Music from the Elder
| Music from the Elder | ||||
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Publication |
November 21, 1981 |
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| Label (s) | Casablanca Records | |||
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Title (number) |
11 |
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running time |
42:46 |
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Music from the Elder (spelling: (Music from) The Elder ) is the ninth studio album by the US hard rock band Kiss , released in 1981. It is the only so-called concept album that the group recorded. On the album, Kiss took a direction that was atypical for the group.
History of origin
Classification in the musical background
With the album Dynasty in 1979 Kiss deviated from their original line for the first time. Because this and the 1980 follow-up album Unmasked were shaped by the strong disco wave at the end of the 1970s , which largely dominated the music sector. This intermediate phase lasted about two years and was replaced in 1981 by a one-year phase, which is considered a musical disaster. That year the group released the concept album Music from the Elder , which was a kind of fantasy rock and featured fanfares and symphony orchestral music . While the album received good reviews, the music had strayed so far from the original Kiss sound that the album was considered a low point by large sections of the following and a commercial failure. The record is one of two Kiss studio albums that did not reach gold or platinum status.
At the same time, numerous rock music albums were released in 1981 that are now considered classics of the genre, for example Moving Pictures by Rush , Fair Warning by Van Halen , Iron Maiden's second album Killers , Tattoo You by the Rolling Stones , Foreigners 4 or For Those About to Rock from AC / DC . With the AC / DC album Music from the Elder was in direct competition, because the release dates of both records were only two days apart.
Origin and result
The LP is a concept album because the eleven songs form a coherent story. The overall concept is based on a short story written by bassist Gene Simmons. Originally, Simmons wanted to try to film the story in Hollywood until producer Bob Ezrin suggested that he create a concept album out of it. The story took place in prehistoric times, when good and bad fight each other and the wise man ( the Elder ) sends a young fighter ( the Boy ) to fight the dark forces.
The LP is officially the first on which drummer Peter Criss is no longer listed as a band member. Instead, Eric Carr was introduced as an official member.
Singer and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley comments on the result of the recordings: “'The Elder' was probably the biggest misstep of our entire musical career. So we did everything wrong that could only be done wrong. The album was way too pompous, complicated, inflated and complacent. We lived in a dream world. I think the band lost the sense of what made us who we were and how amazing and extraordinary that was. 'The Elder' was wrong in many ways. It was a huge disaster. None of us is solely to blame for it, because we all screwed it up together. […] I think it's a strange album where we tried to do something new and wait and see what happens to it. "
Singer and bassist Gene Simmons says about the creation and the result: “It just doesn't contain enough songs and it turned out a little too bombastic at the beginning. I think the band was like, 'Okay, this is our epic!' The people who listen to it determine whether it is one, and not the band. We slowly lost the ground under our feet. To be honest, we only wrote it for the critics, and you should never beg for approval, because as soon as the critics and your mother like your music, it's over. […] It's an interesting album, but I don't think it captured the spirit of the band. In my opinion this album was a misstep. It was based on a short story of mine called 'The Elder'. [...] I wrote this short story and wanted to make a film out of it. However, Ezrin thought it would be a good idea for a concept album. When he blinded me with it, poor Gene pissed him off and thought, 'Yeah, I'm the greatest!' [...] Ace wanted to go back to rock, and when he couldn't get his way, he just couldn't get into the studio, but stayed at home and refused to come to us. "
The then lead guitarist Ace Frehley says about the creation and the result: “It would have been better if they hadn't cut out some of my solos. Looking back you can say that the band fell apart more and more. Peter had to go, that's what Eric Carr came for [...]. My inner voice told me at the time that it was time for a real heavy metal album and we should go back to our roots, but Paul and Gene saw it differently. Instead, they wanted to record a concept album. I was against this project from the start, but unfortunately I was outvoted. [...] I don't think 'The Elder' is a bad album. I just think it just didn't sound like kiss. It was okay, but to me it didn't represent what I thought Kiss was. That's why I thought it was bad. "
Bob Ezrin, who had also produced Pink Floyd's concept album The Wall two years earlier , said: “We took the project very, very seriously - too seriously, as it turned out later, because this album was the biggest flop in the history of Kiss, and I can understand why. It absolutely didn't fit the band. This project must have been a bad idea. […] Gene had the idea for a story, which we then developed together. We had to persuade him to make an album and a stage show and so on out of that story, and the rest of the band didn't think much of the idea either. At the time, none of them thought that was a good idea. In retrospect, I have to admit that they were right. "
Kiss manager Bill Aucoin said of the making: “It was through Bob that we came up with this mythological tale, and it got completely out of control. To be honest, every one of them turned away, and none of them really stood out because that way we could at least record one album. It was a strange time because everything seemed to be falling apart. When the guys came up to me later and said: 'Listen, the album was a huge flop. We want to leave out our make-up from now on! 'That marked the beginning of the end of our collaboration. "
Track list
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Chart positions Explanation of the data |
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- 1:22 Fanfare (Paul Stanley / Bob Ezrin / Tony Powers)
- 2:25 Just a Boy (Paul Stanley / Bob Ezrin)
- 5:36 Odyssey (Tony Powers)
- 4:17 Only You (Gene Simmons)
- 4:51 Under the Rose (Gene Simmons / Eric Carr)
- 4:19 Dark Light (Gene Simmons / Ace Frehley / Anton Fig / Lou Reed)
- 2:40 A World Without Heroes (Paul Stanley / Gene Simmons / Bob Ezrin / Lou Reed)
- 4:32 The Oath (Paul Stanley / Bob Ezrin / Tony Powers)
- 4:52 Mr. Blackwell (Gene Simmons / Lou Reed)
- 2:52 Escape from the Island (Ace Frehley / Bob Ezrin / Eric Carr)
- 3:53 I (Gene Simmons / Eric Carr)
Chart successes
album
The LP made it into the top ten in some countries . In Norway the album reached number 7, in Germany number 10, in Australia number 11 and number 12 in Austria. In Sweden the album still came in at number 19 and in Japan at number 21. On the other hand, the album was beaten in Great Britain with number 51 and in the USA with number 75.
Outcouplings
The two Simmons songs 'A World Without Heroes' and 'I' were released singles. The former came in 55th (Great Britain) and 56th (USA) in the English-speaking world, but was not listed elsewhere. 'I' came in 24th in Australia, 48th in the Netherlands and 62nd in Germany.
Reviews
- Bravo said in 1981: “Especially the soft songs like 'Just a Boy' or 'Only you' (beautiful choir) clearly show that a new era has dawned among the former rock monsters. This change came at the right moment ... "
- Pop Rocky said in 1981: “The muse kissed Kiss. Instead of just scratching another bang, the popular heavy group created a kind of soundtrack. However: the associated film doesn't even exist, it would have to be invented and shot first. 'The Elder' is a fairy tale with heroes and villains, with good and bad. Despite a few symphonic strokes, it's pretty tough. Kiss with a bite. "
- A reader of Popcorn wrote in 1981: “After waiting for over a year and a half, after 'Unmasked' the new Kiss-Hammer 'Music from the Elder' came on the market. Together with 'The Wall' maker Bob Ezrin, Ace, Paul, Gene and Eric have created a powerful concept album that opens up completely new dimensions. The mystical story: When the earth was still young, 'they' were already there. We're talking about 'The Elder', who have watched over the world and its creatures since the birth of time. They embody wisdom and the power of good. But there is also another power that wants to destroy all that is good. 'The Elder' use a warrior, a young fighter against evil. This story gives a wealth of possibilities: mysticism, darkness and magic are reflected in it. Musically, Kiss are incredibly resourceful and diverse as never before. The first song 'The Oath' already makes that clear. The subsequent fanfare with the American Symphony Orchestra brings never suspected notes. 'Just A Boy' is a gentle ballad, as soulful as only Paul Stanley can sing. 'Dark Light' is peppered with strong riffs and typical solos from Ace, who also sings the lead vocals. Bongos and electronic gadgets stand out here. 'Only You' is a song by Gene: sound painting on sound painting grows together with the text to form a powerful song image. From this develops 'Under the Rose', an equally mythical, powerful bombastic title with impact. Eric, whose voice is almost a Gene Paul mixture, wrote it with the bassist. 'A World Without Heroes' brings melancholy dream sounds. 'Mr. Blackwell 'is somewhat reminiscent of' God Of Thunder '. This is followed by 'Escape from the Island', Heavymetal of the best Kiss variety. With the softer 'Odyssey' and the rousing happy song 'I', 'Music from the Elder' is drawing to a close. A great album that you only really understand after listening to it for the fifth time. "
- Rocks wrote in 2009: “Much better than its reputation, (Music From) The Elder failed because of its claim and the image of its creators. Nobody wanted a concept album with a fantasy horror plot from KISS. [...] The thoroughly misunderstood work ended up in the drawer of the 'worst records of all time.' […] Musically, it is still a good disc that can be enjoyed much better with a glass of red wine than with a pint of beer. "
- Rock Hard wrote in a review in 2011: “When I put the vinyl on these days, I enjoy the great sounding bass drums and the majestic atmosphere of the opener 'The Oath'. [...] I hate it when 'The Elder' is called a "slip up" by some writers these days, because it has more magic than 'Love Gun' and 'Rock And Roll Over' together. Hardly anyone takes the time to really immerse themselves in 'The Elder'. [...] 'The Elder' is a sound-wise product of the seventies and a perfect, epic concept album for old sacks like me. "
Book and film projects
In autumn 2011, Sebastian Hunter, a British Kiss fan, started the film project "The Elder". Hunter planned to take up the short story behind the album and to film it in a modern form. For this purpose he founded the company "Elder Movie Productions Ltd.", which was supposed to realize the project. The project must be considered a failure as the Hunters website has not changed since February 2014.
The author Matthew Wilkening also began work in 2011 on his book 'Music From the Elder' - The Unauthorized Story of the Most Spectacular Failure in the History of Kiss , which should shed light on the background of the album and document its history. There was no progress in this either, the book remained unpublished.
Tim McPhate and Julian Gill announced a book for fall 2016 entitled Odyssey - The Definitive Examination of "Music From The Elder," KISS 'Controversial Cult-Classic Concept Album . Julian Gill had published numerous books on Kiss in the past.
Web links
- The Elder Special at KissFaq
- Album focus at KissFaq
- Website for the film project
- Book project website
Individual evidence
- ↑ Kiss - The Story. In: Rock Power. June 1992, pp. 20/21.
- ↑ Old iron does not rust. In: Rock Hard. July 1992, p. 40.
- ↑ a b c David Leaf, Ken Sharp: Kiss Unmasked: The Official Biography. translated by Franziska Schöttner. IP publishing house. 1st edition. Berlin 2005, ISBN 3-931624-28-5 , pp. 281 & 282.
- ↑ David Leaf, Ken Sharp: Kiss Unmasked: The Official Biography. translated by Franziska Schöttner. IP publishing house. 1st edition. Berlin 2005, ISBN 3-931624-28-5 , pp. 281, 283.
- ^ Kiss unmasked: The official biography , David Leaf and Ken Sharp, translated by Franziska Schöttner, IP Verlag, Berlin, 1st edition. July 2005, ISBN 3-931624-28-5 , p. 282.
- ↑ Charts DE Charts AT Charts UK Charts US
- ↑ kissfaq.com
- ↑ kissfaq.com
- ^ Bravo , 1981
- ↑ Pop Rocky , 1981
- ↑ Popcorn , 1981
- ↑ Rocks 5/2009, p. 30 f.
- ↑ Rock Hard , No. 294, 2011.
