KISS - Revenge (1992) [1st Japan press] {Photobook Special Edition} RESTORED

KISS Revenge, 1992 Japanese first issue limited edition 12-track CD album including special 24-page Kiss photofile booklet plus 24-page picture sleeve booklet with lyrics, all housed in an outer picture slip-case…

Revenge is the 16th studio album by Kiss, released in 1992. It was the band's first album after the death of long-time drummer Eric Carr in November 1991. His replacement, Eric Singer, had played with Black Sabbath, Badlands, Brian May and Alice Cooper, among others.



The album was dedicated to Carr, and the last track ("Carr Jam 1981") was a demo he had recorded soon after joining the group. One modification to the song, however, was the dubbing of Bruce Kulick's guitar over Ace Frehley's, which originally appeared. The main riff of the song was used as the basis for the Frehley's Comet song "Breakout", found on 1987's Frehley's Comet.

Despite coming off a monster ballad with Hot in the Shade's Michael Bolton-penned "Forever", Kiss was plagued by financial instability due to Simmons and Stanley's extravagance; worse, drummer Eric Carr succumbed to cancer in November 1991. But even with the grunge movement in full effect, Kiss was luckily recognized as a major influence on everyone from Trent Reznor to Lenny Kravitz – their '70s legacy intact despite the band's often dubious choices in the '80s. And even though they, too, were on the brink of commercial extinction, being savvy businessmen first and foremost, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley fully understood the lay of the land. Not only did they need to make a definitive record, they needed to completely re-invent themselves, visually and sonically. The first step was to secure hard rock veteran Eric Singer to fill Carr's shoes; next, the band rekindled its relationship with producer Bob Ezrin. Again, never ones to ignore lucrative business opportunities, Simmons and Stanley swallowed their pride and rejoined forces with former bandmate Vinnie Vincent. Together, they co-wrote Revenge's three centerpieces – "Unholy", "I Just Wanna", and "Heart of Chrome". Bringing Vincent back to the Kiss fold ultimately proves to be the album's coup de grâce. Some of the cuts are excellent, delivered with conviction and panache, but for all the hype, the album is also tainted with filler. On the up tip, Ezrin's mongo-enormous production galvanizes the Kiss sound, making it fresh again. The band's promotional efforts would help propel the album's first-week sales sky high, culminating with a Top Ten Billboard chart entry, but indifference once again plagued the ensuing arena tour.

John Franck, all media guide

Tracklist:

01. Unholy
02. Take It Off
03. Tough Love
04. Spit
05. God Gave Rock And Roll To You II
06. Domino
07. Heart Of Chrome
08. Thou Shalt Not
09. Every Time I Look At You
10. Paralyzed
11. I Just Wanna
12. Carr Jam 1981


Produced by Bob Ezrin
Engineered by Chris Steinmetz, Niko Bolas and George Tutko
Recorded at Rumbo Recorders, Canoga Park, CA, Track Records, North Hollywood, CA,
Cornerstone Recorders, Chatsworth, CA, Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA,
Acme Recording Studios, New York City, NY, The Enterprise Studios, Burbank, CA,
and A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, September 1991 - March 1992
Mixed by Mick Guzauski and Rall Rogut at Record One Studio, Los Angeles, CA.
Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York City.

• Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
• Gene Simmons – bass guitar, vocals
• Bruce Kulick – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Eric Carr – backing vocals on "5" drums on "12"
• Eric Singer - drums, backing vocals

additional personnel
- Dick Wagner - acoustic guitar solo on "9"
- Kevin Valentine - drums on "2"
- Jesse Damon - backing vocals
- Tommy Thayer - backing vocals

Original Release Date: May 19, 1992
Release Date: May 25, 1992
Label: Mercury / Nippon Phonogram
Catalog No.: PHCR-36 (PHCR-1169)