This Date in Rock n Roll History: KISS Releases (Music From) The Elder by Scott Carr

(Music From) The Elder is the ninth studio album from KISS released on November 10, 1981.

After the less than impressive sales of their 1980 release Unmasked, which saw the band take a turn towards a more pop-oriented sound, it was initially teased in the office KISS Army newsletter that the next KISS release would be "hard and heavy from start to finish — straight-on rock and roll that will knock your socks off." Ultimately what they delivered is without a doubt the strangest album in the KISS catalog. Instead of a no frills straight ahead rock record....the fans got a concept record based on a story by bassist Gene Simmons. The album was produced by Bob Ezrin, who had previously worked with the band on their 1976 Destroyer album and had also worked with Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd and many others. The idea was to make a record that would showcase KISS as serious musicians and try to pander to the critics who were never too kind to KISS.

The Elder was truly a transitional record for the band as it was their first release with new drummer Eric Carr who had replaced departed original drummer Peter Criss a year earlier when Criss bowed out to begin his solo career. Eric toured throughout Europe with KISS on their Unmasked tour and proved to be a breath of fresh air for the band and brought a level of energy that had been missing on their last tour with Criss. 

Initially there were big plans that would tie in with the release of The Elder.......there was a movie planned, a new tour was on the horizon with a whole new stage show and a new look for the band......they had all cut their hair shorter than it had ever been and the new costumes were a more streamlined look than the previous costumes they had for the Dynasty/Unmasked tours, and there was also talk of several sequels that would continue the story of The Elder. As quickly as these plans were announced....they were soon cancelled. The movie idea was scrapped and the tour never came to be. 

Picture Disc for single "World Without Heroes". Olivia Newton John's influence was hard to escape during this period in American music. CG

The only live performance of any material from The Elder was on a late-night sketch comedy show on ABC called Fridays. Fridays was ABC's short-lived answer to NBC's Saturday Night Live. KISS appeared on Fridays and performed three songs from The Elder......"The Oath", "A World Without Heroes" and "I." This is the only time any material from The Elder was performed live until August, 1995 when KISS taped their MTV Unplugged concert and surprised fans with "A World Without Heroes." After the MTV taping it seemed The Elder had been put back into the closet to never be heard from again.....until recently when KISS played "The Oath" on their fourth annual KISS Kruise.

The Elder was quite a dud sales-wise for the band.......it would be their commercial low point and worst-selling album of their entire career. At the time most fans weren't sure what to make of this new serious KISS record that sounded more like a Pink Floyd record than a KISS record.....a lot of fans felt let down by their comic book heroes and began to move to bands like Motley Crue, who released their iconic debut album Too Fast For Love the same month as The Elder . A new breed of rock and metal bands were coming out of LA and taking a lot of influence from the early days of KISS.....black leather, studs, fire and really raw rock music. These bands were filling the void that KISS had left behind and it would take another year or so before KISS would begin to get their career back on the right track.

As time has passed The Elder has become a fan favorite....although there seems to be no middle ground for this record....you either love it or you hate it. The members of KISS have pretty much disowned the album and rarely have any positive things to say about it. I personally love it and it is ranked in my top 5 all time favorite KISS records. I liked that they were trying something completely different....to me it sounded fresh and interesting but I completely understand why it didn't work on a mass level. People want KISS to rock and roll all night and party every day....they don't want them singing about the recruitment and training of a young hero (The Boy) by the Council of Elders who belong to the Order of the Rose, a mysterious group dedicated to combating evil. And an elderly caretaker named Morpheus. It's hard to write catchy songs about that kind of stuff.

There always seems to be interest surrounding The Elder.....On November 16, 2011 it was announced that pre-production had begun on an independently produced adaptation of Music from "The Elder" .......no word on when or if this project will ever get off the ground....but the film company has released a teaser trailer for the movie.

So...Happy 33rd birthday to the weirdest and most controversial album in the KISS discography.......

Scott Carr is a guitarist who plays in the Columbus, OH  bands Radio Tramps and Returning April. Scott is also an avid collector of vinyl records and works at Lost Weekend Records. So...if you are looking for Scott....you'll either find him in a dimly lit bar playing his guitar or in a record store digging for the holy grail.

Editor's note: Obviously, I was going to first embed the footage of KISS performing said material on ABC Fridays. UNTIL, Scott  dropped the bomb that  a "new Elder" movie is currently in production being made by Seb Hunter, a cultish looking figure from the U.K. It's due for release in 2014 and it may or may not be a hoax. Brilliant. My jaw is on the floor this is sooooo awesome. I think Brian Phillips and myself may have a reelin' and rockin' candidate. Check out the trailer below before enjoying KISS in all their 1982 glory.

Under-rated as musicians.   CG

This Date in Rock History: KISS, Queen, The Kinks, The Beatles and more KISS by Scott Carr

October 28, 1997 - KISS: Carnival of Souls - The Final Sessions is released.

Carnival of Souls is the 17th studio album from KISS and it was originally slated to be released in 1996. The release was derailed by an announcement in early 1996 that the original KISS line up would be reuniting for a massive world tour. The album remained in limbo for almost 2 years before finally being released on October 28th, 1997. The album came out with little fanfare and went mostly unnoticed by the general public. Most fans call Carnival of Souls the KISS grunge record. While it is heavy and dark....it doesn't sound grunge to me. It has the heavy elements of their previous record Revenge but has an overall more serious tone lyric wise. The song "Jungle" was released to radio as the only single from the record but there was no promotion at all. Carnival of Souls would be the swan song for the Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Bruce Kulick, Eric Singer line-up of KISS. Once they put the make up back on....there was no turning back. Originally Carnival of Souls was released on CD and cassette......2014 saw the first vinyl pressing of the record.

Side One
1.    "Hate"      
2.    "Rain"      
3.    "Master & Slave"      
4.    "Childhood's End"      
5.    "I Will Be There"      
6.    "Jungle"  

Side Two    
1.    "In My Head"      
2.    "It Never Goes Away"      
3.    "Seduction of the Innocent"      
4.    "I Confess"      
5.    "In the Mirror"      
6.    "I Walk Alone"      

October 28, 1977 - Queen: News of the World is released.

News of the World is the 6th studio album released by Queen. News of the World is probably best known for it's opening anthems "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" ....which have been used at countless sporting events over the past 3 plus decades....but the album is loaded with other great tracks. The sound on this record was more straightforward than previous Queen records.....they streamlined their sound and went for a more direct approach......which for the most part worked. New of the World was a huge success for the band....selling more than 4 million copies in the US alone. 

Side One    
1.    "We Will Rock You"      
2.    "We Are the Champions"      
3.    "Sheer Heart Attack"      
4.    "All Dead, All Dead"      
5.    "Spread Your Wings"      
6.    "Fight from the Inside"      

Side Two    
1.    "Get Down, Make Love"      
2.    "Sleeping on the Sidewalk"      
3.    "Who Needs You"      
4.    "It's Late"      
5.    "My Melancholy Blues"  

October 28, 1966 - The Kinks: Face To Face is released.

Face To Face is the fourth studio album released by The Kinks. Face To Face is the first Kinks album to contain all songs written by Ray Davies, although Dave Davies disputes this fact by saying he wrote "Party Line." Two songs from the album were covered and released as singles prior to the album coming out....The Pretty Things did a version of "A House In The Country" and Herman's Hermits had a hit with the song "Dandy." Face To Face is a fan favorite and it began a string of great albums lasting through 1971's Muswell Hillbillies. There really isn't a bad Kinks record but the period from 1966 to 1971 is pretty magical.

Side One    
1.    "Party Line"      
2.    "Rosie Won't You Please Come Home"  
3.    "Dandy"      
4.    "Too Much on My Mind"      
5.    "Session Man"      
6.    "Rainy Day in June"      
7.    "A House in the Country"      

Side Two    
1.    "Holiday in Waikiki"      
2.    "Most Exclusive Residence for Sale"      
3.    "Fancy"      
4.    "Little Miss Queen of Darkness"      
5.    "You're Lookin' Fine"      
6.    "Sunny Afternoon"      
7.    "I'll Remember"  

October 28, 1996 – The Beatles: Anthology 3 is released.

Anthology 3 is a compilation album released by the three surviving members of The Beatles in 1996. It is comprised of rarities and outtakes that focus on the last 2 years of the band......from The White Album....through Let It Be and Abbey Road. The Anthology series was a huge success and Anthology 3 was the bands third No. 1 double album in a row.....the previous 2 Anthologies had also hit the number one spot. Unlike the previous 2 Anthologies....Anthology 3 did not contain any newly recorded material from the three surviving Beatles.....a new track was planned for this album but was not completed. Instead they opened the album with the track "A Beginning" .....which had originally been planned as an intro track to "Don't Pass Me By" on The White Album. "A Beginning" was composed by Beatle producer George Martin.

October 28, 1978: The NBC Movie Of The Week "KISS Meets Phantom of the Park" premieres. 

"KISS Meets The Phantom of the Park" was the 2nd highest-rated TV movie of the year. 

Seeing and Hearing Them (a)Live by Jim Brazytis

Seeing and Hearing Them (a)Live

Earlier this week, I had the pleasurable audio experience of taking in an acoustic performance featuring Paul Barrère and Fred Tackett at one of Cleveland’s newest concert venues, The Music Box Supper Club. For those not familiar with the duo of Paul and Fred, they are guitarists from the legendary group Little Feat. Even though Little Feat, which was led by its deceased founder and lead singer Lowell George, never achieved mass commercial success, they influenced many artists: from Dave Matthews to Jimmy Buffett to Bob Seger with songs, including “Dixie Chicken,” “Oh Atlanta,” and "Willin.”

The Paul and Fred show was exceptional! As I stated on my Facebook page, “It was like being at the greatest camp fire ever.” But, I couldn’t stop from wondering how great it would have been to see the entire group live fronted by Lowell. Of all the artists who have passed away before their time, Lowell George is one I wish could have seen and heard in concert.

So on my way home, traveling the rock and roll streets of Cleveland, I started to think about what other artists would fall into my category of “I Wish I Could Have Seen and Heard Them (a)Live.” Names and voices streamed through my head … Jim Morrison … David Ruffin … Kurt Cobain. All good - and I’m sure very entertaining – but not at the top of my list. 

So after some thought and scanning my iPod I arrived at the list below. Drum roll please! Presenting the Jim Brazytis list of “I Wish I Could Have Seen and Heard Them (a) Live” artists (in no particular order):

Bob Marley (Bob Marley & The Wailers) – I have seen Bob’s son Ziggy Marley live a few times, and it’s a fantastic reggae experience. That said, the chance to see one of music’s most captivating, transcending artists manning the stage with his dreadlocks flowing would have been better than a Jamaican meat pocket and a Red Stripe.  

Steve Ray Vaughan (Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble) – I still kick myself! November 1989, I had tickets to see Stevie Ray and Jeff Beck in concert at Cleveland’s Public Hall but due to having to pack for a trip the next day I didn’t go. Then in August 1990, Stevie Ray dies in a helicopter crash. What is so sad is that he was just starting to make some of his best music after getting sober. 

Michael Jackson – All I have to say is, “King of Pop!” He might have been strange - to say the least - but he was one hell of an entertainer. Wish I could have been witnessed to his moonwalk. Wooohhooo! 

John Lennon and George Harrison (The Beatles) – Of the four Beatles, the only one I have seen in concert is Ringo Starr. Ringo’s show gave me chills! A “Yellow Submarine” sing-a-long with a real Beatle! What would have been like to see the entire group onstage? And better yet, post-1966 when the music became transformational.

Eazy-E – Okay, this one is generational and has to do with drinking 40s of malt liquor in Cleveland’s Flats. If you weren’t in your late teens in the late 1980s you will probably be shocked that those of us now in our early 40s can still rap along with songs like “We Want Eazy” and “Boyz-n-the-Hood.” One clarification, we have graduated from beers like Olde Engish to craft beers.

Lowell George (Little Feat) – Summed up earlier.

So, as the Rolling Stones said, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” and since these artists are now jamming alongside the angels, or in some cases demons, I will never get to see them live onstage. But in a nod to Mr. Lennon, I can “Imagine” what it would have been like.

Tim Skipper Returns to Columbus with Copperlily

The last and only time I saw Tim Skipper perform was years ago when his band was opening  for Watershed at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus. For some reason Mike "Biggie" McDermott had a big hard-on for his band and if you have read Hitless Wonder, you know full well that when Biggie gives marching orders, we take them. 

"Biggie, who are these guys? They look like kids. Why are they opening for us at the Newport? We have a list of bands who we owe this gig."

"You'll see, they are going places."

As usual, Biggie was right. The band turned out to be House of Heroes and yes, they were excellent even as teenagers before they went on to do all sorts of cool things.

Anyway, fast forward a zillion years to now and HOH founding member Tim Skipper is rolling through town with his new project, or side project, Copperlily. I don't know much about the band other than Tim and his wife Stephanie met while they were both signed to Gotee records in Nashville. One thing led to another, they got married and started Copperlily. It's a decidedly more low-key affair than House of Heroes, but once again, it seems to me this music is going places. I can only assume they are fans of Richard & Linda Thompson. 

Anyway, keep your eye on Copperlily and if you can make it out to the Rumba Cafe Friday, October 24th, you might see something special. Colin G.

I Went To See Jackson Browne Friday Night: The Rock Show As Bad High School Reunion by Ricki C.

(Warning to readers: Ricki C. is a rather cranky 62 year-old who at times does not seem to
understand the concept of, or is simply incapable of, relaxing and just having a good time.)

I went to see Jackson Browne last Friday.  It was my lovely wife Debbie’s birthday present from me.  In saying that I do not mean to imply I was dragged kicking & screaming to the show.  I like Jackson Browne.  I certainly like him more than, say, The Eagles, whom I consider Money-Grubbing Hackmeisters of the Highest Order, and who should be shipped out on the Japanese Current at our earliest opportunity.

Unlike The Eagles, Jackson Browne still seems to have some grasp on the concept of integrity in music: he records consistently good – if not great, or certainly not surpassing his 1970’s heyday – new records, and tours diligently to support those releases.  He does not – and here I would cite & impugn Kiss, The Who and, though I hate to say it, The Rolling Stones – just deign to go on tour when he needs cocaine cash or a balloon payment is due on his English Manse.  (Or, in Kiss’ case, when the cheerleaders on their Arena Football League team need hairspray & new outfits.)  (And oh yeah, Fleetwood Mac – who will be appearing Sunday evening at Value City Arena and whom I wouldn’t go out in my backyard to see – also belong in this category.)

With regards to integrity, Jackson is most like Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, in that he consistently insists on putting new material into his shows, even when faced with the sad/humbling fact that large segments of his audience have not bought a new release from him since sometime in the 1990's.  (And man, what would I give to be able to see Bruce Springsteen in a venue like the Palace Theater with a stripped-down six-piece E Street Band, where I could sit down and just soak in the music without standing in “pit queues” for upwards of six hours.  Let’s face facts, folks: I’m old, and I gots the bad knees.)    

My problem with these shows is the audience: they obviously WANT to be there, they dropped upwards of $143 for two tickets – plus dinner, parking and, for many, probably babysitters – but then, once they’re at the show it seems all they want to do is shout requests for songs from literally three and four DECADES ago.  (And when did everybody from my rock & roll generation GET SO OLD?  Jesus, there’s more greying, balding heads & pot-bellies than a southern Republican caucus, and these guys are dressed like shit.  This is why I stopped going to my high-school reunions after the 10-year.)

And I know, I know, I know: THEY’RE the audience, they paid their money, they wanna hear the hits.  But Jesus Christ, do they think Jackson Browne is not gonna at least NOD toward his 1970’s material?  If they ever had any respect for Jackson Browne and his music, and his creativity, and his integrity, why can’t they just for an hour or two SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LET THE MAN PLAY HIS SET THE WAY HE WANTS TO?  Do people think that after 40-plus years in rock & roll that Jackson Browne doesn’t know how to pace a set?  (Best audience exchange of the night: a slurring-drunk woman somewhere to our right kept loudly declaiming, “PLAY ‘YOU MUST BE SOMEBODY’S BABY.’” (sic)  After the third or fourth time, a woman behind us yelled, “Jackson, just play the song so she can pass out and shut up.”  Classic.)

Saving grace of the night: Jackson ended the set with – BIG SURPRISE! – “Running On Empty,” but thankfully came nowhere near playing “The Load Out” & “Stay” medley that wore out its welcome as a set-ender somewhere back around the dawn of the 21st century.  And the almost du rigeur encore of the Browne co-penned “Take It Easy” evolved into a heartfelt rendition of “Our Lady Of The Well” – one of Jackson’s seldom-played gems, just as it did on the For Everyman release.  And the last encore was a great cover of Steve Van Zandt’s “I Am A Patriot.”  Jackson Browne closed political, closed on his own terms and did not close pandering to the aging, whiny, petulant segment of his audience.  Thank you, Mr. Browne, from the bottom of my rock & roll heart, for not playing “Stay.” – Ricki C. / April 18th, 2014.

(Sometime later this week, Colin and/or Ricki will be dealing with how 
Cheap Trick handles the “Greying of Rock & Roll” syndrome.)

Click Here to Watch Foo Fighters w/ Rick Nielsen on Letterman.

I have a question and I know you have it too. Why Isn't Cheap Trick in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame? Gheesh. Now it's just getting silly. Anyway, please enjoy this scorching version of the Cheap Trick classic "Stiff Competition" compliments of Foo Fighters and Rick Nielsen as performed on Late Night with David Letterman. The new Foo's show "Sonic Highways" premiers this week on HBO. I will be watching.  -  Colin G.