KISS - Peter Criss - (1978) - (Casablanca NBLP-7122) - Vinyl - {First US Pressing} 24-Bit/96kHz + 16-Bit/44kHz

Gene Simmons is a 1978 solo album from the drummer of KISS. It was one of four solo albums released by the members of Kiss on September 18, 1978. The album was produced by Vini Poncia, who went on to produce the Kiss albums (1979) and (1980). The album was the lowest charting of all the Kiss solo albums of 1978, reaching #43 on the US Billboard album chart. On the other hand, it also had the distinction of being the only album of the four to have two singles released from it: "Don't You Let Me Down" and "You Matter to Me". Criss covered "Tossin' and Turnin'," which was a #1 hit for Bobby Lewis in the US during the summer of 1961. The song was subsequently covered by KISS on their 1979 tour. Much of the material on this album was originally written in 1971 for Peter's pre-Kiss band, Lips. Peter Criss’ solo album was the most un-KISS like album released by any of the band members and must have left many fans scratching their heads and wondering what sort of trip the Cat was on. The music Peter created for his solo album wasn’t what was expected from the drummer in the “Hottest Band In The World,” even if he was the singer of “Beth.” The music clearly demonstrated that Peter was coming from a place with little in common with the rest of the band, and the fans. Yet in many ways the Peter’s solo album was the most honest of the solo albums in terms of the style and execution. Peter made no bones about his roots lying outside of the rock sphere of influence, within which he’d become famous as a member of KISS. Inserts for "Peter Criss" included: A merchandise order form & a fold out poster that was cut in a puzzle piece to fit together with the other "Solo" album posters. Peter's album was also the only one of the four to include an additional credit sheet insert. I've included scans for everything that came in the first pressing.