Gene Simmons - Gene Simmons (1978)

“Gene Simmons” is a 1978 solo album by Gene Simmons, the bassist and co-vocalist of the American hard rock band Kiss. It was one of four solo albums released by the members of Kiss on September 18, 1978.
Most Kiss fans associate Gene Simmons with the band's hardest-rocking compositions; after all, he's responsible for such heavies as "Watchin' You," "Calling Dr. Love," "Larger Than Life," and "Goin' Blind." So many Kiss fans must have been surprised when they heard Gene's diverse 1978 solo album, with songs that contained choirs and string arrangements, plus elements of Beatles pop, '70s funk/disco, and feel-good rock & roll. Granted, there are a few heavy rockers (such as the single "Radioactive," "Burning Up With Fever," and "See You in Your Dreams"), but Simmons was always a closet Beatles fan, as evidenced by "See You Tonite," "Always Near You," "Man of 1,000 Faces," and "Mr. Make Believe." The only real misstep is a preposterously embarrassing cover of the Disney classic "When You Wish Upon a Star" (complete with Disney-esque sound effects/music). But Simmons made sure that the top artists of the day lent a hand (Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, Donna Summer, Cher, Bob Seger, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Helen Reddy, and Janis Ian), which makes Gene's solo album an unpredictable yet ultimately enjoyable release.

Track listing

01. "Radioactive"  (Gene Simmons)  - 3:50
02. "Burning Up with Fever"  (Gene Simmons)  - 4:19
03. "See You Tonite"  (Gene Simmons)  - 2:30
04. "Tunnel of Love"   (Gene Simmons)  - 3:49
05. "True Confessions"  (Gene Simmons)  - 3:30
06. "Living in Sin"  (Simmons, Sean Delaney, Howard Marks)  - 3:50
07. "Always Near You/Nowhere to Hide"  (Gene Simmons)  - 4:12
08. "Man of 1,000 Faces"  (Gene Simmons)  - 3:16
09. "Mr. Make Believe"  (Gene Simmons)  - 4:00
10. "See You in Your Dreams"  (Gene Simmons)  - 2:48
11. "When You Wish upon a Star"  (Ned Washington, Leigh Harline)  - 2:44

Credits
Gene Simmons - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, co-producer
Neil Jason - bass guitar
Elliot Randall - guitar
Allan Schwartzberg - drums
Sean Delaney - percussion, backing vocals, co-producer
Ron Frangipane - symphonic arrangements and conductor of Members of the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras
Gordon Grody, Diva Gray, Kate Sagal, Franny Eisenberg, Carolyn Ray - backing vocals
Eric Troyer - piano and vocals
Steve Lacey - guitar
John Shane Howell - classical guitar,
Richard Gerstein - piano
Joe Perry - guitar
Bob Seger - backing vocals
Rick Nielsen - guitar
Helen Reddy - background vocals
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter - guitar on
Donna Summer - background vocals
Janis Ian - backing vocals
Cher - spoken word phone call on "Living in Sin"
Mitch Weissman & Joe Pecorino (Beatlemania) - backing vocals
Michael Des Barres - background vocals
Ritchie Ranno - guitar
The Citrus College Singers - chorus

Notes
Recorded at The Manor, Oxfordshire, England, Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, California, Blue Rock Studio, New York City, February–July 1978
Genre: Rock
Length: 38:58
Label: Casablanca Records
Producer: Gene Simmons, Sean Delaney

© 1978