Destroyer (album)

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Destroyer
Destroyer cover
Studio album by KISS
Released March 15, 1976
Recorded Record Plant Studios, New York City, January-February 1976
Genre Hard rock
Length 34:03
Label Casablanca Records
Producer(s) Bob Ezrin
Professional reviews
KISS chronology
Alive!
(1975)		 Destroyer
(1976)		 Rock and Roll Over
(1976)


Destroyer is the fourth studio album and fifth album overall by hard/glam rock band KISS.

Coming on the heels of the group's breakthrough album Alive!, Destroyer is easily the most ambitious studio recording of KISS's '70s catalogue. Bob Ezrin, who had previously worked with Alice Cooper, was brought in to produce the album. Among the production flourishes Ezrin introduced to KISS were sound effects, strings, screaming children ("You're the Devil!" on "God Of Thunder") backwards drums (Also on "God of Thunder") as well as a children's choir.

Destroyer is the first KISS album to prominently feature outside musicians, such as members of the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra. Though one musician was not credited. Dick Wagner, from Alice Cooper's band, replaced Ace Frehley on tracks such as "Sweet Pain" (as Frehley didn't want to interrupt a card game he was playing during recording sessions for the song) and even on a song that Frehley himself co-wrote "Flaming Youth". Wagner also played the acoustic guitar found on the song "Beth".[1] The success of Alive! and Destroyer enabled the band to embark on their first tour of Europe.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 496 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.


[edit] Track listing

  1. "Detroit Rock City" (Paul Stanley, Bob Ezrin) – 5:20
    • Lead vocals - Paul Stanley
  2. "King Of The Night Time World" (Kim Fowley, Mark Anthony, Stanley, Ezrin) – 3:13
    • Lead vocals - Paul Stanley
  3. "God Of Thunder" (Stanley) – 4:13
    • Lead vocals - Gene Simmons
  4. "Great Expectations" (Gene Simmons, Ezrin) – 4:21
    • Lead vocals - Gene Simmons
  5. "Flaming Youth" (Ace Frehley, Stanley, Simmons, Ezrin) – 2:55
    • Lead vocals - Paul Stanley
  6. "Sweet Pain" (Simmons) – 3:20
    • Lead vocals - Gene Simmons
  7. "Shout It Out Loud" (Simmons, Stanley, Ezrin) – 2:50
    • Lead vocals - Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons
  8. "Beth" (Peter Criss, Stan Penridge, Ezrin) – 2:45
    • Lead vocals - Peter Criss
  9. "Do You Love Me" (Fowley, Ezrin, Stanley) – 3:33
    • Lead vocals - Paul Stanley
  10. "(Untitled Track)" (Simmons, Stanley, Ezrin) – 1:25
    • Lead vocals - Paul Stanley

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1976 Pop Albums 11

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1976 "Shout It Out Loud" Pop Singles 31
1976 "Flaming Youth" Pop Singles 74
1976 "Beth" Pop Singles 7

[edit] Album notes

  • The unnamed track at the end of the album is usually referred to as "Rock and Roll Party."
  • Destroyer is certified triple platinum.
  • "Detroit Rock City" was released as a single but failed to chart. The B-side of that single was "Beth."

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ <ref>Leaf, David and Ken Sharp. ''KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography'', Warner Books, 2003. ISBN 0-446-53073-5</li></ol></ref>
    KISS
    Gene Simmons – Paul Stanley – Tommy Thayer – Eric Singer
    Peter Criss – Ace Frehley – Eric Carr – Vinnie Vincent – Mark St. John – Bruce Kulick
    Discography
    Albums: Studio – Live – Compilation
    U.S. Top 40 Singles: "Rock and Roll All Nite" – "Shout It Out Loud" – "Beth" – "Hard Luck Woman" – "Calling Dr. Love" – "Christine Sixteen"
    "Rocket Ride" – "New York Groove" – "I Was Made For Lovin' You" – "Forever"
    Filmography: KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park – Detroit Rock City
    Related articles
    Anton Fig – Bob Kulick – KISS Army – KISS merchandising - KISS timeline – List of KISS concert tours – Wicked Lester
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