10 Classic Songs That Weren't Supposed To Be Hits
6. Beth - KISS
When it comes to the start of the over-the-top elements of rock and roll, KISS were pretty much the posterchildren. Whereas other acts like T. Rex and the New York Dolls may have been donning some makeup in the early days of glam, these makeup clad warlords with badass riffs proved that subtlety is for the weak. So...how do you sell those guys on an actual ballad?
As KISS went in to record the album Destroyer, they enlisted Bob Ezrin to get the massive soundscapes they wanted. Instead of the extravagance of Detroit Rock City though, Ezrin was captivated by the makings of a lush ballad by Peter Criss, which would turn into Beth. On the other hand, the rest of the band was absolutely mortified by this record, deciding to bury it on the B-side to Detroit Rock City. However, a funny thing happened one day when a DJ in Georgia flipped the record over for the hell of it.
Before anyone knew it, the sound of this tender ballad about missing your girl back home became one of the most successful songs of KISS's entire career, eventually turning into one of the most important moments of their set whenever Criss would come out from behind his drums to sing it. While the idea of having these hard rock monsters singing a ballad might seem a bit odd, it's the exact type of odd song that brought them over the top.