Maps of Music

Dynasty (1979)

Where the lyrics of Dynasty take you, and where it was really made.

The cover looks like a group shot, but it is a collage of photos taken from the photo session.

Key places

Recording at Electric Lady Studios (1979)

Recording site Electric Lady Studios — Recording and mixing of Dynasty took place in January and February 1979 at Electric Lady Studios in New York. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at The Record Plant (1979)

Recording site The Record Plant — Recording and mixing of Dynasty also took place in January and February 1979 at The Record Plant in New York. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Cover photos shot in New York (1979)

Album cover Record Plant Studios — Francesco Scavullo took the cover photographs in his New York studio, and the cover is a collage of photos from the session. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Seventh studio album by the American rock band Kiss
• Produced by Vini Poncia; released 23 May 1979 by Casablanca Records
• Moves away from the band's hard rock style, incorporating pop and disco
• Drummer Peter Criss performs only on "Dirty Livin'"
• Commercially successful; platinum in five countries
• Critical reception mixed
• Supporting "Return of Kiss" tour saw a marked decline in attendance

Background

• Album and tour billed as "Return of Kiss", since no studio album had appeared since Love Gun in 1977
• Each member recorded a solo album, all released simultaneously on 18 September 1978
• Criss's disco-influenced demo of "Dirty Livin'" set the direction of the project
• Simmons and Stanley briefly contacted disco producer Giorgio Moroder before choosing Poncia
• Ace Frehley sang three songs: "Hard Times", "Save Your Love" and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "2,000 Man"

Recording

• Poncia judged Criss's drumming substandard, an opinion shared by Stanley and Simmons
• Criss was hindered by hand injuries from a 1978 car accident
• Studio drummer Anton Fig played on the album except "Dirty Livin'"
• Recording and mixing took place in New York, at Electric Lady Studios and The Record Plant

Cover

• Photographer Francesco Scavullo shot the cover photos in his New York studio
• Cover is a collage of photos from the session, not a group shot
• Label shows a portrait of all four members instead of the usual Casablanca label

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Kiss was formed in New York City in 1973 by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.
• The band traces its roots to Wicked Lester, a New York rock band led by Simmons and Stanley.
• Their first performance took place on January 30, 1973, at the Popcorn Club (later Coventry) in Queens.
• Casablanca Records signed the band on November 1, 1973, as the label's first act.

Members

• The four original members were Stanley (Starchild), Simmons (Demon), Frehley (Spaceman) and Criss (Catman).
• Eric Carr replaced Criss in 1980; Vinnie Vincent, Mark St. John and Bruce Kulick later held lead guitar.
• Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer formed the final lineup.

Career

• Kiss became one of America's most successful rock bands in the late 1970s, with a 1977 Gallup poll naming them the most popular band in America.
• The band unmasked in 1983 and reunited the original lineup for the 1996 reunion tour.
• The band announced its retirement after its final show at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2023.
• Kiss was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 10, 2014.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Rolling Stone's David Fricke blamed Poncia's production for smothering much of the classic Kiss fire, and gave the band credit for trying something new
• Contemporary critics gave the album generally mixed reviews
• Disco influence on songs such as "I Was Made for Lovin' You" and "Dirty Livin'" drew criticism

Reappraisal

• AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine pinpointed the album as the start of the band's shift from heavy metal toward pop
• Erlewine also criticized the glossy production, which he said hurt songs such as "Charisma" and "Magic Touch"
• Some modern reviews are more positive; Ultimate Classic Rock says many tracks are worth a re-listen, especially "Sure Know Something"
• Ace Frehley's guitar work is praised in the same review

Records

• Reached number nine on the US Billboard 200
• "I Was Made for Lovin' You" peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100
• "Sure Know Something" reached number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100
• Platinum in Australia, the Netherlands and New Zealand
• Canada was even stronger, with over 200,000 copies sold
• Platinum in five countries overall
• Last album certified platinum by the RIAA until Lick It Up four years later

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Criss's hand injuries from a 1978 car accident hindered his drumming during the sessions.
• The record label shows a portrait of all four members instead of the usual Casablanca label.
• The cover photos were shot by Francesco Scavullo in his New York studio, then assembled into the final collage.
• For the cover, the artistic team painted the straitjacket-style props black, so the photo could be used as a poster.
• Simmons has said he hates performing "I Was Made For Lovin' You" because he is forced to sing in a way he compares to his grandmother's.
• Recording and mixing took place at Electric Lady Studios and The Record Plant in New York.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

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