Ace Frehley – New York Groove

Only in the glittery excess of the late ’70s could a band decide to put out four solo albums on the same day and somehow convince the world it made perfect sense. On September 18, 1978, KISS pulled off one of rock’s most over-the-top stunts: four albums, one from each member, all branded as official KISS releases, all with matching cover art and posters you could piece together. This song had to be at least somewhat inspired by Bo Diddley’s Bo Diddley which was in turn inspired by Hush Little Baby. 

I’ve always liked this song from Ace Frehley’s KISS solo album. It peaked at #13 on the Billboard 100, #25 in Canada, and #24 in New Zealand in 1978. The song was written by Russ Ballard and was a UK chart hit for an English band named Hello. The track kicks in with that foot-stomp and hand-clap rhythm, more glam rock than hard rock, and right away it’s clear: this is not a KISS song. It’s got more in common with T. Rex than with Detroit Rock City.

Everything here is built around that simple, addictive beat, a four-on-the-floor thump with congas and claps riding shotgun. Over the top floats Frehley’s talk-sung vocal that is delivered with confidence. Ace was perfect for this song because he doesn’t have a huge vocal range. On Ace’s songs, he doesn’t sound like he is trying to make a hit…just a good song. I also like his guitar playing in general. It’s very Keith Richards like along with his tone. 

New York Groove is Ace Frehley’s very own personal anthem. The track is as synonymous with the ex-Kiss member as his silver suit and his smokin’ Les Paul. The egos in KISS were huge; Gene and Paul provoked Ace, even offering help (assuming that Ace would not be able to). However, Ace surprised them both. The best-selling solo album of the 4, in addition to being preferred by most fans and critics. 

Ace Frehley: “A lot of people think I wrote New York Groove. It’s not a myth that I’ve perpetuated, but that’s the way it is. I wish I would’ve wrote the song, though. I would’ve made a lot more cash out of it, ha-ha-hargh!”

Original Version by Hello

New York Groove

Many years since I was here,
On the street I was passin’ my time away
To the left and to the right,
Buildings towering to the sky
It’s outta sight in the dead of night

Here I am, and in this city, with a fistful of dollars
And baby, you’d better believe

I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
Back in the New York groove, in the New York groove

In the back of my Cadillac
A wicked lady, sittin’ by my side, sayin’ ‘Where are we?’
Stop at Third and Forty-three, exit to the night
It’s gonna be ecstacy, this place was meant for me

Feels so good tonight, who cares about tomorrow
So baby, you’d better believe

I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
Back in the New York groove, in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove
I’m back, back in the New York groove

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

56 thoughts on “Ace Frehley – New York Groove”

  3. Pingback: Ace Frehley – New York Groove – MobsterTiger

  4. It’s a testament to your influence that I listened to this. I don’t think I could name or recognize a single Kiss song. If I’ve heard them, it was by accident. When I first heard of them I considered them a joke and figured any band that needed a gimmick that big had nothing to recommend them.

    This didn’t really change that, but at least I listened to three versions of the song.

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    2. Oh yeah; back in their heyday all I gave them was a curled lip. Kiss off, posers!

      But they’re rich, I’m not. But I still say I’m much better off for not buying one of their records.

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  5. Cool pic! Absolutely sounds like T Rex more than anyone else I can think of. I vaguely – very vaguely – remember hearing it back then, didn’t know it was Ace. Better song than I would have imagined honestly

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  7. Ace hit the grand slam with this song and album. Out of the four that came out his was the best. So many great tracks on it and considering he was a mess lol ace pulled it off in style. Check out Speeding Back To My Mind, Ozone, What’s On Your Mind… ah just listen to the whole damn thing! lol

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    1. I did listen to quite a bit of it but I’ll check those out again… and I’ll bring it up again. I love that his was the best…that had to annoy Gene and Paul to no end. Ace has that Keith Richards kind of thing…that feel. I love his playing style and tone.

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      1. I’ve read that Gene and Paul were expecting an utter train wreck of an album and well it did not happen. Cool cover as well. Iconic … think I’m going to give this one a spin today

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  8. I’m a big fan of the original version and Russ ballard – he was in Argent, wrote God Gave Rock n Roll To You and many other big hits like So You Win Again (Hot Chocolate) Since Youve Been Gone and I Surrender (Rainbow) You Can Do Magic (America), I Know There’s Something Going On (Frida of Abba), No More The Fool (Elkie Brooks), and had some good solo singles like Fly Away and Voices.

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      2. Oh yes! You know what? I should have remembered that but that song was one of the first songs I posted…I didn’t do songs at first. It has the highest views of any song I’ve posted…

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      4. I’m listening to it now…well he wrote it as well…so many songs I didn’t know that he wrote.

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    1. Songs like this is like turning over a rock…and I don’t mean that in a bad way but you never know what you will find. I didn’t know Russ Ballard wrote this one….and I never knew about Hello…good or bad. Thanks Clive

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      1. You can’t really see Argent doing this one, can you! He wrote quite a few songs that were hits for others back in the 70s, but to my ears his best work was in his band days.

        We suffered a lot of wannabes like this lot at that time. Most, like Hello, said goodbye to the charts pretty quickly. I saw someone compare this to T Rex – Marc Bolan must be turning in his grave!

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      2. No I can’t see Argent doing this one at all. I didn’t know or I forgot that he wrote Winning that Santana did…I like that one. He could write a catchy song.

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      3. He followed a similar theme with So You Win Again, which was a hit here for Hot Chocolate – who were definitely better and lasted longer than Hello!

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  13. OMG, I’d forgotten all about Russ Ballard, the guy was a genius! I liked the tune, I didn’t understand the idea of the 4 solo albums, and then later understood the reason Ace left Kiss……Kiss was awesome for about 10 minutes, Bob Ezrin was another genius I think made them…otherwise as funny as Gene Simmons was, they were good for a couple more albums, maybe worth seeing live now, but nah

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    1. I’m finding that out today about Russ Ballard. I knew he wrote God Gave Rock and Roll To You…but I forgot he wrote Winning by Santana among many others. The guy was a melody machine.
      I saw Kiss in 1996 when they regrouped because I wanted to see the show and makeup…I did…..it was good but I always liked Ace and Peter.

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      2. Yea I called him a melody machine…all of the songs I know by him are damn well catchy…all of them. I sure will!

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  14. The Ace one sounds more Diddley beat than the Hello one. Sorry, can’t get excited over Kiss. Too much ego, too much makeup, too much glitz. All too much.

    Yes, I’m in the minority here. Thats A-OK!

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    1. All opinions are welcomed here! Obbverse I think the ones who watched them in their childhood are the ones that are commenting. I missed the boat on them as well when they were out. I did go and see them in 96 when they regrouped.

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      1. I recall they toured here- I think 2015? Anyway, I was up in Wellington to see Wilco again and it was one of those ultra rare times that two well known bands were in NZ at the same time. On stage Mr Tweedy mentioned that he saw a lot of black Kiss T shirts on people in the cities as they crossed paths on the road. I think the next song Jeff ripped into was ‘Misunderstood!’

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      2. LOL…that was great!
        Thinking back…they were huge. It lasted for around 4 years and when the Cosmetics came off…the mystery was over.

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  16. I still remember in my school class back in Germany there was a group of boys and girls who were very much into Kiss. At the time, I pretty much didn’t listen to the group, except for “I Was Made for Lovin’ You”, which I even owned as a 45. Anyway, if you wouldn’t have had you not told me “New York Groove” was by Ace Frehley, I never would have guessed there was a Kiss connection.

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    1. I know what you mean…I lived through it but it never reached me….I did go see them in the 90s…with the originals…great show

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