Maps of Music

Along Came a Spider (2008)

Where the lyrics of Along Came a Spider take you, and where it was really made.

The killer at the heart of this concept album turns out to be Steven, a character from the earlier album Welcome to My Nightmare.

Key places

Recorded at Undercity Studios (2008)

Recording site Undercity Studios — The album's recording is listed at Undercity Studios. The source gives no session date for this studio, so only the place is recorded here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Mixed at Encore Recording Studios, Burbank (2008)

Recording site Encore Recording Studios — The album was mixed at Encore Recording Studios in Burbank. The source gives no mixing date, so only the place is recorded here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Along Came a Spider: 18th solo and 25th studio album by American rock musician Alice Cooper
• Released July 29, 2008 by Steamhammer/SPV
• Hard rock and heavy metal concept album
• Follows a psychopathic serial killer known as 'Spider' and the eventual undoing of his plans
• Commercial success; Cooper's highest-charting US studio effort since Hey Stoopid (1991)

Background

• Story first revealed on Cooper's radio show Nights with Alice Cooper
• Killer described as cool, calm and collected
• Victims are cocooned in silk webs and each is missing a leg
• Spider needs eight legs to finish building his own spider
• He falls in love with his eighth victim, which complicates his plans
• A closing internal voice reveals Spider as the character Steven from Welcome to My Nightmare
• Originally due for a 2007 release; producer scheduling and tour commitments pushed it to mid-2008
• Demos and songs were prepared and short-listed during 2007
• 75% of the album was complete as of April 18, 2008
• Cooper first planned a second part called The Night Shift, then decided to make Welcome 2 My Nightmare instead

Recording

• Further sessions for recording and writing took place in February 2008
• Recorded at Undercity Studios
• Mixed at Encore Recording Studios in Burbank
• Guest musicians include Slash, Ozzy Osbourne, Keri Kelli, Jason Hook, Whitey Kirst and David Piribauer
• Bernard Fowler contributed vocals and vocal arrangements on most tracks

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Alice Cooper originated in Phoenix, Arizona in 1964 as a band formed by Vincent Damon Furnier, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith.
• The group first performed as the Earwigs and later renamed themselves the Spiders and then Nazz.
• In 1968 the band adopted the name Alice Cooper, which was later also the new legal name of Furnier.

Members

• The classic lineup consisted of Furnier (lead vocals), Buxton (lead guitar), Bruce (rhythm guitar), Dunaway (bass) and Smith (drums).
• Furnier legally changed his name to Alice Cooper after the band disbanded in 1975.

Career

• The band released seven studio albums from 1969 to 1973, including Love It to Death, Killer, School's Out and Billion Dollar Babies.
• The band is known as a pioneer of shock rock, using theatrical stage shows with props and illusions.
• As a solo artist he released Welcome to My Nightmare in 1975 and has released 30 studio albums in total.
• The original band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.
• Cooper is considered by music journalists and peers to be 'The Godfather of Shock Rock'.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Reviews from various publications were mixed to positive
• AllMusic's David Jeffries said Cooper had produced better concept albums before, but praised the lyrics for their clever and gruesome wordplay
• Blabbermouth.net praised the album as an elder rock icon's record that still sounds fresh and relevant
• The album was released as a hard rock and heavy metal concept album

Reappraisal

• Jeffries judged this record below Cooper's earlier concept albums while still crediting its wordplay
• Blabbermouth.net treated the album as evidence that an established rock veteran could still sound current
• The concept's story is built on a serial killer whose plan is undone, which reviewers tied to the album's lyrics

Records

• Became Cooper's highest-charting US studio effort since Hey Stoopid (1991)
• Described as a commercial success
• Released in 2008 by Steamhammer/SPV

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Unlike Dragontown, The Eyes of Alice Cooper and Dirty Diamonds, this album got a music video to promote it.
• The video runs about 10 minutes and was directed by Piggy D and Gabrielle Geiselman.
• The video is a medley of three songs: Vengeance Is Mine, (In Touch With Your) Feminine Side and Killed By Love.
• Slash and Ozzy Osbourne appear as guests on Vengeance Is Mine and Wake the Dead.
• The album's second part, first planned as The Night Shift, was replaced by Welcome 2 My Nightmare.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org

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