Kiss - Music From The Elder (LP) (1981) - €10,00

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Music from “The Elder” is the ninth studio album released by American rock band Kiss on the Casablanca Records label in 1981.

The album marked a substantial departure from their previous output with its concept and orchestral elements. Due to poor sales, Kiss did not embark on a supporting tour for the first time in its eight-year history, opting instead to make a handful of promotional appearances. Music from “The Elder” was the first album with drummer Eric Carr and the last album to feature Ace Frehley until their 1996 reunion Alive/Worldwide Tour.

Midway through, the band felt that they were rewriting past songs, and the sessions were aborted. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley then came up with the idea of recording a concept album, based on a mythical original story by Simmons. Destroyer producer Bob Ezrin was back and encouraged the band’s concept album idea (against both Ace Frehley‘s and Carr‘s wishes). Simmons and Stanley had high hopes for Music from “The Elder” (such as a movie, an elaborate tour, a follow-up record, etc.), but it completely bombed upon release.

The reason? The music is totally uncharacteristic of Kiss — it resembles heavy prog rock for the most part. Some of the songs could have been classics if the pompous and/or hard-to-decipher lyrics were replaced, such as “The Oath,” “Only You,” “I,” and “Just a Boy.” Only two tracks resemble the Kiss of old (Frehley‘s “Dark Light” and the instrumental “Escape from the Island”), while the rest is downright embarrassing (“Odyssey,” “A World Without Heroes,” “Under the Rose”). Music from “The Elder” was the final straw for Frehley, who would leave the band in 1982.

Side one

1. The Oath - 4:32
2. Fanfare - 1:22
3. Just A Boy - 2:30
4. Dark Light - 4:12
5. Only You - 4:19
6. Under The Rose - 4:49

Side two

1. A World Without Heroes - 2:40
2. Mr. Blackwell - 4:58
3. Escape From The Island - 2:50
4. Odyssey - 5:36
5. I - 3:52

Kiss

• Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar, all guitars on "The Oath", guitar solo on "Just a Boy" and "A World Without Heroes"
• Gene Simmons – vocals, bass, rhythm guitar on "Only You"
• Ace Frehley – vocals, lead guitar, bass on "Under the Rose", "Dark Light" and "The Oath"
• Eric Carr – drums, percussion, acoustic guitar on "Under the Rose", backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Bob Ezrin – producer, keyboards, bass on "Escape from the Island", orchestral arrangements
• Allan Schwartzberg – drums on "Odyssey" and "I", additional overdub
• Tony Powers – keyboards on "Odyssey"
• The American Symphony Orchestra
• St. Robert's Choir
• Michael Kamen – orchestral arrangements

Production

• Brian Christian – associate producer, engineer
• Rick Hart, Robert Hrycyna, David Brown – engineers
• Rob Freeman, Corky Stasiak, Kevin Doyle – additional engineering
• Tom Laughlin – chief technician
• Ted Jensen – mastering engineer at Sterling Sound, New York

Notes
Release:   1981
Format:  LP
Genre:  Hardrock
Label:  Casablanca Records
Catalog#  6302163

Vinyl:   Excellent
Cover:  Excellent (Gatefold)

Prijs: €10,00