ERIC CARR – Rockology [Expanded +5 RSD Limited Edition] (2023) *HQ* EXCLUSIVE

ERIC CARR remained a member of KISS until his death from heart cancer. He took up the persona of “The Fox” and was one of the fan favorites. ”Rockology” is Eric Carr’s only solo record that he was working on before his death in 1991 which was completed by his former Kiss bandmate Bruce Kulick, and finally released at the end of the Nineties.
Now Culture Factory Records specialists prepared this special ”Rockology” version for the Record Store Day 2023: remastered, with new artwork, and Expanded including 5 never before released tracks. Limited Edition on CD (vinyl look-a-like) and 2-LP, both Sold Out a few hours after being put on sale.
This package was designed and mastered along with Loretta Carr (Eric’s sister) to fall in line as the 5th KISS solo album – in the same style of the original 1979 members solo albums. The cover is Eric in his “Fox” make up, the logos, sleeves, etc, all is printed in the same fashion.

This release is a Record Store Day release that came out on April 22, 2023 and it was available as a 2-LP Vinyl and a limited run of CDs (only 500). The cool thing about this is that there are 5 bonus tracks that have been previously unreleased so this it the only place to currently get them.
The other really cool thing is how they changed up the cover to look like the 4 KISS Solo 1979 albums with Eric getting an orange color around him. They even included a poster done in the same style of posters from the original Kiss Solo albums. The LP version comes on 2 LPs with translucent splatter vinyl, one orange and one clear. Both beautiful. The CD was designed as a Vinyl replica with a cardboard sleeve and the CD looks like a vinyl. Both packages done with care.

Unfortunately, a lot of Eric’s songs that he had written for KISS albums were refused by Gene and Paul. I think they were being short-sighted in their decisions because during the late 80s, Kiss could’ve used the songs and have Eric sing to help give the band some fresh blood.
There are two really good songs that Kiss missed and first up is the opening track “Eyes of Love”. Eric wrote this one in 1989 and it is Eric on drums, bass and vocals. Bruce is on guitar. This is one of the very few fully fleshed out songs and I have to say it is fantastic. It would’ve fit nicely on Hot in the Shade or even Revenge. It is catchy as hell and has a great chorus. It has an 80’s hard rock feel and is an all around stellar song. I agree with Bruce on this and that this could’ve been a hit.

The next track KISS passed on was another 1989 demo called “Somebody’s Waiting”. The song is a ballad and has Eric again on bass, drums and vocals with Bruce on acoustic guitar this time around. It is another song that showcases his vocal talent. I know why Paul turned it down because Paul probably thought he was the only one to do ballads for the band and didn’t want to be upstaged by another drummer.

“Heavy Metal Baby” is one of those songs where the lyrics are non-existent but he some idea of how he wants it go so he scats the lyrics. He probably picked this up from Gene as Gene does that on so many Vault Demos. It was recorded in 1989 and is a heavy rocking track musically. Some cool distorted riffs from Bruce and Eric is actually on the drum machine. Too bad this never got worked out in more detail because the bones are there for a great song.

The next track is from 1987, “Just Can’t Wait”, and one Eric, Bruce and Adam Mitchell all worked on. For this version, Bruce and Adam added some keyboards and an acoustic guitar to help finish out the track a little more. It is an all instrumental track and it was almost fully complete musically. It is only missing the lyrics which were never recorded with Eric singing which is a shame as this another one with good bones.

“Mad Dog” is up next and not to be confused with Gene’s “Mad Dog” on ‘The Vault’ even though it sounds like it could a Gene song and even Eric’s scatting sounds a little like Gene. It is a darker, heavier track. I love this type of song where we get to see them working on the lyrics as they are playing. You start to get a taste of where the song is heading and this one was heading in the right direction.
Prior to this, the only version was on cassette so I am glad they were able to save this track. Bruce says in his notes that there were supposed to be some dog barks added to the chorus and the fade out of the song.

The next track, “You Make Me Crazy”, was originally called “Van Halen” due to its influence and you can hear that sound. It is a pure 80s track, uptempo and a lot of fun. Eric is on drums and bass as usual with Bruce on guitar and having fun with the solo.

Then we get two versions of the song “Nightmare”. The first is an early 1987 demo that is more developed with Eric scatting the lyrics and the guitar playing is sensational. The second is the demo of a live take of the song with Eric on guitar, tapping out the beat of the song and Bruce on electric guitar. I actually like the second demo a little better due to the rawness of it and it sounded like a cooler song overall.

Eric was very creative. So much so in fact that he was working on a developing a children’s cartoon called The Rockheads. The cartoon was a parody of rock & roll with four band members who are all very different. This set includes a couple songs that were for the cartoon and the first is “Too Cool for School”. It is a full fledged song that and it sounds like it is a little kiddie to fit for the show. Very simple school related lyrics and not a bad track, but you can tell the song was written for a kid show.

“Tiara” is another ballad by Eric with him on keyboards playing to a drum loop. It is a very soft side of Eric. Bruce says with the way Eric played the song, there is a hypnotic feel to it and he is write. It is almost a lullaby in its current form. It is a very sweet song.

Eric also wrote songs for some other artists and one was Bryan Adams. After getting to know Bryan during the ‘Creatures of the Night’ sessions as Bryan helped write a couple tracks. Eric returned the favor with the song “Don’t Leave Me Lonely” off Adams 1983 album ‘Cuts Like a Knife’.
This next track “Can You Feel It” Eric wrote and it sounds like they were hoping Bryan would play this one as well, but that never happened. I can see why as it has a Bryan Adams vibe to it. It is more in that softer rock sound of Adams and I think it is a pretty cool track. Eric sounds great it, the song is catchy and is a fun track that would’ve been right up Bryan’s alley.

The 5 New Previously Unreleased Tracks:
The first is the long take of the song “Tiara” which is a strong ballad. The long demo is a rougher mix for sure, a little hollow sounding at times and the lyrics aren’t flushed out, but you see the working of a beautiful song. A softer side of Mr. Carr which is always nice to see. There is some nice guitar work in here as well which adds to its coolness.

“Can You Feel It” (Alternate Version) is up next and this is a more rawer version of the originally known. This is definitely earlier stages of the song he was hoping Bryan Adams would perform, which he didn’t. I like these rough demos as it is always interesting to hear where a song was once you know how it ended up.

The “Eyes of Love” here is an a-cappella version but really it sounds just like the vocal track of the song stripped out. It is a good chance to hear Eric’s vocals and only his vocals. I wish he got to sing more on the Kiss albums.
Then we get a Beatles cover of the song “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” from one of Eric’s earlier bands before Kiss called The Cellarman. It is a fun, happy version of the song. It has a bar, karaoke feel to it, but in a tasteful way, of course.

The final track is another one from a band prior to Kiss. The song is “Stranger” from his band Creation (formerly known as Salt N Pepper). It is an R&B style tune and it says it is sung by Sarita Squires with Eric on drums and probably backing vocals as well. There is some really cool guitar playing and a great solo on here. A solid 70’s style track. My favorite of the bunch of new tracks.

This is a MUST HAVE collectable CD one-time-pressing and already sold out… You’ve seen it first at 0dayrox

01 – Eyes Of Love
02 – Somebody’s Waiting
03 – Heavy Metal Baby
04 – Just Can’t Wait
05 – Mad Dog
06 – You Make Me Crazy
07 – Nightmare
08 – Nightmare [Live Demo]
09 – Too Cool For School
10 – Tiara
11 – Can You Feel It?
12 – Nasty Boys
2023 RSD Exclusive Bonus Tracks:
13 – Tiara [Long Demo]
14 – Can You Feel It [Alternative Version]
15 – Eyes Of Love [Accapella]
16 – Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
17 – Stranger

Eric Carr: vocals, drums, guitar, keyboards
Bruce Kulick: guitar, bass
Adam Mitchell: keyboards

all songs Carr / Kulick / Mitchell
Produced & Mixed by Bruce Kulick
Co-Produced by Eric Carr and Adam Mitchell
Recorded between 1986 – 1989

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