Maps of Music

Kiss (1974)

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

Kiss sold about 75,000 copies after its release, yet the album was not certified gold until June 8, 1977, three years later.

Key places

Recording at Bell Sound Studios (1973)

Recording site Bell Sound Studios — The album was recorded at Bell Sound Studios in Midtown Manhattan. The Discogs release notes date the recording to October 1973. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Kiss: debut studio album by the American rock band Kiss
• Released February 8, 1974 by Casablanca Records
• Most material written by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley in their earlier band Wicked Lester
• Recording and mixing: Simmons estimated three weeks; co-producer Richie Wise said 13 days

Background

• Neil Bogart was an executive at Buddah before founding Casablanca Records
• A party at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles celebrated the West Coast release on February 8
• The party introduced the record company to the press and other industry executives
• Warner Bros. Records, Casablanca's distributor, threatened to end the deal if Kiss did not remove their makeup; Kiss refused with manager Bill Aucoin's backing
• Shortly after release, Warner Bros. released Casablanca from its contract
• The first album tour began February 5, 1974 in Edmonton, Alberta

Recording

• Recorded at Bell Sound Studios in Midtown Manhattan, New York
• Bell Sound was owned by the company that owned Buddah Records
• The original release did not include Kissin' Time; it has been on every pressing since May 10, 1974

Cover

• Photo shoot on January 31, 1974 by Joel Brodsky at his studio on 57th Street in Manhattan
• Group against a black background, in a pose visually reminiscent of the Beatles' With the Beatles
• Three of the four members applied their own makeup; Peter Criss's Catman makeup was applied by a professional

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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

• Sold approximately 75,000 copies after its initial release, par for a debut album but considered low for an album supported with promotion and touring
• Casablanca boss Neil Bogart had the band record Kissin' Time as a single, added to later pressings, but the album still did not take off
• The Kissin' Time single was released May 10 and never reached higher than No. 83

Reappraisal

• Included in the Spin list of essential glam rock albums in 2003
• In 2024, Loudwire staff elected it the best hard rock album of 1974
• Re-released in 1997 in a remastered version along with most of Kiss's earlier albums

Records

• Certified gold on June 8, 1977, three years after release, having shipped 500,000 copies
• French Wikipedia lists its best chart positions as New Zealand 38th, Japan 84th and United States 87th

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• About 100,000 copies of the original pressing lacked Kissin' Time, which was added to the track listing in July 1974
• Kissin' Time had been a Top 20 hit for Bobby Rydell in 1959
• Warner Bros. threatened to end the Casablanca deal over the band's makeup, and released Casablanca from its contract shortly after the album came out
• Kiss's first national TV appearance was on ABC's In Concert, aired March 29, 1974
• "Love Theme from Kiss" appeared in the 2010 movie Somewhere, directed by Sofia Coppola

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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