KISS – ROCK AND ROLL OVER REMIX (CD)

Description

Experience Rock And Roll Over like never before in this new remix that uncovers hidden power, energy, and detail from the legendary 1976 album that started KISS fever in Japan.
Once you hear it, you’ll never hear the original the same way again.

　The legendary masterpiece “ROCK AND ROLL OVER,” which generated the excitement of their first visit to Japan, is getting a 50th-anniversary remix album release on a permanently preserved pressed CD!!

　This album is actually a remix album independently produced by overseas fans. Not only is the original “ROCK AND ROLL OVER” included, but related works such as live recordings and demos have also been broken down into multi-tracks using AI technology, and each instrument has been meticulously treated and reassembled.

　In these times, you might think, “Oh, it’s just an AI fake,” but that would be a hasty conclusion. While it certainly uses the latest AI technology, it’s not a generic AI that arbitrarily creates forgeries. Every single note in this work is the real thing that KISS created. The latest technology is merely used to “reassemble” it (Note: Strictly speaking, it seems that only the acoustic guitar on the bonus track “Hard Luck Woman (acoustic version)” is an added sound source).

　Moreover, the producer is a true professional who has been working on musicals for many years. His sense and skill are on a completely different level from ordinary “I tried making it” projects. We have previously introduced “HOTTER THAN HELL 50TH ANNIVERSARY REMIX” and the expanded version “A WORLD WITHOUT HEROES Expanded ELDER REDUX” by the same producer, and this work was also produced by the same professional engineer.

[A dynamic ROCK AND ROLL OVER that no one has ever heard]
　”ROCK AND ROLL OVER” is a historical masterpiece that returns to its roots after the experimental work “DESTROYER,” but it has long had issues with its sound. As Paul Stanley himself has said in recent years that he “wants to remix it someday,” there has been a persistent opinion among fans that “the sound is somewhat flat.” Despite producer Eddie Kramer capturing the sound of the drums and guitars wonderfully, the overall mix did not fully bring out their charm. The creators of this work rose to the occasion to finally resolve that long-standing frustration.

　AI played a key role in the early stages of this project’s production: the process of breaking down the official source audio into multi-tracks. Drums (bass drum/snare/tom/hi-hat/crash/ride), bass, guitar (acoustic/electric), and vocals (lead/backing) were all completely separated individually. No external sound sources were used; everything was reconstructed using only the original performance sounds. Unless the original multi-track tapes, likely lying dormant in the official archives, are stolen, a better remix would be virtually impossible.

　The basic concept was to inject the dynamism that KISS had on stage into a studio work. Grit was added to the bass to bring it closer to Gene’s live sound, and excessive reverb was removed from the vocals. The guitars were compressed to accentuate the distortion, and the drums were reinforced with accents and cymbals to give them a live-like power. And the boldest change is the elimination of fade-outs from almost all the songs. By replacing them with hard endings and extended fades, the improvisational playing and ad-lib vocals that previously disappeared into the darkness come to light.

[All 10 songs on the album have been completely reborn]
　All 10 songs that have been reborn through such meticulous reconstruction are full of surprises, making you think, “Wow, it’s changed so much!” The most dramatic transformation is “See You In Your Dreams.” This is a fateful song that Gene Simmons himself said “didn’t turn out the way I imagined,” and which he re-recorded on his solo album two years later. This version incorporates the intro and vocals from the solo version, expanding it into a “gospel revival” arrangement with the addition of handclaps and percussion. It realizes what Gene was likely aiming for with his solo albums.

　”Calling Dr. Love” also sounds quite different. It uses the intro from Sean Delaney’s “DOUBLE PLATINUM” version, and the opening is closer to the live version’s arrangement, with the falsetto and spoken parts in the chorus replaced with multiple live vocals. The feeling that the band is actually singing is greatly enhanced, and it’s as if the energy of the stage has been revived.

　Other changes include Paul’s electric guitar being blended into “I Want You,” and an extended riff before the solo being added. The demo count-in is restored in “Take Me,” and Gene’s backing vocals from the demo version are layered on “Baby Driver.” Live backing vocals by Paul are added to “Hard Luck Woman,” greatly increasing the band’s cohesion. These changes are made to the end of the songs and to the details, unearthing hidden gems without destroying the core structure of the original arrangements.

[Bonus tracks include alternative mixes with different charms]
　The 10 tracks in the main album are enough to satisfy, but this release also includes four bonus tracks with different concepts.

　”Calling Dr. Love (original arrangement)” is based on the original arrangement before the remix, but retains the backing vocals and fade-out that were replaced in the main version. Comparing it to the main version clearly highlights the effects of the remix.

　Particularly interesting is “Hard Luck Woman (electric version).” The acoustic guitar has been removed and replaced with Ace and Paul’s guitar track from “ALIVE II.” The intro and ending have also been rearranged with live arrangements, resulting in a studio-recorded “electric” version—a form that seems obvious but had never been done before.

　”See You In Your Dreams (original arrangement)” is a remix that adheres to the original arrangement. If you weren’t entirely satisfied with the bold reinterpretation of the main track, please enjoy this version instead.

　And then there’s “Hard Luck Woman (acoustic version).” This one is unique in that it features a fingerstyle guitar arrangement from an external source, layered with piano. The stylish finish gives this famous ballad a different look.

　The masterpiece album “ROCK AND ROLL OVER” is dynamically revived with a meticulous remix by professionals. The perfected version of “See You In Your Dreams” that Gene originally wanted to create, the live-feeling “Calling Dr. Love,” the electric and acoustic versions of “Hard Luck Woman”… every detail of the performance, even the parts hidden in the fade-out darkness, is brought out, creating a new masterpiece experience. Please enjoy it anytime, forever with this permanently preserved pressed CD.

★A professionally produced remix album of the masterpiece album “ROCK AND ROLL OVER.” While multi-deconstructing with AI technology, all 10 tracks of the album have been reconstructed with the authentic sound spun by KISS, not generated by AI. By eliminating the fade-out, previously hidden ad-libs have been unearthed, resulting in the complete version of “See You In Your Dreams” that Gene originally intended to create, as well as a live-sounding “Calling Dr. Love.” This is a permanent preservation pressed CD that also includes electric and acoustic versions of “Hard Luck Woman.”

[INFORMATION FOR OVERSEAS’ COLLECTORS]
Created by the passionate KISS fan community, this revolutionary new remix gives fresh life to the classic album Rock And Roll Over.

This was the album that first brought KISS to Japan and began a special bond between KISS and Japanese fans, a connection that has continued for five decades.

This brand new remix adds new energy and clarity to classic songs such as I Want You, Calling Dr. Love, See You In Your Dreams, and Makin’ Love. Sounds and details hidden in Eddie Kramer’s original 1976 mix can now be heard more clearly than ever before.

With great respect for the original album, this beautiful new version gives Rock And Roll Over a fresh spirit and opens the door for a new generation of the KISS Army to discover this timeless masterpiece.

(49:58)
01. I Want You
02. Take Me
03. Calling Dr. Love
04. Ladies Room
05. Baby Driver
06. Love ‘Em And Leave Em
07. Mr. Speed
08. See You In Your Dreams (extended mix)
09. Hard Luck Woman
10. Makin’ Love

11. Calling Dr. Love (original arrangement)
12. Hard Luck Woman (electric version)
13. See You In Your Dreams (original arrangement)
14. Hard Luck Woman (acoustic version)