ALICE COOPER Love It To Death New limited & numbered 180g Rhino High Fidelity LP

$

59

The Alice Cooper Love It to Death Rhino High Fidelity Numbered Edition, released on March 14, 2025, is a premium vinyl reissue of the band’s seminal 1971 third studio album. Limited to 5,000 individually numbered copies, this edition is part of Rhino’s acclaimed High Fidelity series, emphasizing audiophile-grade sound and packaging.

Here’s a detailed description:

• Audio Quality: The album is AAA cut from the original stereo master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, pressed on 180-gram heavyweight black vinyl at Optimal Media. The mastering delivers exceptional clarity and detail, surpassing many original pressings. Neal Smith’s drums are crisper, Alice Cooper’s harmonica in “I’m Eighteen” is brighter, Glen Buxton and Michael Bruce’s guitars are more open, and Dennis Dunaway’s bass is tighter. Fans note previously unheard nuances, like guitar riffs in “I’m Eighteen” and keyboards in “Long Way to Go.” Most copies are dead quiet after a wet clean, though some report minor pops, with Optimal’s pressing quality receiving mixed feedback compared to plants like RTI or Pallas.

• Packaging: Presented in a heavyweight glossy gatefold “tip-on” jacket, evoking vintage vinyl aesthetics. It includes a four-page insert with historical artifacts, photos, and new liner notes featuring commentary from co-producer Bob Ezrin, as told to Jaan Uhelszki, detailing the album’s recording at RCA Mid-America Recording Center in Chicago. An obi strip highlights the limited numbered edition. However, some copies suffered shipping damage, with records cutting through the jacket top due to misaligned inner sleeves.

• Track Listing:

• Side 1: “Caught in a Dream” (3:04), “I’m Eighteen” (2:57), “Long Way to Go” (3:01), “Black Juju” (9:09)

• Side 2: “Is It My Body” (2:40), “Hallowed Be My Name” (2:25), “Second Coming” (3:02), “Ballad of Dwight Fry” (6:32), “Sun Arise” (3:53)

• Album Significance: Love It to Death, produced by Bob Ezrin and Jack Richardson, marked Alice Cooper’s shift from psychedelic rock to a tight, theatrical hard-rock sound, laying the foundation for shock rock. It was their first commercial success, peaking at No. 35 on the Billboard 200 and earning platinum certification, driven by the Top 40 single “I’m Eighteen” (No. 21). The album influenced hard rock, punk, and heavy metal, with tracks like “Caught in a Dream” and “Ballad of Dwight Fry” becoming live standards. Rolling Stone named it among the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time,” praising its “garage swagger.”

• Reception: Audiophiles and fans praise this reissue for its superior sound, calling it the best-sounding pressing of Love It to Death to date, far clearer than mid-1970s U.S. pressings. The detailed mastering highlights the band’s raw energy and Ezrin’s production.

The numbered edition sold out quickly, reflecting high demand, with an unnumbered version later available. The artwork is lauded for its sharp, clear photos, though shipping issues marred some experiences.