Ace Frehley [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Ace Frehley, Kiss | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 1997)
• Original Release Date: 1988
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B000001ELF
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (113 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,400 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

############################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################### --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ace Frehley (1978), February 13, 2003

By 

Mr. S. St Thomas "suckerfly" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ace Frehley (Audio CD)

I absolutely thought KISS was one of the best things in my life when I was 9 or 10 years old. I didn't think a thing about the sexual innuendoes, the drugs, the whatevers, I just loved KISS. Now that I'm an adult, some of those sexual innuendoes are just hysterical, make you want to cringe thinking you liked it at one time, and make it an embarassment to say you liked KISS.

Ace Frehley in my mind was always exempt from this. By far, Ace was always my favourite member of KISS, his lead guitar playing is vastly underrated,(his leads had hooks, they were part of the song like the melody), and he didn't dive the depths of immature sexual innuendo as much as grown men such as Gene or Paul. Honestly, Gene and Paul wrote kiddie stuff, embarassing for a 35 year old to be writing honestly, and strictly derived to accomodate a certain market. Young, 16 year old boys who can't drink, smoke or get girls yet. Ace didn't write songs like that, apart from Cold Gin on the first KISS album.

This album stands well to time. The songs do not sound dated, the lyrics are not stupid or banal or anything indicating a 70's attitude, and it just rocks. All the way through. There is not a weak track on it, and even though criticism is there on Wiped Out from other fans, I love that song for its time changes (Anton Fig's drumming on this song is the album's standout) and it is just a great song period. Its always been one of my top 3 songs on the album. Ace just really showed how talented he was. I've never read Simmons autobiography, and I have no interest in it, but Ace always lived up to his potential even if he was chemically enhanced sometimes. Its why Ace's solo album was the best received by a wider fan base than the KISS Army, the critics and musicians alike, it was THAT good an album. It has an element of STREET about it, slightly punk in attitude. This album is actually full of attitude, and it just says New York all over it.

Ace had pop sensibilities as well. 'What's On Your Mind' borderlines between hard rock and pop. No, Ace is not the greatest singer, but he has that Jimi Hendrix approach where in the end you can't hear anyone else singing the songs as well but Ace Frehley.

It has become a cliche this album. I imagine people who don't even own it now say Frehley's album was the best when giving their mock history of KISS. The fact of the matter was, it is and still is. You can play the whole thing through and not smirk because the lyrics are hokey or childish, the guitar solos are polished and gutsy at the same time, the drummer was great, the songs and arrangements were class, the production was just near perfect but just enough punk to have credibility. If not for Frehley, the next KISS album (Dynasty) would have been horrible and so dated in sound and sentiment that they might not have survived to GET to the 80's. Some say Simmons and Stanley are KISS, including themselves, but what a shame. Ace Frehley consistently came up with songs that even KISS fans say are the best songs in the KISS repertoire, Cold Gin, Parasite, Shock Me, Rocket Ride, Hard Times. The guy just had tons of talent and should have gotten out of KISS as soon as he released this album.
THAT would have been a success story. Maybe Simmons is right and Frehley never lived up to his potential. Maybe its because he had Simmons telling him he never would, you just never know.

Do you mean to tell me that Ace Frehley all messed up on booze and drugs working at half the potential, STILL came up with a better KISS album than KISS ever achieved? Even with Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over, Hotter Than Hell, Ace Frehley's solo album was so together that no one could diss it. There's no Goin Blind's, no Great Expectations, no Love Theme From KISS, that just makes you say was this person serious when they wrote this? They are joking right??? Frehley's album you can listen to as a kid, and listen to as an adult and say, I knew I had good taste.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best of the four? Abso--lutely!, October 29, 2003

By 

S. Axe "maulrat" (Arlington Heights, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ace Frehley (Audio CD)

I recall the days back in '78 when I turned 9 years old and I got all four of the Kiss solo albums for my birthday ... lucky me eh?, looking back now I couldve saved the family the $$$ of the purchase of the other 3 albums if I had only known then what I found out soon after.

Anyhow back to the story/review .... back in those days I didn't have any particular liking or bias towards one Kiss "character" over another, I just loved their songs (okay I admit I always thought Ace's costumes were the coolest ... but thats besides the point) ... but after listening to all 4 solo efforts I found myself in an unusual position that I never had been in before ... I actually got that sick/embarrassed feeling when listening to Gene Simmons and Peter Criss' solo albums ... in particularly Genes rendition of "When You Wish Upon A Star".

Well, when I finally put on Ace's album (2nd to last ... Paul Stanleys I listened to last) I found myself playing it over and over and OVER AND OVER AND ... well, you get the idea! :) Especially the opening song "Rip It Out" ... which is by far my favorite! By the time I went to play Paul's album I just couldnt help but figit and basically say f&*k it and put Ace's album back on.

I have fond memories of air guitaring in front of my family's huge living room mirror to the likes of Rip It Out, Snow Blind, Ozone, I'm In Need Of Love, and Fractured Mirror. Funny that I no longer need to air guitar them but can actually play them :) But I digress.

Anyhow, there was no prejudice going into these solo albums ... its just that I happened to fall in love with Ace's solo album, which I CANNOT even come close to saying that about the others. In true metal-head mentality I can honestly say the other 3 "suck ass ... he he huh huh .. Beavis" .... okay, Paul's wasn't THAT bad ... but its was ruined after hearing Ace's.

Getting all that out of the way I have one thing to say ... and most of you wont like it ... BUT ... I always have and always will absolutely HATE the single "New York Groove" ... I'm sorry but its total cheese ... yes, I did get that embarrassed wrench in the gut feeling after hearing that song .... I dunno why ... but thats just the way it is. It has something to do with how the word "Groove" is sung in the chorus ... just bugs the hell outta me.

All in all though ... the BEST of the four ... by FAR!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite of the 4 KISS solo albums, May 11, 2006

By 

R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ace Frehley (Audio CD)

THE BAND: Ace Frehley (lead/rhythm/acoustic guitars, bass, lead and backing vocals). Ace didn't have a band per say, but several studio session players helping him out - including Anton Fig (drums & percussion), Will Lee (bass), and Carl Tallarico (drums).

THE DISC: (1978) 9 songs clocking in at approximately 37 minutes. Included with the disc is a 2-page foldout with song titles/credits, musicians, and thank you's. Recorded at The Mansion in Sharon, CT. All songs written or co-written by Ace Frehley, except "New York Groove" (written by Russ Ballard, best known for his solo career and his years with Argent). Label - Casablanca. In 1997, Mercury (label) has digitally remastered most of the early Kiss releases including each of their solo albums from '78.

COMMENTS: I always loved Ace's solo album the most (of the four). It had two of the best songs ("Rip It Out" and "New York Groove")... and it simply rocked the hardest out of the four. "Rip It Out" was such a heavy song featuring some brilliant guitar work... but it also featured amazing drums by Anton Fig. Fig is a master drummer and it was a huge bonus for Ace to score him on his solo album. Fig has a huge resume and has been an important session player for so many top artists of the time (Bob Dylan, Journey, Kiss, Peter Frampton, Mick Jagger, Billy Joel, Warren Zevon, Billy Squier, Joe Satriani, etc)... as well as being the drummer for David Letterman's "Late Show" with Paul Schafer. "Speedin' Back To My Baby" provided a nice 1-2 punch to start the album. "Snow Blind" and "Ozone" were songs about accesses and addictions and possibly self taught experiences from the 'Spaceman' himself. "What's On Your Mind?" is a great rock song leaning toward the more pop side. "New York Groove" was the highest charting song (#20) of any of the Kiss solo albums. Being raised near NYC, I heard this song on the radio all the time - and it was very deserving. "Fractured Mirror" might be the real gem on the album... the instrumental has a nice blend of acoustic and electric guitars. Ace Frehley also proved he was a capable singer. Great disc.