Ace Frehley, KISS co-founder and 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, continues with his love for covers on Origins, Vol. 2. The previous Origins, Vol. 1, released in April 2016, hit #23 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and became the guitarist’s fourth Top 40 release and his second highest-charting solo album.
Kicking off with Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times,” Frehley manages a rather decent vocal (not anywhere close to Robert Plant’s high warble), even adding extra lyrics at the end. Sharing a birthplace with Frehley, Rob Sabino lends his dirty organ to Deep Purple’s “Space Truckin’” before Frehley hands off a blistering lead to John 5 to the Beatles’ “I’m Down,” making it one of the heavier moments on the record.
What makes this album so much fun is as much as the former KISS man’s heavy guitar stomping and his surprisingly strong vocals is the matter of having the right guests at the right time. Lita Ford, who appeared on Origins, Vo1. 1, lends her rough and ready pipes to the Rolling Stones’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” Humble Pie’s “30 Days in the Hole” features Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander on the vocals — a treatment that kicks ass.
Jimi Hendrix’s “Manic Depression” might just be the best number with its heavy wah-wah lead . It pairs Frehley with ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick. As a bonus, we get an even deeper KISS connection with a revamping of the band’s 1975 single “She.” After just one listen, you can sense how much fun Ace Frehley is having on Origins, Vol. 2, routing round these songs he so obviously loves. Do we dare dream for a Vol. 3?
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
