KISS is the debut album by American hard rock band Kiss. When it was released, on February 18, 1974, Kiss had been a band for little more than one year. Much of the material on the album was written by Gene Simmons and/or Paul Stanley, as members of their pre-Kiss band, Wicked Lester. Simmons estimated that the entire process of recording and mixing took three weeks, while co-producer Richie Wise claimed it took just thirteen days.
The album was recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, which was owned by the company that owned Buddah Records. Neil Bogart, founder of Casablanca Records, was an executive at Buddah prior to forming Casablanca. Casablanca Records held a party at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles to celebrate the West Coast release of KISS (February 18) and to introduce the record company to the press and other record industry executives. In keeping with the Casablanca theme, the party included palm trees and a Humphrey Bogart lookalike. Kiss performed their usual loud and bombastic stage show, which turned Warner Bros. Records (Casablanca's record distributor) against the group. Soon after the show, Warner Bros. Records contacted Neil Bogart and threatened to end their deal with Casablanca if Kiss didn't remove their makeup. With manager Bill Aucoin's backing, Kiss refused. Shortly after the release of Kiss, Warner Bros. released Casablanca from their contract.
KISS sold approximately 75,000 copies after its initial release, without the presence of a hit single. It was certified Gold on June 8, 1977, having sold 500,000 copies. The album was re-released in 1997 (along with most of Kiss' earlier albums) in a remastered version. Of all the songs in the album, "Strutter", "Nothin' to Lose", "Deuce", "Cold Gin", "Black Diamond", and "100,000 Years" remain as permanent staples in the band's shows throughout the years. Following the departure of Peter Criss, "Black Diamond" has been performed by his replacements Eric Carr (prior to his death in 1991) and Eric Singer.
Kiss' penchant for make-up was inspired by their downtown New York neighbors the New York Dolls and by Alice Cooper, who was on top of the glam-rock world when Kiss' self-titled debut came out in 1974. Rather than dress in drag as the Dolls did, Kiss fashioned their look on a mix of sci-fi and horror films, and the rock & roll of their youth. They fashioned their music on willful hard-rock arrogance. Several songs on KISS became staples in the group's catalog. "Strutter" is about a beautiful woman with a confident swagger, mirrored the attitude of the band, and it contained the first of many incendiary Ace Frehley solos.
The album also contains "Cold Gin", (Ace's signature song) "Deuce" (with its quintessential sexual posturing and fiery soloing) and "Black Diamond" (Paul Stanley's epic tribute to a streetwalker with a hardscrabble life). Kiss' hunger to succeed resulted in some interesting recording choices, such as transforming teen idol Bobby Rydell's "Kissin' Time" into a stomper with singalong choruses typical of early-70's pop. There's even an instrumental, "Love Theme From Kiss", a showcase for the quartet's musical synchronicity. It was the beginning of a long and influential career.
Kiss: Paul Stanley (vocals, rhythm guitar); Gene Simmons (vocals, bass guitar); Ace Frehley (lead guitar); Peter Criss (drums, percussion, vocals).
Additional personnel: Bobby McAdams (hand claps); Bruce Foster (piano).
Recording information: Bell Sound Studios, New York, NY (10/1973).
Produced by Kenny Kerner & Richie Wise. Audio Remasterer: Joseph M. Palmaccio.
Track Listing:
1. Strutter - 3:12 2. Nothin' to Lose - 3:29 3. Firehouse - 3:19 4. Cold Gin - 4:23 5. Let Me Know - 3:01 6. Kissin' Time - 3:54 7. Deuce - 3:08 8. Love Theme from Kiss - 2:26 9. 100,000 Years - 3:25 10. Black Diamond - 5:14
Kiss (1st Album) (1997) (RMST)
ReplyDeleteKiss
Album Description:
KISS is the debut album by American hard rock band Kiss. When it was released, on February 18, 1974, Kiss had been a band for little more than one year. Much of the material on the album was written by Gene Simmons and/or Paul Stanley, as members of their pre-Kiss band, Wicked Lester. Simmons estimated that the entire process of recording and mixing took three weeks, while co-producer Richie Wise claimed it took just thirteen days.
The album was recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, which was owned by the company that owned Buddah Records. Neil Bogart, founder of Casablanca Records, was an executive at Buddah prior to forming Casablanca. Casablanca Records held a party at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles to celebrate the West Coast release of KISS (February 18) and to introduce the record company to the press and other record industry executives. In keeping with the Casablanca theme, the party included palm trees and a Humphrey Bogart lookalike. Kiss performed their usual loud and bombastic stage show, which turned Warner Bros. Records (Casablanca's record distributor) against the group. Soon after the show, Warner Bros. Records contacted Neil Bogart and threatened to end their deal with Casablanca if Kiss didn't remove their makeup. With manager Bill Aucoin's backing, Kiss refused. Shortly after the release of Kiss, Warner Bros. released Casablanca from their contract.
KISS sold approximately 75,000 copies after its initial release, without the presence of a hit single. It was certified Gold on June 8, 1977, having sold 500,000 copies. The album was re-released in 1997 (along with most of Kiss' earlier albums) in a remastered version. Of all the songs in the album, "Strutter", "Nothin' to Lose", "Deuce", "Cold Gin", "Black Diamond", and "100,000 Years" remain as permanent staples in the band's shows throughout the years. Following the departure of Peter Criss, "Black Diamond" has been performed by his replacements Eric Carr (prior to his death in 1991) and Eric Singer.
Kiss' penchant for make-up was inspired by their downtown New York neighbors the New York Dolls and by Alice Cooper, who was on top of the glam-rock world when Kiss' self-titled debut came out in 1974. Rather than dress in drag as the Dolls did, Kiss fashioned their look on a mix of sci-fi and horror films, and the rock & roll of their youth. They fashioned their music on willful hard-rock arrogance. Several songs on KISS became staples in the group's catalog. "Strutter" is about a beautiful woman with a confident swagger, mirrored the attitude of the band, and it contained the first of many incendiary Ace Frehley solos.
ReplyDeleteThe album also contains "Cold Gin", (Ace's signature song) "Deuce" (with its quintessential sexual posturing and fiery soloing) and "Black Diamond" (Paul Stanley's epic tribute to a streetwalker with a hardscrabble life). Kiss' hunger to succeed resulted in some interesting recording choices, such as transforming teen idol Bobby Rydell's "Kissin' Time" into a stomper with singalong choruses typical of early-70's pop. There's even an instrumental, "Love Theme From Kiss", a showcase for the quartet's musical synchronicity. It was the beginning of a long and influential career.
Kiss: Paul Stanley (vocals, rhythm guitar); Gene Simmons (vocals, bass guitar); Ace Frehley (lead guitar); Peter Criss (drums, percussion, vocals).
Additional personnel: Bobby McAdams (hand claps); Bruce Foster (piano).
Recording information: Bell Sound Studios, New York, NY (10/1973).
Produced by Kenny Kerner & Richie Wise.
Audio Remasterer: Joseph M. Palmaccio.
Track Listing:
1. Strutter - 3:12
2. Nothin' to Lose - 3:29
3. Firehouse - 3:19
4. Cold Gin - 4:23
5. Let Me Know - 3:01
6. Kissin' Time - 3:54
7. Deuce - 3:08
8. Love Theme from Kiss - 2:26
9. 100,000 Years - 3:25
10. Black Diamond - 5:14