I didn't appreciate Charlie until I saw them live on the Steel Wheels tour. The guy is a monster on that little kit.
For the most part, I agree with you. Paul's vocals were especially lifeless. There were a few tracks I think they improved...."Forever" stands out... ......but they didn't do "Crazy Crazy Nights?"......Senile dementia must be setting in.
100% Charlie Watts is a Rock n' Roll ANIMAL! My favorite drummer along with Jerry Nolan from the New York Dolls (Who grew up with Peter Criss and taught him to play the drums.)
Abs No.....I really recall there being a "Re-record" with the "Sonic Boom" stuff......If there wasn't one, I have no idea what I was thinking.. ....Probably doesn't help my ongoing "Smashes n' Thrashes" argument!......Ha!
"Destroyer" starts with the mother of all Swing/Shuffle beats. "Detroit Rock City" is a pure swing beat! Those second 1/8th notes are straight triplet.
Also, don't forget that "Flaming youth" includes a "7/4" time signature section. (Bridge riff.) That is RARE is Rock music. Also, Peter himself has credited Ezrin (And I don't like Ezrin personally, but as a producer, I think he's a genius. In 2007'ish my band was in negotiations to have him work with us. He turned us ((My manager.)) down....and that's not the reason I don't like him, either.).....but I digress. Peter has credited Ezrin with teaching him how to play "Half time."....Which he does in "King of the night time world." I don't personally like the guy. But to say he did ANYTHING but push Peter Criss to be the best drummer he could be?.........Sorry man, the evidence says otherwise. Personal feelings aside, I will STILL say the guy is the greatest producer of all time.
All of Peter's cool drumming is on the first 3 albums and Alive! Then it is a snooze fest. I said what I said.
Check out Peter's playing on "Plaster Caster" Is it simple? Sure, Is it great, creative and "catchy"? You better believe it. When motivated, Peter could steal the show.
People need to remember....Peter played EVERYTHING on "Destroyer" Ezrin did not settle for "Good enough" Ezrin put him to the test and Peter was up to the task.
Don't forget the classic story of how Ezrin had Peter play certain tracks at the bottom of the studio's elevator shaft. He also had Peter play certain things in make-up too, because.....I don't know.....that's the genius of Ezrin. One mourning the cleaning crew comes in the basement and there is some guy in Kabuki make-up banging on drums at the bottom of the elevator shaft. They RAN!
Right!!!!?????? No double bass, d l snare 60 toms a 153.5 cymbals... nobody else, in either case, Charlie & Ringo, would have fit. They were perfect. I don't know if that's true of all drummers, a lot of drummers fit the irreplaceable bill I guess. Peart? Who could replace him? Still...
Now, today, "H Yeah.....that's the story of Gene's career. People wish he had put just a little more effort into. the steak, .....Instead of just making sure there was sizzle. The guy was talented, he COULD write a good song, He just......and I don't know why.......didn't seem to go that extra mile as far as effort and quality control was concerned.
Now THAT is an interesting take...and one I've never heard before. ...You're just clowning me....right??
Strangely enough, I'm not. I think Ron Nevison is a genius. I've bought albums by bands I don't know just because he's the producer.
Maybe cite your sources on that story please because it’s not in anyone’s book and I’ve certainly never seen or heard it in any interviews or books over the last 25 years. And it’s 100% the sort of story they would repeat in every single interview about Destroyer - if it were true.
Fair enough. I'm not a fan of "Crazy Nights" production values because I'm alergic to digital. I'm also not a fan of reverb and delay...I tend to like the "dry" Rick Rubin sound...that's why I really like the sound of "Rock n' Roll over" and "Dressed to Kill" I'm also aware of the fact that "Destroyer" maybe my favorite record ever, is not "dry" in the least.....but Ezrin was almost more of a movie director than a record producer, his use of "spacial" FX was almost "narrative" in his application. .....I've wondered recently if my biggest problem with "Crazy Nights" is that KISS was not a happy band when they made it...and some of that bad energy might be embedded in the overall vibe of the record. I honestly didn't realize what a great song "Crazy Crazy nights" was until like....three years ago? I thought "Bang Bang you" sucked until a poster on this forum posted a live version of it. "Crazy Nights" is a sonic hall of mirrors......people's perception of it is all over the map. ........oh.....I just remembered the cover.....HA HA!!
