Now we are bringing a great one for collectors and KISS fans: the album recorded in the ’70s by WICKED LESTER, the Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons band before they became KISS; “The Unreleased Remastered Tapes“.
The group was formed in 1970 in New York under the name “Rainbow”. Two notable members were bassist Gene Klein and rhythm guitarist Paul Eisen. In 1971, the band changed their name to Wicked Lester and recorded an album for Epic Records, which was never officially released. The recording of this session appeared in a contraband form / bootleg called “The Original Wicked Lester Session”.
But… when KISS was putting their 5-disc release ‘The Box Set’ in 2001, the original plan was to release the entire Wicked Lester album on there. That idea was scrapped and only 3 WICKED LESTER songs appeared into ‘The Box Set’.
However, the entire album was remastered before minds were changed. We now have the complete album in the best quality EVER!
The album was recorded over a period of months when time was available at Jimi Hendrix’s newly built Electric Lady Studios. A master tape cover shows the date 10.15.72. The recordings were slowed when Epic demanded the group fire guitarist Steve Coronel and replace him with Ron Leejack. When the album was completed and presented to Epic, its A&R director Don Ellis hated it and refused to release it.
Reeling from the rejection and dissatisfied with the sound of the album itself, Wicked Lester members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons left the group and formed a new incarnation of Wicked Lester with a harder sound, soon recruiting drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley and changing the newer group’s name to KISS.
In 1977, fearing Epic would release the album (which included then-rare pictures of Simmons and Stanley without makeup) to capitalize on KISS’ subsequent fame, the band and its label Casablanca purchased all rights to the album for $138,000, then shelved it permanently… until 2001.
WICKED LESTER tapes were remastered for the inclusion on KISS ‘The Box Set’, but only 3 tracks were used. Here’s the complete remastered album.
01 – Keep Me Waiting
02 – Molly
03 – Sweet Ophelia
04 – Simple Type
05 – Too Many Mondays
06 – Love Her All I Can
07 – When The Bell Rings
08 – She
09 – What Happens In the Darkness
10 – (We Want To) Shout It Out Loud
11 – Long Long Road
Paul Stanley (Stanley Eisen) – lead vocals, guitar
Gene Simmons (Gene Klein) – lead vocals, bass guitar
Ron Leejack – lead guitar, banjo
Brooke Ostrander – piano, horns
Tony Zarrella – drums & percussion
Steve Coronel – guitar