Album review: ACE FREHLEY – Origins Vol 2

ACE FREHLEY - Origins Vol 2

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 18.09.20]

Original Kiss guitarist Ace releases his ninth studio album and after the success of 2016’s Origins Vol 1 (which hit #23 in the Billboard 200), we get a Volume 2, and again it’s pretty damn good as cover albums go.

Before Vol1, Frehley had already put his stamp on the likes of ‘New York Groove’ and ‘Do Ya’, and since leaving Kiss he’s had that much more freedom to play with arrangements. And like Vol1, the tracks here are largely material Ace played in his pre-Kiss club daze, or were played by bands he shared the stage with.

The album kicks off with Led Zeppelin’s ‘Good Times Bad Times’ (their first US single) and according to the biog is aimed at those who have done Ace wrong. It’s a fine performance, solid, suitably moody with some bright vocal harmonies that almost nod at the Beach Boys, The structure’s good but Ace’s guitar is brighter and less bluesy so it’s a worthy cover.

Mountain’s Never In My Life is up next and sees the Space Man playing at his heaviest, and there’s some neat soloing in there too.

Another nice and worthy inclusion is Deep Purple’s ‘Space Truckin’. A little heavier, it’s more guitar oriented. Those used to the original may miss Gillan’s phrasing or the deft touches from Lord or Paice, but it’s close enough to the original while adding Frehley’s own stamp. And when the keyboards do come in, you have to admire the arrangement as well as the playing. Tracks by The Beatles (I’m Down) and The Rolling Stones (Jumpin’ Jack Flash – featuring Lita Ford) follow, all beefed up somewhat.

I love the take on the Kinks’ ‘Lola’, and Bruce Kulick makes an appearance on a fine take on Hendrix’s ‘Manic Depression’. The album closes with the Kiss classic’ She’, a track the band performed at their first show.

Aside the aforementioned Ford and Kulick, the album also features Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander amongst others.

What’s to love about this is that many of the songs are not obvious choices, there’s enough in the bass line arrangements to keep them close to the original, but enough difference in the guitar and keyboard to make them worth while. And on occasion Ace proves that he’s not only the master of the riff but can solo with the best too.

Ace has left Kiss the band long behind, but not forgotten the legacy, and this is as fine an album to rock out as any. Enjoy. ****

Review by Joe Geesin


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 March 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 5 March 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 18 March 2024

GYPSY’S KISS We’ve Come To Play
FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 18 March 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 LEAVES’ EYES Myths Of Fate (AFM Records)
14:00-16:00 HOLLY LERSKI Sweet Decline (indie)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply