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