It’s KISS’ most polarizing album. And one of the most polarizing in all of hard rock and heavy metal. It has legions of loyal fans. And many who despise the album to the point of using the vynl as target practice. I’m talking, of course, about KISS’ 1981 flop, ‘Music, From The Elder.’
It was only three years prior to release that KISS was the biggest rock band in the world. ‘Love Gun’ charted at number four a few months earlier. And the next band studio album ‘Dynasty,’ would make it to number nine. But by the time ‘Dynasty’ had been released, KISS were seeing a dramatic shift in their fan base. Instead of angsty, socially outcast teens and groupies, families with their eleven year olds were filling up the arenas. By 1980’s ‘Unmasked,’ KISS’ popularity was its lowest since their inception. Peter Criss was out, Eric Carr was in. Stanley and Simmons decided to do something drastic, a concept album. And for the project, they were going to bring in grand master producer Bob Ezrin. The studio producer who brought massive success to KISS with 1976’s ‘Destroyer.’
‘Music, From The Elder’ began production at Ace Frehley’s brand new, state of the art studio at his Connecticut mansion. And despite Frehley’s lack of involvement due to creative differences, Stanley and Simmons actually turned out some great tracks. And Ace’s sole lead vocal contribution is one of his most underrated songs ever. My theory on why the album bombed? It wasn’t the concept. It wasn’t the hair cuts. And it wasn’t lack of production. The failure of ‘The Elder’ lays on one fault, the first three songs on the album: ‘Fanfare,’ ‘Just a Boy,’ and ‘Odyssey.’ They are so dysmil, so horribly written, that it immediately would and did turn off any hard rock fan. Or really any music fan. It’s not just that it’s not KISS. It’s just terrible songwriting. But, and it’s a huge but, the rest of the album is truly excellent.
‘Only You’ is fantastic. Particularly the breakdown riff. A perfect simple yet effective riff. Similar to anything else KISS has done. ‘Under the Rose’ pulls off its epicness. ‘Dark Light’ is one of Ace Frehley’s most overlooked tracks. And one of his most killer guitar solos. ‘A World Without Heroes’ is a perfectly timed ballad. With some of Simmons’ strongest written vocal melodies. ‘The Oath’ is simply some of the most righteous shit that KISS has ever done. Strong opening riff, massive power chords and a good chug. ‘Mr. Blackwell’ is a perfect ‘Demon’ track. Again, simple yet effective. It really could have served well as a song for Simmons to perform his bass solo before kicking into it. Unfortunately, the tour was canceled due to poor sales and lack of interest. ‘Escape from the Island’ is an intriguing, hard rocking Frehley instrumental. Before ending things off with the killer ‘I.’ All those tracks, ‘Only You’ through ‘I,’ are some of KISS’ best shit hands down. It’s just that most people usually check out from an album if the first three track are bad. And that’s what happened with ‘The Elder.’ It was their lowest charting album since ‘Hotter than Hell.’ I believe it’s still yet to go gold. But those who do own the album are often fanatical about it. There’s even been petitions to get KISS to do a tour where they play the album in its entirety. I can’t recall many KISS albums that have that kind of following.
To the skeptics, try listening to the album without the first three songs. You might be pleasantly surprised at how good the record is. Crank it, love it, party with it.
