Connor McGrath
Forty years ago tonight in a divey club called Popcorn’s in Queens in front of an audience of three people, a young band of New York Dolls wannabes called KISS made its debut. Few outside of the band could have predicted that they would become the biggest live act of the ’70s and go on to sell 100 million records worldwide. In honor of that anniversary, I thought I’d create a series for my all time favorites.
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Released: February 18, 1974
Label: Casablanca Records[/alert][/one_third]As evidenced by their debut gig, KISS’ road to success wasn’t without its stumbling blocks. After ditching the blouses and mascara for leather studs and greasepaint and forming a dynamic stage act, they were the first act signed to Casablanca Records in the Fall of ’73. Casablanca spared no expenses in promoting the group, getting the band appearances on The Mike Douglas Show and Dick Clark’s In Concert and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a Casablanca themed record release party. Rock luminaries such as Alice Cooper and Rod Stewart attended the show as did executives from Casablanca’s distributor, Warner Brothers Records. The executives were not thrilled by KISS’ loud and bombastic stage show and demanded that KISS remove their makeup or else they would end their distribution deal with Casablanca. KISS and their manager, ex-game show producer Bill Aucoin, refused. Casablanca’s distribution deal was dropped but undeterred, Casablanca founder Neil Bogart was certain KISS’ self titled debut would become the biggest hit of 1974…
The record would go on to initially sell 75,000 copies and be a massive financial failure. However, KISS’ live act was quickly gaining a reputation. They blew the well established bands they were opening for off the stage and got thrown off countless tours in the process. KISS also had the ingenious strategy of playing many small cities in the Midwest and South that were passed over by other touring acts, gaining a rabid cult following of fans that in short time would dub themselves, “The KISS Army.”
Although the record was hated by critics and ignored by the general public, no less than five of its nine songs (a cover of Bobby Rydell’s “Kissin’ Time” would later be added to the record as a tenth track in an unsuccessful attempt to launch a hit single to bring the track number up to ten) would become staples of the KISS live set to this day.
KISS goes out West and gets heavy for their second album, Hotter Than Hell
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Released: October 22, 1974
Label: Casablanca Records[/alert][/one_third]Less than six months after their debut was released, KISS traveled to Los Angeles to record their follow up album, Hotter Than Hell. KISS quickly developed a distaste for their new surroundings and it’s probably not a coincidence that the result was perhaps KISS’ darkest album. The muddy sounding production doesn’t help lighten the mood. As a result of Warner Brothers’ dropping their distribution with Casablanca (and significantly less promotion), this record managed to fare even worse than the debut.
In spite of the sludgy production (or maybe because of it), the record managed to become a cult favorite of the KISS Army and a few songs remain favorites of hardcore fans such as myself. This album also showcased the increasing songwriting presence of lead guitarist Ace Frehley, who wrote three songs, although he was still too shy to take lead vocals.
Next time on Connor’s KISS Korner: Casablanca head Neil Bogart decides to take matters into his own hands and decides to produce KISS’ next album himself. KISS gets Dressed to Kill for their third release
