Kiss GENE SIMMONS (LP)

Personnel: Gene Simmons (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, bass); Eric Troyer (vocals, piano); Ron Frangipane (conductor); John Shane Howell (classical guitar); Elliot Randall, Steve Lacey (guitar); Richard Gerstein (piano); Neil Jason (bass); Allen Schwartzberg (drums); Sean Delaney (percussion, background vocals); Gordon Gordy, Diva Gray, Kate Sagal, Franny Eisenberg, Carolyn Ray, The Azusa Citrus College Choir (background vocals); Donna Summer, Cher, Rick Nielsen, Bob Seger, Joe Perry, Helen Reddy, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Janis Ian, Mitch Weissman, Joe Pecorino, Michael Des Barres, Ritchie Ranno.
Recorded at the Manor, Oxford, England; Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, California; Blue Rock Studio, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by Robert V. Conte.
Remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio (Sterling Sound, New York, New York).
Gene Simmons' 1978 Kiss solo album turned out to be the most surprising of the bunch. Primarily known as the author of Kiss's heaviest songs, Simmons had always been an avid Beatles fan. His album shows the influence of Fab Four, and also includes songs that feature orchestras and reflect the then-thriving disco scene. The album is also notable because it benefits from the contributions of many '70s rock stars, like Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielson, Cher, Bob Seger, Donna Summer, Helen Reddy, and the Doobie Brothers' Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.
Granted, some of the tracks are reminiscent of Simmons' thunder rock (such as "Radioactive" and "See You in Your Dreams"), but the majority of the tracks are more musically unpredictable. "See You Tonite," "Always Near You/Nowhere to Hide," "Man of 1,000 Faces," and "Mr. Make Believe" recall John, Paul, George, and Ringo, while "Burning Up With Fever," "Living in Sin," and "True Confessions" are flavored by dance floor sounds. The album-closing cover of the Disney classic "When You Wish Upon a Star" is not to be missed.

• RSD Release Date: n/a
• Genre: Heavy Metal
• Rock & Pop: Pop
• Format: Vinyl
• Released: 9/23/2014