Bag

REVIEW: Gene Simmons – The Vault – Disk 7 (2018)

Previous Reading: 

Record Store Tales #600:  The Vault
Disk 1 Review
Disk 2 Review
Disk 3 Review
Disk 4 Review
Disk 5 Review
Disk 6 Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some good and bad songs ahead.  For those keeping score at home, this CD contains tracks 91-105 in the Vault box set.

GENE SIMMONS – The Vault – Disk 7 (2018 Rhino)

“No Conscience” comes with a Vinnie Poncia co-writing credit, which probably dates it back to the Hot in the Shade era.  Not much else is said about its genesis.  It’s an interesting hard rocker with what sound like drum machines.   It’s very much in the mould of that late 80s Kiss sound and could have been a B-side.  In the case of Hot in the Shade, a lot of the demos were polished up for the final album.  This needs some polishing, but it’s a little like finding a lost gem.  3/5 

Gene talks about writing “Suspicious” with Black ‘N Blue for In Heat, which dates this track back to about 1988.  There’s a clear “Stayin’ Alive” reference with the “Ah, ah, ah” in the chorus.   It’s not bad and would have fit very well on Hot in the Shade better than some of the songs that made it.  There’s a cool solo (must be Thayer) and the hooks eventually bore their way into your head.  Sounds a little like Trash-era Alice Cooper too.  4/5

“Everybody Wants” is a great song.  This is another of the Silent Rage demos.  The vocals aren’t recorded well enough to really make out the words, but the chorus has hooks.  It has a bit of a Dokken vibe, in a good way.  As we go through the Vault we keep running across songs that should have made onto Kiss albums.  Here’s another.  Which one would it fit on?  That’s the trick.  Maybe Kiss should have just made more albums.  4/5

“Promise The Moon” is interesting.  The chords go back to a song called “Sentimental Fool” written with Bob Kulick.  However, an instrumental (with prominent bass) was bootlegged as “The Unknown Force”.  On the Creatures of the Night box set, another version is titled “Tell It To A Fool”.  This isn’t information you’ll find in the liner notes.  This is coming from me using my ears.  Long have I loved that “Unknown Force”, demo and wished for a better version.  Here it is, with full lyrics, guitar solos, and everything else.  This song is stellar.  There were plenty of albums this could have fit on.  Gene reveals that he wanted Black ‘N Blue to do the song.  That would have been a waste.  This should have been Kiss.   I am overjoyed to have this song in my collection at last.  5/5

“All You Want Is a Piece of My Heart” is an Adam Mitchell song featuring Tommy Thayer.  It’s a bass groove, with some unexpected acoustic guitar overtop the metal riff.  It needed to be properly fleshed out, but there is definitely the skeleton of an idea here that had potential.  Sounds very Hot in the Shade with that acoustic.  It’s difficult to rate because there’s a terrific chorus and some cool guitar work, but also some sections that sound unfinished.  3.5/5

“Pride” is an early 2000s song, but unlike the other Asshole material, this one is really good!  Unbelievable!  How does stuff like this end up buried on a box set?  There’s a soulful chorus and a joyful arrangement.  It’s hard to describe.  It’s pop, not rock, with piano and a knack for a hook.  It’s criminal for a great song like this to sit unnoticed on an 11 CD box set that very few people have.  5/5

“Through the Night” and “Sweetheart of the Radio” are two earlier Simmons songs that eventually transformed into “Mirage” during the early 90s.  This Thayer demo has a strong beat and numerous hooks.  Once again, how does stuff like this get left off albums?  This song is all but finished, with “woah-oh-oh” vocals and some serious Thayer pyrotechnics.  For those who love that 80s Kiss sound, this song is right up their alley.  Gene says the bridge was later used in “Now That You’re Gone” and “I Wanna Rule the World”, but I didn’t notice.  That’s five songs all connected together!  4/5

Gene’s Simmons Records protege Bag (just Bag) was responsible for “Dog”.  It ended up on the Asshole album, unfortunately, because it’s garbage.  I don’t know what Gene was thinking on that album.  The only good thing about it is this big giant Jimmy Page-like guitar part that isn’t in the song enough.  1.5/5

“If I Had a Gun” is one of the few good songs on Asshole, and it’s another Bag song.  This demo is a lot like the finished version, just less adorned with all the accoutrements.  Some may like it, some hate it.  I like the “Uh-oh, uh-oh” falsetto vocal hook.  I think it’s a good song.  3.5/5

Onto Carnival of Souls.  One of the most remarkable songs on that album was a Bruce Kulick / Gene Simmons song called “I Walk Alone”.  Why remarkable?  Because it was Bruce Kulick’s debut on lead vocals.  This is an earlier version with a different chorus, and Gene on lead vocals.  Sounds like Eric Singer on drums.  It has ballady elements, but also slams quite hard on the chorus.  It’s hard to rank compared to the album version.  There are things to like about both.  3.5/5

“Seduction of the Innocent” is another Carnival demo.  It’s quite remarkable, but the melody idea is the oldest on the box set.  It dates back to 1964.  Gene wrote it when he was 13 years old and called it “My Girl Brought Me Chocolate Ice Cream”.  He finished it decades later with Scott Van Zen.  In the liner notes, Gene spends a good amount of time talking about growing up as a poor immigrant.  Not being able to speak English, and then gradually being able to understand Beatles songs.  Using a broken TV speaker and cabinet as a makeshift amplifier.  You can hear the Beatles in the song, but that may just be what Gene refers to as a “Middle Eastern” melody, a style familiar to him from his youth in Israel.  Fascinating history, but also a pretty good song that made it to the final album much like this demo.  3.5/5

Suddenly we jump to Animalize.  “Lonely Is the Hunter” should be familiar, but Gene takes a bit of a shot at Paul Stanley in the notes.  He says he prefers the greasy feel of the demo, and says he wasn’t there in the studio when Kiss recorded their version, saying it was Paul’s project.  Gene, of course, was busy filming Runaway with Tom Selleck.  This demo does have a sleazier groove, and hits in a way that might have more vintage Kiss in style.  Gene may have a point about Animalize, but it was his fault for not being there.  3.5/5 

The next few songs go back to 1977 and a Motown influence.  “Never Gonna Leave You #1” was recorded in a closet on a 4-track recorder.  You can hear what Gene was trying to achieve.  He didn’t.  Perhaps some of it wound on Gene’s solo album.  There’s a certain way he sings “Yeah” that is similar.  1/5

“I Ain’t Comin’ Back” is a better attempt from 1977 at the above sound.  Marginally better.  The beats are better.  The chorus is something pretty smelly.  Limburger.  1.5/5

“Never Gonna Leave You #2” is an update with Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer.  Finally he got it right.  This is a rock version.  Gene seems to prefer the Motown version.  I don’t.  This could have been a solid Kiss B-side.  3/5

Average score by song:   3.06/5 stars

 

Disk 7 Track length and songwriters (from Wikipedia)

1. No Conscience (3:35) Simmons / Poncia
2. Suspicious (3:22) Thayer / St. James / Regan
3. Everybody Wants (2:24) Simmons / Damon
4. Promise the Moon (4:00) Simmons / Kulick / Thayer / St. James
5. All You Want Is a Piece of My Heart (3:53) Mitchell
6. Pride (3:11) McCormack / Simmons
7. Mirage (3:30) Simmons
8. Dog (3:32) Chuaqui / Simmons
9. If I Had a Gun (3:27) Chuaqui
10. I Walk Alone (3:27) Simmons / Kulick
11. Seduction of the Innocent (5:09) Simmons / Van Zen
12. Lonely Is the Hunter (3:02) Simmons
13. Never Gonna Leave You #1 (2:22) Simmons
14. I Ain’t Comin’ Back (2:57) Simmons
15. Never Gonna Leave You #2 (3:19) Simmons

REVIEW: Gene Simmons – The Vault – Disk 6 (2018)

Previous Reading: 

Record Store Tales #600:  The Vault
Disk 1 Review
Disk 2 Review
Disk 3 Review
Disk 4 Review
Disk 5 Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rough waters ahead, as more demos for the Asshole album are up.  For those keeping score at home, this CD contains tracks 76-90 in the Vault box set.

GENE SIMMONS – The Vault – Disk 6 (2018 Rhino)

As if we didn’t get enough on the last disc, we’re back on Disk 6 with another version of “Waiting For the Morning Light” by Dylan/Simmons.   This is close to final.  The instruments were played by Gene’s protege called “Bag” (just Bag) who somehow never became the next big thing.  Gene says he beefed up this demo for the final album.  That’s exactly what it sounds like.  The keyboards are a little more prominent, and it goes on a bit longer.  Gene notes in the book that he wanted Bob Dylan to write the lyrics, but Bob told him to finish the song.  I can’t help but get the impression that Bob was disinterested.  3.5/5

“Is It Real” is one of the newer songs, recorded in 2009 with Gene on acoustic guitar.  The lyrics were inspired by dreams.  Gene calls out the chords as he records, doubtless to help him remember how to play the song.  There are similarities to “See You Tonite” from his solo album.  This is just a quick one-minute idea.  2/5 

“Is It Real” goes directly into the demo for “Are You Real”, the completed song with Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer.  Is the similarity to “See You Tonite” intentional?  Gene doesn’t say, but it doesn’t sound accidental.  This could never have been a Kiss song, but as a solo track, it’s not bad.  Once again it is very Beatles-esque.  Gene is very good at writing those kinds of songs.  It’s also fun to hear Tommy Thayer play more like himself.  3.5/5

“Something Seems to Happen at Night” is a song written and played by Adam Mitchell and sung by Gene.  Simmons was so enamoured with the demo, that he didn’t want anything added or subtracted from it.  He liked the mood and atmosphere.  It sounds very early-80s, so it might date back to 1981 or 82 given Mitchell’s role.  It doesn’t have the fidelity of a final song, and would not have fit on a Kiss album as-is.  That’s why we’re hearing these songs now, and it’s not because they’re bad songs.  3.5/5

Simmons cites Lennon as an influence on “I Believe”, performed with Erich Lenning of Nick Simmons’ band.  There are scratch lyrics and scatting, but melody and song structure hints at something pretty good in the making.  If only these songs were more complete!  If Gene ever puts out another solo album, he should consider finishing some of these songs.  3/5

The electronic “Beautiful”, which ended up on Gene’s solo album, is written and performed by some guys who submitted their music to Simmons Records looking for a deal.  For whatever reason, “Beautiful” jumped out at Gene and he recorded it with the guys.  One wonders why, since it’s crap.  1/5

“Guilty Pleasures” was written on a Martin acoustic guitar at Shannon Tweed’s place in Whistler, BC.  The included demo is electric, with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer.  Now this is cool.  It’s Gene in a Neil Young state of mind, with these big huge chords and a roomy arrangement.  It’s a slow epic kind of song, similar to “Goin’ Blind”.  Eric’s drums are huge.  He adds so much to a song.  Tommy adds in another solo that shows he’s not just a Frehley clone.  One could hope this will get finished one day.  There’s something here.  3/5

Gene gushes over “I Dream 1000 Dreams”, a song which ended up on his solo album.  He describes how the song came to him, fully formed, and he just had to record it.  This demo is the template on which the final version was based.  And it’s crap mish-mash of this, that and the other thing.  1/5

“I Am Yours #1” is one of Gene’s demos with Silent Rage as his backing band.  That dates it back to the early 90s.  He compares this to “All The Young Dudes”, and you can hear the exact guitar melody he’s referring to when he says that.  There is a little bit of “God Gave Rock And Roll To You” in it as well.  This is a pretty good song, but it would not have fit on Revenge.  Though it is heavy, you can hear the Beatles influences coming through.  Beatles influences work so well in heavier songs!  3.5/5

“I Am Yours #2” is a second version, but Gene doesn’t have too much to say about its origins in the notes.  Could be Eric Singer on drums, hard to say.  It is rougher sonically speaking.   It’s less compelling.  3/5

Gene says “Love Is Blind #1” is a little like the Eagles.  It could be, but to me it’s more like Gene’s first solo album in 1978.  This demo is just Gene with acoustic guitar and bass.  It’s a pretty song and actually sounds pretty good as-is.  Gene overdubbed nice harmony vocals to beef it up.  All it needs is some percussion instead of a click track.  3.5/5

The fully-formed “Love Is Blind #2” might be less appealing because it lacks that folksy sound.  On the other hand, it’s a pretty cool pop rock song like this.  The acoustic version might be a little more special.  3/5

I actually liked “Whatever Turns You On” from the Asshole album.  The song was a submission that Gene made some additions and edits to.  It’s definitely different, and features the Tweed sisters on laughs and backing vocals.  This demo is rougher, has more emphasis on the organ, and is generally more authentic than the album version.  A few demos are like that.  This is the best version.  4/5

The funny story about “Hold On” is why it was written.  Gene was up in freezing cold Saskatoon with Shannon Tweed, and everyone was outside having fun in the snow.  Not being the winter type, Gene stayed in and wrote “Hold On”.  This is another 90’s Silent Rage demo.  Again, its acoustic nature really hearkens back to Gene’s 1978 solo album, and that’s not a bad thing.  That “Beatles” word seems to recur when discussing many of these demos.  Gene is good at those kinds of songs.  Interestingly, there are similarities in the chorus to the unrelated “Waiting For the Morning Light”.  4/5

Finally, “First Love” was written on piano in the late 70s.  It’s the first song Gene ever wrote on piano.  Unfortunately, it’s pretty dreadful.  A Beatles-y misfire this time.  They wouldn’t have even given this song to Ringo to sing.  1/5

Average score by song:  2.83/5 stars

 

 

Disk 6 Track length and songwriters (from Wikipedia)

1. Waiting for the Morning Light (3:56) Dylan / Simmons
2. Is It Real (0:59) Simmons
3. Are You Real (2:56) Simmons
4. Something Seems to Happen at Night (2:37) Mitchell
5. I Believe (2:36) Simmons
6. Beautiful (4:06) Addison / Singh
7. Guilty Pleasures (2:56) Simmons
8. I Dream 1000 Dreams (3:40) Simmons
9. I Am Yours #1 (4:32) Simmons
10. I Am Yours #2 (2:57) Simmons
11. Love is Blind #1 (2:57) Simmons
12. Love is Blind #2 (2:53) Simmons
13. Whatever Turns You On (3:03) Williams / Simmons
14. Hold On (2:53) Simmons
15. First Love (2:14) Simmons

REVIEW: Gene Simmons – Asshole (2004)

GENE SIMMONS – Asshole (2004 EMI)

 This unfortunately titled album is easily the worst music that Gene has ever put his name on, and that’s saying something. Sprinkled within are some good ideas hither and yon, but by and large this is pretty much shite.

Have you seen the album cover?  Am I the only one who thinks that Gene bears an unsightly resemblance to Danny DeVito’s character from Big Fish?

If Asshole wasn’t choked down in production, it might have had a couple listenable songs.  “Sweet & Dirty Love” would be a killer opener. I believe this one is a Kiss reject. It sounds like it probably was, being one of the few rock songs on the album. “Firestarter” is a horrible, horrible cover, and the unfortunate first single. I have no idea why Gene thought it was a good idea to cover a Prodigy song, but this is also the same guy who covered “When You Wish Upon A Star”. Dave Navarro — lead guitar. (Who cares?)

“Weapons Of Mass Destruction” and “Waiting For The Morning Light” are both Kiss rejects. “Morning Light” as a ballad rejected from the Revenge album, co-written by Bob Dylan. (Not the lyrics though.) It’s nothing special, and that’s why it didn’t make the Revenge album, I guess.

“Beautiful” is non-descript and not memorable in any way. The title track “Asshole” is a catchy song, albeit a total novelty that only makes my road CDs today because it is somewhat funny. It’s a cover too, by the way.  (“Bucket full of pee”?  Seriously?  That’s a lyric?)

Bob Kulick (longtime Kiss collaborator since the early days) co-wrote “Now That You’re Gone”, another song that fails to stick in the memory. I couldn’t even tell you how it goes anymore.  Better is “Whatever Turns You On”, with its catchy sing-along chorus. Unfortunately, this pop song sounds like…God, like Sugar Ray or somebody from the 90’s that we’d rather forget.

“Dog”, co-written by somebody named Bag (a Simmons Records protege I think) is another unremarkable track. I couldn’t hum it for you if you held a knife to my neck. “Black Tongue”, however is remarkable. It is remarkable because it is, somehow, a lost Frank Zappa tape that Gene resurrected and wrote a song around. That’s Frank on guitar. The Zappa family sang on it. Now, I have no idea what the hell Gene had to do with Frank Zappa. I really know of no history there.  They are diametrically opposed musically. I love Frank. It’s great that Gene found a way to get some Frank music out there, but weird that it’s in such a contrived manner. Frank’s guitar is, of course, like butter.

“Carnival Of Souls” is another Kiss reject. It was written I believe for Revenge, considered as a bonus track for Alive III, rejected for the Carnival Of Souls album (though it lent its name to it) and rejected again for Psycho Circus. Four times rejected: Gene, take the hint! It’s because the song kinda sucks!  Its chorus jars awkwardly against the rest of the song, sounding like a different animal completely.

“If I Had A Gun” is another novelty song, but probably the best song on the whole album. It’s catchy, it’s fun, but again it sounds like some 90’s band that we’d all rather forget. Len, maybe.  Name a band, fill in the blank, I’m sure you can figure out a band that this sounds like. “1,000 Dreams” is this album’s “When You Wish Upon A Star”, just pure drivel, garbage, not worth playing.

And that’s the album. There’s also a clean version with no swearing, but what’s the point?

1.5/5 stars