As a 12 yr old kid living in Australia ... I loved The Elder and bought into the whole fantasy world they were creating ..I was with them every step of the way ....

I loved The Elder from the beginning and it’s has been growing even more during the years. To me it’s Rock Art 💋🤘🏻🎸

The Elder Rulz. Nor every one's cup of tea. But there is some great riffs on this record. The Oath, I, Ace's solo on Dark Light Under The Rose with it's robotic chorus. Mr Blackwell love that. The Elder rocks.

I never was much of a KISS fan from the albums and hits during their peak years, but the Elder, Creatures of the Night and Revenge are some of the best albums they released in the 80s and early 90s. I rank each as favorite classic album of that era.

Nice, the German version. My dad drove me to a seedy part of town to get a copy of this on vinyl because it was out of print. I was mesmerized and still love this record immensely. The addition of Eric Carr and the song “I” are highlights. The bad choice in album art, the over saturation of the merchandising and the kiddy band typo all hurt the band, but musically this album is a favorite of mine. For my money it is far better than Monster, Sonic Boom or Carnival of Souls, all which came later. Great job TJR! Thanks for covering my favorite band with intelligence, grace and insight. 🎉

I like it. I've never had a problem with bands that release something that's very different from what they normally do. At the very least it keeps things interesting.

I love your video. I absolutely love "The Elder". I wouldn't want KISS to continue in that style, but back then it sure was a one of a kind experience musically. I was 10 years old when I got "The Elder" new for a birthday present. I had been a fan since I was eight in 1979/80. I started off receiving KISS ALIVE II and Double Platinum as gifts from an older rock/metal fan friend. I immediately was hooked on KISS. But anyways I also was an avid comic book collector, dungeons and dragons, medieval sorcery and horror fan, and rock magazine reading freak. The store by my house at in the time in the Chicago area had 16 Magazine all the time as well as Circus and Hit Parader. I had read about Peter Criss leaving and Eric Carr joining as well as the weird direction the band were going in for "The Elder". When I first put the album on, I immediately loved it. Maybe I loved it because it was not a repeat of everything before it, but a magical journey that encapsulates the sorcery and mysticism feel and sails some serious emotional darkness though light and shade. I still love it to this day. I do prefer the track order the way the record company switched it to back then, with the heavier songs accented first. Yes, I still love it. I love the song "The Oath", "Mr.Blackwell", "Dark Light", "Escape From The Island", "Under The Rose", and "I" a lot too and all the soft stuff too. It was great. "Creatures Of The Night" was way better though. It killed it. I don't think they could have made "Creatures" with Ace though. Its too different from Ace's style. "Creatures Of The Night" became snd remains my favorite KISS album. But I love every KISS album including the weirdly different "The Elder". To this day I remain a massive KISS fan. I have seen them live 26 times and met them once in 1994. I have roomfuls of merchandise. But I always put "The Elder" on every so often and I still love it.

I've always liked it. Fun fact: the opening horn fanfare was played by Gonzo, of 'The Muppet Show' fame.

I LOVE this album

I liked the album when it came out.A little surprised by it though.I don’t think fans knew what to think about it really.Still a KISS fan today.

TJR you're right on the nose. When I first heard this record I thought "what is THIS?" and got rid of it. Sad mistake, for when I gave it a rethink 5 or 6 years later I found out it was out of print. Record shop employees laughed at me when I asked about it. ANYWAY I eventually got to hear the slbum ad it was intended and I do regret not picking up the 2014 reissue on vinyl. I was scooping up all the Beatles mono albums then. But it is indeed a great album, just not good for KISS at that time.

I got The Elder on the first day of release. I like it 😎

Thanks for this. I, like many others, had a second look at the album cover to make sure it was Kiss that they were listening to. I didn't hear this album until 1994 when I found it discounted in a CD bin. I just listened to it on vinyl the other day. I always felt in the three years leading up to the 1997 rerelease that they had the track order wrong and that it didn't really tell the story well. Last, I'd like to point out there is a book called Odyssey by Julian Gill that has the movie script at the end. it answers a lot of questions.

I love Kiss and aplaud them for stepping out of their comfort zone. You do make an excellent point that they should have put Creatures out first to win the fan base over after two disco and pop like albums. Ace and the original fanbase might have been more tolerant and been kinder to Elder. I did not know about the messed-up track version of Elder. I like the way Kiss intended it as I have the 1997 cd.

TJR, I just now came across your video and loved it. I am a hard-core Kiss fan since I discovered them when Destoyer came out. When Kiss started moving in a different direction, even though I still loved them and stayed with them, it did give me some concerns as to what was going on. Your video nailed everything you observed about this time in Kiss. Even though it was wearing timing if the release of The Elder, it remains one of my favorites by them simply because it was different and never had a problem with any band trying something different. Keep up the good work dude.

I heard thos record for the first time when i was 10 i was already a fan of the band and this is still my favorite album from them laugh at me all you want but i will stand by it

A MASTERPIECE

Enjoying your laid back approach. Very soothing 👍👍👍

My favourite KIss album by far. I was 11 years old when it came out and it was the first album i purchased with me own money from part time work at a butcher shop my mum worked in. I would say i almost forgot about it until getting the CD again in 2007, since then it features regularly on my sound system. To me it has a very "timeless" sound to it. As they sang... There's a song in the silence Weaving in and out of time We are notes in the music Searching for remembered rhyme.......

Kiss is a masterclass in success. Not only as musicians, but an overall life lesson in success. Can't think of any band that has experimented so much. Sure, there were innovative musicians, like Eddie Van Halen. But those guys's bands entirely relied on the main guy's overwhelming talent, and once that guy was gone, the band was pretty much over, unless they happened upon an equally talented guy down the line (Basically the history of Alcatrazz). If the musical genius guy stays with them, they stick to their niche and only deviate slightly more than usual when somebody is replaced, if ever. Kiss built a solid foundation in their pure hard rock days. But where most bands were content on just polishing those foundations, Kiss trief to build upwards, leftwards, rightwards, front back, all diagonals and sometimes they ended building downwards. Yes, mistakes were made, but in the words of my boss "If you haven't failed, you haven't tried anything new". I don't like Music from The Elder. Only A World Withouth Heroes which is one of my favorite Kiss songs (holds up really well in the acoustic they did, also). But I can respect them for trying, failing and learning from their mistakes. Most bands are unwilling to. And that's how they end up a niche interest for a few people down the line.

I have a copy of that half speed master German LP. I was impressed with the quality.

I liked The Elder when it came out, having no idea of all the drama and even the changed order (the back cover should have been a clue). But gained a whole new level of appreciation when heard the remaster in the proper order. People seem to forget that Kiss is a chameleon band, shifting styles over the years in a effort to stay relevant. That's a testament to their musical flexibility, but is bound to alienate some fans. True, The Elder is no Dark Side Of The Moon, but its closer that anyone had the right to expect from a band like KISS Paul and Gene were very much humiliated by the record label over the album, forced to hastily record a few "hard rock" songs to put together the lacklustre Killers along with older material. That must have hurt and quite possibly a significant factor on how they feel about it to this day. I for one, am happy it exists.

The album has become a bit of a cult thing. It was a strange album at the time when Rock was moving in a different direction. I return to it every once in a while, and enjoy it. That said, all this album needs is one of its songs to be feature in Strangers Things, or any other Netflix/Streaming series, and it will find its second wing.

I think your review of Music from “The Elder” was very refreshing and interesting! You are on point on many aspects of the time period and events going on in and around the band KISS at the time. I agree with Paul and Gene’s analysis of the album. It WAS a decent album but just the wrong album for KISS at the time. (Or any time) I love the album. I was confused by the concept and was looking forward to the movie that never came! But then “Creatures of the Night” was released and I saw them in ‘82 in Knoxville and all was forgotten by hardcore KISS fanatics!

Ha! Just received a ACE FREHLEY signed in blue “MUSIC FROM THE ELDER” vinyl I won for a KISS CANCER GOODBYE II auction. DOPE AF!!!!

I like your honesty..it doesnt take away from the album but just adds to a more expanded view 👍

This was a good video. KISS was living in their own bubble by this point. With the late great Eric Carr as their new drummer, they should have taken 1981 off and re-fueled (in early 1982) with the release of "Creatures". I remember reading in a Hit Parader interview, Gene said that their next record was going to be a "strong heavy metal album". When I saw KISS perform their mini "Elder" show on "Fridays", I thought that would be the album he was talking about. By that point, VH, Judas Priest, Ozzy and AC/DC were kicking tail, and KISS was left in the dust. I appreciate "The Elder" nowadays. Again, good video!

I loved both, The Elder and Creatures of The Night with "I Still Love You" as one of my favorite songs, because of how I was feeling about a certain Woman who I was involved with but the relationship didn't work out like it could have. Also, "Under The Rose" was the main track on The Elder and "I" were for me, the best songs on The Elder which I really enjoyed listening to back then! I bought Dynasty & Unmasked, but I didn't listen to those albums as much as the others! "Sure Know Something" was cool, thought and the ladies I was dating before getting married to my ex-wife, loved listening to it more than the other tracks on Dynasty. But Unmasked is probably my least favorite KISS album next to Peter Cross's solo album which really SUCKS!! 😢😢 Hurts my ears to listen to THAT album!!! 😮😭

You just earned a new subscriber . You're awesome

What you've failed to mention is that the album is a supplemental product to what was the main product which would have been the movie. After all, it's titled Music from the Elder. So basically they pushed out a soundtrack to a movie that didn't exist. Not the smartest thing to do. Had they put the movie out at the same time, it might have been more successful.

I enjoyed The Elder from the beggining and today still ! 🤟

I remember seeing this album in the music store when I was taking guitar lessons as a kid. I finally gave it a listen. Not sure why people hated it.

I’m a new KISS fan. Reading all the books and slowly working through the discography (Yikes there’s a lot of turds). I am the most curious about this record and the fascinating opinions the long time fans have around it

I was 8 when this album came out; I remember bringing it to school after getting it the day of release! I thought it was great; most of my friends did too! My older brother who had been a big kiss fan thought it was terrible; he had moved on from the band after Dynasty! After seeing the Dynasty tour I was full on kiss fan and have never looked back! The creatures tour was so loud lol! My mom stuffed cotton in my ears lol! Creatures is an incredible album; what a comeback! My brother even loved the album! I’ve often wondered what would have happened to kiss if creatures had been released in 1980 or 81? Unfortunately as with most fads Kiss had played out in the United States by 1980! Kiss should have took the makeup in 1980! I’m glad they didn’t, but I think it would have been the best for the band!

My first copy I bought on CD in like 88-89 had the different track sequence. I never knew anything until the remasters.

The Elder is my favorite Kiss album. When I bought it when it came out I loved it immediately. I don't think it is a comic book story; at least that is not how it made (makes) me feel. Comic books don't invoke sweet sadness and victory---the music feels like the movie Excalibur. Sadly the album falls under the category of being great, misunderstood by majority while attracting the fanaticism from a few; the few that always hope that they may play Under the Rose live (of course, they never did). Nostalgic loss.

Always loved The Elder. It has such a heavy sound and I liked how raw the songs sounded, when they played them live in 1982. But Lou Reed on a Kiss song is a shock.

I completely agree with your assessment, and I really enjoyed this video and hearing your thoughts, thanks for sharing!!

I love this album

i absolutely loved the album i wore it out, listening to it stoned was the best😎

As a Kiss fan for most of my life this is definitely one of my top 5 Kiss albums. It's quite sad because mainly the negativity is that it didn't make a whole lot of money according to Gene and Paul but it was actually a great musical experiment. In my opinion it did show their musical capabilities. This album had substance and it had depth and musicianship. To this day I'm not sure why Gene and Paul constantly create such negativity just to give themselves the attention they so desire. Its a great album. Gene and Paul need to realize one day sometimes it's more than just about making money.

I bought a brand new, sealed copy of "The Elder" around Christmas 1981. The album had been released on November 10th of that year. I couldn't believe my luck. I thought the used record store had made a mistake and put a $2.99 price sticker on it. I had only seen the "A World Without Heroes" video on TV and I liked that song. The album opened with "The Oath" which was a hard rocker, but then it dove into mostly un-KISS songs. I remember overall not disliking the album, but not loving it, and expecting any time now for a movie to come out as it felt like a soundtrack. On the first spin it dawned on my 16 year old mind that the $2.99 price tag had NOT been a mistake. I sold the record long ago when everyone was trading their LPs for CDs. I regret it now.

My favorite album from them

I found this record in the 80s in my cousins record collection. I thought I'd listened to every Kiss album. I thought it was their best album. Still do. I think the main issue the band has with it is the fact they laid down something in the studio they couldnt reproduce live.

I was right in that KISSFAN Wheelhouse. I was gone by Dynasty. It was not cool to like unmasked or the elder. We moved on to iron maiden and Judas Priest. Then when lick it up came out I jumped back on the wagon.

I love this album pure master peice in my book ❤🤠💯

The elder kicked the bandwagon people off. I was a fan from 73. They could have, and did so many weird things. But I saw that, even at an early age, that they were trying to see how expansive this thing could be. And as we see, Its a beast.

Interesting that you mention that Kiss didn't have drugs to blame, but they kind of did. Supposedly, Bob Ezrin was on drugs. So, the band blamed that on The Elder. If you take away the concept, it's still a Kiss album. People forget that Destroyer also had orchestras and ballads. People just got hung up on the concept. Why can't Kiss do concept albums?

I like the Elder. Great channel. New subscriber.

Great video 👍👍 I never had the original 1981 Elder release in 1985 Polygram Records released the whole entire Kiss Casblanca catalog around the same time Kiss Asylum was released two albums out of that catalog got different track listings and cover updates The Elder started off with The Oath and along with the track list on the left while Creatures Of The Night got a new cover shot with the band unmasked with Bruce Kulick on the front cover I have no idea why the back of someones ass was on the back cover LOL that is Kiss but Saint and Sinner along with Killer were switched around and Creatures Of The Night track got a newer mix compared to the original 1982 version . 1987 Polygram Records released the Casablanca catalog first time on CD the solos would get released a year later in 1988 Music From The Elder got released in 1989 it was the same 1985 catalog until the 1997 CD Remasters came out Fanfare would start off on The Elder as other track list on the right would follow and we got the original Creatures Of The Night album cover with the original track list. When the Kiss catalog was released on Vinyl in 2014 with the black sticker saying First U.S. Vinyl Pressing Since 1985 Editions The Elder and Creatures would remain the same as the 1997 CD remasters I am sure TJR that German Elder copy you are holding starts off with Fanfare not The Oath unless Gemany has a different track listing that is common on some imports releases .

BTW Ezrin WAS doing heavy drugs at the time

Thanx for your thaughts, I agree about the bs around the order of songs... And I agree that It's BS when Gene and Paul takes distance from the album - If they hated the result, why did they release it???? And... Why, oh why... did they in that case call Bob Ezrin to help them with the comeback Psycho Circus??? I dont get it... I like The Elder, I like Psycho Circus (and as a kid I loved Destroyer)... I dont get it, if they where soooo disappointed (the ONLY ones in the organization that said NO to drugs), what went through their minds??? "Ok, weve fucked up... We gotta get the real band together... Lets call Ace, Pete and Bob Ezrin..." Love from Sweden 💖

I'm still waiting for the movie to be made.... maybe this could be part of the new Kiss avatar project? CG would make it possible, the album deserves to have the whole concept finished, finally 🎉

I bought it when it came out. It was different but I liked it. Still do.

Recording a concept album without a concept is wild.

The Elder is a good idea for an album. It was released at the wrong moment for the band. But I will say this for The Elder, it has improved over time. It is a better album in 2023 than it was in 1981. Here is a concept, if Gene and Paul wrote and demoed The Elder for an emerging artist at the time, it would have sold gangbusters for that artist. After that Kiss would have found some credibility with the critics. Then Creatures Of The Night would have been received with open arms by the fans. Kind of like they got it all out of their system and now they are back.

I always had a soft spot for The Elder.

Very good analysis of this album. It seems like it was ahead of its time. I'll take Rush's 2112 over any other concept album, though.

I actually enjoy this album, always have. I didn't know about the intended track order, I must check that out! I stopped buying Kiss albums after Creatures of the Night. Not because of that album or that they stopped using their makeup, it was because Peter and Ace had left. And that felt so wrong to me.

Some of KISS's most complex songs. A great album.

The Elder is amazing!

Of course they can't hide behind a "drug" excuse but Paul does blame Ezrin heavily, and Ezrin did have a drug problem. That doesn't change the fact that I have LOVED The Elder ever since it's '81 release.

I LOVE " THE ELDER"... It was different from everything. ❤

i love that album

I've always loved The Elder.

I was listening to the songs in intend order and just realised some of them kinda make a story

I remember when this album was first released and I saw it in a record store where the ten copies that they had in stock never sold and sat there for over a year! 😂

I really REALLY enjoy this album. No KISS has album has grown on me more over the years. Some of their heaviest(The Oath) and lightest (Just A Boy) music. Would have been cool if they had recorded War Of The Gods but we probably would have not got the phenomenal Creatures of the Night Album

They lucky to survive.. i personally love the album

What happened was one of their very best albums.

I like The Elder, but it was the wrong album at the time. They definitely should've listened to Ace. I think that they could've salvaged their career if they had released Creatures Of The Night in 1981.

Killers actually came after The Elder. Hits album with a few studio tracks.

"The Elder is a Masterpiece"

I always thought Destroyer was also considered a concept album?

This ablum showed the talent side of the band. Yeah rock is loud and wild. The Elder has some of that but mostly heart felt ballads.

The album 1981 track order D plus. 1996 track order made it a B minus album

It was a good album, just not a good KISS album. BTW, Eric was also initially against doing it, probably until it was pointed out that he had no say anyway :D There's a whole pile of interesting demos from around this time that have slowly leaked out over time. Ace and Eric did Breakout around this time from memory (on one of Ace's albums, became Carr Jam on Revenge).

The Elder is Bob Ezrin's baby. From what I can tell Bob got the short end of the stick with the Pink Floyd people and after doing the The Kings' album, very mid- no bops, Bob wanted to prove something. The problem with "Music from The Elder" is that what does the order of the rose have to do with KISS?

The record company should of let kiss do the elder like they wanted to it was gonna be a double album

Some KISS fans get weird about this album in over defending it but I do like it. I don't love it, but I enjoy playing it from time to time. It was a bad move for KISS at the time and almost ruined their career which some of the younger fans don't fully appreciate. Overall I'd call the Elder a mistake, despite my personal feelings about the music.

Music From The Elder is one of KISS' best albums, though many disagree (including Paul and Gene). It's not a great album because of the music, per se. It's a great album because KISS tried it. And some of the music is actually quite good, though it's not been given the respect it deserves. Loved it then, love it now.

i immediately knew it was a German copy from the "S"

Unmasked - I can tell you there is great pain and disappointment in a young person's heart when an album they spent their money on turned out to be "uninspired", to put it mildly. KISS began to advertise their albums on TV starting with the 1978 solo albums, and (I believe) ending with "The Elder". As a kid, you don't see the desperation in the band when they have to resort to cheesy TV ads, and you're not experienced or cynical enough to see the signs. I earned about $15-$20 a day in Summer jobs and to waste $7.99 on a shit album was really disappointing. "The Elder" is the LAST KISS album I bought, sold and re-bought again. For good or bad, even after all these years, I have no interest in their music for their period 1982-present. With Ace gone, they've lost their mojo and they never got it back. Not because Ace was the greatest musician ever, but because he provided a counterweight to the cheese and lard provided by the dynamic dup of Paul and Gene - who were by then just copying other hair bands rather than leading.

I think the Elder would've been a great soundtrack for a/the movie it was planned for. But it also borrows heavily from Homer iliads. Unmasked made em sound like Rolling stones

Forty plus years later ..... Still not my favorite Kiss album but they've done worse.

The Elder not a bad Album 💿. It just came out at the wrong time. I said it to a friend of mine. If Creatures of the Night came out after Unmasked. And The Elder came out after that. It probably would’ve done better and tour on it. And Then take the makeup off. Starting a New era. (Lick it Up).

Me listening to the album: This sounds like Genesis, yet I don't hear Peter Gabriel. What is this? Wait, this is Kiss?????

Stop ⚠️comparisons with progresive bands. The Elder it's a very good DIFFERENT album. Decades and people Doesn't get over it. Kiss forever 🔥 🤘🏻

Dynasty was where they lost me. Never liked em' since that. Went way commercial. Their fan base was largely Disco haters. And they went with it.

U forgot bout kiss killer album

Unless you need the professional ear to hear the genius in this album them I'm guilty of not hearing anything. Being a die hard KISS fan I'm open minded to anything w them. I just hear a flat bad album. I will say Just a Boy and Under the Rose are good songs, and I always loved and still love Unmasked

When Metallica released "Load" I didn't listen to them again for 25+ years.

A collaboration with Lou Reed, what could go wrong? Just ask Metallica.

So would you say their movie was better than what history gives it credit for also 😅

A concept album is set to follow a certain order of details. I you change those then you have completely screwed the whole CONCEPT.

A KISS concept album could have work if it was about... well, KISS not this hero's journey crap.

RARO was the last good Kiss album.

You haven't told me anything I didn't already know or heard from Paul's book. Just repeating common knowledge

I think the problems was drugs. Not enough drugs....

I hate it when experts explain things as if they are fact. You don't speak for all the fan base, not by a long shot. True Kiss fan loved this album from day one regardless of the critics and the music industry snubbing of this album. I loved the music, the costumes and variety of music it offered on the album and how it compared to previous and subsequent albums. I also would put the album over "Tommy" or the pink Floyd Album, as I dont like either of those fwo band very much. Speak for yourself and only of facts.