Customer Reviews

Ace Frehley

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

after almost 30 years, this album (CD to you youngins) has undoubtedly stood the test of time...although i disagree with the review below in that, yes Gene's album wasn't even close to the KISS sound, but, save for "When You Wish...", the songwriting is fantastic (very eclectic and Beatle-esque)...on the other hand, we have this, the Ace Frehley solo album, which was the only one TO stay true to the KISS sound...every tune on here is top-notch...a true testament to the theory that KISS, as we originally loved them and their sound, died when Ace dropped out...too bad because they (KISS) SUCKED in the 80's and most of the 90's (that's right, until Ace came back to the fold)...and here's a side note>>>"NY Groove" was NOT written by Ace; it was penned by Argent lead-singer, Russ Ballard who actually never recorded the tune himself.....peace (ya can't spell peace without "ace")

Ace Frehley (1978.) A solo album by the KISS member.

On September 18, 1978, KISS did something no other rock band has ever done to this day - all four members released a solo album on the same day. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss would now not only be recognized for their music-making abilities as a group, but also as solo artists.

Although Ace Frehley was the guitar mastermind that ultimately made KISS such a great band (he even designed the KISS logo!), he tended to go very unappreciated by fans, who tended to favor Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. Fortunately, every member of the band got their chance to shine as solo artists in 1978 when they all released solo albums. How does Ace's measure up? Read on and find out.

Every one of the KISS solo albums featured a certain uniqueness when compared to those by the other members. Paul Stanley stuck close to the stylings of KISS. Gene Simmons experimented with the rock stylings of the day. Peter Criss did an album of rhythm and blues. But what about Ace? He'd give us a taste of things to come in the rock world. The first two tracks, Rip It Out and Speedin' Back To My Baby sound a good deal like the glam metal bands that would dominate the next decade. It really makes you wonder how big an influence this album was on eighties metal bands. Snow Blind is a hard rocker as only Ace could do, with some killer guitar riffs (this is NOT the Black Sabbath song.) For Ozone and What's On Your Mind?, Ace uses both acoustic and electric guitars, and in doing so creates something that sounds like a fusion of eighties metal and nineties alternative grunge rock. New York Groove was the only charting hit from any of the KISS solo albums, and with good reason. It's an excellent song that fuses elements of Queen and Led Zeppelin, two of the biggest rock bands of the day. Ace closes the album with an instrumental entitled Fractured Mirror. The chiming bell intro to this song has been copied by god only knows how many bands (ACDC and Metallica to name a few.) This is a lighter and more melodic track than the others on the album. The keyboards and backing riffs add a lot to this song. All four KISS solo albums from 1978 end with a ballad, and this one's the best of all four of them.

This album is a rock and roll masterpiece. If you're a fan of KISS or classic hard rock/heavy metal, this is an album that you must own. All of the KISS solo albums from 1978 were excellent, but this one is (by far) the best of the lot.

The general consensus is that Ace Frehley's solo album was the best solo album because it was the most rocking and Kiss-like. While I agree that it is a great achievement (and it sold the best) I prefer Paul's. Ace's gets four stars from me. Here's the scoop.

Ace's album was 9 tracks, which breaks down to 8 vocals and 1 instrumental. All but the instrumental were rockers. The standouts include "Rip It Out" which would have made a great Kiss tune. Here it is a fast and furious opener with a real great singalong melody. "Speedin' Back To My Baby" and "What's On Your Mind?" are a bit more pop and melodic but with Ace's guitar they're never too pop. They're just rock enough. "Fractured Mirror" is the instrumental and the first of a series of slower instrumental "Fractured" tracks for the Ace. It's great. It shows off some intricate fingering and clever chords that just sound "Ace".

"New York Groove" was the hit single, but not a song I'm partial to. To me it sounded like disco-Kiss that would emerge on Dynasty. I prefer the live versions that Kiss did later on, they had more thunder in the drums and more rock in the riffs.

"Ozone" was a song that aurally sounds very "spaced" and you can guess what the subject matter is. Foo Fighters, incidentally, did a great cover of "Ozone" back in '95. "Snow Blind" covers the same lyrical ground. "Wiped Out" spoofs "Wipeout" by its intro and again seems to be about being, well, wiped out. It has some challenging time changes and crunchy chords.

By and large this is a great album. I think some of the songs could have used more hooks. I still enjoy listening to it, and it does stand up as probably the best Ace solo album to date. (I have yet to hear all of Anomoly but it sounds great.) Ace's guitar playing is heavily showcased, without it being a "guitar" album. Anyone who thinks Ace can't play needs to listen to a song like "Wiped Out" which is just mindblowing.

Four stars for the Ace.

At what can be considered the submit of their popularity in 1978,KISS shocked the world when they each released a solo album people on the same day wich had never been done before.Everyone at the time had their guess about wich album would turn out be the best and most of them were wrong.Ace`s solo album was the most sucessful and the best of the 4 solo albums.Even tough all the albums went gold and reached the top 50 Ace came out on top and is the one that is remembered now.It turned out to be the best of the four.

The solo albums was perhaps the most comercially brilliant idea ever in the music buisiness but they also contributed in destroying KISS and enlarging their egos.On that point it wasn't great,yet it turned out to be a learning experience for all the KISS members.Also in 1978 the "KISS Meets The Phantom mpvie was released and that didn't help either.The songs on the album represent Ace as the person he was in 1978.There are ceratinly a few classic songs here,notably "Rip It Out","New York Groove" and the underrated "What's On Your Mind".All the songs are pure rock'n'roll and nearly all of them are great with maybe on or two eceptions.If you liked Ace as the KISS spaceman then you must get this.

Ace reached a top 20 hit with the single "New York Groove" but it isnt only that song that made his solo album great its his effort and the combinasion of great songs he did.He had a great single for the album with the catchy "New York Groove" wich ultimatly made it an album seller.He really did what he wanted here,a great rock album.But back until "Shock Me" featured on the album Love Gun in 1977 a little over a year prior to this album,Ace didn't sing.I guess that on Love Gun's"Shock Me" he realized he could sing and he proves it on this album.Its his first solo record but that was only a start as Ace would latter make `frehley s comet`not really solo because its a band but great anyway.

To me its the best solo album out of the 4 but thats only my opinion.Paul`s is great too but they're all diverse and unique because the artist besides each album is different.Paul's was closer to the sound of KISS,while Gene had some Beatley songs and a diverse album,Peter went for that R& B Soul style of music he had always loved,and Ace made a great rock'n'roll album.Since this album he made many solo records with Frehley`s Comet and going for Ace Frehley again latter on and he is appearently releasing another album in the near future(wich depending of the year you are reading this,might already have happened).It is now a Klassic album of KISStory,if you like KISS or Ace definatly check it out.You wont be disapointed!

This is by far the best of the four solo albums put out by Kiss in 1978. It's a huge difference in the musical direction Kiss was heading for in the coming years. Ace sounds great as a singer and each song is unique. Must have for any Kiss and/or Ace fan!

Probably the best KISS solo album. Period. Simmons wasn't close, Stanley had a couple of good songs, and Pete kept trying.

This album was a testament that Ace was in fact more talented than people were led to believe. For years he stood in the background as Simmons and Stanley basked in the sun. This album put those guys to shame. Even his first solo effort with the comets was better than The Elder.

Face it KISS fans if you want the best, this is it. Don't bother trying to fan the flame on this one, it speaks for itself. If KISS would have given him a little flexibility on Psycho Circus as well as Pete we might have had a good KISS album. We as fans continue to suffer from the band direction helmed by Stanley and Simmons. Perhaps they should hear this album again and then realize who they let walk away!

Ace you are the best and this record is the testament to true Frehley fans. Thanks for many great years of listening and hopefully we get a new solo cd from you. My favorite track is "In Need of Love". Amateurs take note....

Peace Out!

Not really many comments for the album. Vocally, Ace was probably the weakest in the band. However, "New York Groove" hit during the disco era with it's twangy guitar riffs - great for the period. What I can't believe is the fact that there is no sound clip for the song here. Apparently, it was not an old Kiss fan who wrote this page. "New York Groove" made it to #13 in Billboard's 1979 Pop Singles chart.
In addition, the Gene Simmons solo effort should be packaged with Ace's efffort for your two-album savings deal. (The Paul Stanley album had no hits that I'm aware of and my Kiss-fan friends & I hated it!) Gene Simmons' "Radioactive" only made it to #47 in the same chart during 1979, however the album itself went to #22 in Pop Albums.

Just some marketing hints.

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.

Ace Frehley (1978.) A solo album by the KISS member.

On September 18, 1978, KISS did something no other rock band has ever done to this day - all four members released a solo album on the same day. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss would now not only be recognized for their music-making abilities as a group, but also as solo artists.

Although Ace Frehley was the guitar mastermind that ultimately made KISS such a great band (he even designed the KISS logo!), he tended to go very unappreciated by fans, who tended to favor Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. Fortunately, every member of the band got their chance to shine as solo artists in 1978 when they all released solo albums. How does Ace's measure up? Read on and find out.

Every one of the KISS solo albums featured a certain uniqueness when compared to those by the other members. Paul Stanley stuck close to the stylings of KISS. Gene Simmons experimented with the rock stylings of the day. Peter Criss did an album of rhythm and blues. But what about Ace? He'd give us a taste of things to come in the rock world. The first two tracks, Rip It Out and Speedin' Back To My Baby sound a good deal like the glam metal bands that would dominate the next decade. It really makes you wonder how big an influence this album was on eighties metal bands. Snow Blind is a hard rocker as only Ace could do, with some killer guitar riffs (this is NOT the Black Sabbath song.) For Ozone and What's On Your Mind?, Ace uses both acoustic and electric guitars, and in doing so creates something that sounds like a fusion of eighties metal and nineties alternative grunge rock. New York Groove was the only charting hit from any of the KISS solo albums, and with good reason. It's an excellent song that fuses elements of Queen and Led Zeppelin, two of the biggest rock bands of the day. Ace closes the album with an instrumental entitled Fractured Mirror. The chiming bell intro to this song has been copied by god only knows how many bands (ACDC and Metallica to name a few.) This is a lighter and more melodic track than the others on the album. The keyboards and backing riffs add a lot to this song. All four KISS solo albums from 1978 end with a ballad, and this one's the best of all four of them.

This album is a rock and roll masterpiece. If you're a fan of KISS or classic hard rock/heavy metal, this is an album that you must own. All of the KISS solo albums from 1978 were excellent, but this one is (by far) the best of the lot.

Oh God.....this album takes me back. Think back in the 70's when you didnt know the faces of KISS. When music was an extension of the times. I tell you people, KISS was THE superband of the 70's and it was headed by Ace Frehley. I say this because Paul didnt play guitar much. Anyways, Anton Fig is an awesome drummer. The 1st song is Rip it Out and includes a sample of Antons ingenuity.
Its simple yet complex, and fits the music perfecly. This album fits right in with KISS Destroyer, which is the best all time Rock-N-Roll Album of all time. If you like the Superband KISS of the 70's, you will LOVE this album....but you probably already have it.