I really cannot see this CD appealing to anyone other than a Kiss completist.
Eric replaced Peter Criss in 1980 and brought Kiss thundering into a new decade. Loved by the fans and a terrific drummer and personality his time was cut short with his passing in 1991. He was more than just a drummer as he had a strong singing voice and writing talents to match and this CD tries to bring light to what might have been.
Ted Poley of Danger Danger lends his soulful vocals to Eric and Bruce Kulick’s original backing track for the melodic ‘Just Can’t Wait’ which is just gorgeous.The demo of ‘Troubles Inside You’ written with Mitch Weissmen is a catchy rock pop moment while ‘No Ones Messing With You’ is the original version of ‘Little Caesar’ but with different lyrics. Interspersed in between songs are interview clips including the late Bill Aucoin talking about Eric’s audition. ’Shandi’ is given the acoustic flamenco treatment with a rather shaky but interesting vocal from Eric Carr’s original audition tape. ‘Dial L for Love’ is an instrumental that has floated around in bootleg circles for some time and is something that might have graced the ‘Crazy Nights’ record.
A.J Pero of Twisted Sister fame provides drumming duties on ‘Elephant Man’ which is little more than Eric Carr’s lyrics fitted to a rather dubious song. Why ‘Eyes of Love’ never made a Kiss record is surprising and has a strong Paul Stanley style of vocal which does Eric proud. Z02 provides some authentic cover versions of Kiss classics like ‘All Hells Breaking Lose’ and ‘Carr Jam 1981’which do little else but to pad out the lack of material on offer. However, I do feel that the inclusion of Eric’s creative five minute live drum solo called ‘Through the Years’ is a nice touch and comes straight from a sound desk recording. We finish off with Eric’s first band The Cellermen performing the Beatle like ‘I Cry At Night’ which is a sweet moment in his history.
The bottom line? I really cannot see this CD appealing to anyone other than a Kiss completist, and to be honest a live recording from Eric Carr’s time in Kiss would be a much more fitting tribute to the talents of someone taken away far too soon…
Ray Paul
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