Tim McPhate | KissFAQ
KissFAQ has launched Back In The Solo Album Groove: The KISS Albums. 35 Years Later…, an ambitious multi-week retrospective dedicated to arguably the biggest milestone in KISStory: the 1978 KISS solo albums. Today, the site has published an exclusive interview with John Cavazos, a member of the Citrus College Singers who was participated on Gene Simmons’ 1978 solo album.
The following are excerpts from Cavazos’ interview with KissFAQ’s Tim McPhate:
On a nail-biting experience with Cher:
KF: Before we get to Gene’s album, let’s chat about Cher. In his 2001 autobiography, Gene Simmons recounts the story of how the ensemble sang for Cher on her birthday in May 1978. Can you tell us about this experience?
JC: Yeah, actually I was the guy that sang the solo to her. It was her 30th birthday and they obviously were dating at the time. And Gene invited us to come to [his] bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel. And he surprised her. I’m sure she wasn’t too happy about it at first because, you know, she didn’t have any makeup on or anything. But we sang a capella the song “If” by the group Bread. And it happened to be in the pop show that we did. It happened to be my solo with the group backing me up. So he brought her out and after a couple of seconds she warmed up and smiled, and we started singing. And I started walking toward her to sing the solo and, as I would normally do, I would take the lady by the hand. And so I took her [hand] and when I did she grabbed me and I was really nervous. You know, hello it’s Cher! And she took her hand and put it on my heart and I’m sure it was bumping a mile a minute. And as I was singing, “And one by one, the stars will all go out,” she looked at me and she goes, “Oh, you’re nervous. How sweet.” And I about pooped my pants because I thought, “Oh my gosh.” (laughs) She was actually very, very sweet about it and she knew we were just kids and we were in awe of who she was. And of course, KISS was very popular at the time and nobody had ever seen them without their makeup. It was really a super cool moment for all of us.
Recollections of the ensemble’s work at Cherokee Studios on Simmons’ album:
KF: John, what do you remember about heading out to Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles for Gene’s album?
JC: The first couple of times, I think we went out in vans. But it was done in sections. There was this one part, I can’t remember what song it is, it’s where the turnaround goes [sings the ensemble’s part from “True Confessions”]. And we were singing in octaves. I think that was really the only one where everybody was singing. They had us all in the studio and Gene was in the center. And he was in his glory; he loved it because he loved young people. And he was in the center kind of waving us on and making us smile and getting us all excited. And it was fun. It was just so incredibly cool. At the time, I had done some studio work, and I ended up in the business. Besides what I did in New York, I also did a lot of session work. So it was kind of my first taste being in the big time. Even though he was jumping up and down and having a lot of fun, it was serious business. We had to get it done. And they broke us up into groups for the other two songs, depending on what they needed. I think for one group, I think there were six or eight of us. And we sang some “aahs” and some “oohs” and then we sang something where whatever Gene was singing, he was singing some kind of a line, and we were singing in unison with him in the same octave or up an octave, and trying to make it sound ethereal. They did a lot of experimenting with the sound. And of course, like I said, here’s Gene and we’re going, “Oh my gosh, he has no makeup on. We see him.” (laughs) I mean, everybody sees them now but at the time it was a big deal.
On how Simmons articulated the direction for the ensemble’s parts:
KF: What are your recollections of how Gene articulated what he was looking for in terms of the vocal parts on the three songs?
JC: I think that was probably the biggest challenge because most of us were used to reading charts and reading music in front of us. We were all musicians and could all read music. So I think Gene just knew that he had a vision in his head and wanted a sound, but he couldn’t really articulate it on paper. So we experimented a lot. We got in there and he said, “OK, let’s have you guys try this and let’s have you try that.” And we also interacted, as well as Ben. He would say, “Well, the girls could do this or the guys [could do that].” And we would say, “How about if we do this?” And he would listen to it and go, “That’s really cool. I like that. Yeah, let’s do that.” It was very collaborative and he was pretty open. For the first one hour, maybe it was a little rough in terms of actually getting into it because we were trying to figure out what this was going to sound like. But once we did, we listened to the track over and over again, [and] he would explain to us, “This is what I’m looking for. This is what I want it to sound like.” So, because he was collaborative, he was open to the suggestions. And sometimes we would sing something, and he’d go, “No, I don’t like that.” Or, “I want it more like this. Let’s try this.” And we finally got it and then we started the takes
KF: The ensemble is featured on three songs: “True Confessions,” which also features Helen Reddy. Then there’s “Always Near You/Nowhere To Hide,” which was more of an experimental song for Gene. And then there’s the Disney cover “When You Wish Upon A Star.”
JC: Yes, that’s correct. I don’t remember us singing “When You Wish…” And that could have been a smaller group. I know one of our girls had a really high voice and they wanted her to do something and that might have been “When You Wish…” And so it may have just been her on that one particular song because I know she did something by herself. I don’t remember what it was, but she was brought into to do some kind of an obligado. From what I remember, it was “True Confessions” and “Always Near You[/Nowhere To Hide]” — I think those are the ones that the ensemble was used on. Again, that was a long time ago. I don’t remember exactly. But I know that one of our girls did something on her own and I think it might have been that one.
Full John Cavazos interview:
http://www.kissfaq.com/78/interview_john_cavazos.php
About Back In The Solo Album Groove:
As KISS celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2013, KissFAQ.com has launched Back In The Solo Album Groove: The KISS Albums. 35 Years Later…, an ambitious multi-week retrospective dedicated to arguably the biggest milestone in KISStory: the 1978 KISS solo albums. More than 30 brand-new interviews were conducted with various individuals who either worked directly on the solo albums or have a strong connection of sorts. The interviews will offer readers fresh first-hand perspectives straight from studio musicians, producers, engineers, and collaborators, and the creative professionals working in the KISS camp at the time. Topical features will shed more light on KISS’ activity in 1978 while dissecting the albums and offering in-depth analysis and biographical information on the albums’ participants. Also featured will be a 1978 KISS calendar, a roundup of other notable album releases in the rock genre in 1978, a spotlight on “Double Platinum,” and much more. Back In The Solo Album Groove will put the four 1978 KISS solo albums center stage like never before.
Get Back In The Solo Album Groove at:
http://www.kissfaq.com/78/index.php