KISS – Peter Criss
KISS – Peter Criss [Remastered] (1997, Mercury Records/Casablanca Records)
Original Release: 1978, Casablanca Records
1. “I’m Gonna Love You” … 3:19
2. “You Matter to Me” … 3:17
3. “Tossin’ and Turnin’” … 4:01
4. “Don’t You Let Me Down” … 3:43
5. “That’s the Kind of Sugar Papa Likes” … 3:01
6. “Easy Thing” … 3:54
7. “Rock Me Baby” … 2:53
8. “Kiss the Girl Goodbye” … 2:46
9. “Hooked on Rock ‘n’ Roll … 3:37
10. “I Can’t Stop the Rain” … 4:26
Musicians:
Peter Criss – Lead Vocals, Drums, Percussion
Art Munson – Guitar
Stan Penridge – Guitar
Elliot Randall – Guitar
John Tropea – Guitar
Brendan Harkin – Guitar
Steve Lukather – Guitar
Bill Bodine – Bass
Neil Jason – Bass
Allen Schwartzberg – Drums
Bill Cuomo – Keyboards
Richard Gerstein – Keyboards
Michael Carnahan – Saxophone, Baritone Sax
Producer: Vini Poncia
With the coolest album cover of the ‘78 KISS solo releases, Peter delivers the worst music. But hey, it shipped platinum, so what do I know?
I believe this was the last of the solo albums I bought, I had put it off because I kept reading about how bad it was. I’ve always loved Peter’s voice and I couldn’t believe it was a bad as people were saying it was. Well, after about two or three spins to get a good grasp on the album, I’m pretty sure I never reached for this album again unless I was in a SERIOUS KISS mode.
Really, it’s not horrible and if you like this style of music, it may be quite good, but I don’t have much of a taste for this hybrid of soft rock, big band, jazz and R&B music. A majority of this material was written in Peter’s previous band Lips. Oh well, for my own personal tastes, Peter would have better albums to come (but they also have been buried by critics and fans alike).
Despite being the most panned and least selling album of the four releases, KISS would enlist producer Vini Poncia for the next TWO KISS albums, Dynasty and Unmasked (generally considered the two worst KISS records), in an attempt to keep Peter happy and in the band.
Highlights: “I’m Gonna Love You”, “Tossin’ and Turnin’”, “That’s the Kind of Sugar Papa Likes”, “I Can’t Stop the Rain”
November 7, 2009 at 7:56 am
>the coolest album cover of the ‘78 KISS solo releases
I think Gene’s and Ace’s were the coolest.
>Dynasty and Unmasked (generally considered the two worst KISS records)
I think Dynasty is not bad. Unmasked and The Elder are KISS’s worst, in my opinion.
>Highlights: “Tossin’ and Turnin’”
I can’t stand that song!
I think “You Matter To Me” is better.
>I never reached for this album again unless I was in a SERIOUS KISS mode.
Yeah, me too. When I first got it (on vinyl LP), I spun it many times to try to “grow to like it”. But the only thing “KISS” about that album is the cover.
November 7, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Yeah, I like DYNASTY too, but I generally see that bashed by KISS fans. THE ELDER is great to me. I would put UNMASKED as their worst.
November 8, 2009 at 10:33 pm
My least favorite of the solo albums. I was even more disappointed with Peter’s solo album than I was with Gene’s. However, my wife really likes the song, “I Can’t Stop the Rain”. I’ve always liked “That’s the Kind Of Sugar Papa Likes”.
November 9, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I hated Gene’s at first. Even though it’s No. 3 for me, I actually like it now.
November 13, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Likewise, I like Gene’s album now too, but back ‘78, it was a big disappointment.