Yesterday, we told you about a new box set focusing on America’s complete Warner Bros. studio albums.  Well, today, Rhino has announced a similar set focusing on shock-rocker Alice Cooper to be released July 31.  The Studio Albums: 1969-1983 is a fifteen-disc set containing the fifteen Alice Cooper Band and Alice Cooper solo studio recordings in that 14-year period.

The band Alice Cooper began performing in the late 1960s with their first LP being 1969’s Pretties for You on Frank Zappa’s Straight label.  The band consisted of Vincent Furnier on vocals and harmonica, Glen Buxton on lead guitar, Dennis Dunaway on bass guitar, Michael Bruce on rhythm guitar and Neal Smith on drums.  They soon signed with Warner Brothers and had a hit with “School’s Out” in 1972 from the album of the same name.  Their next album, Billion Dollar Babies, would hit No. 1.  Amid disagreements, the original band would break up in 1974.  Soldiering on, Furnier officially changed his name to Alice Cooper and released 1975’s Welcome to my Nightmare as a solo project.  The rest, as they say is, history.  With his theatrical stage persona, Cooper today is recognized as one of the pioneers of heavy metal and shock rock as he introduced horror elements into the rock genre.  He has also become known for his witty offstage persona having appeared in movies, television, radio and even comic books.  Cooper stayed with Warner Brothers through 1984.  He then moved on to several more labels including MCA and Epic to record 11 more studio albums to date.  The original band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.

This new box set contains all of the 15 studio albums from Cooper through 1983.  Several of the albums have contained bonus tracks on past reissues; it’s unlikely that these have been retained.  No remastering information has been revealed either, meaning that (unlike the America set) it’s likely that the most recent masters have been utilized for this collection.  However, this set looks to be a very convenient way to acquire a large portion of Cooper’s catalog if you don’t already own it.  Rhino’s press release is reprinted in full just below.  Alice Cooper is still going strong and is on tour this summer in North America with Mötley Crüe.  If that tour gets in the mood to listen to more Cooper, this box set may be for you.  You can pre-order at the links below!

LOS ANGELES – Alice Cooper has rattled the cages of the establishment with his hard-rocking music and theatrical stagecraft for nearly five decades. Since his 1969 debut, Cooper has sold more than 50 million albums, headlined sold-out tours, influenced countless artists, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Because there is no rest for the wicked, Cooper will hit the road this summer for a massive North American tour with Mötley Crüe.

Rhino has the perfect soundtrack to haunt your nightmares with a new 15-CD boxed set that includes all of the albums that Cooper recorded with Warner Bros. Records – The Studio Albums: 1969-1983 will be available on July 31. The set will also be available digitally.

The set is presented in a clamshell box and includes 15 albums: Pretties For You (1969), Easy Action (1970), Love It To Death (1971), Killer (1971), School’s Out (1972), Billion Dollar Babies (1973), Muscle Of Love (1973), Welcome To My Nightmare (1975), Alice Cooper Goes To Hell (1976), Lace And Whiskey (1977), From The Inside (1978), Flush The Fashion (1980), Special Forces (1981), Zipper Catches Skin (1982), and DaDa (1983).

Alice Cooper along with guitarists Glen Buxton and Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway and drummer Neal Smith recorded seven albums together, including four consecutive platinum records that culminated with the #1 album Billion Dollar Babies in 1973. This line-up generated indelible hard rock classics like “I’m Eighteen,” “School’s Out,” “Elected,” “Hello Hooray,” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy.”

After releasing the platinum-certified Alice Cooper’s Greatest Hits in 1974, Cooper launched a successful solo career in 1975 with Welcome To My Nightmare. The concept album about a child’s nightmares peaked at No. 5 on the charts, was certified platinum, and featured the hit ballad “Only Women Bleed.”

Over the next eight years, Cooper recorded seven more solo albums for Warner Bros. Among the many highlights from that period are the ballad “I Never Cry,” the Top Ten smash “You And Me” from Lace And Whiskey, “How You Gonna See Me Now” off of From The Inside , and “Clones (We’re All)” from Flush the Fashion.

Alice Cooper, The Studio Albums 1969-1983 (Warner Bros./Rhino, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

1. Pretties For You (1969)
2. Easy Action (1970)
3. Love It To Death (1971)
4. Killer (1971)
5. School’s Out (1972)
6. Billion Dollar Babies (1973)
7. Muscle Of Love (1973)
8. Welcome To My Nightmare (1975)
9. Alice Cooper Goes To Hell (1976)
10. Lace And Whiskey (1977)
11. From the Inside (1978)
12. Flush The Fashion (1980)
13. Special Forces (1981)
14. Zipper Catches Skin (1982)
15. DaDa (1983)