Alice Cooper "Trash (USA, Epic Records, 4651302)"

Trash is the eleventh solo studio album by American rock musician Alice Cooper. It was released on July 25, 1989, by Epic Records. The album features the single "Poison", Cooper's first top ten hit since his single "You and Me" in 1977 and marked a great success in Cooper's musical career, reaching the Top 20 of various album charts and selling more than two million copies. Trash features John McCurry (who has previously worked with Julian Lennon) on guitar, Hugh McDonald of Bon Jovi on bass as well as Bobby Chouinard and Alan St. Jon, both from Billy Squier's solo band on drums and keyboards, respectively. The album was the "biggest hit among his hair metal albums", peaking at number two in the UK and number 20 in the US.

After his return to the music industry with the successful "The Nightmare Returns" tour, Cooper had sought assistance from Desmond Child to create a comeback album. Trash became one of Cooper's biggest albums, accompanied by music videos for "Poison", "Bed of Nails", "House of Fire", and "Only My Heart Talkin'". A successful year-long worldwide concert tour in support of the album was documented in the home video release Alice Cooper Trashes The World.

The album features many guest performances including Jon Bon Jovi, Stiv Bators, and singer/guitarist Kane Roberts (who left Cooper's band in 1988), as well as four of the five members of Aerosmith, Cooper's 1970s contemporaries who were also making a successful comeback at the time (only Brad Whitford did not participate). Songwriting contributions were also made by Joan Jett, Diane Warren, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and John McCurry.

The album has received mostly positive reviews. AllMusic reviewer Alex Henderson gave the album four stars out of five describing it as a "highly slick and commercial yet edgy pop-metal effort that temporarily restored him to the charts in a big way". Rolling Stone placed the album at 36 on their list of the "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time". Kerrang! put the album in sixth place in on their ranking of every Alice Cooper album. MetalSucks included the album at No. 7 on their list of "The Ten Best Must-Have Glam Metal Albums".

Track listing

1. "Poison" Alice Cooper · Desmond Child · John McCurry 4:29
2. "Spark in the Dark" Cooper · Child 3:52
3. "House of Fire" Cooper · Child · Joan Jett 3:47
4. "Why Trust You" Cooper · Child 3:12
5. "Only My Heart Talkin'" Cooper · Bruce Roberts · Andy Goldmark 4:47
6. "Bed of Nails" Cooper · Child · Kane Roberts · Diane Warren 4:20
7. "This Maniac's in Love with You" Cooper · Child · Bob Held · Tom Teeley 3:48
8. "Trash" Cooper · Child · Mark Frazier · Jamie Sever 4:01
9. "Hell Is Living Without You" Cooper · Child · Jon Bon Jovi · Richie Sambora 4:11
10. "I'm Your Gun" Cooper · Child · McCurry 3:47

Total length: 40:11

Recording information:

Produced by Desmond Child

Recorded by Sir Arthur Payson, Obie O'Brien and Nick DiDia (both at Sanctuary Studios), George Cowan (at Bearsville), Mark Tanzer (at Blue Jay), Lolly Grodner (at Mediasound), Ben Fowler (at Power Station), John Herman (at Right Track), Brian Peterofsky (at Sigma Sound).

Assistant Engineers: Duane Seykora (at The Complex) and Robert Hart (Village Recorders).

Mixed by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero.

Mastered by George Marino.

Winger "Better Days Comin' (Japan, Avalon, MICP-11146)"

Better Days Comin' is the sixth studio album by American rock band Winger. It was released on April 23, 2014, debuting at #21 on the Top Current Rock Albums Chart and #85 on the Billboard 200.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kip Winger and Reb Beach except as noted

1. "Midnight Driver of a Love Machine" Winger, Beach, Donnie Purnell 4:14
2. "Queen Babylon" Winger, Beach, Purnell 4:31
3. "Rat Race" Winger, Beach, Purnell 3:36
4. "Better Days Comin'" 3:31
5. "Tin Soldier" Winger, Beach, Purnell 3:49
6. "Ever Wonder" Winger 6:52
7. "So Long China" Beach, John Roth, Winger, Stephanie Rachel Lewis 4:17
8. "Storm in Me" Beach, Roth, Winger 4:42
9. "Be Who You Are Now" Roth, Winger, Mark Hudson 5:11
10. "Another Beautiful Day" (bonus track on deluxe edition with DVD) Beach, John Goodwin, Winger 3:14
11. "Out of This World" Winger, Beach, Paula Winger 6:37
12. "Better Days Comin' - (Stoner Re-Mix)"  Japan bonus track

Recording information:

Production

Kip Winger – producer & mixing

Paul Blakemore – mastering

Jason Green – video production

Dave Hoffis – assistant engineer

Dan Hubp – video production

Pride Smith – artwork

Deeandra Swabb – administration

Andres Martinez – photograph

Denise Truscello – band photographer

Chris Corey – band photographer

Winger "Karma (Digipak, Enhanced CD, Italy, Frontiers Records, FR CD 429)"

Karma is the fifth studio album by American rock band Winger. It was released on October 16, 2009, in Europe and October 27, 2009, in the United States.

The inspiration for a new Winger came about at the end of 2008, when frontman Kip Winger had the vision to meld the more commercial, heavier and song-oriented approach of the first two albums with the more "thinking-man" approach of the last two studio records. Kip Winger said of the title that "We were discussing the very interesting path the band has had and we have all been through so much together. So we went for Karma as this is a word that truly sums up the experience of being in the band."

When questioned about the album, Kip Winger stated: "When the chance came up to do a new Winger record, I envisioned an upbeat totally rocking record that was a cross between the first Winger album and Pull. So Reb and I sat down and wrote all the music in a month or so. I worked for six months to finish it in the classic Winger style."

In August 2009, Reb Beach wrote on his website that "Anyway, Kip and I have started the fifth Winger record, and I think you all are going to be so happy with it. I fly to Nashville next week to finish the guitars. It's very up-tempo, Mötley Crüe-ish stuff. The tunes are, you know, party, good time, bang your head stuff. It has the elements of being the best Winger record yet, so we'll see. I did the best solo of my career on the outro of a 'Headed for a Heartbreak' type song, that I know! It's two minutes long!!".

Track listing

1. "Deal with the Devil" Kip Winger, Reb Beach, Donnie Purnell 3:00
2. "Stone Cold Killer" K. Winger, Beach 2:45
3. "Big World Away" K. Winger, Beach 3:50
4. "Come a Little Closer" K. Winger, Beach 2:50
5. "Pull Me Under" K. Winger, Beach, Dann Huff 3:20
6. "Supernova" K. Winger, Beach, Paula Jane Winger 6:17
7. "Always Within Me" K. Winger 4:15
8. "Feeding Frenzy" K. Winger, Beach, P. J. Winger 3:00
9. "After All This Time" K. Winger, Beach, John Roth 6:24
10. "Witness" K. Winger, Beach 6:59

European release bonus track

1. "First Ending" (instrumental) Rod Morgenstein 2:07
2. "Making Of Karma" (Video documentary)   8:38

Recording information: 

Producer – C.F. Kip Winger

Recorded By – C.F. Kip Winger

Studio: Rising Sun Studio.

Mastered By: Rising Sun Mastering.

Pete Cotutsca, Arthur Sloatman – additional engineering

Winger "IV (Japan, Nexus, KICP-1201)"

IV is the fourth studio album by American rock band Winger, and the first since their 1993 album Pull.

According to frontman Kip Winger, one morning he "just woke up and heard the new Winger record" in his head, knowing just what he wanted to do with it. It was released in October 2006 on Frontiers Records. The album is the most musically progressive album of Winger's career. Lyrically, much of the album is sung from the perspective of U.S. soldiers stationed overseas. Kip Winger was inspired to do this after performing solo shows at U.S. military bases, and being touched by the stories of the soldiers he met.

The album cover, showing a U.S. soldier being watched over by angels, was drawn by comic book artist Ethan Van Sciver, known for his work at DC and Marvel Comics. Kip Winger was introduced to Van Sciver by a mutual friend in Florida.

In 2009 Kip Winger was presented by U.S. General Harold Cross with an honorary plaque and U.S. flag that had flown in Iraq for the song "Blue Suede Shoes", which honors the service and sacrifice of the United States armed forces and their families.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kip Winger and Reb Beach (except where noted)

1. "Right Up Ahead" 5:07
2. "Blue Suede Shoes" 3:46
3. "Four-Leaf Clover" 4:18
4. "M16" Kip Winger 3:57
5. "Your Great Escape" Kip Winger, Reb Beach, Paula Winger 3:55
6. "Disappear" 3:49
7. "On a Day Like Today" Kip Winger, Reb Beach, Paula Winger 6:24
8. "Livin' Just to Die" 3:40
9. "Short Flight to Mexico" Kip Winger, Reb Beach, Paula Winger 4:18
10. "Generica" 6:33
11. "Can't Take It Back" 4:05

Japanese edition bonus track

1. "Blue Suede Shoes" (Acoustic) 3:32

Recording information:

Production credits

Produced, engineered and mixed by Kip Winger

Additional engineers: Tony Green, Matt Abbott and John Roth

Pro-Tools engineers: Buckley Miller and Steve Warren

Recorded at The Funky White House, Nashville, TN and Quad Studios, Nashville, TN

Mastered by Richard Dodd

Cover art design: Ethan Van Sciver

Color artist: Moose Baumann

Layout design: Pete Cotutsca

Photos by Mark Delong