The Transformation of a Folk Classic: Alice Cooper’s ‘Hello Hooray’ as a Rock Anthem
In the vibrant year of 1973, alice Cooper had evolved beyond being merely a rock icon; he had become the master of a loud and theatrical spectacle. As he and his band set out to create what would become the iconic album Billion Dollar Babies, they found themselves in search of the ideal opening track-something that could capture the electrifying energy of a packed arena.
Unexpectedly, the answer came from a folk-pop song that had previously gained fame through Judy Collins. This song underwent a dramatic transformation, morphing into a dark yet empowering anthem that rallied fans for Alice’s grand entrance.
A New Chapter in Alice Cooper’s Career
Billion Dollar Babies signified a pivotal shift in Cooper’s artistic journey. Following the success of his 1972 hit “School’s Out,” he garnered a massive teenage following while concurrently inciting the ire of parents who feared the song would incite rebellion and truancy.
In response to this newfound fame, Cooper began to reshape his image from an underground shock rocker to a headline-grabbing provocateur. The track “Elected” from Billion Dollar Babies exemplified this new persona,presenting Alice as a presidential candidate for the rock generation.
The Visionary Behind the Sound
Bob Ezrin, Cooper’s producer, played a crucial role in this transformation. His innovative approach to music production, characterized by theatrical elements, elevated Cooper’s sound. From incorporating children’s voices in “School’s out” to adding brass sections in “Elected,” Ezrin’s creativity knew no bounds.
For Cooper’s grand re-emergence, ezrin identified a song that he believed would serve as the perfect opener: “Hello, Hooray.”
Originally penned by Canadian singer-songwriter Rolf Kempf, the song was famously covered by Collins in her 1968 album, Who Knows Where the Time Goes. The lyrics revolve around a performer on the brink of stepping into the spotlight, a theme that resonated perfectly with Cooper’s evolving persona.
Convincing the Rock Star
However,Cooper was initially hesitant about the choice.”I heard it and I said, ‘Bob, this is a folk song,’” he recounted during The Alice Cooper Show Radio Special. Ezrin countered, “no, listen to the lyrics. It’s about a guy who is about to go onstage. And he’s terrified – but he’s ready.”
“it was the perfect opening for Billion Dollar Babies,” Cooper concluded.
“I said, ’Bob, this is a folk song.’ He said, ‘No, listen to the lyrics. It’s about a guy who is about to go onstage. And he’s terrified – but he’s ready.’”
– Alice Cooper
Reimagining the Sound
Working alongside Ezrin, Cooper reimagined Kempf’s folk-pop tune into a powerful declaration of his newfound identity. they crafted new lyrics that directly addressed the audience, enhanced the arrangement with orchestral elements, and incorporated cannon blasts that resonated throughout the song’s extended outro.
to add depth to the track, Ezrin enlisted guitarist Steve Hunter, who was tasked with infusing the intro and solo with harmonized slide guitar work.
At the time, Hunter’s most significant achievements were still on the horizon-such as his work on Aerosmith’s “Train Kept A’ Rollin’” and Peter Gabriel’s ”Solsbury Hill.” Nevertheless, he possessed a keen intuition for what a song required.
Initially, hunter was skeptical of Ezrin’s vision. ”it had a great arrangement, and it had terrific parts played very well by the Alice Cooper boys,” he shared with guitar Player. “But I was taken aback when Bob suggested a slide part for the song’s solo section. I had tried slide playing before and found it much more challenging than it seemed.”
The Unique Instrumentation
Despite his reservations, hunter had spent years mastering lap-steel guitar, which he decided to adapt for the session. However, he arrived with a vintage Gibson electric pedal steel guitar, a model from the mid-1950s that had seen better days, with only three functioning pedals.
“Whatever Bob had in mind when he envisioned a ‘slide part,’ it was a pedal-steel performance.”
– Steve Hunter
“I tuned the guitar to an open E, the first pedal to an open A, and the third pedal to an A minor chord,” Hunter explained. “With all its issues, when plugged into a Marshall half-stack, it sounded amazing, likely due to its PAF pickup.”
Although Hunter typically favored improvisation for solos, he and Ezrin agreed that a structured solo was necessary for the song.
“I worked out the solo,” he recalled, “then doubled the first half and played harmony to the second half. Over the chords immediately following the solo, I adjusted a couple of the guitar’s ‘chord pedals’ to follow the progression.”
“The tone was quite organic.We used studio gear like compressors and EQ, but my guitar tones primarily came from the amp and guitar controls. I still cherish the tone of that old pedal steel on ’hello Hooray.’”
Sadly, Hunter no longer possesses the Gibson pedal steel. “It met a tragic end,” he lamented. “If I had known then what I know now, I would have kept that PAF pickup.”
A resounding Success
Ezrin’s instincts proved to be spot on. “Hello Hooray” (dropping the original comma) became a hit, climbing to number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and serving as a breathtaking opener for the Billion Dollar babies tour.
“That song was the quintessential Alice opening,” Cooper reflected. “It was the call to arms. It told the audience, ‘The show is starting, and you’re part of it now.’”
