Ace Frehley’s best songs depend on what you want to hear: his signature guitar work in Kiss, the range of his 1978 solo album, or the harder-edged late-1980s sound of Frehley’s Comet. For a quick introduction, try Kiss’s “Shock Me” and “Rocket Ride,” then the solo album’s “Rip It Out” and “Fractured Mirror,” and finish with Frehley’s Comet’s “Rock Soldiers,” “Breakout,” and “Calling to You.” This is a listening route, not a definitive ranking.
Where to start: a short listening route
- Kiss: “Shock Me” for a key Frehley-associated song, followed by “Rocket Ride” for a guitar-and-arrangement showcase.
- Ace Frehley (1978): “Rip It Out” for his own songwriting, “New York Groove” for the album’s best-known hit, and “Fractured Mirror” for an instrumental change of pace.
- Frehley’s Comet (1987): “Rock Soldiers,” “Breakout,” and “Calling to You” as entry points into the band’s sound.
The picks below balance recognizability, Frehley’s songwriting or vocal role, and guitar character. They are recommendations rather than a claim that fans or critics agree on a single order.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Greatest Hits Live | $12.14 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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ASE Very Best Of Kiss & Ace Frehley Compact Disk Set | $43.79 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Ace Frehley | $18.11 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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The Greatest Hits | $18.70 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Greatest Hits of Maze Featuring Frankie... - CD | $24.51 | Buy on Amazon |
Which Kiss songs best show Ace Frehley?
“Shock Me”
“Shock Me” belongs near the top of any introduction to Frehley’s Kiss-era work. It is the essential starting point when the aim is to hear a song closely associated with him, rather than only encounter his playing as part of the band’s larger sound.
“Rocket Ride”
“Rocket Ride” is a strong choice for listeners drawn to Frehley’s guitar and the way a song can make room for an unplanned-feeling solo. In a MusicRadar retrospective, Frehley said the solo “just kind of happened” rather than being mapped out in advance. The publication describes the recording, released on the live album Alive II, as a studio track, and reports that Frehley played bass and all guitars while Peter Criss played drums.
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- Ace Frehley- Greatest Hits Live
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“New York Groove”
“New York Groove” connects Kiss’s solo-album era to Frehley’s later identity as a solo artist. Russ Ballard wrote the song; Hello had an earlier UK hit with it, and Frehley’s version reached No. 13 on the US chart, according to MusicRadar. Frehley recalled that he initially did not want to record it, but producer Eddie Kramer kept pressing the case. Its appeal here is partly its recognizability: it is an accessible doorway into the solo work, not a Frehley original.
Which songs should you hear from Ace Frehley’s 1978 solo album?
Frehley’s self-titled solo debut came out in 1978, when each Kiss member released a solo album. His official biography describes it as platinum and as the highest-selling of the four Kiss solo albums “in the Soundscan era”; those are claims made by the artist’s site, not independently verified certification figures here. Goldmine’s 2024 interview offers Frehley’s own recollections of choosing songs and making the record.
Rank #2
- Your favorite artist, Kiss, on CD.
- Immerse yourself in the genre of Rock.
- Enjoy the music style of Hard Rock on CD.
“Rip It Out”
Start here for Frehley’s own songwriting. He recalled knowing that “Rip It Out” was strong, making it a useful first pick if you want to hear what he brought to a solo record beyond his role in Kiss.
“New York Groove”
Include it for contrast: the album’s hit cover sits alongside Frehley’s original material, and its wide recognition makes it an easy first song to share with a new listener. Hearing it beside “Rip It Out” also clarifies that the album’s identity is broader than its most familiar track.
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Rank #3
“Fractured Mirror”
“Fractured Mirror” provides the instrumental contrast in this short route. Place it after the vocal tracks to hear a different side of the album’s guitar-centered approach.
Which Frehley’s Comet songs make the best introduction?
Frehley’s Comet, released in 1987, was Frehley’s first album outside Kiss, according to Apple Music and his official biography. Its recommendations show a different chapter from the 1978 solo record: songs recorded under the name of a band rather than simply under Frehley’s own name.
Rank #4
- Reversible
- Etnies logos
“Rock Soldiers”
“Rock Soldiers” is one of the clearest places to begin. Apple Music discusses it as one of the album’s notable songs, and Guitar World also singles it out in its retrospective on the group.
“Breakout”
“Breakout” is another useful entry point named by both Apple Music and Guitar World. Put it near “Rock Soldiers” in a first listen rather than treating one as the only representative Comet track.
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Apple Music highlights “Into the Night” among the album’s songs. It rounds out a short introduction with a pick beyond the two tracks most often named in the cited retrospectives.
“Calling to You”
For a deeper cut, try “Calling to You.” Guitar World identifies it as a notable Comet track and notes Frehley’s solo; the song was written by Tod Howarth. It is a useful choice when the goal is to hear the band’s guitar interplay rather than stop at the most obvious starting songs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose among the three eras
| Listening goal | Start with | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Begin with a key Kiss-era song | “Shock Me” | An essential Frehley-associated Kiss track. |
| Hear a guitar showcase | “Rocket Ride” | Frehley described its solo as spontaneous in a MusicRadar interview. |
| Try a recognizable solo-period song | “New York Groove” | The best-known bridge into the 1978 album, though it is a cover. |
| Hear Frehley’s solo songwriting | “Rip It Out” | Frehley recalled knowing the song was strong. |
| Hear an instrumental contrast | “Fractured Mirror” | An instrumental selection from the 1978 album. |
| Explore Frehley’s Comet | “Rock Soldiers” or “Breakout” | Both are highlighted by Apple Music and Guitar World. |
| Go beyond the obvious Comet picks | “Calling to You” | A Tod Howarth-written track with a notable Frehley solo, according to Guitar World. |
What to listen to after these songs
For the solo period, continue with the full 1978 Ace Frehley album to hear “New York Groove” in the context of Frehley’s original songs and instrumental work. For the Comet period, listen to the 1987 Frehley’s Comet album after sampling the entry tracks. Frehley’s official biography also lists later releases including Anomaly (2009), Space Invader (2014), Origins Vol. 1 (2016), Spaceman (2018), Origins Vol. 2 (2020), and 10,000 Volts (2024); those releases extend the catalog beyond the three eras covered by this starter list.
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