Album of the Day

When Phoenix, AZ garage band The Nazz relocated to L.A. and renamed themselves Alice Cooper, opportunity knocked in the person of Frank Zappa, who signed the quintet to his Straight Records label. The band's debut album, PRETTIES FOR YOU, followed in June 1969, and its spontaneity and eccentric arrangements reflect the psychedelic spirit of the time (Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, with whom the group hung out, was an influence). Though the big hits were still a couple of years away, you can hear one in embryonic form: “Reflected” would later be rewritten as “Elected.” On this day in 1969, Alice Cooper opened for Led Zeppelin at Hollywood's Whisky A Go Go, and PRETTIES FOR YOU is a snapshot of the band before another move (to Detroit) put their career into high gear.