Kiss / Carnival of Souls – Polygram In-House Reference Edition

We present another crucial studio release related to *Carnival of Souls*. This title is the legendary bootleg known as *Carnival of Souls* (PGBE CD96)—a historic, unofficial studio recording that leaked in 1996 while the album was still shelved, ultimately paving the way for its official release. The source for this legendary disc was a copy of the audio distributed internally in January 1996 for reference purposes; it is essentially the complete album, featuring only slight differences in the mix. As noted in the CD’s liner notes, the completed *Carnival of Souls* was shelved after the decision was made to reunite the original lineup. A labor of love into which Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer had poured their hearts and souls was on the verge of being buried and never seeing the light of day. However, *PGBE CD96* changed that fate. Once this internal reference recording leaked to the outside world via someone with access, fans eagerly awaiting the elusive new material clamored for the bootleg. Copies spread rapidly among collectors worldwide, moving from cassette to CD. When it was first released on CD, it bore the catalog number *PGBE CD96*—a designation reminiscent of PolyGram’s internal reference discs. Marked “Promotional Copy – Not For Sale,” the disc served as the key that unlocked a secret door. Another *Carnival of Souls*: Similar to, yet distinct from, the official version. Although *Carnival of Souls* thus reached the public, its content differed from the final official release. The tracklist was different, and some songs bore working titles: the track known as “Master & Slave” on the official album was titled “Tell Me” here, while “It Never Goes Away” appeared as “It Never Ends.” Crucially, the audio mixes themselves were also different. Amidst the buzz surrounding *PGBE CD96*, the band’s official camp finally took action, deciding to officially release the material—with an expanded tracklist—in October 1997 under the title *CARNIVAL OF SOULS: THE FINAL SESSIONS*. In short, *PGBE CD96* was the driving force that dragged an album—which had nearly been consigned to oblivion—into the official realm. While *PGBE CD96* offered a “snapshot” that differed significantly from the finished product, this release serves as a meticulous recreation of that legendary studio album. If *Carnival of Souls: Complete Sessions* represents the “full scope of production” revealed through a master tape unearthed via independent channels, then this release is the “catalyst for official release” that propelled the work onto the stage of history. It acts as a companion piece, shedding light on the *CARNIVAL OF SOULS* saga from a completely different perspective. (44:17) 1. Hate 2. Rain 3. Tell Me a.k.a. Master & Slave 4. Childhood’s End 5. I Will Be There 6. Jungle 7. In My Head 8. It Never Ends a.k.a. It Never Goes Away 9. Seduction of the Innocent