Ballad Of Dwight Fry by Alice Cooper

Album: Love It To Death (1971)

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This song is a salute to the actor Dwight Frye, who played maniacal characters in many Universal horror films, including Renfield from the original Dracula (1931). Cooper dropped the "E" from the name to avoid a lawsuit.
In concert, Cooper would perform this song in a straitjacket from which he would escape and strangle a nurse. Later live performances of this song included a mock beheading of Cooper onstage with a fake guillotine. >>
Suggestion credit:
Alan - Zanesville, OH, for above 2
The shock rock legend wrote this song with guitarist/songwriter Michael Bruce, who was an original member of the Alice Cooper Group. During his tenure with the band, Bruce wrote or co-wrote many of their biggest hits, including "No More Mr. Nice Guy," "I'm Eighteen," and "School's Out." He also played keyboards and contributed vocals on their records.
The child's voice at the song's intro was actually a woman in her early 20s, who was a friend of the band. >>
Suggestion credit:
Mark - Windsor, Canada
This is a track from Love It To Death, the third studio album by Alice Cooper (the band). Co-produced by Bob Ezrin and Jack Richardson, the album climbed to #35 on the US Billboard 200 album chart and #28 on the UK album charts. It also featured the track "I'm Eighteen," which brought the band its first big mainstream hit and became one of Cooper's most recognized songs. The band established their accessible Heavy Metal sound on this collection.

The album also marked the beginning of a productive, long-term working relationship between Cooper and Ezrin. Following Love It To Death, Cooper recruited Ezrin to produce a number of albums for both the Alice Cooper Group and his solo releases. Among the notable albums he produced for Cooper include School's Out, Billion Dollar Babies, Welcome to My Nightmare and Lace and Whisky. Throughout the '70s, Ezrin was one of the most successful and in-demand music producers on the rock scene. In addition to Cooper, other notable acts he has worked with include KISS, Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, Dr. John and Rod Stewart.
In addition to this song, Michael Bruce also contributed to the writing of five other tracks on the album, two of which he penned entirely on his own: "Caught in a Dream" and "Long Way to Go."
A gaggle of inmates at an insane asylum were among the first to hear this song. The Alice Cooper Band worked it up after moving from Los Angeles to the Detroit area in 1970. They were living and rehearsing at an abandoned farm in Pontiac, just north of Detroit, right next to an insane asylum.

"The inmates would stand by the fence and listen to them rehearsing, working on the songs in a barn," Gary Graff, author of Alice Cooper @75, explained on the Songfacts Podcast. They had the doors thrown open and the window of the hay loft thrown open. How appropriate was it that Alice Cooper's test market would be the residents of an asylum next door? That had some influence on 'Ballad Of Dwight Fry.'"

Comments: 21

Lisa Stevenson from CaJust saw him perform again. Never a disappointment!
Lisa Stevenson from San DiegoI saw him for the 3rd time Thursday night. Every concert is awesome.
AnonymousActually, he was born Fry.
George from Vancouver, CanadaWhy should he fear a lawsuit over a TRIBUTE, fer cryin' out loud?! How stupid had the country become already? :( An obvious homage. Frye should be so lucky to have had a career resurgence because of Cooper.
NikkiAnyone wondering where they heard the song from, you may have heard it from the Johnny Depp film Dark Shadows. (Directed by Tim Burton).
Seren Campbell-knight from Wales, United KingdomI'm trying to think where I found this song from, and I can't think. Does anybody know what films/series this song was featured in??
Chali from Philly, PaAlice Cooper was out long before "Love it to Death", they toured Viet Nam in 67 or 68.
Tim from Okc, OkTHE MELVINS (famous groundbreaking Seattle band) do an absolutely crushing version of this particular tune.
Bec from Ft. Laud, Fljeaus you kids need to grow up,cooper is master
Mike from Eugene, OrRead somewhere when Alice was trying to prepare for the "I wanna get out of here" rant he laid down on the floor and had folding chairs piled on him to get into character
Mark from Grafton, United StatesThe piano part to this song was written by guitarist Michael Bruce. However, producer Bob Ezrin actually played the part for the recording session. The original Alice Cooper group was much better than anything Alice did solo.
Blaine from Lake Villa, IlA great song by one of the best artists out there PERIOD!. Alice Cooper is beyond compare that little wanaby manson is not even fit to kiss his shoes.
J.r. from Columbia, ScAwesome song for Halloween
Lester from New York City, NyI'm a big fan of 1931's 'Dracula' (Renfield especially), and a big fan of Alice's since 'Love It To Death'. I saw Alice at Gaelic Park in Bronx, NY 1n 1971 with Black Sabbath (obviously, the headliners) and Black Oak Arkansas (unadvertised, as NO ONE knew who or what BOA was). This was just before Alice was big enough to afford all the theatrics. For 'Black Juju', Alice covered the other band members in white sheets.
Joel from Columbia, ScHave you ever listened to Alice Cooper stoned?
Michael from Manhattan, NyDwight Frye would sit in the corner inside a crypt and repeat "I like to eat spiders and flies." No wonder I love classic Alice Cooper.
We are both in the same fan club as well as both
"Caught in a Dream." SO WHAT, WHO CARES!!!
P J from Okc, OkAlice Cooper is the greatest! He does the on stage antics better then anyone. This concert and album was the first of many. But this was my favorite one, because no one had done it before!

PJ
Joel from Columbia, ScCreepy but still an awesome song.
Mike from Ann Arbor, MiTwo great lines I'll never forget "Id give her back all of her play things, even,even the ones I stole" and of course "Mommy where's daddy, do you think he'll ever come home?" Got to love early Alice!
Vassarette from Los Angeles, Ca"I wanna get out of here" mirrored the plight of the asylum-committed Renfield (Frye) in Dracula. Frye was also in the original "Frankenstein" as the doctor's demented assistant, and was a gravedigger in "Bride of Frankenstein" and a reporter in "The Invisible Man." The poor guy died of a heart attack while riding a bus with his family. He was only in his 40's.
Alpesinger from Inverness, ScotlandThis song is amazing. I love early Alice Cooper. Dwight Frye was a great actor.

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