Released in 1970, Easy Action was the second album by the Alice Cooper band and the last before producer extraordinaire, Bob Ezrin would take the reins and forever change the course of Alice Cooper. For this album, however, David Briggs played the producer’s role and assisted in creating an album that was still focused on psychedelic influences but was less avant-garde than Alice Cooper’s self-produced 1969 debut Pretties for You. Part of the shift was undoubtedly due to Briggs’ influence, who by that stage was already well established with Neil Young having co-produced Neil Young and Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, but it’s also fair to say that Briggs didn’t connect with the band in the same manner as Ezrin would when recording Love It to Death. According to Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith, Briggs had called Alice Cooper’s music ‘psychedelic shit’¹. It was in relation to the song Lay Down and Die, Goodbye, so context is important, for the song is psychedelic acid rock by nature, but as Smith suggests it really did showcase just how much interest Briggs had in pushing the Alice Cooper band to new creative heights.
While Briggs would never produce another Alice Cooper record, placing an unsuitable producer with an artist is sadly all too common within the industry. In this instance, however, we can blame naivety and Shep Gordon, Cooper’s longtime manager, for asking David Briggs to produce Easy Action following the underproduced effort Frank Zappa put into Pretties for You; an album that was essentially composed of rehearsal material. Gordon described to Marc Maron² that following a chance meeting with Briggs, and upon explaining the recording process of Pretties for You, was told by Briggs that that is not how music was written and recorded. Being instantly schooled on the matter, Gordon then asked Briggs if he would produce Easy Action to which he agreed. Of course, it was for naught as the record label (Zappa’s Straight Records) refused to use Briggs’ tapes, according to Gordon, instead choosing, again, to use the rehearsal tapes. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it, what Briggs’ tapes would have sounded like and if they’ll ever see the light of day?
Upon reflection, we can see why Zappa’s Straight Records would want to continue with a rough and raw approach because both Pretties for You and Easy Action has unique qualities that are, certainly in my mind, unmatched. However, as is often the case, the plot thickens. In further discussion with Maron, Gordon would proclaim that the rehearsal tapes for Easy Action were used to ensure that the albums would not appeal to a wider audience as Zappa had been given millions by Warner to sign new artists and if they failed to be a success, he wouldn’t have to pay out royalties. Ridiculous, yes, but not uncommon!
What else is not uncommon is poorly pressed and mastered vinyl releases. One could argue that they’re getting better, but the 2009 vinyl re-issue certainly does not fall into that category and should be avoided at all costs. Sonically it’s a mess. It has a decent soundstage and clear stereo separation on several tracks but is a muffled mess on others. Yes, the earlier Alice Cooper albums have a raw and unpolished feel to them that borders on garage rock, but when comparing it directly to the lossless Apple Music stream, I prefer the latter for it offers a more consistent sound which is less fatiguing to listen to.
Additionally, the original gatefold design was omitted, most likely as a cost-saving measure, and those cheap rice paper sleeves that the record shipped in are an insult to every serious music lover. The ghastly green marble coloured vinyl, however, is this collector’s worst nightmare.
What is correct, or incorrect as the case may be, is the tracklisting on the rear vinyl sleeve whereby Lay Down and Die, Goodbye is the second to last track. This error seems to be present on all original releases that I’ve looked at via Discogs but the error has been rectified on the most recent reissues from 2018 that include the gatefold design. While the Alice Cooper fan within would love to pick up one of the 2018 reissues, it is a case of once bitten twice shy and as much as I appreciate having a complete collection, Easy Action sounds fantastic on Apple Music; hence I feel the stream will suffice.
Mr. & Misdemeanor opens Easy Action with somewhat of a more focused vocal style whereby Cooper’s signature growl makes its first appearance. Even the overall musicality of the band, which would be refined in future records, comes through clearly when listening to Mr. & Misdemeanor thereby making it a solid starting point for the Alice Cooper style of music they’d become most recognised for. Perhaps the greatest failing here is the mix isn’t the best as it sounds rather concealed in places. It’s as if there’s an exceptional tune waiting to be unleashed but one that is simultaneously being held back.
Shoe Salesman has a Beatles’ influence that I simply adore. Whether or not it was intentional is irrelevant for it makes the song a standout on the album and is one tune that I would have loved to have heard the fab four record.
Still No Air is weird, even for the Alice Cooper band. It does have one redeeming quality, however, where the lyric ‘When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way’ is reused on the groovy Gutter Cat vs. The Jets. This isn’t the only time Alice Cooper would self-plagiarise, for it has also occurred on Refrigerator Heaven and Reflected, but in all cases, the reimaginations offered a worthwhile improvement.
Below Your Means has a Doors’ sound signature that could be perfectly suited to either band. The bluesy guitar work on this song is glorious making for an overall pleasurable rhythmic experience. I would have loved to have heard Alice Cooper re-record this song with Bob Ezrin as I swear it could have been a stadium filling tune. Nevertheless, Alice would take a backseat here with Michael Bruce taking the vocal reins in a wonderful performance that is only bested by Beautiful Flyaway.
Return of the Spiders sees a return to Cooper’s gruff vocal that we all know and love; albeit with a little less polish than on Mr. & Misdemeanor. The musical accompaniment, however, fails to impress for the improv style would work well in a live setting but is somewhat lacking in a studio environment.
Laughing At Me can be seen, from a musical perspective, as a precursor to Desperado with specific regard to the tuning and twang of the guitar. An incredible song that all fans should listen to and have in their collection.
Refrigerator Heaven is one of those short and sweet songs that are quirky, yet addictively compelling. While the band or Alice himself wouldn’t perform any songs from Easy Action live, following the supporting tour for Love It to Death, he did rehash the lyrical quote Refrigerator Heaven on his first solo album, Welcome to My Nightmare, on the song Cold Ethyl; a song that would continue to be on the live setlist throughout the decades.
Beautiful Flyaway has a killer piano introduction by Michael Bruce. Bruce also performs lead vocals on Beautiful Flyaway, but you’d be forgiven if you missed that aspect as his vocal isn’t too dissimilar to Alice’s although a little smoother. While Bruce would go on to have modest success post-band breakup, he never really received the recognition he deserved for Beautiful Flyaway is one of the best songs on Easy Action and, in my opinion, is a vocal masterpiece that is often overlooked.
Lay Down and Die, Goodbye isn’t good but there are killer rock and roll elements placed throughout. Let’s just say that Bob Ezrin did a wonderful job when he stripped down not only Alice Cooper's sound but the over-the-top nonsensical musical experimentation.
Overall, Easy Action has some incredible tracks but I remain undecided if it is best listened to as a series of individual songs, selected at random and based on personal preference, or if it needs to be experienced in the album format. Perhaps I’ll never know and surprisingly I’m okay with not being able to pigeonhole Easy Action, for the internal conflict ensures that I’ll listen to, and enjoy, the album for many more years to come; just not via the 2009 vinyl reissue.
