Year : 2006 (Megaforce Records 20th Anniversary Edition 2026)
Style : Hard Rock
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 144 mb
Bio:
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley (/ˈfreɪli/; born April 27, 1951)is an American musician best known as the former lead guitarist and founding member of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace", and played with the group from its inception in 1973 until his departure in 1982. After leaving Kiss, Frehley embarked on a solo career, which was put on hold when he rejoined Kiss in 1996 for a highly successful reunion tour.His second tenure with Kiss lasted until 2002, when he left at the conclusion of what was purported to be the band's Farewell Tour. His latest album Anomaly, was released on September 15, 2009.Guitar World magazine ranked him 14th Greatest Metal Guitarist of All Time.
Album:
Back in 2006, ACE FREHLEY released this “Greatest Hits Live +2” album, including live performances from the ’80s, and 2 studio tracks featuring Skid Row members and former KISS bandmate Peter Criss.While Frehley’s Comet was pretty polished in the studio albums, the band was raw, rockin’ and pretty damn ferocious live and fans were given a meager taste with 1988’s Live+1. Luckily those thirsty for more were presented a live, lovin’ cup of the Comet in 2006 when former label Megaforce released the full length ”Greatest Hits Live”.Now “Greatest Hits Live +2″ is being reissued.Tracked from shows at the Agora Ballroom in Chicago (1987) and London’s Hammersmith Odeon (1988), ”Greatest Hits Live” is a timepiece of the rock and roll greatness of Frehley’s Comet in concert with Ace tearing it up alongside bassist John Regan, guitarist/vocalist Tod Howarth and depending on the tracks, Jamie Oldaker / Anton Fig on drums.The energy is high, the tunes are loose and on the edge, and the audience is all in for the band’s live renditions of tunes from their debut album as well as several KISS classics.Tearing out of the gate with fan fave “Rip It Out” from his 1978 KISS solo album, Ace steers the band smack into killer Comet track “Breakout”, which is one of the non-Ace voiced stand out tracks from the band’s debut. It’s skin tight for a couple of tracks before heading down a four pack of KISS tunes that at times, finds the band sounding like they’re just on the edge of spiralling out of control. And in the best of rock and roll ways I might add. It’s a loose smack of imperfect perfection that good old Gene and Paul would surely frown over.You almost get the audio sense that “Cold Gin” is headed deep off the rails but somehow finds its way back on track and of course “Shock Me” wouldn’t be complete without Ace going off on a spotlight solo as only the Spaceman can. Toss in loose and loud takes on “Rocket Ride” and “Deuce”, and the Comet nearly wrap up their blast into Ace‘s past.While Ace fanatics were surely hoping for more from his old band, in 1987 and 1988, the focus was on Frehley’s Comet and you have to guess that the guys had to rock out at least a few new album tunes live. If anything, to try to boost sales a bit.On ”Greatest Hits Live”, the band do this to varying results with a pair of songs that certainly are more live than they are hits. While “Stranger In A Strange Land” off of the band’s debut is pure Ace in style and delivery, “Separate” from follow-up release Second Sighting falls a bit short with a bit of awkwardly rapped vocals. Surely other tracks played at the taped shows such as “We Got Your Rock” and single “Into the Night” would have been a better rock and roll fit.Then again, the answer could simply be that the used tracks were the best of the bunch or, just the only salvageable ones. Either way, it’s what we got, and it’s still pretty damn rock and roll and besides, there’s still a couple of cool tunes left down the live rock and roll stretch.Ace and the boys finish off the live set with a double dose of autobiographical rock and roll. Sure, “New York Groove” is a cover but since the jump, Ace has made it his own. Even this more push than groove take is pretty choice adding a bit of edge in comparison to Ace‘s already super cool studio version.Tag teamed with closer ‘Rock Soldiers”, it’s a pretty good one-two punch to stomp out the live set not to mention, far cooler than just taking the easy route and polishing things off with “Rock and Roll All Nite.”Now what would a post ’70s live album be without an “unreleased’ studio song or two? They are reportedly a pair of studio outtakes including one of the band’s earliest tunes “Give It To Me Anyway” that nearly made it onto the Trouble Walkin‘ album. Richie Scarlett does a pretty okay job on the vocals and it has a pretty catchy chorus, with Skid Row’s Dave “The Snake” Sabo, Rachel Bolan, Sebastian Bach providing backing vocals, and Peter Criss percussion.“One Plus One” is a pure stab at ’80s glam hard rock, near aping of the MTV theme song. A couple of neat tunes for the diehard collectors, both produced by legend Eddie Kramer.It’s not surprising that fans have felt this need to dive into Ace‘s music loudly since his passing. ”Greatest Hits Live” is a fitting live, raw recording of when Ace was still at his most vital. It’s like Ace is speeding with a chip on his shoulder out of the biggest rock and roll band in the world and into an uncertain yet exciting future.Yeah, we all loved it when he put the Spaceman gear back on and rocked with the old band, but Ace was never more rock and roll than when he was just being Ace. Right or wrong, he was away from the confines of his ex- bandmates with thumbs up with a sheepish grin and slightly teetering off balance.This may not be the cleanest live platter but it’s definitely that staggering, weaving rock and roll that we all love Ace for. Cheers to the Spaceman!
Line Up:
Ace Frehley (R.I.P.2025) - guitars, lead vocals - See also: ex-Kiss
Tod Howarth – lead vocals, guitar
Richie Scarlett – guitar, vocals
John Regan – bass, vocals
Jamie Oldaker – drums, percussion
Anton Fig – drums, percussion
Additional Musicians:
Frank Simms – vocals
David Spinner – vocals
Sebastian Bach – vocals
Rachel Bolan – vocals
Peppy Castro – vocals
Al Frisch – vocals
Pat Sommers – vocals
Peter Criss – drums, percussion
Production:
Produced by Eddie Kramer, Ace Frehley and John Regan
Mixed by Eddie Kramer, David Cook and John Regan
Tracklist:
01. Rip It Out
02. Breakout
03. Cold Gin
04. Shock Me
05. Rocket Ride
06. Deuce
07. Stranger In A Strange Land
08. Separate
09. New York Groove
10. Rock Soldiers
11. One Plus One
12. Give It Me Anyway
Songs 1 to 6, 8 and 9 recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon London, England
Songs 7 and 10 recorded in Chicago IL
Songs 11 and 12 mixed at Nevassa Studios Woodstock NY, August 1997
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