"Only Women Bleed" is a song by

Alice Cooper Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier, February 4, 1948) is an American rock singer whose career spans over five decades. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusions, including pyrotechnics, guillot ...

, released on his debut solo album '' Welcome to My Nightmare'' in 1975. It was written by Cooper and

Dick Wagner Richard Allen Wagner (December 14, 1942 – July 30, 2014) was an American rock guitarist, songwriter and author best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, and Kiss. He also fronted his own Michigan-based bands, the Frost and the Bo ...

, and was the second single from the album to be released.

Background

It is a ballad about a woman in an abusive marriage. The song is often mistakenly presumed to be about menstruation, and that has limited its play on radio and in other public forums. As a single by Cooper, it was released as just "Only Women". Prior to the release of ''Welcome to My Nightmare'' in the US, a shortened version of the song was released as a single and was alternatively titled "Only Women" by Atlantic Records due to protests by feminist groups. The album version of the song features more orchestral movements than the single, and also runs longer than the 45 at 5:49. According to co-writer Dick Wagner, the song's musical riff and vocal melody were developed several years earlier during his tenure with the late-1960s Michigan-based band

the Frost The Frost was an American psychedelic rock band from Alpena, Michigan in the late 1960s, led by singer-guitarist Dick Wagner, who went on to play with Ursa Major, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel in the 1970s. The rest of the band consist ...

, but Wagner had never liked his lyrics and the song was never recorded. He played the riff for Cooper, and the two developed new lyrics for the eventual ''Welcome to My Nightmare'' recording.

Critical reception

'' Billboard'' staff responded warmly to this single. The lyric of it was described as "stunning".

Chart performance

It is one of Cooper's biggest hits, reaching number 1 on the Canadian ''RPM'' national singles chart and number 12 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 singles chart in

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 - Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

. It is from his album '' Welcome to My Nightmare''. It was the first of several

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...

releases by Cooper that reached the top 20 of the Hot 100 singles chart.

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Julie Covington version

Julie Covington Julie Covington (born 11 September 1946) is an English singer and actress, best known for recording the original version of " Don't Cry for Me Argentina", which she sang on the 1976 concept album Evita. Early life Julie Covington was born in ...

's cover of the song reached #12 on the UK charts when it was released as a single. It was later included on the 2000 re-release of her eponymous 1978 album

Other covers

Other covers include

Guns 'N' Roses Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1985. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band comprised vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff Mc ...

, Glenn Hughes, Paul Gilbert, and

Ike & Tina Turner Ike & Tina Turner were an American musical duo consisting of husband and wife Ike Turner and Tina Turner. From 1960 to 1976, they performed live as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, supported by Ike Turner's band the Kings of Rhythm and backing voca ...

. A cover by the band Favorite Angel would peak at number 69 on the Hot 100 in September 1990.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Only Women Bleed 1975 singles RPM Top Singles number-one singles Songs written by Alice Cooper Songs written by Dick Wagner Alice Cooper songs Song recordings produced by Bob Ezrin 1970s ballads Rock ballads 1975 songs Atlantic Records singles American soft rock songs Songs about domestic violence