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NO TRICKS

from HOW YOU GONNA SEE ME NOW (single)

written by Alice Cooper, Bernie Taupin & Dick Wagner

“How You Gonna See Me Now” was the lead single from Alice Cooper’s From The Inside album. Co-written by the rock star with guitarist Dick Wagner and Elton John’s lyricist Bernie Taupin, this intense ballad became a solid hit by reaching #12 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in late 1978. David Foster added his polished feel to the slick arrangement and production by giving the song an out-of-the-box radio-friendly appeal. “How You Gonna See Me Now” was one of the first major hits that Foster produced and a review can be found here in the archives.

Another plus of that hit single was the inclusion on its b-side of the rock/soul ballad “No Tricks” that was also recorded on the From The Inside sessions, but didn’t make the final cut. “No Tricks” marked the first time that a non-album song was included on a Cooper single release. Also co-written by Cooper, Wagner and Taupin, “No Tricks” featured R&B diva Betty Wright sharing the lead vocals and providing an intriguing, soulful juxtaposition to Cooper’s classic rock timbre. Foster was at home crafting a blues-drenched backing track with his elegant keyboard playing sharing the spotlight with the powerful rock overtones delivered by Steve Lukather of Toto fame and co-writer Wagner on guitars. Lyrically, “No Tricks” follows the same trails of the From The Inside project with a honest, raw look at the singer’s long history of alcohol abuse and subsequent dependence. This impressive, bluesy/rock number should have been a classic in Cooper’s repertoire had it been included on From The Inside, especially with the strength of the vocal performances and the superior level of the instrumental track. After remaining a well-kept secret for decades, “No Tricks” was eventually included in the 1999 box set, The Life And Crimes Of Alice Cooper, along with the most successful repertoire of this unique, hard rock legend.


Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/3-09-No-Tricks.mp3|titles=No Tricks|artists=Alice Cooper]

Lead Vocals: Alice Cooper featuring Betty Wright

Drums: Rick Shlosser

Bass: Leland Sklar

Keyboards: David Foster

Guitars: Dick Wagner & Steve Lukather

Produced by David Foster


Lyrics
No tricks
Up my sleeve
I kicked the downs
And now I’m clean
No shakes
Up my spine
I beat the speed and I
Dumped the wine
No tracks
That was yesterday
I changed my style
The way I play
(Don’t you believe it)
No blues
No depression
No more panic
Or obsession
Don’t you believe
Anything he said
All them junkies talk that way
It’s just as bad as it was before
I see the man knockin’ at his back door
… this kid’s straight
And put on ice
The street corner deals at any price
Come on and check my veins
And check my eyes
No tracks
That was yesterday
I changed my style
The way I play
(Don’t you believe it)
No blues
No depression
No more panic
Or obsession
Some tricks
Just go away
And other tricks
They’re here to stay
(Oh don’t you know me)
Sometimes my spirit’s willin’
The flesh is weak and
That’s what’s killin’
Don’t you believe
Anything he said
All them junkies talk that way
It’s just as bad as it was before
I see the man knockin’ at his back door
Hey now this kid’s straight
Put on ice
The street corner deals at any price
Come on and check my veins
And check my eyes
I tried so hard
But I’m hurting for another fix
It’s just this habit
I, I can always kick
What do you say there friend?
(Don’t you call me..)
It’s just a game
And I can beat it any day
No matter what this lovely lady say
Hey, wanna be my friend?
Some tricks
They go away
And other tricks
They’re here to stay
(Oh don’t you know me)
Sometimes my spirit’s willin’
My flesh is weak and
That’s what’s killin’
Don’t you believe
Anything he said
All them junkies talk that way
It’s just as bad as it was before
I see the man knockin’ at his back door
I said this kid’s straight
And put on ice
The street corner deals at any price
Come on and check my veins
And check my eyes