Destroyer [45th Anniversary Edition]

by Kiss

Overview

The pressure was on Kiss for their fifth release, and the band knew it. Their breakthrough, Alive!, was going to be hard to top, so instead of trying to re-create a concert setting in the studio, they went the opposite route. Destroyer is one of Kiss' most experimental studio albums, but also one of their strongest and most interesting. Alice Cooper/Pink Floyd producer Bob Ezrin was on hand, and he strongly encouraged the band to experiment -- there's extensive use of sound effects (the album's untitled closing track), the appearance of a boy's choir ("Great Expectations"), and an orchestra-laden, heartfelt ballad ("Beth"). But there's plenty of Kiss' heavy thunder rock to go around, such as the demonic "God of Thunder" and the singalong anthems "Flaming Youth," "Shout It Out Loud," "King of the Night Time World," and "Detroit Rock City" (the latter a tale of a doomed concert-goer, complete with violent car-crash sound effects). However, it was the aforementioned Peter Criss ballad, "Beth," that made Destroyer such a success; the song was a surprise Top Ten hit (it was originally released as a B-side to "Detroit Rock City"). Also included is a song that Nirvana would later cover ("Do You Love Me?"), as well as an ode to the pleasures of S&M, "Sweet Pain." Destroyer also marked the first time that a comic-book illustration of the group appeared on the cover, confirming that the band were transforming from hard rockers to superheroes. [This 45th Anniversary Edition combs the archives to include dozens of alternate mixes, unreleased demos, and live recordings from the time surrounding the album. Highlights include early sketches of key tracks like "Detroit Rock City," a tender acoustic version of "Beth," and songs that didn't make the final cut like Gene Simmons' characteristically sleazy "Rock N' Rolls Royce."] ~ Greg Prato

Product Details

Release Date:	11/19/2021
Label:	Universal
UPC:	0602438184149
Rank:	20440

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Detroit Rock City
2. King of the Night Time World
3. God of Thunder
4. Great Expectations
5. Flaming Youth
6. Sweet Pain
7. Shout It Out Loud
8. Beth
9. Do You Love Me?
10. [Untitled]

Disc 2

11. God of Thunder/Rock and Roll [Paul Stanley Demo]
12. Detroit Rock City [Paul Stanley Demo]
13. Love Is Alright [Paul Stanley Demo]
14. I Don't Want No Romance [Gene Simmons Demo]
15. Rock 'n' Rolls Royce [Gene Simmons Demo]
16. Star [Gene Simmons Demo]
17. Beth [Acoustic Mix]
18. Shout It Out Loud [Mono Single Edit]
19. King of the Night Time World [Live Rehearsal Instrumental]
20. Detroit Rock City [Instrumental]
21. Flaming Youth [Early Version]
22. Shout It Out Loud [Alternate Mix]
23. Deuce [Live at l'Olympia, Paris, May 22, 1976]
24. Strutter [Live at l'Olympia, Paris, May 22, 1976]
25. Flaming Youth [Live at l'Olympia, Paris, May 22, 1976]
26. Hotter Than Hell [Live at l'Olympia, Paris, May 22, 1976]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kiss   Primary Artist
Gene Simmons   Primary Artist,Vocals,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Drums,Guitar
Peter Criss   Drums,Lead Vocals
Ace Frehley   Guitar,Vocals
Helen Reddy   Vocals (Background)
Paul Stanley   Guitar,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Dick Wagner   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
New York Philharmonic   Orchestra
Richard Gerstein   Piano
David Ezrin   Vocals
Brooklyn Boys Chorus   Vocals
Citrus Singers   Vocals (Background)
J.R. Smalling   Drums
Josh Ezrin   Vocals
Bob Ezrin   Piano,Keyboards,Orchestra

Technical Credits

Gene Simmons   Composer,Producer
Mark Anthony   Composer,Composer,Composer,Composer
Sean Delaney   Producer
Peter Criss   Composer
Ace Frehley   Composer
Paul Stanley   Composer,Producer
Corky Stasiak   Engineer
Jay Messina   Engineer
Iggy Pop   Composer
Ken Kelly   Cover Painting
Stan Penridge   Composer
Dennis Woloch   Design
C. Mark Anthony   Composer
Stanley Penridge   Composer
Bob Ezrin   Composer,Producer,Audio Production
Kim Fowley   Composer
Ivan Kral   Composer
Eddie Kramer   Producer