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Odyssey: The definitive examination of "Music From The Elder," KISS' cult-classic concept album
Shock people and throw them for a loop, "Music From The Elder" did. Upon its release in November 1981, the album was confusingly received by both KISS fans and the general public. By the time the calendar turned to 1982, the album was essentially a commercial failure. And KISS were already ready to move on. More than 30 years later, "Music From The Elder" has attained a cult-classic status among a segment of diehard KISS fans. A great part of the album's appeal lies in the mysterious conditions under which it was created. While "Music From The Elder" has been discussed in various music publications and KISS-related books, there has never been a concentrated effort to put this album under a historical microscope. Until now. Through a series of in-depth interviews, original features and related special content, KissFAQ will shine a spotlight on "Music From The Elder" like never before. Many hours of interviews were conducted with various individuals who either worked on the project or have a connection of sorts, including professionals who have never told their "Elder story." These interviews will provide interesting insights and unique perspectives regarding the album's creative process and this fascinating period in KISStory, in addition to fun anecdotes and personal recollections. A series of topical features will shed more light on KISS' activity in 1981 and early 1982 and dissect the album further with in-depth musical analysis, biographical information on the album's participants, a revised KissFAQ Album Focus, and much more...
- GenresMusic
717 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2016
52 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 4, 2019
Well Researched, But Could Be More Concise
Clearly, the authors have done the deepest dive possible into the lost masterpiece/piece of junk “The Elder” by KISS. If you’re reading this review, you probably have a good working knowledge of what happened with that ill fated album. I’ll focus on the book, then. This is probably as much information as we’ll ever see on “The Elder” in one place. That said, the book mainly consists of interviews with the major and minor players (with the notable exception of the members of KISS themselves), and there is lots of repetition. So much so, that the same question is asked over and over to different people, often with very little new information forthcoming. The amount of passion the authors put into the book is clear, though, and for a KISS fan (and I am a fan of both the band and the album), there is some priceless stuff in here.
Clearly, the authors have done the deepest dive possible into the lost masterpiece/piece of junk “The Elder” by KISS. If you’re reading this review, you probably have a good working knowledge of what happened with that ill fated album. I’ll focus on the book, then. This is probably as much information as we’ll ever see on “The Elder” in one place. That said, the book mainly consists of interviews with the major and minor players (with the notable exception of the members of KISS themselves), and there is lots of repetition. So much so, that the same question is asked over and over to different people, often with very little new information forthcoming. The amount of passion the authors put into the book is clear, though, and for a KISS fan (and I am a fan of both the band and the album), there is some priceless stuff in here.
April 8, 2018
This book is not for everyone, but I suspect only the right people will be interested in it to begin with. This is for Kiss fans. Real Kiss fans. The diehards that rode the highs and lows of the end of the 70s and early 80s. The Elder is the most polarizing, odd and interesting album they've ever done. Love it or hate it, if you are an old school Kiss fan, you can't get enough info about The Elder. This book is an impressive collection of facts, stories and interviews with almost everyone involved with it. It's really too much information, but that's part of the charm of the book. It's a labor of love. It's also a great read... If you're into this kind of thing.
Take The Oath, then read the book.
Like a blade of a sword I am forged in flame
Fiery hot
Tempered steel fire-bright to the night I take
I fear not
Now compelled by something I cannot see
I go forth surrendering to history
Take The Oath, then read the book.
Like a blade of a sword I am forged in flame
Fiery hot
Tempered steel fire-bright to the night I take
I fear not
Now compelled by something I cannot see
I go forth surrendering to history
January 12, 2017
This book, while somewhat interesting, is redundant. You get some insight into the process of making it, why it was made. But it is retold over and over by anyone who was even remotely involved, all the way down to a 5 page interview with the prop man who made the door that's on the album cover. While I admire the due diligence to track down all these people, they offer no great insight into the project. This would be much better edited down to about 150 pages. Skimmed through half of it, and should've skimmed more. Kiss fans, pass on this one. It offers nothing new if you already know the story.
February 27, 2018
The Elder
So, this album to me was of course a huge departure for Kiss, but a masterpiece in my mind. I got it for Christmas by my Aunt and was enthralled by the cover, the sound, and the new band images. Of course, it is no Love Gun, nor Alive (my first two Kiss albums) but it still was an instant classic in my mind. I was at the tender age of 9 when I got it and it made a lasting impression. So much has been said about it, mostly negative, however I still prefer to listen to it over Asylum, Animalize, or Crazy Nights. With that said the book was insightful and full of details I wasn’t aware of. The bad part of the book is its monotony, repetition of the same anecdotes over and over again. The author did a good job really investigating the thought processes and interviewing the cast of characters who aided in the recording process, marketing, and the development of the script that was never made. Let’s hope that someday we get to have a remastered version with that dialogue that was omitted, some of Ace’s outtakes, and the original demoes!
So, this album to me was of course a huge departure for Kiss, but a masterpiece in my mind. I got it for Christmas by my Aunt and was enthralled by the cover, the sound, and the new band images. Of course, it is no Love Gun, nor Alive (my first two Kiss albums) but it still was an instant classic in my mind. I was at the tender age of 9 when I got it and it made a lasting impression. So much has been said about it, mostly negative, however I still prefer to listen to it over Asylum, Animalize, or Crazy Nights. With that said the book was insightful and full of details I wasn’t aware of. The bad part of the book is its monotony, repetition of the same anecdotes over and over again. The author did a good job really investigating the thought processes and interviewing the cast of characters who aided in the recording process, marketing, and the development of the script that was never made. Let’s hope that someday we get to have a remastered version with that dialogue that was omitted, some of Ace’s outtakes, and the original demoes!
August 15, 2019
Received this book as a Christmas gift. As a long-time KISS fan, I was super excited about reading all about the making of 'The Elder' and finding out some of the secrets behind the story it appears to represent.
Although I did learn those two things - kinda - there was A LOT of needless babbling about other KISS-related happenings that I could not have cared any less about. Long-winded interviews that might have contained one or two questions that were already previously answered by other long-winded interviews. There were also a lot of typos in the book and the font was HUGE! This book is trying to be something that it's not - professional and scholarly. It could easily have been half the thickness and contained half the material and still gotten the full message across. So much of hit was needless filler.
Although I did learn those two things - kinda - there was A LOT of needless babbling about other KISS-related happenings that I could not have cared any less about. Long-winded interviews that might have contained one or two questions that were already previously answered by other long-winded interviews. There were also a lot of typos in the book and the font was HUGE! This book is trying to be something that it's not - professional and scholarly. It could easily have been half the thickness and contained half the material and still gotten the full message across. So much of hit was needless filler.
May 3, 2022
Everything you ever wanted to know about The Elder
I cannot stress how great this book is, so much information about Music from the Elder you may think you've heard all the stories about it but you would be surprised! Highly recommended.
I cannot stress how great this book is, so much information about Music from the Elder you may think you've heard all the stories about it but you would be surprised! Highly recommended.
November 10, 2024
Kiss
I like these books they explain the album and everything that was happening during that time. Very interesting look forward to reading more
I like these books they explain the album and everything that was happening during that time. Very interesting look forward to reading more
November 26, 2016
Last year I read a book very much like this by Julian Gill. That book was "Gene, Ace, Peter & Paul: A Detailed Exploration of The 1978 KISS Solo Albums. [Read it...it's great]
Inside this book you discover that the co-author of the solo albums book was Tim McPhate.
Mr McPhate has now authored this very detailed examination of the album known as "The ELDER".
No, KISS is not interviewed, but there is a chapter that collects many many comments, quotes and whispers they made about THE ELDER over the last three decades.
Everyone (I mean Everyone) else involved with the worst selling KISS album gets interviewed.
There is a breakdown of the album. There are chapters which detail what led to this album and the aftermath it created.
KISS fans will really enjoy this. Non-KISS fans will hopefully be amused and also like it. It's big. It is long. There are also chapters on popular concept albums and what albums really did well in 1981 (as opposed to KISS's failure). Add this to your music library if you dare.
P.S.: Do I like the album called THE ELDER? I like 4 songs and I am referring to the 1997 Remastered version. I think the track "I" should have been a hit; and only that song.
Inside this book you discover that the co-author of the solo albums book was Tim McPhate.
Mr McPhate has now authored this very detailed examination of the album known as "The ELDER".
No, KISS is not interviewed, but there is a chapter that collects many many comments, quotes and whispers they made about THE ELDER over the last three decades.
Everyone (I mean Everyone) else involved with the worst selling KISS album gets interviewed.
There is a breakdown of the album. There are chapters which detail what led to this album and the aftermath it created.
KISS fans will really enjoy this. Non-KISS fans will hopefully be amused and also like it. It's big. It is long. There are also chapters on popular concept albums and what albums really did well in 1981 (as opposed to KISS's failure). Add this to your music library if you dare.
P.S.: Do I like the album called THE ELDER? I like 4 songs and I am referring to the 1997 Remastered version. I think the track "I" should have been a hit; and only that song.
December 27, 2016
As a KISS fan since 1976, I was particularly interested in reading this insanely detailed compendium of stories about the creation of and reaction to the band's 1981 folly, Music From The Elder.
Casual fans will probably find the amount of detail here as sheer overkill. (The book includes an interview with the man who crafted the door featured on the album's cover, for example.) But, if you're a diehard KISS fan, this book will provide a treasure trove of stories, interviews (with almost everyone involved with the album other than the band), and minutiae that will help you understand how and why the album became the absolute oddity that is is.
Casual fans will probably find the amount of detail here as sheer overkill. (The book includes an interview with the man who crafted the door featured on the album's cover, for example.) But, if you're a diehard KISS fan, this book will provide a treasure trove of stories, interviews (with almost everyone involved with the album other than the band), and minutiae that will help you understand how and why the album became the absolute oddity that is is.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews