ACE FREHLEY is a 1978 solo album from the lead guitarist and vocalist of American hard rock band Kiss. It was one of four solo albums released by the members of Kiss on September 18, 1978. Often rightfully considered the best of the bunch, like Paul Stanley's album, it follows in the expected heavy Kiss style, but Frehley had something to prove with his album. Ace was just gaining confidence in his songwriting and singing at the time, so it served as a much-needed showcase to prove that he was as integral to Kiss as the band's main songwriters, Stanley and Gene Simmons. Ace's album was the only one of the four to spawn a true hit single.
"New York Groove" rose to #13 on the US Billboard chart, the highest showing for a Kiss single since "Beth" in 1976, until the song "I Was Made for Lovin' You" a year later (#11). The album itself reached #26 on the US Billboard album chart. It was certified Platinum on October 2, 1978, when it sold 1,000,000 copies.
Lyrically, several of the songs deal with alcohol and drug abuse ("Snowblind," "Ozone," and "Wiped Out"), something that both Frehley and drummer Peter Criss had succumbed to (eventually leading to their dismissal from the band). Other standouts include the pretty, multi-tracked instrumental "Fractured Mirror," the vicious album-opener "Rip It Out," the Zeppelin-esque "I'm In Need of Love," as well as a pair of melodic compositions, "Speedin' Back to My Baby" and "What's on Your Mind?"
The album featured Anton Fig on drums, who would later perform session work on the Kiss albums DYNASTY and UNMASKED, as well as become a member of Ace Frehley's post-Kiss band Frehley's Comet. Fig, along with Will Lee, who played bass on three tracks on this album, would become permanent members of Paul Shaffer's band on Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Show with David Letterman.
Personnel:
Ace Frehley (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, guitar synthesizer, bass guitar, background vocals) Bill Scheniman (vocals, bells) David Lasley, Larry Kelly, Susan Collins (vocals, background vocals) Anton Fig (drums, percussion) Carl Tallarico (drums).
Recording information: Plaza Sound, NY & "The Mansion," Sharon, CT.
All tracks have been remastered.
Audio Remasterer: Joseph M. Palmaccio.
Track Listing:
1. Rip It Out - 3:40 2. Speedin' Back to My Baby - 3:37 3. Snow Blind - 3:55 4. Ozone - 4:43 5. What's on Your Mind? - 3:28 6. New York Groove - 3:03 7. I'm in Need of Love - 4:39 8. Wiped-Out - 4:13 9. Fractured Mirror - 5:26
Ace Frehley (1997) (RMST)
ReplyDeleteAce Frehley
Album Description:
ACE FREHLEY is a 1978 solo album from the lead guitarist and vocalist of American hard rock band Kiss. It was one of four solo albums released by the members of Kiss on September 18, 1978. Often rightfully considered the best of the bunch, like Paul Stanley's album, it follows in the expected heavy Kiss style, but Frehley had something to prove with his album. Ace was just gaining confidence in his songwriting and singing at the time, so it served as a much-needed showcase to prove that he was as integral to Kiss as the band's main songwriters, Stanley and Gene Simmons. Ace's album was the only one of the four to spawn a true hit single.
"New York Groove" rose to #13 on the US Billboard chart, the highest showing for a Kiss single since "Beth" in 1976, until the song "I Was Made for Lovin' You" a year later (#11). The album itself reached #26 on the US Billboard album chart. It was certified Platinum on October 2, 1978, when it sold 1,000,000 copies.
Lyrically, several of the songs deal with alcohol and drug abuse ("Snowblind," "Ozone," and "Wiped Out"), something that both Frehley and drummer Peter Criss had succumbed to (eventually leading to their dismissal from the band). Other standouts include the pretty, multi-tracked instrumental "Fractured Mirror," the vicious album-opener "Rip It Out," the Zeppelin-esque "I'm In Need of Love," as well as a pair of melodic compositions, "Speedin' Back to My Baby" and "What's on Your Mind?"
The album featured Anton Fig on drums, who would later perform session work on the Kiss albums DYNASTY and UNMASKED, as well as become a member of Ace Frehley's post-Kiss band Frehley's Comet. Fig, along with Will Lee, who played bass on three tracks on this album, would become permanent members of Paul Shaffer's band on Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Show with David Letterman.
Personnel:
Ace Frehley (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, guitar synthesizer, bass guitar, background vocals)
Bill Scheniman (vocals, bells)
David Lasley, Larry Kelly, Susan Collins (vocals, background vocals)
Anton Fig (drums, percussion)
Carl Tallarico (drums).
Recording information: Plaza Sound, NY & "The Mansion," Sharon, CT.
All tracks have been remastered.
Audio Remasterer: Joseph M. Palmaccio.
Track Listing:
1. Rip It Out - 3:40
2. Speedin' Back to My Baby - 3:37
3. Snow Blind - 3:55
4. Ozone - 4:43
5. What's on Your Mind? - 3:28
6. New York Groove - 3:03
7. I'm in Need of Love - 4:39
8. Wiped-Out - 4:13
9. Fractured Mirror - 5:26