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Typically, I don’t like cover discs, and I usually I like tribute CD’s even less. In most cases songs are often watered down, and rarely live up the originals. For this reason, I missed “Welcome To the Nightmare – An All Star Salute To Alice Cooper” when it was released back in 2005.  As luck has it, I stumbled across this lost gem by accident, which I heard the Vince Neil and Mick Mars cover of “Cold Ethyl”.  After hearing this song, I had to see this CD out.  Man oh mercy, am I glad I did!

To say that this CD has an All Star cast is probably the understatement of the year. The sheer amount of talent on this CD is absolutely insane.  On vocals you will find Ronnie James Dio, Bruce Dickinson, Phil Lewis, Dee Snider, Joe Elliott, Roger Daltrey, Vince Neil, Don Dokken, Dave Mustaine, and Glen Hughes. On guitar you will find, Marty Friedman, George Lynch, Mick Mars, John Norum, Zakk Wylde, Phil Collen, Adrian Smith, Slash, Paul Gilbert and Billy Duffy.  Iced Earth, and Icarus Witch also complement this roster with their full band versions of the Alice Cooper classics. Amazingly, this is only a portion of the incredible talent on this disc.

What does all of this talent add up to?  One cool cover CD, with some great songs that possibly one up, the iconic shock rocker they are meant to be a tribute to.  The Vince Neil/Mick Mars version of “Cold Ethyl”, could easily work as a Motley Crue cover. This kick ass tune is far from the lone highlight on the CD though.

Dio howls on “Welcome to My Nightmare”, Phil Lewis  and George Lynch knocks “Billion Dollar Babies” out of the park.  The Joe Elliott/Phil Collen version of “Under My Wheels” could have easily been on the Def Leppard cover CD, “Yeah!”.  It is better than some of the songs they released on that disc.  The Icarus Witch version of “Roses on White Lace” was far better than I expected it to be.  The only major disappoint to me on this disc, was Children of Bodom’s version of “Bed of Nails” that I found a little too screechy for my tastes.

As a whole, this CD rocks and I keep hitting replay, which is the sign of a great CD!  “Welcome To the Nightmare” has give me all new respect for these Alice Cooper classics.

All of this great music was cool enough, but as a bonus, my copy came in a really cool, blood red, textured digipak.  Very cool indeed!

You can snag copies of this CD, dirt cheap at this link.  If you are an Alice Cooper fan, I highly recommend it.  All others rockers ought to give this one shot. You will love it!  Highly Recommended!

Rating: Out of 10

1.  Welcome to My Nightmare – Ronnie James Dio/Steve Lukather
2.  Dead Babies – Iced Earth
3.  School’s Out – Dave Mustaine/Marty Friedman
4.  Black Widow – Bruce Dickinson/Adrian Smith/Tony Franklin/Tommy Aldridge
5.  Bed of Nails – Children Of Bodom
6.  Go to Hell – Dee Snider/Zakk Wylde/Rudy Sarzo/Frankie Banali
7.  Roses on White Lace – Icarus Witch
8.  Cold Ethyl – Vince Neil/Mick Mars
9.  Under My Wheels – Joe Elliott/Phil Collen
10. Elected – Steve Jones/Billy Duffy/Duff McKagan/Matt Sorum
11. No More Mr. Nice Guy – Roger Daltrey/Slash
12. Billion Dollar Babies – Phil Lewis/George Lynch
13. Eighteen – Don Dokken/John Norum
14. Only Women Bleed – Glenn Hughes/Paul Gilbert