Ep. 73 - KISS Solo Albums Project (Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley)

Check out our discussion on each 1978 solo album!
Ep. 69 Ace Frehley: • Ep. 69 - Ace Frehley 1...
Ep. 70 Peter Criss: • Ep. 70 - Peter Criss 1...
Ep. 71 Gene Simmons: • Ep. 71 - Gene Simmons ...
Ep. 72 Paul Stanley: • Ep. 72 - Paul Stanley ...

[@glenhewey8795]

Another great episode by the two of you. Thank you. At this point I have revisited all four albums and ranked them as you said. I did so by rating each song and then dividing by the # of songs to get an album grade. Results: Criss 9.0 with Hooked on Rock & Roll, Who'll Stop the Rain, & I'm Gonna Love You. 2nd Paul 8.11 with Tonight You Belong to Me, Ain't Quite Right, & either It's Alright or Hold Me. 3rd Ace 7.9 with NY Groove, Fractured Mirror, and Rip It Out. 4th is Gene at 7.4 Tunnel of Love, Radioactive, Livin' In Sin. Of course I considered all of these are some of my top albums in my too large a collection (Aerosmith, ACDC, Meat, Knack, Cars, etc.). I had the posters and just like Vince says- how can you stop at one. What a fun and fabulous presentation- thank you.

[@cecilmusick8629]

I know alot of Kiss fans don't like Peter's record but I give him credit for sticking to his roots and doing something totally opposite of the Kiss sound, I mean after all it is a solo record ! I like all 4 records for what they are!

[@cecilmusick8629]

@Jimmy Bermingham Believe it or not I have it on 8 track too...lol...A friend gave it to me in the 80s.

[@KISSFAN1970]

I've been collecting KISS merchandise for many years and don't recall any pins prior to the solo albums that used their respective colors of red, blue, green and purple. With that said, this was a cool show and my order has always been Paul, Ace, Gene and Peter. But I love them all for different reasons.

[@thomashubner697]

Cool, I have an album created out of the solo albums in my spotify called "Superkiss 78" a long time ago. The tracklist is: Side A: 1. Radioactive 2.It's alright 3.That's the kind of sugar papa likes 4.Speedin' back to my baby 5.I can't stop the rain Side B: 1.Tonight you belong to me 2.Burning up with fever 3.Rip it out 4.Take me away 5.Hooked on Rock'N Roll Love this unofficial 78 album and listen to it often.

[@thomashubner697]

Forgot the ranking. 1.Gene Love how melodic the songs are. And that says a guy whose favourite songs are the heavy ones like War machine, Unholy, Not for the innocent, God of thunder or Only you. Seems like I am more into gene. 2.Peter Criss Quite good from beginning to end. Never skip a song. Maybe not many 10 out of ten songs but also non worse than a 7.

[@thomashubner697]

3.Ace Most of the album is great but I'm in need of love and Wiped are really bad songs. 4.Paul Three fantastic songs.Tonight you belong to me, Take me away and It's alright. Wouldn't you like to know me is Ok. The other 5 are stinkers. Had that german Best of solo albums back then. Love the cover.

[@therockexperiencewithmikeb8365]

Wow.....interesting to see a KISS fan rank Gene & Peter’s albums 1 and 2. Love it, even if I don’t agree! Thanks for watching!

[@therockexperiencewithmikeb8365]

Great track listing!!

[@paulhackett6757]

Pound for pound Paul's Album is my favorite. That album takes me right back to 70s cool sounding rock songs. Ace played directly to the KISS fan and beyond really just a fun album to listen to. Peter and Genes album are mood albums for me, those albums trade third and fourth place depending on the mood I'm in. I enjoy listening to all four of these albums.

[@dakotaescher1]

Best of the Solo's: It's Alright, Love in Chains, and Goodbye. Rip It Out, Speeding Back, and What's on My Mind. Man of 1000 Faces and Mr. Make Believe (Sorry Gene you don't get 3). Hooked on Rock n Roll, Rock Me Baby, and I Can't Stop Rain. for the 12th song Wouldn't You Like to Know Me.

[@tommyfromdetroitmi123]

Ace: Rip It Out, I'm In Need Of Love, Ozone. Peter: I Can't Stop The Rain, Hooked On Rock N Roll, Easy Thing. Paul: Take Me Away Together As One, Tonight You Belong To Me, GoodBye. Gene: Always Near You, No Where To Hide, See You In Your Dreams Tonight, Man Of A Thousand Faces.

[@sheldonbergenheier4179]

Sequence Paul, Gene, Peter, Ace. The original Hollywood billboard.

[@therockexperiencewithmikeb8365]

The only right way 😊

[@JohnBGood-ry9wj]

I would have arranged the Best of Solos like this: Side one: Paul: It’s Alright, Tonight you belong to me, Take me away(together as one) Ace: Rip it out, What’s on your mind?, New York Groove Side 2: Gene: Radioactive, See you tonite, Mr. Make believe, Peter: I’m gonna love you, Rock me baby, I can’t stop the Rain

[@stewiedog01]

Imagine if KISS changed their mind on releasing four solo albums and instead, decided to take all of the best songs of each solo album and release it as a 12-15 track album. It would've been their best work to date.

[@tommyfromdetroitmi123]

Minus the material on the Simmons album.... complete flop.

[@JohnBGood-ry9wj]

Should have made it a double album with 20 tracks with each member having their own side of 5 songs each.

[@davescryptodays1441]

Some random thoughts. 1). 'You Matter To Me' (Criss) could have been a great 'Yacht Rock' song and should have been a hit on top 40 - those keys/synthesiser melody preceeding the great synth waves of the 80's. 2.) I have to admit (and I will go back and listen to all, all the way through) the only album of the solo ones I've been able to listen to all the way through is Gene's. There's some GREAT melody's on there - very creative, varied pop/rock - he kind of took a nod from Destroyer's production values as well which I like - his is my favorite. 3.) Vinnie Poncia's production on Dynasty is AMAZING, but why did it sound (his production) sound so muddy/thick on Unmasked? What a campaign though right? Four solo albums at once - incredible!

[@JohnBGood-ry9wj]

Does anyone know if there’s a foreign pressing of a Best of Solo albums that just features 5 songs from Ace and 5 songs from Paul? I believe the record jacket has Paul’s portrait on one side and Ace’s on the other??

[@FlashBastard1964]

I always list the solo albums by their catalog numbers. 1. Gene 2. Ace 3. Peter 4. Paul

[@therockexperiencewithmikeb8365]

And you would display them that way also?

[@ALF.Argentina]

The order of the remasters cd code numbers: Gene Ace Peter Paul

[@jamesclifford189]

Paul - Gene - Ace - Peter I first heard the songs from these albums on the West German vinyl version of "Best of Solo Albums". I thought Ace's album would be my favourite based on the three songs on there. I was kind of disappointed when I heard the full album, to me the songs all sound kind of the same.... Paul's is the best to me, the songs have emotion and passion, and show his strength as a songwriter. I really like Gene's album too, so much variety, and its great to hear Joe Perry, Donna Summer etc. I think Peter's album is okay, there are some weak songs, but also some nice pop songs. I'm glad the band did the solo albums, the band was fracturing anyway, so it was good to get so much material.

[@therockexperiencewithmikeb8365]

I’m glad they did also!

[@mariocirillo7910]

A shout out, I’m not worthy!! Great discussion as always. Low tech or high tech, you guys rock. I have to find that book. Question, had the solo albums never happened, would that import best of album serve as the lost KISS album??

[@vlarussajr]

But you ARE worthy and super as stated!

[@Footjones]

It's funny, when Quiet Riot's Metal Health came out, I heard the song Don't Wanna Let You Go and thought, that's Ain't Quite Right/Ain't Quiet Riot.

[@therockexperiencewithmikeb8365]

Lol....that’s funny!

[@I-Libertine]

Paul's album was best. End of discussion! Ace's was cool, but Paul's was most Kiss-like and really showed what made Kiss as strong as it was. If everyone else had left, Paul could have kept it going with replacement musicians. And it still would have sounded like Kiss.

[@ALF.Argentina]

Paul Ace Gene Peter

[@aleksandarfrick2656]

Can we count these albums like Kiss albums ?

[@therockexperiencewithmikeb8365]

They have the KISS logo on them, and were part of KISS’s contract with Casablanca so I say 100% yes.

[@jeffgerek6180]

My favorite solo albums are ace 1st,paul 2nd,gene and Peter's is a toss up.

[@liquidvizionsmadferit]

Peter's is a complete mess. I hate it. Gene's isn't nowhere as bad but it was a letdown for sure. As far as Ace and Paul... I love them both the same. Those two were Amazing!

[@therockexperiencewithmikeb8365]

No doubt, Paul & Ace’s are awesome and stand the test of time!

[@chrisvsevil9790]

My list is Ace, A close second Paul, a farther 3rd place Peter, and because someone has to be last Gene. I bought the Peter album in 78, and was so very disappointed, over the years my opinion has changed, In 78 I would have put Peter dead last, in the trash. I always loved Ace’s album, it’s killer. Paul’s album is extremely solid, great songs. I was always disappointed by Gene’s album, like with Peter, I was just expecting something different in 78, not that it’s a completely bad album, I just still think Gene’s album is the weakest. I love them all, so this is just my ranking.

[@jeffgerek6180]

I think a lot of fans don't like Peter's album because it's r and b kiss fans expect rock I think it's ok.

[@yournamehere7182]

Nepal Stanley ⭐ 😁

[@richardgoad7682]

Inspired by your solo album episodes I returned to Criss album for first time in 40 years. Sorry guys, I still don't get it and for me it remains the worse album with a KISS logo on it.

[@therockexperiencewithmikeb8365]

Nothing to be sorry about. I give you credit for having an open mind and trying again. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Thanks for watching!

[@richdrums6886]

Ace and Paul have always flip/flopped between which I think is better. I think Paul's too bubble-gum for me as an adult. And Peter and Gene have always flip/flopped for which I think is worse, however, they both went to a way different direction, bringing in songs from their past. But I've always loved all 4 for different reasons. Ace has the least amount of filler (to me) Gene's has the most

[@roryerickson6143]

Ace's album is overrated in my opinion sure rip it out and speedin back are awesome songs but the rest.....average at best but Paul's is awesome start to finish and i think take me away (together as one) is incredible. Peter's is underrated i cant stop the rain and hooked on rock n roll are amazing songs sure it's not very Kiss like but it's a great album Peter sings great. Gene's is apart from maybe 3 or 4 songs pure crap

[@pathaden]

Aint Quite Right and Live On Chains average??? Wowwwwwww

[@Rabant777]

I never disliked Peter's album. There are good songs arranged and performed well. I just think the vast majority of the most vocal Kiss fans have narrow musical tastes. Gene had some poorly executed songs. He has always thrown out quantity over quality and has always needed a strong producer or partner to get the most out of him. The performances and arrangements have always been the big letdown for me on Gene's album (I really dislike the bass playing on a number of songs). I think Paul's album is the only perfect Kiss related album - not that all of the songs are the best Kiss songs, just that for the songs he had there's not a note I would change. Ace's album has more great songs and great performances than (maybe) the rest of his career put together ..... but I think it's short by a couple of songs. New York Groove doesn't improve on the original Hello version and although I like Fractured Mirror I consider an instrumental final track as a bonus (so should be track 11). If I was to give a score for each: Paul 95/100; Ace 85/100; Peter 70/100; Gene 55/100.

[@I-Libertine]

Peter had a great rock voice. But I'm sorry, the songs on Peter's album are simply weak. Major key for the most part (except the unimaginative ballads) "rocked up", which made it sound like dad pretending to "rock out". Yuck. As sonically goofy as those posters.

[@dakotaescher1]

If I have listened to Ace's solo record a million times I have listened to Love in Chains 10 million times. I LOVE this song. Great tune and Bob rocks 110%!!!!!!!! You guys talk about duds, New York Groove is horrible. It trudges and the vocals are mediocre at best. I love Ace and his record, but I continually get ear fatigue listening to his voice.

[@dakotaescher1]

@@davidpitkat6031 Thrilling, whoever plays the lead is fantastic. Big fucking deal. Douche bag. It kicks ass.

[@dakotaescher1]

@@davidpitkat6031 I actually have a life and do not spend it reading "Liner Notes." However, every podcast says how Bob plays lead guitar on the record. Have a miserable life.

[@davidpitkat6031]

dakotaescher1 - “Miserable Life? Judging by your butt hurt response to me simply pointing out a different guitarist deserves credit for lead on that song, you seem to have the “miserable life” thing all locked up. I wish you only the best.

[@dakotaescher1]

@@davidpitkat6031 Douche Bag

[@dakotaescher1]

@@davidpitkat6031 No you did it in a douche bag way, hate to break it to you.