Dressed to Kill (album)
| Dressed to Kill | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
_cover.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 19, 1975 | |||
| Recorded | February 1975 | |||
| Studio | Electric Lady Studios, New York City | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 30:07 | |||
| Label | Casablanca | |||
| Producer | Neil Bogart, Kiss | |||
| Kiss chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Dressed to Kill | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Blender |  [2] |
| Robert Christgau | B[3] |
| Pitchfork | (9.5/10)[4] |
| Rolling Stone | [5] |
Dressed to Kill is the third studio album by American hard rock band Kiss, released on March 19, 1975. It was produced by Casablanca Records president Neil Bogart, as the label's financial situation at the time did not permit the hiring of a professional producer.[6]
Album information
Dressed to Kill was re-released in 1997 in a remastered version.[7] Possibly due to the short length of the album, original vinyl versions had long pauses between each track to create the illusion that the sides were longer than they were. Each side ran just 15 minutes, and some of the song times were listed incorrectly on the vinyl versions. For example, "Two Timer" was listed at 2:59 and "Ladies in Waiting" was listed at 2:47.
While the album cover depicts Kiss in business suits, the only member of the band who actually owned one was Peter Criss. The suits worn on the cover by the rest of the band were owned by manager Bill Aucoin.[6] The original vinyl release of the album also had the Kiss logo embossed around the picture. The photograph of the band on the album cover was taken on the southwest corner of 23rd Street and 8th Avenue looking north in New York City.
Reception
Dressed to Kill peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the US and was certified gold by the RIAA on February 28, 1977.[8][9] "C'mon and Love Me" and "Rock and Roll All Nite" were released as singles but failed to rise up the charts. A live version of "Rock and Roll All Nite" from Alive!, issued as a single later that year, reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.[10]
Hi-Fi for Pleasure said of the album:
Hopefully the coming and going trendiness of Kiss won't leave them high and dry. We're so desperately short of showman crutch [sic] rock that albums like these feel like fresh air and just as rare. But the signs are there that they've been pronounced a bit too proficient to be really heavy.[11]
"Rock and Roll All Nite" is one of Kiss' most well-known songs – and has remained a staple in the band's concerts since 1975 – along with "Rock Bottom", "C'mon and Love Me" and "She".
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Room Service" | Paul Stanley | Stanley | 2:59 |
| 2. | "Two Timer" | Gene Simmons | Simmons | 2:47 |
| 3. | "Ladies in Waiting" | Simmons | Simmons | 2:35 |
| 4. | "Getaway" | Ace Frehley | Peter Criss | 2:43 |
| 5. | "Rock Bottom" | Stanley, Frehley | Stanley | 3:54 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "C'mon and Love Me" | Stanley | Stanley | 2:57 |
| 7. | "Anything for My Baby" | Stanley | Stanley | 2:35 |
| 8. | "She" | Simmons, Stephen Coronel | Simmons, Stanley | 4:08 |
| 9. | "Love Her All I Can" | Stanley | Stanley | 2:40 |
| 10. | "Rock and Roll All Nite" | Simmons, Stanley | Simmons | 2:49 |
| Total length: | 30:07 | |||
Personnel
Kiss
- Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar (intro guitar solo on "C'mon and Love Me")
- Ace Frehley – lead guitar, acoustic guitar, (all guitars, bass and backing vocals on "Getaway" and "Rock Bottom")
- Gene Simmons – vocals, bass guitar, (rhythm guitar on "Ladies in Waiting")
- Peter Criss – drums, percussion, vocals
Production
- Neil Bogart – producer
- Dave Wittman – engineer
- George Lopez – assistant engineer
- George Marino – CD mastering
- Joseph Palamacco – remastering
- Bob Gruen – photography
Charts
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
Weeks on chart |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Albums Chart[12] | 26 | |
| US Billboard Pop Albums[13] | 32 | 29 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[9] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
- Casablanca NBLP-7016 (March 19, 1975): First LP issue
- Mercury 824 148-2 M-1 (July 1987): First CD issue
- Mercury 314 532 3762 (July 15, 1997): Remastered CD
- Mercury B0020146-01 (April 1, 2014): 180 gram vinyl LP, reissue
References
- ^ Prato, Greg. "Kiss: Dressed to Kill" at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
- ^ Blender review[dead link]
- ^ Christgau, Robert (June 16, 1975). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
- ^ Josephes, Jason. "Kiss: Dressed to Kill". Archived from the original on June 26, 2003.
- ^ Fletcher, Gordon (July 17, 1975). "Kiss: Dressed to Kill". Rolling Stone.
- ^ a b "Bill Aucoin Q&A session at the 1997 Atlanta KISS Expo". KISSaholics Magazine. No. #20. July–September 1997. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
- ^ "Dressed to Kill". Discography. KISS FAQ. Archived from the original on 2012-09-03. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Kiss: Dressed to Kill > Charts & Awards" at AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ a b "American album certifications – Kiss – Dressed to Kill". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ Prato, Greg. "Rock and Roll All Night" at AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ Hi-Fi for Pleasure, 1975 – precise issue unknown. Review credited to "MT"
- ^ "Search – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
- ^ "Kiss Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums" at AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
