Gene Simmons (album)

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Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons (album) cover.jpg
Cover painting by Eraldo Carugati
Studio album by Gene Simmons
Released September 18, 1978
Recorded The Manor, Oxfordshire, England,
Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, California, Blue Rock Studio, New York City, April–July 1978
Genre Rock
Length 38:58
Language English
Label Casablanca
Producer Gene Simmons, Sean Delaney
Gene Simmons chronology
Gene Simmons
(1978)		 Asshole
(2004)Asshole2004
Kiss chronology
Alive II
(1977)		 Gene Simmons
(1978)		 Ace Frehley
(1978)
Singles from Gene Simmons
  1. "Radioactive"
    Released: 1978
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars[1]
Pitchfork (5.0/10)[2]
Rolling Stone 2.5/5 stars[3]

Gene Simmons is a 1978 solo album by Gene Simmons, the bassist and co-vocalist of the American hard rock band Kiss. It was one of four solo albums released by the members of Kiss on September 18, 1978. The album features choirs and string arrangements as well as incorporating various musical genres including Beatles-inspired pop, 1970s funk, disco, rock and roll and hard rock.[1]

Album information

Although he is the bass player in Kiss, Simmons played mainly electric and acoustic guitars on the album, leaving the bass duties to Neil Jason. The album features guest appearances from well-known musicians, including Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Bob Seger, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, Donna Summer and Cher. Though an unknown at the time, backing vocalist Katey Sagal would go on to a successful television career.

Simmons re-recorded "See You in Your Dreams" because he reportedly was not happy with the way it was recorded on Rock and Roll Over.[4] Simmons said that he covered "When You Wish upon a Star" because he related to the song and was a fan of Disney movies. "When I first heard that song I could barely speak English but I knew the words were true. Anybody can have what they want, the world and life can give its rewards to anyone".[5]

On the original CD release in 1988, [826 239-2] the first two songs are split incorrectly. The introduction that leads into "Radioactive" is split at the 51-second mark while the rest of "Radioactive" and all of "Burning Up with Fever" are played in the second track. However, the track listing of the cover lists the two songs as two separate tracks. The rest of the CD is split correctly.[6] The 1997 remastered edition fixes this mistake with "Radioactive" and "Burning Up with Fever" being split as two separate tracks. The introduction played before "Radioactive" is left in as part of the song.

Reception

The album reached number 22 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, making it the highest-placing of all the four Kiss solo albums of 1978. It was certified platinum on October 2, 1978, having shipped 1,000,000 copies.[7] AllMusic gave the album 3 stars out of 5 and called it an "unpredictable yet ultimately enjoyable release."

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Gene Simmons, except where noted. 

No. Title Length
1. "Radioactive"   3:50
2. "Burning Up with Fever"   4:19
3. "See You Tonite"   2:30
4. "Tunnel of Love"   3:49
5. "True Confessions"   3:30
6. "Living in Sin" (Simmons, Sean Delaney, Howard Marks) 3:50
7. "Always Near You/Nowhere to Hide"   4:12
8. "Man of 1,000 Faces"   3:16
9. "Mr. Make Believe"   4:00
10. "See You in Your Dreams"   2:48
11. "When You Wish upon a Star" (Ned Washington, Leigh Harline) 2:44

Personnel

  • Gene Simmons - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, co-producer
  • Neil Jason - bass guitar
  • Elliot Randall - guitar
  • Allan Schwartzberg - drums
  • Sean Delaney - percussion, backing vocals, co-producer
  • Ron Frangipane - symphonic arrangements and conductor of Members of the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras
  • Gordon Grody, Diva Gray, Kate Sagal, Franny Eisenberg, Carolyn Ray - backing vocals
  • Eric Troyer - piano and vocals on "Radioactive" & "Living in Sin"
  • Steve Lacey - guitar on "Radioactive"
  • John Shane Howell - classical guitar, segue between "Radioactive" & "Burning Up with Fever"
  • Richard Gerstein - piano on "True Confessions" & "Always Near You/Nowhere to Hide"
  • Joe Perry - guitar on "Radioactive" & "Tunnel of Love"
  • Bob Seger - backing vocals on "Radioactive" & "Living in Sin"
  • Rick Nielsen - guitar on "See You in Your Dreams"
  • Helen Reddy - background vocals on "True Confessions"
  • Jeff "Skunk" Baxter - guitar on "Burning Up with Fever", "See You Tonite", "Tunnel of Love" & "Mr. Make Believe"
  • Donna Summer - background vocals on "Burning Up with Fever," & "Tunnel Of Love"
  • Janis Ian - backing vocals on the "Prelude to Radioactive"
  • Cher - spoken word phone call on "Living in Sin"
  • Mitch Weissman & Joe Pecorino (Beatlemania) - backing vocals on "Mr. Make Believe", "See You Tonite" & "Always Near You/Nowhere to Hide"
  • Michael Des Barres - background vocals on "See You in Your Dreams"
  • Ritchie Ranno - guitar on "Tunnel of Love"
  • The Citrus College Singers - chorus on "True Confessions" & "Always Near You/Nowhere to Hide"
  • Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC
  • Album artwork by Eraldo Carugati

Charts

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Chart (1978) Peak
position
Australia 32
Canada 21
Japan 24
U.S.A. 22


Single Chart (1978) Peak
position
"Radioactive" United States Billboard 47
"Radioactive" Canada Billboard 66
"Radioactive" United Kingdom Billboard 41

Certification

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[8] Gold 50,000
United States (RIAA)[9] Platinum 1,000,000

^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gene Simmons at AllMusic
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kiss/albumguide
  4. ↑ Gene Simmons, by Gene Simmons
  5. ↑ http://www.kissfaq.com/KissFAQ-wiki/index.php?title=Gene_Simmons_Album_-_When_You_Wish_Upon_A_Star
  6. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Gene-Simmons-Kiss-Gene-Simmons/release/2509281
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

External links

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