4. Love Gun (1977)
Love Gun is KISS' sixth studio album. The band recorded this in a mere 3 weeks in May of 1977 once again with Eddie Kramer who is this time billed as co-producer. In many ways this is a companion piece to Rock And Roll Over. Having worked out their sonic template on the previous album the songs on this disc are executed with the same intent, but this time with a touch more finesse and polish. It was certified Platinum on June 30, 1977 (the day the album was released) having sold 1,000,000 copies and would eventually achieve triple platinum status. Lead guitarist Ace Frehley wrote and made his lead vocal debut on the song Shock Me, which was inspired by an event that took place during the Rock And Roll Over tour when he was electrocuted on stage. Thus, this is the first Kiss album to feature lead vocal performances from all four band members. It was also the last album to feature the original lineup of Kiss on every track as drummer Peter Criss' problems with substance abuse saw him replaced by session drummer Anton Fig for 1979's Dynasty and 1980's Unmasked albums. This album sees the band at the peak of their popularity. The spectacular live show on the subsequent tour would become legendary and give birth to the astonishing KISS Alive II album. When the band got back together in 1996 and reapplied the make up, it was specifically this point in KISStory they were attempting to recreate. Highlights include: Ace's Shock Me (which is still performed live, even though he left in 2002); Gene Simmons' very dark and very creepy Almost Human; Paul Stanley's album opener I Stole Your Love; and their audacious cover of Phil Spector's Then He Kissed Me, retitled here Then She Kissed Me. Things began to fall apart for them after this. Whilst their next studio album would be titled Dynasty, Love Gun effectively marks the end of their reign. This album was also the point at which the merchandising kicked into overdrive: KISS radios; KISS pinball machines; and KISS lunchboxes became must have items for members of the KISS Army. The packaging for this album included a fold-out paper gun and an inner sleeve featuring the KISS logo in blood on a green marbled background. There was also an advert for the Marvel comic in which the band battle Doctor Doom. Gotta love it.