Ace Frehley (solo Album)



Ace Frehley is a 1978 solo album from the lead guitarist of American hard rock band Kiss. It was one of four solo albums released by the members of Kiss on September 18, 1978.

"New York Groove" rose to #13 on the US Billboard chart, the highest showing for a Kiss single since "Beth" in 1976, until the song "I Was Made for Lovin' You" a year later (#11). The album itself reached #26 on the US Billboard album chart. It was certified Platinum on October 2, 1978, when it sold 1,000,000 copies.

The album featured Anton Fig on drums, who would later perform session work on the Kiss albums Dynasty and Unmasked, as well as become a member of Ace Frehley's post-Kiss band Frehley's Comet. Fig, along with Will Lee, who played bass on three tracks on this album, would become permanent members of Paul Shaffer's band on Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Show with David Letterman.

In His Own Words
Id give it a five.Paul and Gene are partially responcible for me doing such a great record because right before we left to do the record they really kind of implied that to me. And when people tell me I cant do something I try my hardest to prove them wrong. Wich is what I did.It was kind of an awakeningfor me that whole recording experiance. Working with Anton Fig and Eddie Kramer away from some of the negativevibes that sometimes encompassed a Kiss record kind of opened my eyes. Thats when I started thinking that maybe I would be better off away from those guys becasue alot of times we didnt see eye to eye. There were definitly some conflicts there".

"Before I did my solo album, I was pretty dormant in the area of writing and singing. The solo albumreally bought me out of my shell and made me much more confident as a singer and a guitarist".


 * Quotes taken from the bookKISS:Behind the Mask

Tracklisting
Rip It Out (3:39) - Frehley/L. Kelly/S. Kelly

Speedin' Back To My Baby (3:35) - A. Frehley/J. Frehley

Snow Blind (3:54) - Frehley

Ozone (4:41) - Frehley

Whats On Your Mind? (3:26) - Frehley

New York Groove (3:01) - Ballard

I'm In Need Of Love (4:36) - Frehley

Wiped-Out (4:10) - Frehley/Fig

Fractured Mirror (5:25) - Frehley

Cover versions
Two tracks from this album, "Rip It Out" and "Snow Blind", were covered by the Chemical People and Skin Yard respectfuly on Hard to Believe: Kiss Covers Compilation. The Foo Fighters released a cover of "Ozone" as a b-side to their "I'll Stick Around" single. The songs "Snowblind" and "Fractured Mirror" were also covered by Dimebag Darrell, who was a huge Ace Frehley fan, epitomized by having the Ace Frehley album cover tatooed onto his chest.



Personnel
Ace Frehley – Lead vocals, background vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, guitar synthesizer, bass guitar

Anton Fig - Drums, percussion

Will Lee - Bass on "Ozone", "Wiped-Out" & "I'm In Need of Love"

Carl Tallarico – drums on Fractured Mirror David Lasley and Susan Collins & co. - Background vocals on "Speedin' Back to My Baby", "New York Groove" & "What's On Your Mind?"

Larry Kelly - Background vocals on "Rip It Out"

Bill 'Bear' Scheniman - Bell on "Fractured Mirror"

Bobby McAdams - Power Mouth on "New York Groove"

Release Details
Casablanca NBLP-7121 (US, 9/18/78)

Casablanca NBPIX-7121 (US, Picture Disc)

Casablanca/PolyGram 826-916-1/2/4 (US Reissue 5/2/88, CD, 2/16/88)

Mercury 532-385-2/4 (US Remaster, 9/16/97)