Happy Birthday: Welcome to My Nightmare Turns 44

The critics really had no idea what to make of what would be the 8th release from Alice Cooper, but the first to be issued as a solo effort. It was not like what they had heard from Alice in the past, and saw Cooper building more on theatrical themes than he had on past projects. Welcome to My Nightmare, which is a concept album revolving around the nightmares of a rather disturbed child named Steven, was largely panned by critics and even fans as having lost the edge of the former Alice Cooper Band. However, in spite of the “luke warm” reception, the record contains one of Cooper’s biggest hits, the song “Only Women Bleed”, which reached number 1 on the Canadian RPM national singles chart and number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1975.  “Cold Ethyl”, “Devil’s Food”, “Department of Youth” and the title track are still staples in Alice Coopers live shows. Happy Birthday! Welcome to My Nightmare is 44 today.