Kiss discography

Kiss discography
Studio albums20
Live albums13
Compilation albums14
Singles60
Reissues3
Box set albums8
'78 solo albums4
Instant Live albums3

American hard rock band Kiss has released 20 studio albums (24 counting the unified 1978 solo albums), 13 live albums, and 60 singles. Formed in New York City in 1973, the group initially consisted of bassist Gene Simmons, rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley, lead guitarist Ace Frehley, and drummer Peter Criss; this most recognizable and successful lineup lasted until Criss' departure in 1980. The band is known for its makeup and on-stage antics, which influenced many artists who later used similar effects in their concerts.

The band's eponymous debut album, released in 1974, did not have a hit single and rose only as high as 87 on Billboard, despite significant touring and promotion.[1] The follow-up album, Hotter Than Hell (1974), was a bigger disappointment, peaking at 100 and quickly dropping off the charts. It rebounded in Canada peaking at number 29 in June 1976.[1] Dressed To Kill, released in 1975, was a much bigger success, breaking into Top 40, but the band's record label, Casablanca Records, was close to bankruptcy and needed a commercial breakthrough. This would later be achieved with both Kiss' and Casablanca's first Top-10 album, the double-live album Alive!, which featured the number 12 hit "Rock and Roll All Nite".[1][2] The next three albums, Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over, and Love Gun were successful, achieving Platinum status and spawning Top-20 singles (including the number 7 ballad "Beth", the band's highest-charting single in the US).[1][2]

Their seventh studio release, Dynasty, while being a musical departure, was a global success, thanks largely to the worldwide hit, "I Was Made for Lovin' You". The next three albums, Unmasked, Music From "The Elder" and Creatures of the Night, were domestic commercial failures, even as the band maintained popularity in many other parts of the world. Lick It Up was the first album featuring the band without makeup and was certified gold. Their next studio releases (Animalize; Asylum; Crazy Nights; Smashes, Thrashes & Hits) were more successful and Kiss recaptured some of their earlier glory (though not to the level of their 1970s heyday). Hot in the Shade was the lowest charting album of the unmasked era in the US, despite the success of the top 10 power ballad "Forever".[2]

With their 16th studio release, Revenge, Kiss attempted to modernize their sound for the 1990s with heavier songs. The album initially charted at #6 on the Billboard 200,[1] and quickly reached Gold status in the US.[2] 1997's Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions was released after the reunion tour and did not receive much promotion. It has yet to be certified Gold in the US despite the album's lone single "Jungle" reaching number 8 on the US Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.[2] Followed by a highly successful reunion, in 1998 Psycho Circus was released and was a moderate success. Their first album in 11 years, Sonic Boom, was released in 2009.[1] The band released their 20th studio album, Monster, on October 9, 2012.[3] To date, Kiss has had 25 million copies certified by the RIAA in the United States.[4] The band has 30 gold albums as of July 2015.

The Kiss discography also includes a large number of unofficial releases - bootlegs.[5] Most of them are live performances - audience recordings, radio broadcasts or soundboard recordings - but there are also unofficial releases featuring unreleased studio recordings.[6] Some bootlegs are known to include fake "Kiss" songs recorded by other bands.[7]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference KissAHistory was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference KissSHistory was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Jones, Emma (May 11, 2010). "Kiss: still rocking hard". BBC News. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  4. ^ "RIAA Top Selling Artists". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  5. ^ Spinner', Dylan Peggin AKA 'The Record (February 25, 2021). "A Guide to KISS Bootlegs: The Clubs & KISS Tour 1973-74". vwmusicrocks.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  6. ^ bootlegpedia.com (August 1, 2011). "Kiss". Bootlegpedia. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  7. ^ Crew, Marko-. "Outtakes from The Elder | KISS ARMY SWEDEN |DESTROYER | DESTROYER ALIVE" (in Swedish). Retrieved November 9, 2022.