CD Review- Ace Frehley: Second Sighting (1988)

Space Ace had a ton of momentum going into early 1988 after the release of the more than decent Frehley’s Comet (87) debut and a little 5 song ass-kicker EP  that dropped in early 88.

A few months later came the second and final Frehley’s Comet studio album under that moniker. I bought it right away as it was Ace. Ace was always my favorite guy in KISS.

I’m talking 70’s Ace as he was half cut all the time but wailed out some memorable solos on the KISS songs as well as putting out a phenomenal solo album in 78.

I’m sure Paul and Gene were pissed as Ace’s creativity went through the roof after 78.

KISS had a problem. More or less Gene and Paul had a problem.

For proof listen to the Ace tracks from 79’s Dynasty album (Hard Times/Save Your Love, Ace even made his cover of the Stones 2000 Man sound like his own) 80’s Unmasked (Talk To Me/Torpedo Girl/Two Sides of the Coin) and 81’s Elder(Dark Light/Escape From The Island)

What a roll…

Ace got a pass from me right up to 88 as something happened to the classic creativity period. It dried up like the Sahara desert for Ace.

Second Sighting is not a bad album as many made it out to be. Pretty much the blame was directed at Tod Howarth who was the second vocalist/guitarist and keyboardist. 

Howarth ended up writing this album or carrying this album as Ace really did not deliver the material needed. 

Sure Second Sighting is more on the melodic side of rock, You have to be in the right frame of mind to listen to it especially when comparing it to Ace’s previous albums/songs. 

The Spaceman did show up especially on opener Insane. Typical Ace track. A cool street vocal thing that Ace had and of course one of his cool classic liquored up solos! 

Ace is back and he told ya so! For this track that is.

What’s a guy like Howarth to do though? When your leader doesn’t come in with the goods so to speak its all hands on deck so Howarth steps up with 5 tracks. More on the melodic rock side (Time Runnin Out, New Kind of Lover) along with the go-to style of many a 1988 release which is a power ballad (It’s Over Now).

Ace came up 4 of his own songs with the best being Insane as I already mentioned. The other Ace tracks (Juvenile Delinquent, Separate)  are ok. Nothing to write home about really and even the last song on Second Sighting the instrumental The Acorn Is Spinning is well there…

There is a Canadian connection to this disc as well as Dancing with Danger a tune by Streetheart is included but how did Ace get a writing credit on this song when it was recorded and written solely by Streetheart 5 years earlier in 1983?

( Pictured below, Izzy is intrigued by Second Sighting)

Better yet how the hell did Dana Strum get a co-write as well? Shit, I should throw my hat in the mix say that I was a co-writer as well! 

I listened to this album for perhaps the first time in 32 years recently and as it didn’t exactly set the world on fire (stalled on the Billboard charts at 81)  give Howarth some credit though as he tried to keep the Comet from crashing so you gotta give him a pass.

The Comet did indeed burn up as once on tour in 88 the money stopped rolling in and the band packed it in. 

I packed it in with solo Frehley as well until Ace released Spaceman a few years back and it was actually a really good record.^

^-Ladano was where I read that Ace had put out a good rock record in Spaceman so I took the gamble bought it and liked it. Figured if it sucked I could yell at Mikey! 

Dang, maybe next time.

Whut? Part 1

Double Whut!

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