Kiss - 1976 = Destroyer + Rock And Roll Over [Japanese Limited Reissues, 2006]

The pressure was on Kiss for their fifth release, and the band knew it. Their breakthrough, Alive!, was going to be hard to top, so instead of trying to recreate a concert setting in the studio, they went the opposite route. Destroyer is one of Kiss' most experimental studio albums, but also one of their strongest and most interesting. Alice Cooper/Pink Floyd producer Bob Ezrin was on hand, and he strongly encouraged the band to experiment — there's extensive use of sound effects (the album's untitled closing track), the appearance of a boy's choir ("Great Expectations"), and an orchestra-laden, heartfelt ballad ("Beth"). But there's plenty of Kiss' heavy thunder rock to go around, such as the demonic "God of Thunder" and the sing-along anthems "Flaming Youth", "Shout It Out Loud", "King of the Night Time World", and "Detroit Rock City" (the latter a tale of a doomed concert-goer, complete with violent car-crash sound effects). But it was the aforementioned Peter Criss ballad, "Beth", that made Destroyer such a success; the song was a surprise Top Ten hit (it was originally released as a B-side to "Detroit Rock City"). Also included is a song that Nirvana would later cover ("Do You Love Me?"), as well as an ode to the pleasures of S&M, "Sweet Pain". Destroyer also marked the first time that a comic-book illustration of the band appeared on the cover, confirming that the band was transforming from hard rockers to superheroes.

~ Greg Prato, all media guide

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Kiss - 1976 = Destroyer + Rock And Roll Over [Japanese Limited Reissues, 2006]

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Tracklist:

01. Detroit Rock City
02. King Of The Night Time World
03. God Of Thunder
04. Great Expectations
05. Flaming Youth
06. Sweet Pain
07. Shout It Out Loud
08. Beth
09. Do You Love Me
10. Untitled track [Usually referred to as "Rock And Roll Party"]


Produced by Bob Ezrin. Engineered and Mixed by Jay Messina and Corky Stasiak.
Recorded at Record Plant Studios, New York City, August-October 1975, and January-February 1976
Orchestration by H.A. Macmillan and Bob Ezrin.
Remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio for Sterling Sound, NYC.

Additional personnel
- Dick Wagner – guitar solos on "5 & 6"; acoustic guitar on "8"
- Brooklyn Boys Chorus – vocals on "Great Expectations"
- David and Josh Ezrin – voices on "God of Thunder"

Originally Released: March 15, 1976
Re-Release Date: July 5, 2006 (1996)
Format: Original Recording Remastered
Label: Universal Japan
Catalog No.: UICY-93095

With the massive success of their previous album, the experimental Bob Ezrin-produced Destroyer (which contained the surprise ballad hit "Beth"), Kiss could have taken the safe route and continued in that direction — or return to the raw hard rock of their first four albums. They chose the latter. Hooking back up with Eddie Kramer, the producer of their 1975 breakthrough release Alive! and their very first demo, Kiss rented out the Nanuet Star Theater in upstate New York to record their next album, Rock and Roll Over. With a more direct, in-your-face production, Rock and Roll Over is one of Kiss' most consistent records. Two of the album's best tracks became hit singles — the sleazy hard rocker "Calling Dr. Love" and an acoustic ballad that was originally intended for Rod Stewart, "Hard Luck Woman" (later covered by country star Garth Brooks). But like all other classic rock albums, the lesser-known material is often just as strong — "I Want You" and "Makin' Love" became concert staples over the years, while "Mr. Speed" is one of the most underrated songs in Kiss' catalogue. Also included are the fan favorites "Take Me", "Ladies Room", "Love 'Em and Leave 'Em", and the original version of "See You in Your Dreams," which was later re-recorded for Gene Simmons' 1978 solo album.

~ Greg Prato, all media guide

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Kiss - 1976 = Destroyer + Rock And Roll Over [Japanese Limited Reissues, 2006]

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Tracklist:

01. I Want You
02. Take Me
03. Calling Dr. Love
04. Ladies Room
05. Baby Driver
06. Love 'Em And Leave 'Em
07. Mr. Speed
08. See You In Your Dreams
09. Hard Luck Woman
10. Makin' Love


Produced by Eddie Kramer
Engineered and mixed by Eddie Kramer and Corky Stasiak at The Record Plant Studios, NYC.
Recorded live-in-the-studio at Star Theatre, Naunet, NY, September 1976.
Remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio for Sterling Sound, New York City, NY.

Originally Released: November 1, 1976
Re-Release Date: July 5, 2006 (1996)
Format: Original Recording Remastered
Label: Universal Japan
Catalog No.: UICY-93096

KISS '1976:
• Paul Stanley - rhythm guitar, lead vocals
• Gene Simmons - bass, lead vocals
• Ace Frehley - lead guitar, vocals
• Peter Criss - drums, percussion, vocals