Love Gun

Love Gun is the sixth studio album by the American band Kiss. It was certified Platinum on June 30, 1977 (the day the album released) when it sold 1,000,000 copies.[1] Love Gun was the second Kiss album to ship platinum, and would eventually achieve triple platinum status.

Love Gun is notable for being the first Kiss album to feature a lead vocal performance from lead guitarist Ace Frehley. This makes Love Gun the first Kiss album to feature lead vocal performances from all four band members. It was also the last album to feature the entire original lineup of Kiss on every track, as drummer Peter Criss was replaced by session drummer Anton Fig for much of 1979's Dynasty.[2]

A cardboard "Love Gun" (assembly required) was included inside the album,[3] along with a Kiss merchandise order form.[4]

Contents

"Christine Sixteen"

Then-unknown guitarist Eddie and drummer Alex Van Halen played on the demo of this song.[5] [dead link]. Lyrics meaning of the song are similar to Goin' Blind from their second album, '74s Hotter Than Hell, as Christine Sixteen is about a man who fell in love with a sixteen year old girl named Christine and Goin' Blind is about a ninety-three year old man who fell in love with a girl who is also sixteen year old.

"Shock Me"

The song was inspired by an event that took place during Kiss's Rock and Roll Over tour, when Frehley was electrocuted. On December 12, 1976, Kiss performed a concert at the Lakeland Civic Center in Lakeland, Florida. During the opening number, Frehley touched a metal staircase railing, which was ungrounded. Frehley was knocked to the ground, and the concert was delayed for 30 minutes. The show was eventually completed, and Frehley claimed to have lost feeling in his hand for the remainder of the concert.[6]

"Tomorrow and Tonight"

This song was written to try and recapture the feeling of "Rock And Roll All Nite," but never reached the success of the original. A soundchecked version appears on Alive II.

"Love Gun"

The title song, "Love Gun", has been played on every Kiss tour since its release. Singer and songwriter Paul Stanley has cited it as one of his favorite Kiss songs.[7]

"Plaster Caster"

Even though none of the band members attended a cast, the song "Plaster Caster" was inspired by Cynthia Plaster Caster, a former groupie who is infamous for casting penises of famous rock musicians[8] like Jimi Hendrix, as well as breasts of female music artists.[9]

"Then She Kissed Me"

The album includes "Then She Kissed Me", a gender-reversed cover of The Crystals' 1963 pop classic "Then He Kissed Me".[10]. It is one of many gender-reversed cover versions of the song.

Cover art

The album cover was painted by fantasy artist Ken Kelly[11] who previously did the cover for 1976's Destroyer.

Trivia

The album art of Shock Rock band GWAR's 2009 album Lust in Space is a homage/parody of Love Gun's album art.

Track listing

Personnel

  • Paul Stanley - lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar (1st solo on "I Stole Your Love"); bass guitar on "Love Gun"
  • Gene Simmons - lead and backing vocals, bass guitar
  • Ace Frehley - lead guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • Peter Criss - drums, percussion, lead and backing vocals

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)[12]
Year Chart Position
1977 Pop Albums 4
Singles - Billboard (United States)
Year Single Chart Position
1977 "Christine Sixteen" Pop Singles 25[13]
"Love Gun" Pop Singles 61[13]
Singles - Billboard (Australia)
Year Single Chart Position
1977 "Christine Sixteen" Pop Singles 99
"Then She Kissed Me" Pop Singles 78
Singles - Billboard (Canada)
Year Single Chart Position
1977 "Christine Sixteen" Pop Singles 22
"Love Gun" Pop Singles 41
Singles - Billboard (Germany)
Year Single Chart Position
1977 "Christeen Sixteen" Pop Singles 46
"Love Gun" Pop Singles 61
International album charts
Chart Peak
position
USA 4[12]
Japan 2
Canada 3
Sweden 6
Germany 18

References

  1. ↑ . http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=love%20gun&artist=kiss&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  2. ↑ . http://www.petercriss.net/homepage/sub/drumqa/default.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  3. ↑ . http://www.kissfaq.com/albumcovers/lovegun/lovegun_gun.jpg. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  4. ↑ . http://www.kissfaq.com/albumcovers/lovegun/merch_1.jpg. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  5. ↑ . http://www.allmusic.com/song/t1691404. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  6. ↑ Gooch, Curt and Jeff Suhs. KISS Alive Forever: The Complete Touring History, Billboard Books, 2002. ISBN 0-8230-8322-5
  7. ↑ Leaf, David and Ken Sharp. KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography, Warner Books, 2003. ISBN 0-446-53073-5
  8. ↑ . http://www.allmusic.com/song/t1691411. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  9. ↑ . http://www.cynthiaplastercaster.com/flash/home.html. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  10. ↑ . http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/kiss/albums/album/322352/review/5941238/love_gun. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  11. ↑ . http://www.allmusic.com/album/r11060. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  12. ↑ a b . http://www.allmusic.com/album/r11060. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  13. ↑ a b . http://www.allmusic.com/album/r11060. Retrieved 2009-01-26.