Customer Reviews

Ace Frehley

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

In 1978, at the height of KISS's popularity, rather than release a new studio album, all four members simultaneously released a solo album. Although critics have often called this nothing more than a gimmick, there is no denying the quality of these recordings. All four albums are well written and crafted. All four members of KISS really put their heart and soul into this project and made a solo album that really reflects their personality. KISS was like a stew, made up of four separate ingredients. The KISS solo albums of 1978 really let you see each member and what it is exactly they brought into KISS.

Ace Frehley's solo album has been universally hailed as the best of the four KISS solo albums. It is also the best selling of the four. Although it's always been highly regarded among classic rock fans, it is pretty much the only album of the four that has received any kind of appreciation from music critics. The songs Frehley wrote for his album are easily up-to-par with the best of the material he wrote for KISS. Frehley's voice may not be as smooth or as powerful as Stanley's, and is a little rough-around-the edges, but it fits the songs perfectly.

Ace Frehley's album is the heaviest of the four albums. The album starts off strong with the no-holds-bar "Rip it Out" and never looses momentum. Each song is fast and heavy, with a good infectious hook and at least one killer solo. It's difficult to pick out a highlight, because really the entire album is terrific. But if I had to pick a highlight, I'd go with the ferocious "Rip it Out, the spacey "I'm in Need of Love" or the catchy "New York Groove." But there really isn't any filler, it's just a great rock n' roll album.

Ace Frehley's album is easily just as good as anything KISS has ever released. It's a classic and one of the best rock albums of the 1970s.

Ace Frehley....although he is only 1 of the 4 founding members of the original band, his guitar sound is what made Kiss one of rocks best bands. Hum...that might be my personal opinion, but just go back and track the success of every Kiss album after his departure (he did not play guitar on "Creatures Of The Night" even though he appears on the cover). So, take Ace & his guitar add "David Letterman Band" musicians Will Lee on bass & Anton Fig on drums and you have one killer band; and one great hard rock album. A must purchase for any Kiss fan. Far and away Frehley's is the best of the 4 solo albums. Gene Simmons still can't deal with it!

When Ace put this album out, He put out the song "New York Groove", on a single which made Billboard's Top 40 list making it into the top 10. On this album, or should I say CD, Ace unleases his true artistic abilities, which by the way, is at a Masters level. This album is Rock and Roll. It is not, and thank the Lord God, it is not filled with slow depressing romantic crap. Most of the songs on the album were written by Ace, except for New York Groove, which was written by Russ Ballard. Rip It Out, which is good solid rhythm rock and roll, was written by Ace, along with Larry Kelly and Sue Kelly. Speedin Back To My Baby was written by Ace and Jeanette Frehley, and Wiped-Out was written by Ace and Anton Fig, which as you know, Anton went on to play the drums for Vinnie Vincent and finally ended up as the regular drummer on the David Letterman Show. Folks, this is good Rock and Roll. This is not really what you would call heavy metal, but then again it's not mainstream pop rock either. The songs have a good beat, and a good rhythm to them. Of the four solos, Ace's was the most successful. I own it, and I love it.

If anyone had anything to prove with the solo albums, it was Ace Frehley. Previous to this he had sung one song for KISS -- the silly but likable "Shock Me." He had a huge following inside the band as he secretly inspired a legion of guitar-player wannabe's.

Any question as to whether or not Ace could carry an entire record by himself should be alleviated with the first song, a barnstormer of a rock song called "Rip It Out." From there Ace rolls through a seamless set of tracks that are catchy, lively and enjoyable. Whatever they lacked in emotional depth they made up in pure rock and roll style. From a lost wonder like "What's On Your Mind?" to a riff heavy gem like "Snow Blind," Ace does what Ace knows how to do: rock. Actually, the album's weakest link may be its biggest hit, the somewhat irritating "New York Groove."

With his solo album Ace Frehley proved that the adage that Kiss Is Stanley and Simmons was no longer accurate. There was a new principal songwriter in the band -- and no amount of blood spitting was going to change that.

Review no.77.Out of the four Kiss solo albums that hit the market back in 1978,Ace Frehley's effort is,without a doubt the best.See my reviews of the Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons solo lp's.I haven't heard this CD in ages.I'd forgotten all about the opener "Rip It Out" that later went onto be a Frehley's Comet staple.Other notable cuts are "Speeding Back To My Baby","Ozone","New York Groove"(loved hearing this tune performed on past Kiss tours,like their 'Dynasty' trek I believe it was and their '96 reunion)and "Wipe Out".Recommended.

By this time, the division bell was already ringing behind the scenes within the Kiss camp, and nothing made the fact more evident that the cookie was crumbling than when Gene, Paul, Ace & Peter released solo albums simultaneously. This also coincided with their movie debut in the made-for-TV disaster "Kiss Meets The Phantom Of The Park" shown on NBC in October, 1978.

Frustrated with the direction that Kiss was headed in at the time as well as with his limited role in the band, Ace Frehley clearly had a statement to make, and he did it with a vengeance on his solo album. Ace's was by far the best of the four albums and definitely rocked the hardest!

With the snarling, rabid guitar intro of "Rip It Out", Ace wastes no time in getting right up in your face to let you know how pi**ed off he is by letting loose with some strong vocals. From this point right through to the end, Ace goes straight for the jugular and doesn't let up a bit.

My personal favorite is the echo-laden "I'm In Need Of Love", where Ace spits out his vocals like venom and in my opinion, unleashes his greatest and most powerful guitar solo since the live version of "Shock Me" on Alive II.

You can clearly hear all the way around just how inspired and motivated Ace was, and this trend continued on even into Kiss' 1979 "Dynasty" album, the first for the band after regrouping. But shortly thereafter, it was clear to Ace that he would never be completely happy within the confines of Kiss, and thus began the chain of events leading up to his departure in 1982.

Every track is a winner here, including several odes to Ace's lifestyle ("Ozone", "Wiped Out", "Snow Blind"), and ends with the great instrumental "Fractured Mirror", one of the first tracks to contain the use of a guitar synthesizer.

This is Ace's finest hour...for some excellent rock & roll, look no further than this!

This lp shows that the master in Kiss was really Ace. The songs are sublime> the only hit from the solos was the Groove. OH people must understand Kiss is nothing without the Space man.