Destroyer (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Destroyer
Type = Album
Artist = Kiss

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Released = March 15 1976
Recorded = Electric Lady Studios, New York City, September 3–6, 1975 Record Plant Studios, New York City, January–February 1976
Genre = Hard rock / Heavy metal
Length = 34:03
Label = Casablanca
Producer = Bob Ezrin
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5kq6g4fttvjz link]
* "Pitchfork" rating-10|9.0 [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/19093-destroyer link]
*Robert Christgau (C+) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Kiss link]
*"Rolling Stone" (mixed) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/kiss/albums/album/114730/review/5944204/destroyer link] | Last album = "Alive!"
(1975)
This album = "Destroyer"
(1976)
Next album = "Rock and Roll Over"
(1976)
Misc = Singles
Name = Destroyer
Type = studio
single 1 = Shout It Out Loud
single 1 date = March 1, 1976
single 2 = Flaming Youth
single 2 date = April 30, 1976
single 3 = Detroit Rock City
single 3 date = July 28, 1976
single 4 = Beth
single 4 date = August 1976

"Destroyer" is the fourth studio album and fifth album overall by hard rock band Kiss, released on March 15, 1976 in the United States. It was the second consecutive Kiss album to reach the Top 20 in the United States, as well as the first to chart in Germany and New Zealand. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on April 22, 1976. It was certified platinum on November 11, 1976, the first Kiss album to achieve that distinction. [cite web |url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |title=RIAA searchable gold and platinum database |accessdate=2007-08-06]

Coming on the heels of the group's breakthrough album "Alive!", "Destroyer" is easily the most ambitious studio recording of Kiss's '70s catalogue. Bob Ezrin, who had previously worked with Alice Cooper, was brought in to produce the album. Among the production flourishes Ezrin introduced to Kiss were sound effects, strings, screaming children (on "God Of Thunder") reversed drums (Also on "God of Thunder") as well as a children's choir.

"Destroyer" is the first Kiss album to prominently feature outside musicians, such as members of the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra. However, one musician was not credited: Dick Wagner, from Alice Cooper's band, replaced Ace Frehley on tracks such as "Sweet Pain" (as Frehley didn't want to interrupt a card game he was playing during recording sessions for the song) and even on a song that Frehley himself co-wrote, "Flaming Youth". Wagner also played the acoustic guitar found on the song "Beth". [Leaf and Sharp, "Behind the Mask"] The success of "Alive!" and "Destroyer" enabled the band to embark on their first tour of Europe.

Background

After attaining modest commercial success with their first three studio albums, Kiss achieved a commercial breakthrough with the 1975 concert album "Alive!" It was the first album by the band to be certified gold, and eventually went multi-platinum. [Leaf and Sharp, "Behind the Mask", pp. 67–68.] The success of "Alive!", which spent 110 weeks on the charts, benefited not only the struggling band but their cash-strapped label, Casablanca Records. [Gill, "Kiss Album Focus", p. 178.] [Lendt, "Kiss and Sell", pp. 40–41.] Kiss signed a new contract with Casablanca in late 1975, partly because the label had been very supportive from the start of the band's career. The contract was only for two albums, however, an indication that Casablanca was unsure if the group could duplicate the accomplishments of "Alive!" [Gill, "Kiss Album Focus", p. 181.]

Production

Rehearsals for "Destroyer" began in August 1975, while the group was embarked on their supporting tour for "Alive!" Bob Ezrin, who had produced a string of successful albums for Alice Cooper, was chosen to work with Kiss. The band felt that Ezrin was the right person to help them take their sound to the next level and to maintain the commercial success they had achieved with "Alive!" [Gill, "Kiss Album Focus", pp. 183-184.]

The first recording sessions for the album took place from September 3–6, 1975 at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, during a brief break between the "Dressed to Kill" and "Alive!" tours. The basic album tracks were recorded during this time. [Gooch and Suhs, "Kiss Alive Forever", p. 64.] The majority of the recording sessions for "Destroyer" took place in January 1976, after the conclusion of the "Alive!" tour. [Gill, "Kiss Album Focus", p. 185.]

The first demo recorded during the "Destroyer" sessions was "Ain't None of Your Business," featuring Peter Criss on vocals. The plodding, heavy song, written by country songwriters Becky Hobbs and Lew Anderson, was rejected by the band and later appeared on the 1977 debut album by Michael Des Barres' band Detective. Although this song was rejected other outside songs and suggestions were accepted by the band. In particular, Kim Fowley and Mark Anthony became important contributors during the songwriting process. [Gill, "Kiss Album Focus", pp. 185-189.]

During the recording sessions Ezrin resorted to numerous tactics designed to increase the quality of music Kiss recorded. Because none of the group were trained musicians, Ezrin halted the sessions at one point to provide lessons in basic music theory. [Leaf and Sharp, "Behind the Mask", pp. 253–254.] In an effort to instill a sense of discipline, he wore a whistle around his neck and exhorted the band with sayings such as, "C'mon campers, let's get going!" [Leaf and Sharp, "Behind the Mask", p. 255.] When Simmons stopped playing early during the recording of an outro Ezrin yelled at him, saying, "Don't you ever stop a take unless I tell you!" [Leaf and Sharp, "Behind the Mask", p. 256.]

Paul Stanley later compared the experience of working with Ezrin as "musical boot camp" but said that the group "came out a lot smarter for it." [Leaf and Sharp, "Behind the Mask", p. 252.] Simmons echoed the sentiment by stating, "It was exactly what we needed at the time." [Gill, "Kiss Album Focus", p. 188.] Lead guitarist Ace Frehley, who did not approach the recording process with the discipline Ezrin wanted, often found himself at odds with the producer. He bristled at being asked to perform multiple takes of his solos, and became uncooperative. As a result Ezrin brought in session guitarist Dick Wagner, Ezrin threatened to replace Ace with him and Ace cooperated.

Album art

The cover art for "Destroyer" was painted by fantasy artist Ken Kelly. Prior to the album's release Kelly's work was brought to the attention of Gene Simmons, who met with Kelly to discuss ideas for "Destroyer". Kelly agreed but asked to see Kiss perform live first to gain inspiration. He was invited to a show and given a backstage pass. He later said of the performance, "It blew me away." [cite web |url=http://www.cloud9recording.com/pages/kenkelly.html |title=Ken Kelly & Kiss |accessdate=2007-08-06] Kelly was later commissioned by the band to draw the cover for 1977's "Love Gun".

Kelly's original version of the album cover was rejected by the record company because they felt the scene was too violent looking with the rubble and flames. Also, the original version had the members of KISS wearing the Alive Costumes.

The front cover shows the group striding on top of a pile of rubble, and a desolate background spotted with destroyed buildings, some of which are engulfed in flames. The back cover shows a similar scene, but with more buildings on fire. The front of the LP-liner features a large Kiss logo and the lyrics to "Detroit Rock City." The other side displays the lyric "Shout It Out loud" in capital letters, as well as an advertisement for the Kiss Army fan club.

Reception

"Destroyer" sold well upon its release on March 15, 1976 and was certified gold on April 22. Although exact sales figures are not known, Paul Stanley stated that the album initially sold 850,000 copies in the U.S., well in excess of any of Kiss's first three studio albums. [Leaf and Sharp, "Behind the Mask", p. 258.] After peaking at #11 on the Billboard album chart on May 15, however, "Destroyer" quickly fell and by August was at #192. [Gill, "Kiss Album Focus", p. 202.] The first three singles — "Shout It Out Loud," "Flaming Youth," and "Detroit Rock City" — failed to ignite sales any further, leading the band and its management to view the album as a failure relative to "Alive!" The band and Ezrin cited fan backlash as the reason "Destroyer" did not meet sales expectations. Ezrin also stated that the "grassroots rock press" was particularly critical of the album. [Leaf and Sharp, "Behind the Mask", p. 258.] "Rolling Stone" referred to "bloated ballads," "pedestrian drumming," and "lackluster performances" in its review. [cite news |first=John |last=Milward |title="Destroyer" album review |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/kiss/albums/album/114730/review/5944204/destroyer |publisher="Rolling Stone" |date=1976-06-03 |accessdate=2007-08-09]

It was not until radio stations started playing the B-side of the "Detroit Rock City" single, "Beth," that the album started to sell as expected. The ballad, which according to Simmons was deliberately put on the B-side to force stations to play "Detroit Rock City," started receiving numerous listener requests and became an unexpected hit. "Beth" was re-released as the fourth single in late August, and it peaked at #7 on the Billboard singles chart on September 25. It was the group's first Top 10 song and re-ignited sales of the album. On November 11 "Destroyer" became the first Kiss album to be certified platinum. [Gill, "Kiss Album Focus", pp. 203-204.]

Track listing

#"Detroit Rock City" (Paul Stanley, Bob Ezrin) – 5:17
#* "Lead vocals - Paul Stanley"
#"King of the Night Time World" (Stanley, Ezrin, Kim Fowley, Mark Anthony) – 3:19
#* "Lead vocals - Paul Stanley"
#"God of Thunder" (Stanley) – 4:13
#* "Lead vocals - Gene Simmons"
#"Great Expectations" (Gene Simmons, Ezrin) – 4:21
#* "Lead vocals - Gene Simmons"
#"Flaming Youth" (Ace Frehley, Stanley, Simmons, Ezrin) – 2:59
#* "Lead vocals - Paul Stanley"
#"Sweet Pain" (Simmons) – 3:20
#* "Lead vocals - Gene Simmons"
#"Shout It Out Loud" (Stanley, Simmons, Ezrin) – 2:49
#* "Lead vocals - Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons"
#"Beth" (Peter Criss, Ezrin, Stan Penridge) – 2:45
#* "Lead vocals - Peter Criss"
#"Do You Love Me" (Stanley, Ezrin, Fowley) – 3:33
#* "Lead vocals - Paul Stanley"

Personnel

Band members

*Gene Simmons - bass guitar, lead vocals
*Paul Stanley - rhythm guitar, lead vocals
*Ace Frehley - lead guitar
*Peter Criss - drums, vocals

Additional musicians

*Dick Wagner – guitar solos on "Flaming Youth" and "Sweet Pain"; acoustic guitar on "Beth". No credits on sleeve.
*Boys Choir of Harlem – vocals on "Great Expectations"
*David and Josh Ezrin – voices on "God of Thunder"

Production

*Bob Ezrin – producer, orchestration
*H.A. Macmillan – orchestration
*Jay Messina – engineer
*Corky Stasiak – engineer

Charts and certifications

Album

(*) designates unordered lists.

Release history

References

* cite book
last = Gill
first = Julian
title = The Kiss Album Focus, Volume 1 (3rd Edition)
publisher = Xlibris Corporation
date = 2005
location =
id= ISBN 1-4134-8547-2

* cite book
last = Gooch
first = Curt
coauthors= Jeff Suhs
title = Kiss Alive Forever: The Complete Touring History
publisher = Billboard Books
date = 2002
location = New York
id= ISBN 0-8230-8322-5

* cite book
last = Leaf
first = David
coauthors= Ken Sharp
title = Kiss: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography
publisher = Warner Books
date = 2003
location = New York
id= ISBN 0-446-53073-5

External Links

* [http://www.music-nerds.com/music.php?id=1178] Album Review

Notes