price. No Horns, no big backgrounds - it plays simply as the Alice Cooper group performing the Muscle of Love album. (Curious if Bob Greene can be heard in the bkgd?) “Crazy Little Child” is pretty raw, which makes it sound way more like it was recorded in a honky-tonk. That is a big enhancement to me.
Long story short - YES.

PS: My earlier question answered: Alice says that’s Mike on acoustic guitar.

[Saint&Sinner]

Mine was shipped at the weekend. im down for as many alice albums getting the deluxe treatment as possible. im genuinely excited to get it and hear these different versions. If they are anything like the raw versions on the recent schools out/killer reissues then im really excited for it.
bring on the 80s/90s reissues

[Dannorama]

Pssst. keep a secret: There is an awesome little fact involving a familiar name that is revealed in the new booklet.

[rodentdog]

Mine gets here tomorrow !

[VinceRaven]

Took delivery of the vinyl today, in Scotland.

Album sounds fantastic and the alternate versions are excellent.

The comments in the booklet are suitably illuminating.

If I was to nitpick, the fact that the records are in plain paper and not polylined sleeves is disappointing, especially considering how tight the paper sleeves are.

The reproductions of the original Institute of Nude Wrestling photos look a little darker than they were before.

Both of my paper sleeves have a little rip at the bottom, with the record easing out slightly. Funnily enough, this is exactly the same situation as my other copy, the one I bought nearly 45 years ago.

These are very small grumbles though. I'd highly recommend this purchase to anybody that has yet to take the leap.

[Si]

Took delivery of the vinyl today, in Scotland.

Were you hit by import duties/VAT/etc? If so how much?