Love Gun [Deluxe Edition]

by Kiss

Overview

Love Gun was Kiss' fifth studio album in three years (and seventh release overall, peaking at number four on Billboard), and proved to be the last release that the original lineup played on. By 1977, Kiss merchandise was flooding the marketplace (lunch boxes, makeup kits, comic books, etc.), and it would ultimately lead to a Kiss backlash in the '80s. But the band was still focused on their music for Love Gun, similar in sound and approach to Rock & Roll Over, their previous straight-ahead rock release. It included Ace Frehley's lead vocals on "Shock Me," as well as one of Kiss' best and most renowned hard rockers in the thunderous title track. The album's opener, "I Stole Your Love," also served as the opening number on Kiss' ensuing tour, while "Christine Sixteen" is one of the few Kiss tracks to contain piano prominently. "Almost Human" is an underrated rocker and features a great Jimi Hendrix-esque guitar solo from Frehley (no doubt due to ex-Hendrix producer Eddie Kramer manning the boards again), while "Plaster Caster" is a tribute to the famous groupies of the same name. The only weak spots on an otherwise stellar album are an obvious "Rock & Roll All Nite" ripoff titled "Tomorrow & Tonight," and a pointless remake of the Phil Spector-penned classic "Then He Kissed Me" (reworked as "Then She Kissed Me"). [In 2014, Universal released a Deluxe Edition of the album featuring demos, live tracks, and interviews. Of special interest is the "Teaching Demo" of the title track where Paul Stanley guides the band through the song's chord changes and breaks.] ~ Greg Prato

Product Details

Release Date:	10/27/2014
Label:	Casablanca / Mercury / Universal
UPC:	0602537997268
Rank:	40015

Tracks

Disc 1

1. I Stole Your Love
2. Christine Sixteen
3. Got Love for Sale
4. Shock Me
5. Tomorrow and Tonight
6. Love Gun
7. Hooligan
8. Almost Human
9. Plaster Caster
10. Then She Kissed Me

Disc 2

11. Much Too Soon [Demo]
12. Plaster Caster [Demo]
13. Reputation [Demo]
14. Love Gun [Teaching Demo]
15. Love Gun [Demo]
16. Gene Simmons Interview [1977]
17. Tomorrow and Tonight [Demo]
18. I Know Who You Are [Demo]
19. Love Gun [Live 1977]
20. Christine Sixteen [Live 1977]
21. Shock Me [Live 1977]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kiss   Primary Artist
Ace Frehley   Vocals,Guitar
Paul Stanley   Guitar
Gene Simmons   Bass
Peter Criss   Drums

Technical Credits

David Spindel   Photography
Robert V. Conte   Liner Notes
Stan Penridge   Composer
Dennis Woloch   Design
Fernanda Starling   Mixing Assistant
Stanley Penridge   Composer
Ace Frehley   Composer,Producer
Phil Spector   Composer
Paul Stanley   Composer,Producer
Corky Stasiak   Engineer
Jeff Barry   Composer
Peter Barker   Mixing
Mitchell Kanner   Redesign
Ken Kelly   Paintings,Cover Painting
Ainjel Emme   Mixing Assistant
Kiss   Producer
Eddie Kramer   Engineer,Producer
Ellie Greenwich   Composer
Gene Simmons   Composer,Producer
Sean Penridge   Composer
Joseph M. Palmaccio   Remastering
Peter Criss   Composer,Producer