AtomicCrimsonRush
Paul Stanley’s solo album with Kiss was a real knockout in 1978 and I played it back then as a teen over and over till I learnt every lyric off by heart. It still has an impact on me. I loved it then and I love it now although Ace’s album is still the best of the 4.
There are so many highlights on this; Tonight You Belong to Me begins with trademark 12 string acoustic and sounds like a Kiss song really. In fact the whole album sounds like Kiss, whereas the other solo albums were definitely anti-Kiss in their treatment. But Paul rocks out on some blinding tracks with scorching guitar and really good vocals.
Move On is another rocker with some great melodies and a cool lyrical treatment.
Ain't Quite Right is a ballad with atmospheric guitar and a beautiful melody; I always loved this.
Wouldn't You Like To Know Me is a shocker; lots of rock in this but a silly lyric and really designed for girls who just wanted his body.
Take Me Away (Together As One) is absolutely fantastic, structured brilliantly on a guitar hook and an awesome crescendo, with Paul scintillating on guitar and vocals. The song is chilling, the lead break is awesome, the melodies are incredible. This is one track I heard a hundred times in the 70s.
It's Alright is a raucous loud thing that never did anything for me.
Hold Me, Touch Me (Think Of Me When We're Apart) is an awful ballad that I skipped every time it came on, it was silly then and it is shows that Paul was not meant to sing this type of sentimental song; was this sung for his grandmother or something, really pretentious fluff that should have been left off the album.
Love In Chains is a terrific Kiss style song, very heavy and fantastic melody; Paul at his best belting out a rocking classic.
Goodbye finishes the album on a high note with nice guitar melodies and a memorable chorus.
So this album is worth getting hold of as a testament to Stanley’s creativity and vocal prowess. Paul is still doing solo stuff and it is heavier than this, but his 1978 album is unforgettable and showed the other Kiss members how to do it right!