Chelsea was an early 1970s band from
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
, best known for having future
Kiss
A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, ...
drummer
Peter Criss
George Peter John Criscuola (born December 20, 1945), better known by his stage name Peter Criss, is a retired American musician, best known as a co-founder, original drummer, and vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss. Criss established The Ca ...
before he joined in 1973. They released one album, the self-titled album ''Chelsea'', in 1970. Shortly after recording their, unreleased, second studio album the band broke up.
In August 1971, the band became LIPS. A trio consisting of Criss and his Chelsea bandmates Michael Benvenga and Stan Penridge.
By the spring of 1972, LIPS was just the duo of Criss and Penridge. They eventually disbanded completely.
Their sound has been compared to the
Moody Blues,
Procol Harum
Procol Harum () were an English rock band formed in Southend-on-Sea, Essex in 1967. Their best-known recording is the 1967 hit single " A Whiter Shade of Pale", one of the few singles to have sold over 10 million copies. Although noted for ...
, and
The Raisins, with whom Criss recorded as a guest musician in 1968.
In 1973, Pete Shepley and Mike Brand recorded an unreleased album which included post-Chelsea Michael Benvenga, a pre-Kiss Peter Criss, and on two songs
Gene Simmons as session musicians.
It was titled Captain Sanity.
''Chelsea''
''Chelsea'' is the only album released by the band. Peter Criss is credited as Peter Cris in the liner notes.
Track listing
#"Rollin' Along" (Shepley, Brand) – 2:34
#"Let's Call It a Day" (Shepley, Brand) – 3:05
#"Silver Lining" (Aridas, Benvenga) – 2:49
#"All American Boy" (Shepley, Brand) – 3:55
#"Hard Rock Music" (Shepley, Brand) – 5:10
#"Ophelia" (Shepley, Brand) – 2:38
#"Long River" (Shepley, Brand) – 6:41
#"Grace" (Shepley, Brand) – 3:17
#"Polly Von" (Aridas, Benvenga, Brand, Cris, Shepley) – 5:01
#"Good Company" (Shepley, Brand) – 1:44
Personnel
*Peter Shepley – lead vocals
*Mike Brand – guitar
*Chris Aridas – guitar
*Michael Benvenga – bass, vocals
*
Peter Criss
George Peter John Criscuola (born December 20, 1945), better known by his stage name Peter Criss, is a retired American musician, best known as a co-founder, original drummer, and vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss. Criss established The Ca ...
– drums
*
John Cale – viola on track 7 and 10
*Steve Loeb – piano on track 8
See also
*
Wicked Lester
Wicked Lester was a rock band based in New York City. Two notable members were bassist Gene Klein and rhythm guitarist Stanley Eisen. Originally formed in 1970 as Rainbow, the band changed its name to Wicked Lester in 1971 to avoid confusion with ...
, another pre-Kiss band featuring the future
Gene Simmons and
Paul Stanley
Paul Stanley (born Stanley Bert Eisen; January 20, 1952) is an American musician who is the co-founder, frontman, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's most popula ...
References
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Rock music groups from New York (state)
Musical groups established in 1968
Musical groups disestablished in 1971
1970 debut albums
Albums produced by Lewis Merenstein
MCA Records albums