Sure Know Something

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"Sure Know Something"
Sure Know Something - KISS - 1979.jpg
Single by Kiss
from the album Dynasty
B-side "Dirty Livin'"
ReleasedAugust 1979 [1]
Recorded1979
Studio Electric Lady Studios, New York City; Record Plant Studios, New York City
Genre
Length3:58
Label Casablanca NB-2205 (US)
Songwriter(s) Paul Stanley, Vini Poncia
Producer(s) Vini Poncia
Kiss singles chronology
"I Was Made for Lovin' You"
(1979)		"Sure Know Something"
(1979)		"Dirty Livin'"
(1980)

"Sure Know Something" is a song by American rock, band Kiss, released in 1979 as the second single off their seventh studio album Dynasty . While not as successful as the album's previous single, "I Was Made for Lovin' You", the song reached No. 47 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was another top ten hit (No. 4) for the band in Australia.

Contents

Composition

"Sure Know Something" is a hard rock and pop rock ballad written by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley and producer Vini Poncia. [2] [3] Along with "Strutter '78", "I Was Made for Lovin' You" and "Dirty Livin'", the song is one of four disco flirtations by Kiss. [4] One of the more sophisticated songs written by Stanley, it's heavily carried by a bass guitar line that follows a close melody to the vocals. [5] Musically and lyrically darker than most Kiss tracks, it's played in a minor key with lyrics referring to being overwhelmed by loss of virginity.

Reception

Cash Box declared the song has "a rock-anthemic quality with just the right pop hook to take it straight to the top." [6] Record World called it a "megarocker that bowls you over with sheer power and enthusiasm." [7] A personal favorite of Castleton Spartan writer Jack Aicher, he claims the "retro sounds from the vinyl pull the listener deeper into this song." [5]

A promotional video, directed by John Goodhue, features the band on a mock-up of what was their Dynasty-era stage show. [8]

Appearances

"Sure Know Something" has appeared on the following Kiss albums:

Other appearances:

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Sure Know Something" Paul Stanley, Vini Poncia 3:38
2."Dirty Livin'" Peter Criss, Stan Penridge3:45
Total length:7:23

Personnel

Charts

References

  1. ↑ "KISS - Sure Know Something". Dutch Charts . Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  2. ↑ Ramirez, Carlos (October 7, 2009). "Top 10 Underrated Kiss Songs". Noisecreep. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  3. ↑ Prato, Greg. "Dynasty Review". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  4. ↑ Miraldi, Dan (March 17, 2024). "KISS: The Top 13 albums of the Makeup Years". Cleveland Scene . Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Aicher, Jack (April 24, 2025). "Album Review: KISS 'Dynasty'". Castleton Spartan. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  6. ↑ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 25, 1979. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  7. ↑ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. August 25, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  8. ↑ KISS video information
  9. 1 2 "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report . Retrieved 10 January 2023– via Imgur.com. N.B. David Kent's 1970–1992 Australian chart book and the Kent Music Report end of year chart for 1980 erroneously list the peak for "Sure Know Something" as number 5.
  10. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6856a." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kiss" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Kiss – Sure Know Something". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Kiss Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kiss – Sure Know Something" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  15. ↑ "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". Kent Music Report. 5 January 1981. Retrieved 17 January 2022– via Imgur.
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