Double Platinum (album)
Encyclopedia
Double Platinum is the first greatest hits album by the American
hard rock
band Kiss
.
Many of the songs on Double Platinum were remixed and significantly differ from their original versions. In the case of "Strutter," it was re-recorded with a slight disco beat and dubbed as "Strutter '78." Other songs ("Hard Luck Woman," "Detroit Rock City") had sections completely removed, while the beginning of "Black Diamond" was repeated at the end, fading out at the start of the first verse and giving the song a "wrap around" feel. Sean Delaney stated that it took eleven days to remix and re-edit the songs.
The original vinyl release, in a gatefold-sleeve, had an embossed, silver-foiled sleeve, with the band members in bas-relief inside. The album was packaged with a printed "Platinum Award" thanking the Kiss Army for making the band a "Double Platinum Success". Later reissues would retain the gatefold-sleeve but replaced the logo with a printed, red-type version and the band members were now represented inside by photos rather than the bas illustrations. When the album was remastered for CD in the US it mimicked the original vinyl.
The album was certified Platinum
on May 16, 1978 by the RIAA. Ironically it never reached Double Platinum status. In Canada
it was certified Gold on June 1, 1978 after shipping 50,000 copies.
Singles
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
.
Many of the songs on Double Platinum were remixed and significantly differ from their original versions. In the case of "Strutter," it was re-recorded with a slight disco beat and dubbed as "Strutter '78." Other songs ("Hard Luck Woman," "Detroit Rock City") had sections completely removed, while the beginning of "Black Diamond" was repeated at the end, fading out at the start of the first verse and giving the song a "wrap around" feel. Sean Delaney stated that it took eleven days to remix and re-edit the songs.
The original vinyl release, in a gatefold-sleeve, had an embossed, silver-foiled sleeve, with the band members in bas-relief inside. The album was packaged with a printed "Platinum Award" thanking the Kiss Army for making the band a "Double Platinum Success". Later reissues would retain the gatefold-sleeve but replaced the logo with a printed, red-type version and the band members were now represented inside by photos rather than the bas illustrations. When the album was remastered for CD in the US it mimicked the original vinyl.
The album was certified Platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
on May 16, 1978 by the RIAA. Ironically it never reached Double Platinum status. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
it was certified Gold on June 1, 1978 after shipping 50,000 copies.
Side one
- "Strutter '78Strutter"Strutter" is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss, released on their eponymous debut album in 1974. The song was released as the third single from their album and failed to chart....
" (Paul StanleyPaul StanleyStanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
, Gene SimmonsGene SimmonsGene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
) – 3:41 - "Do You Love Me?" (Stanley, Bob EzrinBob EzrinRobert Alan "Bob" Ezrin is a Canadian music producer and keyboardist, known for his work with artists including Alice Cooper, Kiss and Pink Floyd. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2004.-Biography:...
, Kim FowleyKim FowleyKim Vincent Fowley is an American record producer, impresario, songwriter, musician, film maker, and radio actor. He is best known for his role behind a string of novelty and cult rock pop singles in the 1960s, and for managing The Runaways in the 1970s...
) – 3:33 - "Hard Luck WomanHard Luck Woman"Hard Luck Woman" is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss and the lead single from their 1976 album, Rock and Roll Over. The song was originally written by Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley as a possible track for Rod Stewart, but when Stewart showed no interest in singing it, Kiss decided to keep...
(Remix)" (Stanley) – 3:24 - "Calling Dr. LoveCalling Dr. Love"Calling Dr. Love" is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss, originally released on their 1976 album Rock and Roll Over. The song was written by Kiss bassist/lead vocalist Gene Simmons at a Holiday Inn in Evansville, Indiana. It was the second single released from the album, and the group's...
(Remix)" (Simmons) – 3:20 - "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' RollLet Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll (song)Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss, released in 1974. It was released as the only single from the second album, Hotter Than Hell. Even though the song has failed to chart, it is now a staple in their live concert...
" (Stanley, Simmons) – 2:15
Side two
- "Love GunLove Gun (song)"Love Gun" is a song by the American hard rock band KISS released on their 1977 album of the same name. The B-side is the album track "Hooligan", a song written by drummer Peter Criss.The secret to the musical longevity of Kiss is its ability to marry the sonic muscle of hard rock to songs full of...
" (Stanley) – 3:27 - "God of ThunderGod of Thunder (song)"God of Thunder" is a heavy metal song by the group Kiss from their album Destroyer. The song has also been featured on many of Kiss's live albums, including an up-tempo version on Alive II. Many various sound effects were used to make the song including explosions, clapping, zippers, overdubbed...
" (Stanley) – 4:30 - "FirehouseFirehouse (Kiss song)"Firehouse" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss released on their eponymous debut album in 1974. The song was written by the bands' rhythm guitarist and vocalist Paul Stanley...
" (Remix) (Stanley) – 3:20 - "Hotter Than HellHotter Than Hell (song)"Hotter Than Hell" is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss, released on their second album of the same name in 1974. It was written by the band's rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley, and it shows a heavy influence of the band Free on him. Despite being rarely performed during the years, "Hotter...
" (Stanley) – 3:30 - "I Want You" (Stanley) – 3:02
Side three
- "DeuceDeuce (song)"Deuce" is a song written by Kiss bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons that first appeared on Kiss' eponymous 1974 debut album. In addition to being one of the band's most popular and most-covered songs, "Deuce" is a traditional concert opener...
(Remix)" (Simmons) – 3:02 - "100,000 Years (Remix)" (Stanley, Simmons) – 3:24
- "Detroit Rock CityDetroit Rock City (song)"Detroit Rock City" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss featured on their 1976 album, Destroyer. The song was written by Paul Stanley and Bob Ezrin and is about a real Kiss fan who was killed in a car accident on his way to a Kiss concert...
(Remix)" (Stanley, Ezrin) – 3:35 - "Rock Bottom (Intro) / SheShe (Kiss song)"She" is a song by American hard rock group Kiss. It was released on the band's third studio album Dressed to Kill in 1975. The song was written by Gene Simmons and Stephen Coronel while Simmons was in a band called Bullfrog Bheer...
(Remix)" (Ace FrehleyAce FrehleyPaul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
, Stanley)/(Simmons, Stephen CoronelStephen CoronelStephen Coronel Steve Coronel is a guitarist and friend of Gene Simmons since 1963. Coronel was one of the members of the band Wicked Lester.-Biography:He created the riff and chord structure of "She" and "Goin' Blind", co-authoring the songs with Simmons...
) – 5:27 - "Rock and Roll All NiteRock and Roll All Nite"Rock and Roll All Nite" is a song by Kiss, originally released on their 1975 album Dressed to Kill. It was released as the A-side of their fifth single, with the album track "Getaway." The studio version of the song peaked at No. 57 on the Billboard singles chart, besting the band's previous...
" (Stanley, Simmons) – 2:45
Side four
- "BethBeth (song)"Beth" is a song by Kiss, originally released on their 1976 album, Destroyer. To date, it is their highest-charting single, reaching #7 on Billboard's American charts. It is one of only two Gold selling singles for the band , and their first of two Top Ten singles...
" (Peter CrissPeter CrissGeorge Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
, Stan Penridge, Ezrin) – 2:45 - "Makin' Love" (Stanley, Sean Delaney) – 3:12
- "C'mon and Love MeC'mon and Love Me"C'mon and Love Me" is a single by rock band Kiss from their 3rd album Dressed to Kill. Written by Paul Stanley, a live version exists on Alive!. Paul was inspired by a Moody Blues song, "Question" when writing the song which had been done under an hour...
(Remix)" (Stanley) – 2:54 - "Cold GinCold Gin (song)Cold Gin is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss. The song was written by the bands' lead guitarist Ace Frehley and is featured on the band's eponymous debut album. The song has gained a status of a Kiss classic song, and is featured on many compilations released by the band...
" (Frehley) – 4:31 - "Black Diamond (Remix)" (Stanley) – 4:14
Personnel
- Paul StanleyPaul StanleyStanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, lead vocals - Gene SimmonsGene SimmonsGene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, lead vocals - Ace FrehleyAce FrehleyPaul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals - Peter CrissPeter CrissGeorge Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, lead vocals
Charts
Album| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria | 17 |
| Canada | 15 |
| Japan | 19 |
| New Zealand | 19 |
| US Billboard Pop Albums | 22 |
Singles
| Single | Chart (1978) | Position |
|---|---|---|
| "Hard Luck Woman" | US Billboard Pop Singles | 15 |
| "Strutter 78" | US Billboard Pop Singles | 89 |