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PETER CRISS: ONE FOR ALL
Silvercat/SONY-Red 1054-2 (USA, 7/24/07)
TRACKS, LYRICS, and SAMPLES:
01. One For All (4:48)
The lead-off and title track from Peter’s 2007 solo album. This song was inspired by the events of, and resulting from, 9-11-01 and Peter’s perspective as a Brooklyn native of the shock and horror of that day. According to Peter, “I went to Church that day and coming home, watching it on television, it was so surreal, but I knew I wanted to do something” (PR). And Peter certainly did do something appearing at the “Families of Freedom” benefit at the City Center in Manhattan on November 20, 2002. Peter performed “Beth” with a backing band comprised of Felica Collins, Dr. Gibbs, Scott Yahney, and Dave Matos. Peter’s song features the backing vocals of the Church of Transfiguration Boys Choir.
02. Doesn't Get Better (Than This) (5:09) Kipps/Criss/McLaughlin
Written by Peter, Charlie Kipps and Mike McLaughlin. A duet with Jennifer Johnson. This song was simply inspired by the success and the positive trappings that come with that success. Charles Kipps is a close friend of Peter who has worked with Aretha Franklin. Charles Kipps won a 2004 Daytime Emmy as an executive producer for his work on “Little Bill.” Charles and Peter’s relationship extends outside the sphere of music with Peter having been mentioned for the cast of the movie (playing the character “Mike”), “Frame of Mind,” starring Chris Noth, which was expected to start filming in NJ late last year. Charles co-wrote the screen play for the movie with director Charles Evans. The movie’s plot revolves around new evidence for the Kennedy assassination surfacing.
03. Last Night (4:28) Criss/McLaughlin
Wendy Sutter plays cello on this song. This song was written by Peter and Mike McLaughlin.
04. What A Difference A Day Makes (4:24) Grever/Adams
Written by Maria Grever and Stanley Adams. Recorded by Dinah Washington in 1959 providing her with a #4 hit on the R&B charts. This single also paved the road for Dinah’s cross-over success reaching #8 on the pop singles charts. In the following year she nailed three #1 hits on the R&B charts. Her success didn’t last and she died in 1963 due to a drug/alcohol overdose. This song actually dates from 1934 when it was originally composed in Spanish by Maria Grever as “Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado.” Stanley wrote the English language lyrics. Peter required three takes to record this song, which his dedicated to his Mother (PR) who had loved singing the song.
05. Hope (2:47) Criss/McLaughlin
Along with another song, “Hope” would be a tune written by Peter Criss for the KISS reunion album in 1998. According to co-writer Mike McLaughlin, “I originally wrote the music back in around ‘97 and sent it to Peter, and he liked it and wrote the melody and lyrics. We went in an recorded it with the intention of using it for the ‘Psycho Circus’ album. But the rest of the band rejected it. Peter and I were both really bummed cause we both loved this song, so it just seemed natural to bring this one back for the new CD” (JG). Peter considered the song to be an excellent piece of work, naturally a ballad, which was written in a similar vein to the song Bob Ezrin and Paul Stanley eventually gave him to sing. As the title implies, the song was about Peter facing the numerous challenges in his life in a positive manner...
06. Faces In The Crowd (3:37) Criss/McLaughlin
Inspired by Peter looking out into the crowd every night. According to Peter, “I would look out on the crowd at those smiling faces every night and I’m so proud to have those fans. I thank God and the fans every day for what they’ve given me; they’re the biggest stars, not me. And they’ve made a wonderful life for me" (PR).
07. Send In The Clowns (3:51) Sondheim
"Send in the Clowns" was written by Stephen Sondheim and was originally featured in the 1973 musical, “A Little Night Music.” It was the first song Peter recorded following his departure from KISS. As one would expect for a ballad album, Peter’s version was inspired by the pain of not having Ace with him on his final tour with KISS in 2003. Those emotions made this emotive and mournful ballad a perfect expression of Peter’s own life experiences. According to Peter, “It was a very heavy time for me. KISS had finished work with the Melbourne Symphony and the song made sense... I knew we wanted to do different things, and for me it was finally getting down to doing this album of my life” (PR). Stephen added a new verse for the 1985 Barbra Streisand recording of the song – it’s currently not known which version Peter has recorded.
08. Fallin' All Over Again (4:42) Criss/McLaughlin
09. Whisper (4:16) Criss/McLaughlin
10. Heart Behind The Hands (3:39) Denton
From the musical, appropriately in title and subject matter, “Brooklyn.” Peter auditioned for a role in a broadway production following his appearance on Oz, but while his singing was fine his acting skills still needed some work so he didn’t get the part. Regardless, the musical was written Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson with this song being attributed to Schoenfeld (Copyright Registration). The song isn’t about any specific character in the production’s cast. According to Mark Schoenfeld, “This character is living on the street and how often do we pass by homeless souls like him, never once thinking of how they got there, what were their dreams and aspirations, who they loved, who loved them and why someone doesn’t love them enough to provide shelter now. Well there’s a story behind those empty eyes and ‘Heart Behind These Hands’ will lead you into that story” (PR). Peter recalls the song’s transition: “My guitarist Mike and I looked at it and it was good, but very Broadway, so we thought ‘let’s try to do this bluesy shuffle, a Zeppelin kind of thing” (PR).
11. Memories (3:48) Criss/McLaughlin
Written by Peter for his fans in a similar vein to "Faces In The Crowd."
12. Space Ace (5:09) Criss/Montague
The final song on “One For All,” inspired obviously by Peter’s KISS band member Ace Frehley. This song was written by Peter and former Criss bassist Mark Montague who also plays guitar on the recording. This song is similar in title to one that Peter wrote prior to the “Psycho Circus” recording fiasco, called “Space Fever,” which he thought would be a good song for Ace, at the time. Whether the two songs are related is currently unknown.
Other songs known to have been published in 2005:
01. Bohemia (0:00) Criss/McLaughlin
02. Cat Nap (0:00) Criss/McLaughlin
03. Reason For Living (0:00) Criss/McLaughlin
04. Crossroads (0:00) Criss/McLaughlin
05. What Does It Take (0:00) Criss/McLaughlin
Instrumentals on Peter's "Jazz" album "Separately":
01. Sing Sing Sing (0:00)
02. Stardust (0:00)
03. Stompin' At The Savoy (0:00)
04. Bugle Boy Stomp (0:00)
Produced by Peter Criss and Charles Kipps.
Engineered by Tom Perkins.
Recorded at Nutmeg Studios and Peter Criss' home studio.
Peter's love song/ballad album. 800 copies through Best Buy are autographed...
None of these credits or track sequencing are neither official or final.
Players: (unconfirmed)
Peter Criss ..... vocals; drums
Mike "Angel" McLaughlin ..... lead guitar
Mark Montague ..... bass; lead guitar on 3
Paul Schaffer ..... keyboards
Will Lee ..... bass
Jennifer Johnson ..... vocals on 2
Clifford Carter .....