Kiss

 Today in 1981 Kiss released the album Music from "The Elder"

New York City, New York Hard rock, heavy metal

Status:Active

Years active 1973–present

Rooted in the campy theatrics of Alice Cooper and the sleazy hard rock of glam rockers the New York Dolls, Kiss became a favorite of American teenagers in the '70s. Most kids were infatuated with the look of Kiss, not their music. Decked out in outrageously flamboyant costumes and makeup, the band fashioned a captivating stage show featuring dry ice, smoke bombs, elaborate lighting, blood spitting, and fire breathing that captured the imaginations of thousands of kids. But Kiss' music shouldn't be dismissed -- it was a commercially potent mix of anthemic, fist-pounding hard rock driven by sleek hooks and ballads powered by loud guitars, cloying melodies, and sweeping strings. It was a sound that laid the groundwork for both arena rock and the pop-metal that dominated rock in the late '80s.

Casablanca

Paul Stanley - rhythm guitar, vocals, lead guitar on "Just a Boy", "A World Without Heroes" and "The Oath"

Ace Frehley - lead guitar, bass on "Dark Light" and "The Oath", acoustic guitar on "A World Without Heroes"

Gene Simmons - bass guitar, vocals, rhythm guitar on "Only You"

Eric Carr(R.I.P. 1991) - drums, percussion, backing vocals, acoustic guitar on "Under the Rose"

With

Bob Ezrin - producer, keyboards, bass on "Escape From The Island"

Allan Schwartzberg - drums on "Odyssey" and "I", additional overdub

Tony Powers - keyboards on "Odyssey"

The American Symphony Orchestra

St. Robert's Choir

Original Version[edit]

No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length

1. "The Oath" Paul Stanley, Bob Ezrin Stanley 4:33

2. "Fanfare" Stanley, Ezrin Instrumental 1:00

3. "Just a Boy" Stanley, Ezrin Stanley 2:34

4. "Dark Light" Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons, Anton Fig, Lou Reed Frehley 4:12

5. "Only You" Simmons Simmons, Stanley 4:22

6. "Under the Rose" Simmons, Eric Carr Simmons 4:48

7. "A World Without Heroes" Stanley, Simmons, Ezrin, Reed Simmons 2:39

8. "Mr. Blackwell" Simmons, Reed Simmons 4:49

9. "Escape from the Island" Frehley, Carr, Ezrin Instrumental 2:51

10. "Odyssey" Tony Powers Stanley 5:49

11. "I" Simmons, Ezrin Stanley, Simmons 3:54

12. "Finale" Instrumental 1:04

1997 Remastered Version[edit]

No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length

1. "Fanfare" Paul Stanley, Ezrin Instrumental 1:22

2. "Just a Boy" Stanley, Ezrin Stanley 2:25

3. "Odyssey" Powers Stanley 5:37

4. "Only You" Simmons Simmons, Stanley 4:17

5. "Under the Rose" Simmons, Carr Simmons 4:52

6. "Dark Light" Frehley, Simmons, Fig, Reed Frehley 4:19

7. "A World Without Heroes" Stanley, Simmons, Ezrin, Reed Simmons 2:41

8. "The Oath" Stanley, Ezrin, Powers Stanley 4:32

9. "Mr. Blackwell" Simmons, Reed Simmons 4:53

10. "Escape from the Island" Frehley, Carr, Ezrin Instrumental 2:52

11. "I" Simmons, Ezrin Stanley, Simmons 5:04

Music from "The Elder" is the ninth studio album released by American rock band Kiss.

A substantial departure from their previous output with its epic concept and orchestral elements, album sales were so poor that Kiss did not embark on a supporting tour for the first time in its eight-year history, opting instead to make a handful of promotional appearances. Music from "The Elder" was the first album with drummer Eric Carr and the last album to feature Ace Frehley until their 1996 reunion Alive/Worldwide Tour apart from appearing on the cover of the compilation album Killers and the next album Creatures of the Night and a handful of promotional appearances with the band until 1983.

While "A World Without Heroes" was later performed on the band's 1995 MTV Unplugged appearance, Kiss have largely avoided live performances of songs from the album following initial promotional appearances in 1981