Album of the Day

The first two albums Alice Cooper cut for Straight Records went largely unnoticed, but when Warner Bros. bought the Zappa-affiliated label, the band got a second chance and made the most of it. Released 50 years ago this month, LOVE IT TO DEATH introduced the group to producer Bob Ezrin, with whom they'd make a string of hits, and the collection perfects the quintet's full-throttle hard rock attack. The songwriting also reaches a new peak, with such highlights as “Is It My Body,” “Caught in a Dream” and “I'm Eighteen,” a Top 40 single that provided inspiration to both the Ramones and the Sex Pistols. Those anthems (and a spectacular stage show) made LOVE IT TO DEATH Alice Cooper's first big success, and the album would eventually go platinum.