Kiss - Electric Lady Studios Demo 1973 (full album)

[@magnusvanttinen7855]

EPIC! This is the real KISS root. SO great. They got that groove as a band. Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter. The real Kiss, the dangerous hard KISS. This is what we want. KISS ARMY.

[@undead333]

Gene's bass tone sounds amazing on this...right in your face and clean!

[@BurlzMusicOfficial]

Man Peter has so much soul on Black Diamond 💎

[@ninthhouse6602]

It’s no surprise that every kickass Kiss album has Eddie Kramer all over it!!!! Loved this demo!!!!

[@kevinpowell7435]

I love listening to the "raw" unpolished versions of their classic songs. 😛

[@guysfieri8900]

man this version just kicks ass. raw power running through all four of the guys here

[@ashleighsalinas8526]

This whole demo slaps. They don't make em like this anymore

[@magnusvanttinen7855]

Special note- Dangerous Cat Peter Criss vocals on Black Diamond. Awesome. All four as a band do the BEST of the BEST. KISS FOREVER

[@leelaurence4850]

The old shit was the best. Best Kiss song: She. I saw them in 1983. At the end, Paul said, "Our last song ... how 'bout something old?" Dude close to me yelled, "STRUTTER!" Paul heard it, and said, "I hear 'Strutter' over here!" '"Strutter!" it is!' And _Strutter_ it was!

[@jumprockparty2011]

This demo recording is much stronger than the album recording.

[@mikeglazier5993]

Way better engineering work on this. Kerner and Wise had no clue how to record a band like this

[@lepn-ny7cz]

I agree

[@j.jester7821]

The guitars are more up front. I would love to hear it in analog, not digitize and codec compressed.

[@unboxingvinylcd]

It was a shame that Eddie did not produce the album

[@kevinblake839]

They should've kept this session going with an album's worth of material and released it as the 1st album. It's miles better than the album that was recorded later. But that's hindsight and they were young and didn't really know what they were doing at the time.

[@warriorsofcamelotlotro3347]

This is absolute, pure GOLD for all Rock & Roll fans!!!

[@lukeskypestalker2622]

Ace kills it on Strutter ! Really makes that guitar cry !

[@pirre66]

Wish these version had been on their 1st album - particularly Strutter (this is the best version ever - just listen to Ace.... ON FIRE!!!!!) 👍🤟

[@HellbarClub]

This version of Strutter is the best recorded one ever.

[@ScottieFarrowelvisKong]

Ace's transitions during the Strutter solo are just cool as hell. WHY was this not the version they put on the first album? He was playing on a whole different level. They all were. Kudos to Eddie for bringing out the best of their talent at the time. Too bad more people didn't get a chance to hear this recording in KISS' early years

[@santiagosanchezg]

It sounds so raw and fresh.

[@TheTVisions]

Yes, nearly half a century later.

[@SalonGuru1961]

Real In The Raw Classic KISS Sound....Perfection!

[@FriedMeFry]

Now, this is why I liked old Kiss.

[@joecat16]

wow Ace in Strutter.... wow they all sounds great

[@faceschool9430]

Old Kiss sounds better and better the more time marches on.... Special.

[@jfrey1]

Face School Truth. Autotune, ear-bleeding brickwalling, and other major label atrocities are killing music. This was rock & roll pre-bullshit.

[@douchetube1]

Agreed!!!!!!!

[@moiresendiz4102]

Exactly, Like a Good wine

[@BarisonMassacre]

Damn right!

[@mikebillingsley2310]

Unfortunately, Dressed to Kill was the last album to feature the four original guys exclusively.

[@georgespottiswood4660]

AMAZING! Catches their fire and balls like their live shows did! Thanks for posting!

[@nxne75]

Recorded less than a month before I was born, across the river in NJ...too cool. KISS rules!

[@brucifer0]

I have to agree with most others this sounds better than their actual studio releases!

[@1guitarguy562]

WOW, just WOW. This is how I want to remember KISS! Been a fan since '75 & they were a major influence in my musical life! Ace owned the stage in their hay-day! 🎸

[@richardrock71]

Yeah I dont think so

[@LesPaul3399]

Ace's solo in Deuce is SICK!!!!

[@whataboutrob442]

Its not very good

[@drummer78]

@@whataboutrob442 Who cares what you think.

[@KOSMICKEN09]

@@drummer78 well everyone is a critic 😭

[@straty5598]

​@@whataboutrob442you're right it's not good, it's way better than that. Remember these songs were written and recorded in early 1970's then take yourself across the decades and see that they have been the soundtrack to the lives of millions of fans across the world, and continue to be. What an unbelievable package Kiss brought to the music scene, particularly in the 70's, unrivalled and untouchable, in my opinion of course

[@whataboutrob442]

@straty5598 No it's not.

[@Kissfan96dr]

this band's got potential.

[@blasterofmuppets4754]

but i think they kinda need a gimmick or something

[@runrunrun6777]

Thanks for putting this up. It should really be given a proper release- I'm surprised Gene hasn't made it happen since it would sell like hotcakes to all the die-hard KISS fans!

[@TheIntimidat3r]

That's why KISS has only put out 2 studio albums in 20+ years cuz they know we've got to have them all no matter how many copies of Detroit Rock City we have. I think that makes us fans dumb as hell.

[@rodrigoballmusic]

What a powerful band those guitars are crying like fallen angels ♥🔥🤘🤘

[@mbgrafix]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXicqIiXl9mjlas

[@mbgrafix]

...out of curiosity...who is already familiar with the 80s metal band that I referenced (Ransom) in my link above?

[@tjb2791]

This is much better than the album. Eddie Kramer knows what he's doing

[@spiralflash6169]

Eddie Kramer was the Ace whisperer...

[@martywhite2988]

tjb2791 Eddie's work sounds shitty here.

[@zachsmith3]

@@martywhite2988 It's a demo but if Eddie had more time and better equipment it would've been spectacular.

[@shanecameron7869]

@@zachsmith3 I agree. It sounds a lot more urgent and hungry here.

[@ToneChaser79]

Zach Smith better equipment? It was recorded at Electric Lady Studios!

[@johnniehoney6561]

This is awesome.

[@dalethelander3781]

Damn, Ace is off the hook on Strutter here.

[@michaelcornett4875]

I've ALWAYS loved this version of Strutter!! HARD rocking and DEFINITELY ahead of its time... 70's KISS at it's finest!!

[@ChadStormTheAftermath]

I often wonder if it was intentional how they went off time in Strutter and then found their way back for the last verse. It has always sounded like it was a mistake but Eddie Kramer pulled them back together. Hmmm.....

[@isaiahneilguitaristofficia549]

I thought his playing on Duece was better than Strutter on this demo, and I realized his playing influenced my playing so much and it’s subconscious, I didn’t start playing guitar until 1984 and was listening to Kiss in 1978,79,80 etc and never really sat down and learned Kiss song’s until much later like 2000’s but yeah he definitely influenced my playing.

[@gggg-xp2rv]

Ace's playing shows how laid back he is.Nobody can go through a lot of measures with just two notes. He is the man !

[@leokimvideo]

Ace shredding back in 1973, this is true classic Kiss, unlike the money bag monster it became in it's final 20 years

[@jeevespreston]

Gene Simmons would merch his grandmother if she'd let him...

[@littlebritain64]

Ace is the only guitarist I know who can build a great solo using only 4/5 notes......😄

[@Destin65]

You got that right. I envy players like him who can do more with one note than I can with the entire fretboard, haha.

[@fileunderunknown6924]

Dude has a good tone and feel.

[@chaskillcode]

Incredible guitarist. my biggest influence but Gilmour, BB King, Albert King, Muddy Waters and Billy Gibbons are just a few that quickly come to mind to do the absolute same

[@WillieDuitt1]

Yes that's rock n roll, just like Chuck Berry created it to be....

[@jonathanhathaway7796]

No kidding. I've been a professional guitarist for almost 40 years and can play a lot of different styles, but I got started thanks to KISS and I still marvel at how great he can milk a few notes just right. I still don't care about guitar players who play, as Gene put it, "like typewriters", ha ha. As a guitar player, I can say, "whoa, I can't do that", but as a listener I think, "thank god". EVH had speed but tremendous feel too.

[@DARKMETL]

Ace and Gene fucking killing it on Strutter, this should have always been the version they did live, just like the longer live version of Let Me Go Rock and Roll.

[@SigmaStoicGemini]

Could this be the EARLIEST Kiss recording in existence? l think for any early (73-75) Kiss fan THIS is the crown jewel...incredible performance and sound quality! Imagine if THIS was the 1st album....WOW

[@Danimal77]

Aside from all the Wicked Lester studio sessions from 1971 and 1972, this is the oldest studio recording of KISS as a band from March 12, 1973. As for live, Kiss began performing as early as January 30, 1973 (Wicked Lester first performed on April 23, 1971).

[@TheTVisions]

@@Danimal77 Yes, which makes 1972 Kiss' year of formation.

[@scottcayouette6829]

Hotel Diplomat sessions are earlier, but not by much.

[@thedarklord6130]

I love Gene's bass tone on these

[@zapusama67]

Absolutely LOVE the rawness of these songs! Thanx!!

[@321ssteeeeeve]

We’ve listened to them 50 years mainly for their show, but without the makeup and antics this demo reveals a brilliant team of musicians with a unique sound.

[@blueracer8635]

Never heard this before. It sounds great.

[@Emi4Rock]

im not a new fan, and i heard this tpday

[@Revener666]

@Once Upon A Rock & Roll also was included on a promotional release of the wicked lester album.

[@jaymiemurkerson2253]

You wanted the best!! You hot the best. KISS..

[@waltruether]

Peter is so good screw the haters

[@fileunderunknown6924]

I don’t hate Peter. I think he kept time and did well in early kiss. But, hearing him on the reunion tour was really painful. That was many years later obviously. Not every drummer can progress or be as skilled as they once were in their younger years. Then you have all the drama surrounding him offstage. Yikes. So no hate to Peter. Just seems like a drummer who got really lucky given his skill level by being around the right people who had a lot of drive.

[@elkornu8]

I don’t hate peter but Eric Carr will always be my fav

[@fileunderunknown6924]

elkornu8 mine also. Although, I think singer killed it on the revenge tour. His drums sounded incredible. Carr is my fav though.

[@BOUZOUKI_PETE]

@@fileunderunknown6924 crazy his drumming makes all these songs he’s way above average

[@ThanatosDeathMetal]

Peter definitely was a great drummer back then and he had more swing than Eric Carr (who was more powerful). But yeah, Peter didn't cut it anymore at the reunion shows...that's a fact. But he's not alone in that; Lars Ulrich was a decent/good drummer until the early nineties, but has become a fucking joke since the late nineties

[@stevedonahue7956]

if the album would have sounded like this then they would of had success right away

[@michaelaiken6482]

To me they did the first time i heard the band i kept wanting to listen to the record over and over. i forgot about the makeup and all that.

[@dennisthemenace5466]

ACE F**KING FREHLEY 🎸🎸🎸

[@FrederickWFraser]

Gene is rockin' the bass on Strutter!

[@RabidSnot]

Eddie Kramer was the Boss. He made KISS sound Great, better than anyone else who ever tried too. Ace Frehley Rocks ! KISS was a force to be reckoned with back in those early years. 50+ yrs ago. . .

[@daveverplank]

Peter's drums sound great.

[@harlossantana6350]

David Verplank i was thinking the same. The cowbell/ high hat combo on Deuce is freaking sweet.

[@kevinpaige5746]

Agreed! Way more "space" around these drum tones vs. official release.

[@geokai1210]

peters voice at 19:57 sounds amazing!

[@frivera7049]

How amazing is this!!

[@redhairedstepchild]

fantastic part of history at electric lady studios on 8 th st.. thank you

[@kuentas6924]

omg...This is the Kiss that I fell in love...

[@johnmccarthy4042]

This is way better with Eddie Kramer handling engineering duties, wow, this smokes :)

[@scottcayouette6829]

Gene Simmons actually singing instead of bellowing out words. Paul Stanley sounding like he wants to sing instead of trying to be as high pitched as he can. Ace ripping the leads like there's no tomorrow. Peter pounding the drums and the transitions he hits on everyone perfectly. Peter's vocals are clear and pitch perfect as well. These should have been on the record (only complaint is Gene's bass is buried on Watching You too much. But that could have been fixed just by bringing it up more.)

[@jimlinus4193]

Ace very simply nailed it on Strutter. It sounds great 👍 in 2022

[@johnnorth6004]

Proof that Ace Frehley is one of the greatest rock guitarist ever and Gene Simmons bass playing on Strutter is PERFECTION

[@CrazyRobandRoll]

Love this raw material... GREAT stuff !!

[@prettyboyfloydms]

Way way better than the finished product!!!!!! KISS should reissue the demo version to CD and use some of the alternate photos from the photo session as a cover.

[@MrRugbyloosehead]

Why the heck didn't they put this on the box set? ,but the way they operate , we'll see it eventually released.

[@cgeucare276]

Cold Gin not being slow makes it so much better.

[@palmerjohnson4982]

EXACTLY! This is the best version of Cold Gin!

[@philipholmes5884]

I agree the "slowness" on the 1rst album was a big let down to my favorite song "Alive"

[@RokDAWG1]

Peter was on fire! Damn! It's funny to watch the videos from their shows in the 70's because Peter os bashing up a storm and the microphones aren't picking up half of stuff he's doing.

[@michaelstratton6701]

I seen KISS a couple of times in the 70s, at cobo hall, where parts of alive were recorded, 74-75,I think, awesome concerts, we were the movie Detroit rock city, those were the days

[@alcoholya]

or he was on straight gin and cocaine baby...

[@user-yk4gd1fl4z]

Only fucking kiss could make a demo that slaughters the album version lol

[@ManeeVaughn]

They're tuned Standard on here and it sounds so good! On the album they're tuned down to E Flat.

[@culturemix637]

Best version of STRUTTER EVERRR !!

[@zachsmith3]

agreed!

[@carlocoles]

never liked Strutter but after hearing this version, I'm hooked!

[@purplehouse26]

KISS = AWESOMENESS

[@bobettejennett8085]

I love the classic KISS

[@morriswest1165]

Get up and get your grandma out of here. My Grandma took us to our first KISS show 78'

[@stevennovakovich2525]

Hilarious!

[@dungeonwolf8919]

Its grime isn't it?

[@sgtmac62]

'78? I probably was right beside you!

[@tamihewitt6562]

Oh my God I love that!

[@djkillergarcia]

Good. Did you get her outta there?

[@JohnTCoupe]

KISS recorded this on My 20th Birthday!~ I really enjoyed this !~Rock & Roll

[@70stunes71]

Takes me back to my youth when I first started listening to them . Tiny lil 8 track player lol cool classic sound

[@franciscomartingutierrez951]

Amazing!!! thanks for sharing...

[@BOUZOUKI_PETE]

so many good songs for a first album

[@4stringz.]

Kramer's demo takes blow away the album versions

[@hermesmensajero1160]

Ésta grabación es una joyita.

[@markymarco2570]

And Peter was their best singer since the first demo.

[@glengamble526]

Calm down, Skippy.

[@Staxovwax]

Peter was a great vocalist influenced by very classic acts but Paul is a damn beast. Gene does an amazing job portraying a very defining vocal style that has spanned decades. But Paul man, he’s a true vocalist.

[@kalebvera1841]

pete had potential but he didnt really pursue a singing career , he couldve if he wanted to

[@altouna]

Genes vocals are fantastic!

[@martyloue5416]

altouna yea

[@scottcayouette6829]

He is actually singing instead of just bellowing the lyrics.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

Kiss, raw like this reminds me of Slade. Love it!

[@listillolordoc7604]

I love the sound! This is what the album Kiss should've sounded like. Casablanca should've just let Eddy Kramer do his thing when it came to the first album. The best part is, this was only recorded on a 4 track real to real tape machine, not the 24 tracks Kiss was recorded on originally.

[@rightchordleadership]

what the hell is a real to real tape?

[@listillolordoc7604]

Right Chord Leadership, reel to reel tape, I wasn't checking my spellcheck.

[@silviog6987]

Kiss record all the albums on 16 tracks until destroyer ( included.) And since rock n roll over they record on 24 tracks.

[@kimario81]

Always let the guy who helped Hendrix help you all the way through

[@scottcayouette6829]

Do you know the other connection KISS has with Hendrix? (a direct connection.)

[@cameronholladay3605]

I think they wanted Eddie desperately for the album, but Bogart wanted Kerner and Wise to do it. This is why they produced the debut and HTH.

[@michaelmiller44820]

I've heard all of these before, except "Black Diamond." Thanks for sharing this! :)

[@SigmaStoicGemini]

March 13 1973....

[@lat-roc9733]

Sounds incredible Love the start of the solo on strutter - circa 12 min mark I agree with a previous caller that this would have been a great finished mix - raw, rough, tough. It sounds great in 2018

[@pietvlanderen5811]

Der Sound auf dem Demo ist viel viel besser als der auf der Platte. Vielen Dank fürs teilen. Waren die geil, und zum Vergleich heute, ich könnt kotzen.

[@michaelctouma4662]

The ending on the Black Diamond demo was so much better than the album version. This demo sounds the closest to the one on Alive!

[@justingarman6980]

15:58 .. When you step on one of your kids legos sneaking to the basement to listen to this and have a beer.

[@spacebumwa]

Loved this. Thanks for posting.

[@gregdurand8359]

This version of "Strutter" is much better.

[@prettyboyfloydms]

Greg Durand strutted sounds closer to the Alive version. Much heavier and more uptempo!!! Very cool!!!!!

[@prettyboyfloydms]

I mean "Strutter ".....damn spellcheck!!!!

[@TheTVisions]

I don't think it's better, it's more Southern rock-ish... We're letting the raw live in the studio recording cloud our views.

[@mr.brownstone1331]

The lick Ace does at 12:03 is his solo from Parasite

[@kevinmcguinness1113]

Part of it yeah, but in a different key. Parasite is in G minor, this is in B minor.

[@stanleyadamcio6980]

Aswome stuff man i miss all four original guy's

[@prettyboyfloydms]

Black Diamond kills!!!!! Excellent!!!

[@minibikemafia]

wish their first album had this sound...kramer knew how to capture this band. sounds like a studio version of alive!

[@jacobfinemusic]

Alive was in the studio. Jk 😂

[@tyeedwrds]

Parts of it, that's true! Polished to a shine. But it's still a kick ass record!

[@minibikemafia]

Jacob Fine ha, funny how that worked out😂😂

[@trurobertson]

tyeedwrds according to Eddie Kramer a little of everything was tweeked besides the voice of Peter Criss..

[@rodsmolter5046]

fantastic! I love the raw sound of this.

[@mykylc]

Eddie Kramer capturing the live sound they were known for in New York. Makes me wonder how differently things would have been had Eddie produced the first album and not Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise who should have never been producers on anything.

[@MrAndrum11]

Maybe Alive! Would not have been the hit as it was since people bought Alive since it didn’t sound as the first 3 records

[@mykylc]

@@MrAndrum11 i hear ya

[@mrcanarsie]

Best demo tape ever

[@tinmantis648]

KISS ALIVE without the cheering, totally awesome!

[@gregorycampagna8138]

Watching You so raw

[@rockerace2112]

Nice hearing those alternate solos

[@ericlogan7440]

I think it's obvious that the most musically accomplished and talented person in this group was Peter Criss. Best musician and especially on this demo, the best vocalist by far.

[@wasp1961]

A little tweak here and there a touch of polish .But as it stands sooooo much better than the first album ... Right off the bat Eddie Kramer just got the essence of KISS

[@peterstar2023]

Peter sure loves that cymbal in Strutter. He just can't stop he loves it so much.

[@matycee]

now this... this is something.

[@mr.z6776]

Much better than the album-versions. Kramer should have been the producer on that album.

[@krisdavis1050]

KISS raw and epic!

[@darylking265]

What's interesting is that four of these songs were on the first album but Watching You was on Hotter than Hell.