For me the best Paul tunes are the mid-to-up-tempo simple rockers. No list like this could ever be complete or right but these are the kind of Stanley steamers I find myself popping on to shut up any friends in doubt of Paul’s sheer rock prowess or his singular knack for crafting groovy rockers with hooks that endure. Bottom line, Paul’s material has its own cocksure feel illuminated by great arrangements, sharp guitar lines and well-honed, commanding vocals. Re-acquaint yourself with his style.
IT’S ALRIGHT – One of his very best, this blues-based rock’n’rolla is arguably the most KISS-like cut on Pauls ’78 solo debutPaul Stanley and yet at the same time shows Paul tipping a decidedly Stonsey honky-tonk hat. It also recalls Rod Stewart classics like “Hot Legs and “Every Picture Tells A Story”. Pauly had already proven an ability to cop a Rod vibe on “Hard Luck Woman” and “It’s Alright” is the rocking flip side to my ears however, unlike Maggie Mays’ lover, Paul will give you “breakfast in bed” and not “kick you in the head”. This ain’t metal and this ain’t no disco. This is fooling around at the very least and definitive Paul Stanley; ever cavalier and never desperate. ”If you want me to stay for the night, it’s alright”.
DOWN ON YOUR KNEES – One of four new Paul-penned KISS songs on the Killers compilation, “Down On Your Knees” is still one of my favorites all time, hits included. It’s a well-timed DON’T FREAK OUT PEOPLE! to core fans dismayed by the poppy Unmaskedand decidedly left-of-centerThe Elderalbums. Killers made it clear KISS had no plans to slow down or, as some feared, pack it in altogether. Backdrop aside, the track has a tight, almost ACDC-like guitar hook that showcases Paul at his raw vocal best with a post-solo section bridge that has him sounding every bit the ‘All American Man’. Plus this is Paul at perhaps his most sexist (yes, ‘ist’) since ‘Makin’ Love” offRock & Roll Over. ((( I couldn’t help but PARTNERS IN CRIME to this list – A kinky bed-mate off Killers, this tune has also always had my ear and gets better with time. Sure, it’s slightly 80′s land-locked with the repeating wang-bar dives in the chorus but everything about it just works so well, like it could not be improved even if Gene had showed up. Built around a bluesy Deep Purple-esque riff, it’s a welcome divergence to me and happens to have one of his cooler 80′s lyrics: “You’re coveting abuses, tripping with excuses, I know you got a lover at home”))))
BULLETPROOF – Off Paul’s long-awaited 2nd solo outing Live To Win, “Bulletproof” is a sturdy well-crafted near hit, the kind that keep KISS fans like me believing everyone else is crazy. Ultra-slick mix aside, it’s got it all and even if the held-back verses may cause a slight cringe among the faithful, the pay-off of the eventual guitar n’ drum break as it launches into the “Bullet Proof” chorus riff proves ample evidence Stanley can deliver a current sounding hit in an era. If only there were still classic rock stations playing new rock instead of the constant retread that dominates the format and has for 20 years (thanks Clear Channel).
GIMME MORE – An uptempo rocker the band toyed with live only on theLick It Up tour, “Gimme More” may be my favorite 80′s Paul rocker. Sure, he would attempt the land speed record several times in the 80′s but even the frantic”Under The Gun”can’t hold a flash pot to the clever fusion of metal, classic rock, and punk that is “Gimme More”. It showcases Paul’s old-school Robert Plant vibe and an expanding vocal range. New members of the band also shine on the recording with Eric Carr executing bitchin’ rapid-fire Bonham-like double bass fills in the whistle-stop breaks and, when given the nod, co-writer Vinnie Vincent ripping balls off with urgent screaming lead fills. “Gimme More” is only one of the reason’s the Lick It Up album is way underrated by KISSTory. I am of the steady opinion that the record is a close 2nd only to Creatures Of The Night as their 80′s best and vastly superior to any of the other non-makeup releases.
MR. SPEED – An oft forgotten southern-fried golden oldie off Rock & Roll Over I am happy KISS had the moxie to attempt and Paul the inclination to write. A lot of folks complain that their chief problem after the 70′s was that KISS followed trends instead of making them but “Mr. Speed” is more proof that Paul has always had an ear to the radio. Sure, they never intended a hit with it, but the Lynyrd Skynyrd inspired intro riff strikes me as a prime example of how Paul’s tunes generally have more cohesion with what else is happening musically with other acts at a given time. Certainly more so than with any of Gene’s tunes every tried to but, again, Paul has always been the more rooted one of the two and, as a result, makes a perfect complement to Ace Frehley’s Jimmy Page-like lead work. “Mr. Speed” also has a wonderful turn-around complete with KISStastic descending harmonies and another great Peter Criss pocket for the Starchilds’ reply to the Demons’ “Calling Dr. Love” epiphany. It is my assertion that anyone who has not heard “Mr. Speed” could never really understand the band or what Paul Stanley is all about: a riff, a groove and a chorus ….timely classic rock & roll.