Ace Frehley - Ace Frehley (1978)

“Ace Frehley” is a 1978 solo album from Ace Frehley, 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.
Of the four Kiss solo albums released simultaneously in 1978, the best of the bunch is guitarist Ace Frehley's. Similar in approach to Paul Stanley's album, Frehley did not stray far from the expected heavy Kiss sound (like Gene Simmons and Peter Criss did with their releases), but Ace was equipped with better compositions than Stanley. With future Late Night with David Letterman drummer Anton Fig helping out (as well as Letterman bassist Will Lee on three tracks), Frehley proved once and for all that he was not simply a backup musician to Kiss head honchos Simmons and Stanley.
All of the tracks are strong, such as the venomous opener, "Rip It Out," as well as a few tracks that confirm how Frehley was indulging in alcohol and drugs a bit too much by the late '70s ("Snow Blind," "Ozone," and "Wiped Out"). You'll also find many underrated compositions ("Speedin' Back to My Baby," "What's on Your Mind?," "I'm in Need of Love"), a gorgeous instrumental ("Fractured Mirror"), and the Top 20 hit single "New York Groove." Unfortunately, when Ace left Kiss in 1982 (eventually forming Frehley's Comet), he never came close to topping this solid and inspired 1978 solo outing

Track listing

01. "Rip It Out"  (Frehley, Larry Kelly, Sue Kelly)  - 3:39
02. "Speedin' Back to My Baby"  (Frehley, Jeanette Frehley)  - 3:35
03. "Snow Blind"  (Ace Frehley)  - 3:54
04. "Ozone"  (Ace Frehley)  - 4:41
05. "What's on Your Mind?"  (Ace Frehley)  - 3:26
06. "New York Groove"  (Russ Ballard)  - 3:01
07. "I'm in Need of Love"  (Ace Frehley)  - 4:36
08. "Wiped-Out"  (Frehley, Anton Fig)  - 4:08
09. "Fractured Mirror"  (Ace Frehley)  - 5:25

Credits
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar [Lead], Guitar [Rhythm], Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer [Guitar], Bass – Ace Frehley
Backing Vocals – David Lasley, Susan Collins
Bass – Will Lee
Drums, Percussion – Anton Fig

Notes
Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York, N.Y., the Mansion, Sharon, Connecticut
Genre: Hard rock, heavy metal
Length: 36:38
Label: Casablanca Records
Producer: Eddie Kramer, Ace Frehley

© 1978