Search - Kiss :: Peter Criss

KISS' drummer produces classic 50's rock & Motown style solo

aca2001 | 11/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like KISS' "BETH", Bob Seeger's boogie-rock style, and Motown's Doo-Wop ballads, then you'll probably love this album.



The best of the four 1978 KISS solo lps (a minority opinion in KISS fan circles), Criss' whiskey voice shines through as clear as his pre-KISS influences. Being the oldest band member (born in 1945), on each track Criss marries rock with the jazz, r&b, and big band flavors he grew up with.



This is exceptionally effective on the up tempo songs "I'M GONNA LOVE YOU", "ROCK ME, BABY", "HOOKED ON ROCK N' ROLL", and the single, a high energy remake of Bobby Lewis' "TOSSIN' AND TURNING". "HOOKED ON ROCK N' ROLL" is autobiographical, with lyrics like..............."The boy could play before he learned to crawl. Worked in a band who had no name at all. Ev'ry morning at the break of dawn, you could see him draggin' home his drums...I was vacinated with a Vicrola needle, and I'm Hooked On Rock N' Roll".......... The Victrola was the popular record player that loooked more like furniture than a record player. Criss' parents listened to Big Band records on one while he was growing up.



A lot of credit for the quality of this album is due to producers Sean Delany and Vini Poncia, who pull excellent performances out of the limited talents of Criss, and song co-writer Stan Penridge. Suspiciously, nothing, and I mean NOTHING, else Criss has "written" comes close to the quality of these songs, lending weight to the idea that Penridge was the real author behind these gems, with Criss only touching up here and there. (Penridge also co-wrote "BETH", along with Destroyer producer Bob Ezrin).



One final note, the cover is a stunning painting that looked better on a 12" X 12" lp than on a 3" X 3" CD cover. The remastered version re-installs the poster that came with the 1970s lp edition, via a foldout CD booklet.



Great High Energy Rock N' Roll, and heartfelt, well done ballads, about a 50/50 mix of each. NO HEAVY METAL AT ALL. You may want to check out Criss' 1982 album - Let Me Rock You and his 1980 lp Out of Control.

Let Me Rock You is very good, while Out Of Control is a mixed bag.



"

Springsteen meets Cocker

bob turnley | birmingham,al,usa | 12/16/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The haters don't hate this album for what it is but for what it isn't. What it is is a very well sung and played collection of songs and if the name on the album was Springsteen or Cocker it would have been considered a career high point for either of those guys. What it isn't is a Kiss album. If that's a crime then you've got too many laws. Paul and Ace made Kiss albums. Gene made a Billy Joel album. They do what they want to do. Go along for the ride, or don't."

Had this on 8-track!

Gregory A. Kiley | Derby, CT USA | 01/27/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first got this on 8-track and use to listen to it all the time. I just recently purchased it here on Amazon and could not believe the difference! This remastered CD version is excellent. I was hearing things that could never hear from an 8-track player. I also finally heard Peter's soulful voice and was blown away at his singing. This is a nice departure and some great singing to boot."