⭐ Rock Rolls On – LP Album: 1983
- Alice Cooper Group
- Jan 1, 1983
- 4 min read
Vinyl LP — ETR ET 4‑27‑1
Released: 1983 (US)
Michael Bruce reclaims his voice with a lean, guitar‑driven statement forged in the post‑Cooper wilderness.
Rock Rolls On arrived in 1983 as Michael Bruce’s second solo album — a fiercely independent release issued through the Nevada‑based Euro Tec Records & Tapes. Coming a decade after the Alice Cooper group’s peak, the album captures Bruce rebuilding his musical identity with grit, melody, and a tight circle of trusted collaborators.
Recorded between the Record Plant in Los Angeles and Pantheon Studios in Arizona, the album blends classic rock immediacy with Bruce’s signature melodic instincts. The sessions reunited him with Mick Mashbir and Bob Dolin — both veterans of the Billion Dollar Babies touring band — while also pulling in heavyweight players like David Foster, Ricky Phillips, and Dino Danelli.
Though the album never received mainstream promotion, it has become a cult favorite among Cooper collectors. Its two distinct sleeve variants — the illustrated red‑guitar cover and the alternate live‑photo edition — make it one of the most collectible Michael Bruce releases of the 1980s.
🔘 Track List
Side A
A1 — Rock Rolls On — 2:29
A2 — Gina — 3:06
A3 — Too Young — 2:53
A4 — Friday On My Mind — 3:26
Side B
B1 — Lucky Break — 3:30
B2 — In My Own Way — 3:45
B3 — Do You Wanna Know — 4:55
🔘 Variants
1️⃣ US — LP, Album, Stereo (Standard Sleeve)
Label: ETR — ET 4‑27‑1
Year: 1983
Notes:
• Red‑and‑black illustrated guitar artwork
• Pressed by KM Records (KM‑10968)
• Some copies stamped “Promotional Copy” on back
2️⃣ US — LP, Album, Alternate Sleeve
Label: ETR — ET 4‑27‑1
Year: 1983
Notes:
• Alternate cover featuring a live photo of Michael Bruce
• Same matrix and tracklist
• Manufactured & distributed by Euro Tec Records & Tapes
3️⃣ US — Cassette Edition
Label: ETR — ET 4‑27‑C
Year: 1983
Notes:
• Same 7‑track program
• Black cassette shell
• Rare due to low distribution
4️⃣ UK — CD Reissue (2018)
Label: Gonzo Multimedia — HST484CD
Year: 2018
Notes:
• First official CD release
• No bonus tracks
• Restores original album art
🔘 Chart Performance
• No chart entries documented
• Independent regional release with limited distribution
• Later gained cult status among Alice Cooper historians and collectors
🔘 Context & Notes
Recording Sessions:
• Record Plant, Los Angeles
• Pantheon Studios, Arizona
• Mixed at Record Plant
• Mastered at Capitol Studios & Artisan Sound Recorders
• Lacquer cut by Wally Traugott (“Wally”)
Personnel:
• Michael Bruce — vocals, guitar
• Mick Mashbir — guitar
• Bob Dolin — keyboards
• David Foster — piano
• Gene Cornish — bass
• Ricky Phillips — bass
• Barry Brandt — drums
• Dino Danelli — drums, percussion
• David Lindenmuth — vocals
Production:
• Produced by Bruce Caplin & Michael Bruce
• Manufactured & distributed by Euro Tec Records & Tapes, Incline Village, Nevada
Anecdotes:
• The alternate sleeve was likely produced for regional promotion and small‑run distribution
• The album’s tight runtime and 7‑track structure reflect its indie‑label constraints
• Bruce revisits two earlier songs — Lucky Break and In My Own Way — in new arrangements
Legacy Notes:
• Often considered Bruce’s most “rock‑forward” solo work
• The 2018 CD reissue revived interest and confirmed the album’s cult status
🔘 Visual Archive
Two primary sleeves exist:
A stylized red electric guitar exploding outward against a black background, with “Michael Bruce” and “Rock Rolls On” in cursive.
An alternate live‑photo sleeve featuring Bruce performing onstage in sequined attire.
Michael Bruce — Rock Rolls On (1983), issued in two sleeve variants by Euro Tec Records & Tapes.
🔘 Related Material
• In My Own Way (1975)
• Battle Axe — Billion Dollar Babies (1977)
• Rock Rolls On (2018 CD Reissue)
🔘 Discography
• In My Own Way (1975)
• Rock Rolls On (1983)
• Halo of Ice (2002)
• Second Coming of Michael Bruce (2005)
🔘 Mini‑Timeline
• 1982–83 — Recording at Record Plant & Pantheon Studios
• 1983 — LP & cassette released by Euro Tec Records
• 2018 — First official CD reissue by Gonzo Multimedia
🔘 Glam Flashback
In the quiet shadow of the Cooper legacy, Bruce carved out a raw, unfiltered rock record — a reminder that the heart of the original band still beat with fire and melody.
🔘 Closing Notes
Rock Rolls On stands as a testament to Michael Bruce’s resilience and craft. Independent, unpolished, and deeply personal, it captures a musician forging ahead on his own terms — and leaving behind one of the great lost rock albums of the early ’80s.
🔘 Sources & Copyright
• Discogs‑verified catalogue entries
• Physical LP & cassette documentation
• Euro Tec Records & Tapes credits
• Gonzo Multimedia reissue notes
All artwork and recordings remain the property of their respective copyright holders.
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