Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon discuss, rank and review the 4 Kiss solo albums that were released in 1978. What are yours
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“You wanted the best, you got the best. The hottest band in the world…”
At the dawn of 1978, KISS was the most popular band in America. Literally, according to a famous Gallup Poll from the summer of ‘77. The band’s intoxicating combination of kabuki rock and roll bombast with the marketing genius of band manager Bill Aucoin had paid off in full.
In October 1976, Aucoin was the one smart enough to showcase the band on ABC’s The Paul Lynde Halloween Special, which also featured an appearance from The Wizard of Oz star Margaret Hamilton reprising her role as the Wicked Witch of the West. The band performed three songs — “Detroit Rock City”, “King of the Night Time World”, and “Beth” — all from breakout full-length Destroyer.
KISS’ popularity exploded. Just two weeks later, the band released Rock and Roll Over, which peaked at No. 11 on the Top 200. The album featured “Hard Luck Woman”, an uptempo acoustic ballad that sounds a lot like mid-’70s Rod Stewart (KISS’ Paul Stanley allegedly wrote the song with Stewart in mind) and cracked the Top 20 of the Hot 100, climbing as high as No. 15.
“You wanted the best, you got the best. The hottest band in the world…”
At the dawn of 1978, KISS was the most popular band in America. Literally, according to a famous Gallup Poll from the summer of ‘77. The band’s intoxicating combination of kabuki rock and roll bombast with the marketing genius of band manager Bill Aucoin had paid off in full.
In October 1976, Aucoin was the one smart enough to showcase the band on ABC’s The Paul Lynde Halloween Special, which also featured an appearance from The Wizard of Oz star Margaret Hamilton reprising her role as the Wicked Witch of the West. The band performed three songs — “Detroit Rock City”, “King of the Night Time World”, and “Beth” — all from breakout full-length Destroyer.
KISS’ popularity exploded. Just two weeks later, the band released Rock and Roll Over, which peaked at No. 11 on the Top 200. The album featured “Hard Luck Woman”, an uptempo acoustic ballad that sounds a lot like mid-’70s Rod Stewart (KISS’ Paul Stanley allegedly wrote the song with Stewart in mind) and cracked the Top 20 of the Hot 100, climbing as high as No. 15.
In 1977, they slammed into overdrive, capitalizing on their newfound popularity among the mainstream with the shiny pop-rock gem Love Gun in June, followed by the Christmas-in-October package that was the original Alive II just four months later. They even starred in the notorious Marvel Comics Super Special No. 1, with the band adding their own blood into the ink. No, really.
By the time 1978 rolled around, KISS had it all and wanted more. Having already broken the mold on how to sell a rock band, Aucoin and the group decided to get even more ambitious. The plan was instead of another album-tour cycle, they’ do something completely different.
That plan included each member of the band releasing a solo album on the same day, a feat that had never been pulled off at the time. It would also plop KISS right into their own made-for-TV Halloween feature film, KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park. Source COS
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