CHAPTER 8 - Bruce Kulick pre-KISS

 

“Meat Loaf Live” Album Notes:

Both Bruce and Bob Kulick, who were members of Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out Of Hell” touring band feature on this promotional live album. It was recorded on November 29, 1977 at “My Father’s Place” in Roslyn, NY, for a radio show for WLIR radio. Other members of Meat’s touring band included Jim Steinman, who had written all of the material on the EP, on piano, Steve Buslowe on bass, drummer Joe Stefko, and vocalist Karla DeVito. Early on during the “Bat Out Of Hell” tour, prior to the album breaking, Meat Loaf would open for Cheap Trick.

 

08.01. Bat Out Of Hell

08.02. You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth

08.03. Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad

08.04. Paradise By The Dashboard Light

08.05. All Revved Up And No Place To Go

 

Television Session Notes:

The “Old Grey Whistle Test” is a British live music television show on station BBC2 on which many notable acts have appeared. Meat’s touring band, including Bruce, recorded a session for broadcast on the show in January 1978. The video of this performance has been officially released on DVD.

 

08.06. Paradise by the Dashboard Light

08.07. Bat Out Of Hell

Bob Harris, host of the show recalled, “The most explosively spectacular was Meat Loaf, when he did Bat Out Of Hell. I was sitting three or four yards from that extraordinary sort of West Side Story movie set performance. I don’t know if you remember seeing it? He was with Ellen Foley and they were kissing and fondling and shouting and arguing. It was amazing because it added so much, like another layer of melodrama to the basic music track. They were so into it and it was so convincing you really felt like they were living out their lives in front of you. It was absolutely amazing” (Metro). The broadcast of the performance of this track would be the fuel the album needed to take off in England.

 

08.08. You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth

Broadcast on the Musik Laden television show in Germany.

 

Television Session Notes:

Broadcast on March 25, 1978 on Saturday Night Live hosted by Christopher Lee, the Meat Loaf band would perform two songs.

 

08.09. All Revved Up And No Place To Go

08.10. Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad

 

08.11. Bat Out Of Hell

Broadcast on April 14, 1978 this may simply have been the music video for the song. Meat Loaf would appear on the show hosted by England Dan and John Ford Coley.

 

08.12. Paradise by the Dashboard Light

Broadcast on August 25, 1978 this may simply have been the music video for the song. Meat Loaf would appear on the show hosted by Todd Rundgren and Utopia.

 

08.13. Have A Party, Give A Party, Be A Party

This 3:00 track was released on Michael Wendroff’s “KISS The World Goodbye” album. Bruce’s brother Bob was a session guitarist on the full album and brought Bruce in for his first professional recording credit. Bruce is credited with playing both “electric and acoustic guitar” on the album and shared the solo on this track with his brother. That credit indicates that Bruce may have guitar work on other tracks.

 

Michael had been releasing albums since 1973 which Bob Kulick had done session work on. In an interview with Scream Magazine’s Jan Dahle, Bruce recalls, “Michael Wendroff was someone my brother knew from New York that he did a session for. At one point my brother wanted me to play in the studio, so he brought me in and told everybody that he wanted me to play on one song. Michael was kind of like a pop singer. This was my first recording session, or at least my first session of anything that got released” (Scream Magazine #46, Jan Dahle).

 

“Blackjack” Album Notes:

Produced by Tom Dowd. Recorded at Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, FLA. Engineered by Steve Gursky, assisted by Rick Allison, Michael Guerra, and Jim Sessody. Mastered by Mike Fuller at Criteria Recording Studios. The “Blackjack” album was released on June 18, 1979. While Bob Kulick had originally been a member of the band, the band’s lineup finalized with the recruitment of Sandy Gennaro on drums and now legendary bassist Jimmy Haslip. The band would tour with Peter Frampton in support of the album.

 

08.14. Love Me Tonight

This 2:58 track was written by Michael Bolotin, Bob, and Bruce Kulick. It would be the lead-off single from the album backed with “Heart Of Mine.” According to Jimmy, “We were put together by an old Lawyer friend of mine named Steve Weiss from New York. Michael and Bruce had been together for awhile writing tunes and got this great opportunity to get a deal with PolyGram. They really didn’t have a full band at the time and I believe Steve recommended me for the bass chair. Sandy Gennaro came in from another contact?? Not really sure. And Bob Kulick (Bruce’s brother) was also in the original line up” (Jimmy Haslip).

 

The single managed to chart for 6 weeks on Cashbox reaching a high position on #69 on August 11, 1979. A promotional video was also filmed for this song.

 

08.15. Heart Of Stone

This 3:54 track was written by Michael Bolotin and Bruce Kulick.

 

08.16. The Night Has Me Calling For You

Dating from the earlier period of the band, this 4:35 track was written by Michael Bolotin, and Bruce and Bob Kulick.

 

08.17. Southern Ballad (If This Means Losing You)

08.18. Fallin’

Both 08.17 & 18 were written by Michael Bolotin and Bruce Kulick.

 

08.19. Without Your Love

Written by Michael Bolotin this 3:45 would be the third and final single issued from the album, again backed with “Heart Of Mine.” A promotional video was filmed for this song.

 

08.20. Countin’ On You

08.21. I’m Aware Of Your Love

Both 08.20 & 21 were written by Michael Bolotin and Bruce Kulick.

 

08.22. For You

This 4:44 Bolotin track would be the album’s second single backed with “Fallin.’ The Single would not chart. Amusingly, Bruce would later record a song with the same title as a bonus track for his then band Union’s Japanese release. He’d sing lead vocals on that recording.

 

08.23. Heart Of Mine

This 2:55 track was written by Michael Bolotin and Bruce Kulick.

 

“World’s Apart” Album Notes:

Produced by Eddy Offord. Recorded and mixed on the Eddy Offord Remote Studio, Woodstock, NY. Engineered by Rob Davis and Eddy Offord. A double Polydor CD was released in 1990 containing both Blackjack albums.

 

08.24. My World Is Empty Without You

While some fans might feel that much of Blackjack’s output sounded like 1960s R&B classics covered, only this one 3:08 track was actually a cover. The rest of the material was written by the band. Written by the classic Motown writing team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, the song had been recorded by The Supremes for their “I Hear A Symphony” album (Motown MS-643) in February 1966. That album would reach #8 on the US charts and is considered one of their finest efforts. The Blackjack recording would be released as a single, but would not chart.

 

08.25. Love Is Hard To Find

08.26. Stay

08.27. Airwaves

Tracks 08.25-08.27 were written by Michael Bolotin and Bruce Kulick.

 

08.28. Maybe It’s The Power Of Love

This 3:46 Bolotin written song is a clear indication of the direction he was taking as an artist, moving away from rock into the R&B he had originally favored on his mid-1970s solo releases on RCA. This song would be released as a single, but would also not chart. With the failure of the album the band would break up with Jimmy going on tour with Dave Mason, Michael working on his solo career, and Bruce doing session work.

 

08.29. Welcome To The World

This 4:42 track was written by Michael Bolotin. Bruce recalls, “The second album for Blackjack was done up in Woodstock. We started of with Eddy Offord - who was a producer and engineer for Yes, and I love the Yes albums - but unfortunately the guy was going through some personal problems at the time with drugs and things, so he never quite finished the record with us” (Scream Magazine #46, Jan Dahle).

 

08.30. Breakaway

08.31. Really Wanna Know

08.32. Sooner Or Later

08.33. She Wants You Back

Tracks 08.30-08.33 were written by Michael Bolotin and Bruce Kulick. According to Bruce, “We did another record, but that’s kind of hard to find since nobody cared about us at the time. The politics with record companies are really hard at times, it’s kind of like a chess game. I learned a lot in the time with Blackjack. I was very disappointed about how certain things had turned out, but I knew they weren’t in my control” (Scream Magazine #46, Jan Dahle).

 

“Where’s My Hero” Album Notes:

Produced by Eddy Offord & Philippe Saisse; Musical Direction by Blake Levinsohn; Engineered by Rob Davis & Eddy Offord; Recorded and mixed at Eddy Offord’s Remote Studio, Woodstock, NY; An interesting album of harder-edged AOR, Rozetta Stone, had a Laura Branigan/Joan Jett type voice which worked well with this not-too-subtle album! Other players include Vince Caliuto on drums; Tim Landers on bass; Blake Levinsohn on rhodes; Philippe Saisse on acoustic piano, keyboards (of various types); and Brenda Madison, R.A. Martin, Millie Whiteside, and Dede Washburn on backing vocals. Bruce is credited as “courtesy of Polydor Records,” his then label with Blackjack, not to mention that Offord was Blackjack’s producer.

 

08.34. Pick Me Up

This 3:02 track was written by Rosetta Stone and Bruce Kulick. It would also be the single released to radio to support the album.

 

08.35. Keep On Fighting

08.36. Where’s My Hero

08.37. Voodoo

08.38. Paradise Lost

08.39. Nothing But A Heartache

08.40. On To You

Tracks 08.35-08.40 were written by Rosetta Stone and Blake Levinsohn. David Sancious is credited on guitars on tracks 08.35, 37, 39 and 08.40. Bruce Kulick is credited as the predominant guitarist on the guitar and may also have had some work included on the tracks David played on.

 

08.41. Man Of Steel

Track written by Rosetta.

 

08.42. Bad News

Track written by Rosetta and Blake Levinsohn. Bruce remembers, “Rosetta was a girlfriend at the time of a guy who worked with Michael Bolton. She was a songwriter and singer who knew Paul Stanley, and she dated Paul for a while years ago. My brother helped out on a demo she did, and then she finally got a publishing deal. Then she got a record deal, and she asked me to play guitar. I was up in Woodstock doing her record, and that was where I got hired to do Billy Squier’s album. That’s also where I met Eddy Offord, who was a little bit crazy at the time. That’s the Rozetta album, it came and went. She actually used some really amazing musicians, but there was so much drama around that record that it was crazy. She used some guys that went on to become really big fusion players like Vinnie Colaiuta, Tim Landers and Philippe Saisse, so for me it was a big learning experience. It was like I was “the rock guy,” but it was OK” (Scream Magazine #46, Jan Dahle).

 

“Tale Of The Tape” Album Notes:

Produced by Eddy Offord & Billy Squier. Engineered by Rob Davis and Eddy Offord. Recorded and mixed at Eddy Offord Remote Studio, Woodstock, New York by Rob Davis and Eddy Offord.

 

08.43. Big Beat

08.44. Calley Oh

08.45. Rich Kid

08.46. Like I’m Lovin’ You

08.47. Who Knows What A Love Can Do

08.48. You Should Be High, Love

08.49. Who’s Your Boyfriend

08.50. Music’s All Right

08.51. Young Girls

Bruce recalls, “Billy tested Eddy out for a song, and he actually wound up co-producing Billy’s first solo record, ‘The Tail Of The Tape.’ My brother was a little bit involved with Billy, but his schedule didn’t fit playing with him. When Billy came up to Woodstock I was there, and he loved the way I played. He asked me to do the album, and I just said ‘OK.’ So I wasn’t supposed to have done the album, but my brother should. Even at one point I couldn’t finish it because I was still in Blackjack and I got busy with the band again. Billy then asked me to join him for the tour, but I was told that Blackjack would go on tour, so I couldn’t. Then Blackjack didn’t go on tour, and that did hurt me, it felt bad. It felt like I had done a big mistake, but I always believed in Michael and I felt that he was extremely talented. I believed Billy was really talented too, and I learned a lot working with him. I saw how he understood and produced his music, and it was really cool to work with the guy. Unfortunately I think I pissed him off when I couldn’t do the tour, but ironically I think it would have been harder for me to get to be in KISS if I had started to tour with Billy. The reason for that was because when KISS called me I was basically free, but with Billy I would have been traveling the world on tour, and I wouldn’t have been available to work with Kiss” (Scream Magazine #46, Jan Dahle).

 

“Great American Music” Album Notes:

Produced and mixed by Don Berman, Peppi Marchello, Mickey Marchello & Joe Franco. Engineered by Don Berman. Assistant Engineer: Bob Tiis. Recorded at Foghat Studios, Port Jefferson, N.Y. Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk, N.Y.C. Front cover painting by Pasqual D’Angelo. Photos by Ollie Krieger. Design by Pasqualino & Murray Brenman. Bruce Kulick - Lead Guitar, Joe Franco - Drums, Peppi Marchello - Lead Vocals, Mickey Marchello - Guitars, Vocals, Schuyler Deale - Bass Guitar.

 

08.52. New York Survivor

08.53. Julie

08.54. Audience

08.55. Hollywood Ending

08.56. Great American Music Halls

08.57. Yes Or No

08.58. Icy Cold

08.59. On My Way To School

08.60. Oh So Good

08.61. Rock And Roll Point Of View

All songs written by Peppy Marchello. According to Bruce, “Good Rats were very popular in the New York area, and they were changing some members so they asked me to join the band. That was a step back creatively for me because I wasn’t writing with them” (Scream Magazine #46, Jan Dahle).

 

08.62. 4-9-5

This jazz-rock fusion instrumental dates from Bruce Kulick’s club days with New York’s Good Rats. Named after an East Coast freeway, the chunking riff-laden piece would be a favorite performed by Bruce and Eric Singer at some of their Expo appearances following their departure from KISS. For Eric, the very Gary Moore feel may have been a fun reminder of his past. According to Bruce, “We used to do an instrumental called ‘495....’ and I’m gonna do it on my solo record. I’ve already kind of recorded it, and even though I wrote it in 1980 it will be on my record. It’s like a fusion rock ‘n roll thing, and a lot of kids love that songs. So that’s the only good thing really to come out of Good Rats” (Scream Magazine #46, Jan Dahle).

 

08.63. She Did the Same Thing

Bruce plays lead guitar on this 3:50 track written by Michael Bolton for his self-titled debut album. Bob Kulick also plays guitar on this and other tracks on the album. This song would be released as a single, but would not chart.

 

08.64. Can’t Hold On, Can’t Let Go

Bruce plays the guitar solo on this 3:17 Bolton track. Bob Kulick also plays on this track. Both Bruce and bassist Schuyler Deale, from the Good Rats, would work with Michael Bolton on his “Fools Game” album. Bruce recalled, “Michael was trying to get his solo career back together. He did the ‘Fools Game’ album, and my brother did most of the rhythm guitars on it. He wanted me to do some lead guitars, and I played on two tracks and it came out great. I liked the music, but I didn’t know what to do at the time. I wasn’t in Michael’s videos at the time, but when he was to go out on tour he asked me to do the tour. That was kind of stressful for me, because before I had had a band with him. Now I was just working for him, but he relied on me like he did in Blackjack. Actually we had a really good tour, and we opened for Bob Seger, who was and still is popular in America. Since Michael only had one solo album out we ended up doing some Blackjack songs. We were actually doing covers, but I suggested that we should do Blackjack stuff like “Stay” and “Can’t Live Without Your Love.” It felt good to be doing these songs” (Scream Magazine #46, Jan Dahle).

 

“Gypsy” Album Notes:

Produced by Jan Mullaney and Rosetta Stone; Recorded at Boogie Hotel Studio, New York and Venus Studio, Longueville, France, March-April 1984; Bruce doesn’t play on two of the album’s tracks “Coeur Killer” & “Tu Me Manques Mec.” Additionally, additional vocals on seven of the album’s tracks are by Rosetta Stone, on whose 1980 album Bruce played and wrote; Bruce’s Good Rat band-fellow Schuyler Deale plays bass on all of the album’s tracks while Blackjack alumni Michael Bolton sings on “Without You.” Album has printed inner dust sleeve. Bruce actually credited as “Bruce Külick”!

 

08.65. Fils De La Nuit

08.66. Gypsy

08.67. On Oublie Tout

This song would be released as a single from the album backed with “Fils De La Nuit” (CBS/Francais 4775).

 

08.68. Without You

This song would be released as the B-side to the “Sailor” single. It is not clear whether Bruce played on that track which seems to have been recorded later, or have been an out-take from the “Gypsy” album sessions.

 

08.69. Radio

08.70. Le Chemin En Arriere

08.71. Take Me Back

Stevie’s album would be Bruce’s final session work prior to joining KISS.

 

08.72. Our Love’s On Fire

Bruce Kulick would play lead guitar on Rozetta’s 1980 album “Where’s My Hero” and also co-write one track “Pick Me Up” with her. Properly known as Rosetta Diliberti, Bruce’s connection with her would not end with the session work he did in 1980 with him co-writing this and one other song with her in 1984/5. However, while these may have been intended for another Rozetta project the songs were not used and remained unpublished until 1987. Bruce was responsible for the music while Rosetta wrote the lyrics and melody....

 

08.73. Fall Into Me

The second song, post Rosetta, which Bruce Kulick would co-write with Rosetta Diliberti in 1985. This song was not used, but like “Our Love’s On Fire” was at least demoed, though not necessarily with guitars by Bruce. Bruce was responsible for the music while Rosetta wrote the lyrics and melody....