Description

Double cd in digipak cover. Limited 100 copies

By the end of 1980, Kiss knew that their next album had to be a strong one — a glorious return to hard rock à la their classic Destroyer. New drummer Eric Carr had refueled the band’s desire to rock, and the quartet began working on a straight-ahead rock album in early 1981. Midway through, the band felt that they were rewriting past songs, and the sessions were aborted. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley then came up with the idea of recording a concept album, based on a mythical original story by Simmons. Destroyer producer Bob Ezrin was back and encouraged the band’s concept album idea (against both Ace Frehley’s and Carr’s wishes). Simmons and Stanley had high hopes for The Elder (such as a movie, an elaborate tour, a follow-up record, etc.), but it completely bombed upon release. The reason? The music is totally uncharacteristic of Kiss — it resembles heavy prog rock for the most part. Some of the songs could have been classics if the pompous and/or hard-to-decipher lyrics were replaced, such as “The Oath,” “Only You,” “I,” and “Just a Boy.” Only two tracks resemble the Kiss of old (Frehley’s “Dark Light” and the instrumental “Escape From the Island”). The Elder was the final straw for Frehley, who would leave the band in 1982. This Music From The Elder album was orignally released on vinyl only back in 1985. It was sold as an album full of rare and unreleased demo material with Kiss. However most of the material on this vinyl was with the band Warrior, a band that featured Vinnie Vincent, with material from a studio session they did in 1982. The vinyl also featured a track by Helix and 4-tracks with Kiss. This 2025 double cd features the recording from that original vinyl on disc 1 while disc 2 features more rare demo and rehearsal material with Kiss and the Vinnie Vincent band Warrior.

Track list:
1. Warrior –Boys Gonna Rock
2. Warrior –Its Aint Pretty…Being Easy
3. Warrior –Gypsy In Her Eyes
4. Warrior –Back On The Streets
5. Warrior –I Need Love
6. Warrior –Baby Oh Why
7. Kiss –The Unknown Force
8. Kiss –Heaven
9. Helix –Young And Wreckless
10. Kiss –A World Without Heroes
11. Kiss –Dont Run
12. Warrior –Boys Gonna Rock-instrumental rehearsal
13. Warrior –Gypsy In Her Eyes-instrumental rehearsal
14. Warrior –Gypsy In Her Eyes-rehearsal with vocals
15. Warrior –Back On The Streets-instrumental rehearsal
16. Warrior –Back On The Streets-alternate demo
17. Warrior –I Need Love-alternate demo
18. Warrior –I Need Love-instrumental rehearsal
19. Warrior –Baby Oh Why-instrumental rehearsal
20. Kiss –The Unknown Force-alternate demo version 1
21. Kiss -The Unknown Force-alternate demo version 2
22. Kiss -Heaven-alternate demo
23. Kiss -A World Without Heroes-alternate demo
24. Kiss –Dont Run-different alternate endings