Double Platinum (Kiss album)

Last updated

Double Platinum
Double platinum album cover.jpg
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedApril 2, 1978
Recorded1973–1978
Genre
Length69:45
Label Casablanca
Producer Kiss and Sean Delaney (album and "Strutter '78"), Kenny Kerner, Richie Wise, Neil Bogart, Eddie Kramer, and Bob Ezrin (original recordings)
Kiss chronology
Alive II
(1977)
Double Platinum
(1978)
Dynasty
(1979)
Singles from Double Platinum
  1. "Strutter '78"
    Released: April 1978

Double Platinum is the first greatest hits album by the American hard rock band Kiss, released in 1978. Many of the songs on Double Platinum were remixed and differed from their original versions: in the case of "Strutter," it was re-recorded with a slight disco beat and dubbed "Strutter '78." Other songs ("Hard Luck Woman," "Detroit Rock City") had sections completely removed, while the beginning of "Black Diamond" was repeated at the end, fading out at the start of the first verse and giving the song a "wrap around" feel. [3]

Contents

The Japanese single release of "Strutter '78" includes a different version to that on the album: faster and shorter, with an altered guitar solo, plus a more prominent hi-hat (cymbal) sound throughout.

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 5/10 [5]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Pitchfork 6.0/10 [7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 8/10 [9]

The original vinyl release, in a gatefold sleeve, had an embossed, silver-foiled sleeve, with the band members in bas-relief inside. The album was packaged with a printed "Platinum Award" thanking the Kiss Army for making the band a "Double Platinum Success". Later reissues would retain the gatefold sleeve but replaced the logo with a printed, red-type version and the band members were now represented inside by photos rather than the base illustrations. When the album was remastered for CD in the US in 1997, it mimicked the original vinyl. [10]

The album was certified Platinum on May 16, 1978, by the RIAA. [11] In Canada, it was certified Gold on June 1, 1978, after shipping 50,000 copies. [12] The album is one of the band's best catalog sellers, with 522,000 copies sold from 1991 to March 2012 only. It has been speculated that US sales have reached double platinum level (with at least 478,000 sold between 1978 and 1991), however it has not been re-certified since 1978.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic writes: "If 'Strutter' was represented by the original version, instead of a pointless 1978 remake—which was recorded only to entice collectors into buying an album of music they already owned—Double Platinum would have been a definitive collection, but as it stands, it's simply a very, very good overview." [4]

Rolling Stone writes "Kiss's greatest-hits collections have all been conspicuously incomplete as if it hates the idea of anyone buying just one Kiss album, but Double Platinum is the most solid, though not as much fun as Alive! " [13]

Track listing

All credits adapted from the original release. [14]

Side 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Strutter '78" Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons 3:43
2."Do You Love Me?" Paul Stanley, Kim Fowley, Bob Ezrin 3:32
3."Hard Luck Woman" (remix) Paul Stanley 3:23
4."Calling Dr. Love" (remix) Gene Simmons 3:20
5."Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll" Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons 2:15
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Love Gun" Paul Stanley 3:17
7."God of Thunder" Paul Stanley 4:14
8."Firehouse" (remix) Paul Stanley 3:20
9."Hotter Than Hell" Paul Stanley 3:30
10."I Want You" Paul Stanley 3:02
Side 3
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Deuce" (remix) Gene Simmons 3:02
12."100,000 Years" (remix) Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons 3:24
13."Detroit Rock City" (remix) Paul Stanley, Bob Ezrin 3:35
14.""Rock Bottom" (intro)/"She" (remix) Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley,
Gene Simmons, Stephen Coronel
5:27
15."Rock and Roll All Nite" Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons 2:48
Side 4
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
16."Beth" Peter Criss, Stan Penridge, Bob Ezrin 2:45
17."Makin' Love" Paul Stanley, Sean Delaney 3:12
18."C'mon and Love Me" (remix) Paul Stanley 2:54
19."Cold Gin" Ace Frehley 4:22
20."Black Diamond" (remix) Paul Stanley 4:14

Personnel

Kiss
Additional personnel
Production

Charts

Chart (1978)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [15] 17
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [16] 15
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [17] 19
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [18] 19
US Billboard 200 [19] 22
Chart (2019)Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [20] 26

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [15] Gold20,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [12] Gold50,000^
United States (RIAA) [11] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Destroyer</i> (Kiss album) 1976 studio album by Kiss

Destroyer is the fourth studio album by American hard rock band Kiss, released on March 15, 1976, by Casablanca Records in the US. It was the third successive Kiss album to reach the top 40 in the US, as well as the first to chart in Germany and New Zealand. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on April 22, 1976, and platinum on November 11 of the same year, the first Kiss album to achieve platinum. The album marked a departure from the raw sound of the band's first three albums.

<i>Priest...Live!</i> 1987 live album by Judas Priest

Priest...Live! is the second live album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, recorded at The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia on 15 June 1986 and the Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas on 27 June 1986, and released in the UK on 1 June 1987.

<i>MTV Unplugged</i> (10,000 Maniacs album) 1993 live album by 10,000 Maniacs

MTV Unplugged is a 1993 live album and video by American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs, recorded for the MTV Unplugged series. The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and spawned the hit single "Because the Night", a cover of the song written by Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen. Between the recording and release of the album, vocalist Natalie Merchant left the band to pursue a solo career.

<i>Unmasked</i> (Kiss album) 1980 studio album by Kiss

Unmasked is the eighth studio album by American hard rock band Kiss, released on May 20, 1980, by Casablanca Records. It was their first not to feature original drummer and founding member Peter Criss. Despite having no involvement in its production, Criss features in the album's artwork and the video for "Shandi", and also receives credit.

<i>Dressed to Kill</i> (album) 1975 studio album by Kiss

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 and the band itself as the label's financial situation at the time did not permit the hiring of a professional producer.

<i>Kiss</i> (Kiss album) 1974 studio album by Kiss

Kiss is the debut studio album by American rock band Kiss, released on February 18, 1974, by Casablanca Records. Much of the material on the album was written by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, as members of their pre-Kiss band Wicked Lester. Simmons estimated that the entire process of recording and mixing took three weeks, while co-producer Richie Wise has stated it took just 13 days.

<i>Alive II</i> 1977 live album by Kiss

Alive II is the second live album by American hard rock band Kiss, released on October 14, 1977, by Casablanca Records. The band had released three albums since the previous live outing, the 1975 release Alive!, so they drew upon the variety of new tracks, with Eddie Kramer producing. The album is one of the best selling in the Kiss discography, being the band's first to be certified double platinum in February 1996, the same month the Kiss reunion tour was announced. It has continued to sell in the US in the Soundscan era, selling over 300,000 copies from 1991 and to March 2012.

<i>Gene Simmons</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons is the first solo album by Gene Simmons, the bassist and co-lead vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss. It is one of four solo albums released by each member of Kiss, but yet still under the Kiss label, coming out alongside Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, and Paul Stanley. It was released on September 18, 1978. Reaching number 22 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, it was the highest-placing of all the four Kiss solo albums. Mainly a hard rock style album, it also features choirs and string arrangements on some songs, as well as incorporating various musical genres including Beatles-inspired pop, 1970s funk, and rock and roll.

<i>Ace Frehley</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Ace Frehley

Ace Frehley is the first solo album by American guitarist and former Kiss member Ace Frehley, released on September 18, 1978, by Casablanca Records. It was one of four albums released by each separate Kiss member as a solo act, but yet still under the Kiss label, coming out alongside Peter Criss, Paul Stanley, and Gene Simmons.

<i>Peter Criss</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Peter Criss

Peter Criss is the first solo album by Peter Criss, the drummer of American hard rock band Kiss. It was one of four solo albums released by the members of Kiss on September 18, 1978, but yet under the Kiss label, coming out alongside Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. The album was produced by Vini Poncia, who went on to produce Dynasty (1979) and Unmasked (1980) for Kiss.

<i>Paul Stanley</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Paul Stanley

Paul Stanley is the first solo album from American musician Paul Stanley, the singer-songwriter best known for serving as the rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of hard rock band Kiss. It was one of four solo albums released by the members of Kiss on September 18, 1978, yet still under the Kiss label, and coming out alongside Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, and Gene Simmons. It is the only release out of the four Kiss solo albums to feature all original songs, as Simmons, Criss and Frehley each recorded one cover song on their albums.

<i>Lick It Up</i> 1983 studio album by Kiss

Lick It Up is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Kiss. Before its 1983 release, the band members appeared on MTV without their trademark make-up. It was the first public appearance without make-up by the band, and their first for Mercury Records, where they had been signed following their departure from Casablanca Records. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA for selling over a million units in the US.

<i>Asylum</i> (Kiss album) 1985 studio album by Kiss

Asylum is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Kiss, released on September 16, 1985. The album marked a continuation of the glam metal sound of the preceding album Animalize.

<i>Smashes, Thrashes & Hits</i> 1988 greatest hits album by Kiss

Smashes, Thrashes & Hits is a compilation album by the American hard rock band Kiss. It was the fourth hits album overall but the second hits album released by the band in the United States. Of the 15 songs on the album, two were new compositions, and three were released after the band's unmasking in 1983. The remaining 10 were all released during the band's years in make-up.

<i>Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions</i> 1997 studio album by Kiss

Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions is the seventeenth studio album by American rock band Kiss, released in 1997. It is the band's final album with lead guitarist Bruce Kulick, and their last album with drummer Eric Singer until 2009's Sonic Boom. The album is a departure from the band's classic hard rock style, favoring a dark and dense grunge-oriented sound. It is also the band's last album of their unmasked era.

<i>Animal Magnetism</i> (Scorpions album) 1980 studio album by Scorpions

Animal Magnetism is the seventh studio album by German rock band Scorpions, released in 1980. The RIAA certified the record as Gold on 8 March 1984, and Platinum on 28 October 1991.

<i>Hollywood Vampires</i> (L.A. Guns album) 1991 studio album by L.A. Guns

Hollywood Vampires is the third studio album by the American glam metal band L.A. Guns, released in 1991. While no track from the album topped the charts, Hollywood Vampires presents various shades of the band and is representative of the late 1980s/early 1990s glam metal scene, with riff-laden songs and big choruses on every song. The meticulous production gives the album a sound typical of the period — a full sound, with many background harmony vocals, layered guitars and additional keyboard tracks.

<i>Alive!</i> (Kiss album) 1975 live album by Kiss

Alive! is the fourth album overall, and the first live album, by American hard rock band Kiss, released on September 10, 1975. It is considered to be their breakthrough, and a landmark for live albums. The double-album contains live versions of selected tracks from their first three studio albums, Kiss, Hotter Than Hell and Dressed to Kill. It was recorded at concerts in Detroit, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Wildwood, New Jersey; and Davenport, Iowa on May 16, June 21, July 20 and 23, 1975.

<i>You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!!</i> 1996 compilation album by Kiss

You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! is a live compilation album released by American hard rock band Kiss. The album was issued to coincide with the group's 1996–97 Alive/Worldwide Tour. All of the songs on the album are live versions, with most taken from Alive! (1975) or Alive II (1977). Four recordings had been previously unreleased, with the liner notes stating that the tracks are outtakes from Alive! and Alive II-era recordings, however the four unreleased tracks are simply re-recordings by the band. The final track is an interview with the reunited group, conducted by Jay Leno.

<i>The Worst of Jefferson Airplane</i> 1970 greatest hits album by Jefferson Airplane

The Worst of Jefferson Airplane is the first compilation album from the rock band Jefferson Airplane, released in November 1970 as RCA Victor LSP-4459. The "Worst" in the title is ironic, as the album features all of Jefferson Airplane's hit singles up to that point. It peaked at #12 on the Billboard 200 in 1971 and has since gone platinum.

References

  1. Blender Staff (May 2003). "500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die!". Blender . New York: Dennis Publishing Ltd . Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  2. Blender Staff (May 2003). "500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die!". Blender . New York: Dennis Publishing Ltd . Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  3. "Deconstructing Double Platinum pt. 1". October 14, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Kiss - Double Platinum review". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  5. Popoff, Martin (October 2003). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 164. ISBN   978-1894959025.
  6. Larkin, Colin (2006). Encyclopedia of Popular Music . Vol. 4 (4 ed.). Muze. p. 875. ISBN   0195313739.
  7. Josephes, Jason. "Kiss: Double Platinum: Pitchfork Review". pitchforkmedia.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2003. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  8. "Kiss: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  9. Cohen, Jason (1995). "Kiss". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. p. 212. ISBN   0-679-75574-8.
  10. 1997 Remaster at KISS FAQ
  11. 1 2 "American album certifications – Kiss – Double Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
  12. 1 2 "Canadian album certifications – Kiss – Double Platinum". Music Canada.
  13. "Kiss: Selected Discography". Rolling Stone. January 1, 1978. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  14. Kiss (1978). Double Platinum (LP Sleeve). Los Angeles, California: Casablanca Records. NBLP 7100.
  15. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  16. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4598a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  17. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  18. "Charts.nz – Kiss – Double Platinum". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  19. "Kiss Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Kiss – Double Platinum" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 20, 2024.