The fifth solo album
Today I’m going to write a little about the record that is probably my favorite Kiss related album. An album that is right up there with all the Kiss solo albums from 1978. And The album is Sean Delaney’s Highway. An “forgotten” album that not many Kiss fans know about but really should try to get hold of.
Sean Delaney who is often called “the fifth Kiss member” recorded his one and only solo album almost simultaneously with the Kiss solo albums. The record has a lot of similarities to both Peter and Gene’s albums. Not very strange since Sean produced both Gene’s album and did a lot of the production work on Peter’s album before Vini Poncia came into the picture. Sean also supposedly wrote most of the songs on Peter’s album that weren’t leftovers from the old Chelsea songs Peter recycled on his solo album. Sean even went as far as to say that there were more of his voice on “I Can’t Stop The Rain” than Peter. An leftover that were demoed for Peter’s album called “Spotlights” is also rerecorded on Highway. This time only credited to Sean.
The musicians on the album are also a lot of the same people who played on Peter’s solo album. Many of the same guys who Sean used to have as musicans when he used to make radio jingles. Like Paul Shaffer and Alan Schwartzberg. There is a whole chapter about that in the book about Sean “Hellbox” if anybody want’s to dive deeper into the story about Sean.
I also feel there is a lot of songs that could easily have ended up on a Meat Loaf or Alice Cooper album since they are so theatrical. A real diverse and well written album just as I like It. Let’s just have a quick run through of the songs.
- Welcome to the Circus – 4:00
A very theatrical welcome song. Welcome to Sean Delaney’s Circus. I would almost call It rock’n roll cabaret. - High On The Liquor of Love – 3:07
The party song on the album. A cool rock, funk, soul song. With great female backing vocals. - Somebody Love Me – 4:10
A beautiful ballad with slide guitar that almost makes one cry. Everybody who can relate to the feeling of beeing really lonely will love this song. And I feel this is straight from Sean’s heart. Easily my favorite on the record. - Baton Rouge – 3:47
The Voodoo song of the album. About Sean and “The Night wind”. A really cool rock song. - Old Man – 4:08
Another very beautiful and theatrical song that and almost feels that It could be taken right out of a musical. - You Beat Me to the Punch – 3:18
A cover of a Motown song written by Ronald White, Smokey Robinson in 1962. Cool little song that also easily could be have been covered by Peter on his 1978 solo album. Nice song but probably the weakest on the album and the closest you will get to a trow away song on the album. Just a little weaker than the rest of the songs on the album. I wish he could have included one more original in stead. - Spotlights – 3:50
The real “Kiss gem” on the album since It almost ended up on Peter’s album. And It’s a great song, almost as good as “Somebody Love Me”. It’s also easy to hear how similar Sean and Peter’s voices are. The song could easily have replaced some of the weaker songs on Peter’s album. - It’s Over – 3:20
Almost a “bebop” song if I’m not incorrect. - Walk on the Water – 5:36
A really cool soul song with really big background vocals. The song almost feels like something Van Morrison could have done. I really love the vocals from the choir that sings the background vocals. It’s the only song on the album that Sean have written together with someone (Peter Swevel). - Dreams – 5:17
As “Welcome To The Circus” is the welcome song, this is the farewell song. And suddently we are back in the Circus. The verse reminds me of something Jim Steinman could have written for Meat Loaf. A fantastic song almost up there with “Somebody Love Me”.
All in all an incredible record that shows not only what a great songwriter Sean was, but also that he was a great vocalist.
The chorus of “Dreams” probably describes Sean better than anybody could. “I Believe In Magic, I Believe In Dreams”. A man who only had the sky as his limit.
His dedication to Kiss also shows as the album is dedicated to GUI (Bill Aucoin), GENE, PAUL, ACE, & PETER
In a perfect world there would be many Sean Delaney solo albums. Sadly there is only one.
Verdict: 9/10
Promotional clip for Highway
A little taste of the record that I found on YouTube. Somebody Love Me & Dreams.