Dynasty (Kiss album)

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|

1979 studio album by Kiss

Dynasty

Studio album by

Kiss

Released| May 23, 1979 (1979-05-23)
Recorded| January–February 1979
Studio| Electric Lady and Record Plant, New York City
Genre|

* Hard rock
* disco

Length| 39:19
Label| Casablanca
Producer| Vini Poncia
Kiss chronology
| Double Platinum
(1978)  | Dynasty
(1979)  | Unmasked
(1980)

|
|

Singles from  Dynasty

1. "I Was Made for Lovin' You"
Released: May 1979[1]
2. "Sure Know Something"
Released: August 1979[2]
3. "Dirty Livin'"
Released: 1979[3]
4. "Magic Touch"
Released: January 1980[4]
5. "2,000 Man"
Released: February 1980[5]

Dynasty is the seventh studio album by American rock band Kiss, produced by Vini Poncia and released on May 23, 1979 by Casablanca Records. A departure from the band's hard rock style, the album incorporates pop and disco. Drummer and founding member Peter Criss only performs on "Dirty Livin'", his last recording with the band until Psycho Circus (1998). While a commercial success, going platinum in five countries, the album's critical reception was mixed, and the supporting "Return of Kiss" tour saw a marked decline in attendance.[6]

## Background

[edit]

The album and the following tour were billed as the "Return of Kiss", as the band had not released a studio album since Love Gun in 1977. Instead, the band released their second live album, Alive II, that same year, and each member had recorded eponymous solo albums, which were simultaneously released on September 18, 1978.

Before recording the album, the Kiss members were working separately on various demos:[7]

* Peter Criss recorded and submitted a four-track demo with the songs "Out of Control", "Rumble", "Dirty Livin' " and "There's Nothing Better". "Dirty Livin' " made it to Dynasty, while "Rumble" remains unreleased officially by the band but has surfaced on the internet as a bootleg.[8] The other two songs ended up on his 1980 solo album Out of Control.
* Ace Frehley recorded and submitted a five-track demo with "Hard Times", "Save Your Love", a cover of "2000 Man", "Backstage Pass" and "Insufficient Data". Three of the songs are on Dynasty, while the last two remain unreleased.
* Gene Simmons wrote and recorded a large number of demos, including five songs with members of the band Virgin, drummer Chuck Billings and guitarist Tommy Moody. Billings has identified the songs "I Have Just Begun to Fight", "Reputation" and "Bad Bad Lovin" as from the demo he played on, in addition to the two songs credited to Simmons on "Dynasty".[9]
* Paul Stanley wrote songs with Desmond Child: one called "The Fight" was released on a Desmond Child & Rouge album; and one called "Tonight" formed the verses of "I Was Made for Lovin' You", combined with a chorus written by Stanley and Vini Poncia. "Sure Know Something" was written after Poncia had joined the project and a recording shows how the song was developed from a basic homemade demo in the studio with the band (except Frehley) and Poncia contributing.

Criss's disco influenced demo of his song "Dirty Livin'" (written in 1971) set the direction for the album project and Simmons and Stanley were briefly in contact with disco producer Giorgio Moroder, a friend of the band's manager Bill Aucoin before deciding on Vini Poncia.[9]

## Recording

[edit]

After pre-production and rehearsals were completed, Poncia (who had produced Peter Criss) decided that Criss's drumming was substandard, an opinion shared by Stanley and Simmons. Criss was hindered by injuries to his hands that he had suffered in a 1978 car accident. Kiss hired the South African-born studio drummer Anton Fig, who played on Ace Frehley, to play on the Dynasty sessions. "On Dynasty, Peter was pretty much out of commission through drugs and alcohol, and he was not being nice to most people. I wouldn't point to it as a classic Kiss album."[attribution needed][10] Except for his song "Dirty Livin'" (a rewrite of a song of the same title demoed during his pre-Kiss days in Lips), Criss does not play drums on the album, and he did not perform on another Kiss album until he played one song on Psycho Circus in 1998. Fig was again hired to replace Criss during recording sessions for the following album, Unmasked. Eric Carr was hired as Criss's permanent replacement before the Unmasked Tour began.

Frehley, who himself left the band three years later, played a bigger role than Simmons on Dynasty, singing three songs, "Hard Times", "Save Your Love" and a cover version of the Rolling Stones' song "2000 Man". Frehley is the only Kiss member to appear on those three songs[citation needed], except for occasional backing vocals by Stanley. Although Frehley had frequently sung backing vocals and had written the Kiss classics "Cold Gin" and "Parasite", he had only previously been lead singer on his songs "Shock Me" on Love Gun, and "Rocket Ride" on the studio side of Alive II, as he lacked confidence in his ability as a lead singer.[11]

Stanley's "I Was Made for Lovin' You" was one of the band's most successful singles, peaking at No. 11 on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart.[12] In eleven countries around the world, it reached the No. 1 or No. 2 spot. It was the first Kiss single to have a disco remix, as a 7-minute and 54-second version was released on a 12-inch single. He also sang on "Sure Know Something" and "Magic Touch", where he also plays all guitars and bass. In contrast, Simmons sings lead vocals on only two songs: "Charisma" (which became a major hit in Mexico) and "X-Ray Eyes".

## Release

[edit]

Dynasty went on sale May 23, 1979 through Casablanca Records, becoming the band's sixth best selling album, and the last certified platinum by the RIAA until the release of Lick It Up four years later. Also earning platinum status in Australia, the Netherlands and New Zealand, the album was even more popular in Canada, selling over 200,000 copies. It reached the top ten on the US Billboard 200, and in Australia, France and New Zealand, also topping the charts in the Netherlands.

Five singles were released from the album, tied with Unmasked as the most in the band's discography. The after mentioned "I Was Made for Lovin' You" was the lead single, and became a smash hit on the pop singles chart. The second single, "Sure Know Something" wasn't as successful, but still reached No. 47 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was a top ten hit in Australia and the Netherlands. The third and fifth singles, "Dirty Livin'" and "2,000 Man" respectively, weren't released in the United States and failed to chart, but the fourth single "Magic Touch" was another hit in the Netherlands, peaking at No. 20.

Including a colorful jacket cover which is a collage of photos taken from the photo session and not a group shot as it appears, the label of Dynasty shows a portrait of all four members instead of the usual Casablanca label. Inserts included a merchandise order form and a full-color poster. The album artwork was reused on the German release of the single "Sure Know Something", but with a green border instead of gray.

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [13]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal| 4/10[14]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music| [15]
Pitchfork| 2.0/10[16]
Rolling Stone| (negative)[17]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide| [18]
Uncut| [19]
The Daily Vault| C-[20]

Dynasty received generally mixed reviews from contemporary and modern critics. According to David Fricke of Rolling Stone, most of the album's problems come from Poncia's production, which "has smothered most of the fire in the classic Kiss sound, reducing the guitars, drums and even Gene Simmons’ bloody howl to a pseudosophisticated whimper." He notes the disco influence on songs like "I Was Made for Lovin' You" and "Dirty Livin'" and gives the band credit for trying something new, but insists "only Stanley's "Sure Know Something" is salvaged — and that by one of the [new] record’s few memorable hooks."[21] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic pinpoints the album for beginning the band's transition away from heavy metal toward pop. He also criticized the glossy production, adding the songs "Charisma", "Magic Touch", "Hard Times" and "2,000 Man" suffer from it. Erlewine concludes that it's "not a horrible album (that distinction would go to 1981's Music from "The Elder"), but certainly not on par with such classics as Hotter than Hell, Destroyer, or Love Gun."[13] Christopher Thelen of The Daily Vault goes against the common opinion that Dynasty is disco, declaring aside from "I Was Made for Lovin' You", it's more of an AOR album with softer-rock numbers like "Sure Know Something". He critiques "Magic Touch" and "Save Your Love" for lacking the bite Kiss had in their early material. Thelen concludes that "in a way, you can’t help but feel sorry for Kiss, personal problems aside," with the popularity of disco and punk rock making the band's anthemic hard rock stick out like a sore thumb.[20]

Some modern reviews of Dynasty are more positive, with Ultimate Classic Rock claiming "many of the tracks are worth a re-listen" especially "Sure Know Something" which is described as "moving and melodic." Also praised is Ace Frehley's guitar work, who "riding high after releasing by far the most creatively successful of the solo albums, keeps his streak intact with some strong tunes" such as "2,000 Man" and the life on the streets tale "Hard Times".[22] American-Japanese guitarist Marty Friedman, formerly of Megadeth, ranked all Kiss records on his social media, putting the album at #12 and stating "if you ignore the first two songs and the blank back cover, the album is a pretty enjoyable and accurate time capsule of that time period." Still, he wishes there was more "harder rock" songs.[23]

Gene Simmons was asked for his thoughts on Dynasty during an interview with Good Day Sacramento. "Well, when people talk about that record [being] hit-or-miss, it was a multi-platinum record, so that's called a hit," he continues "there are some songs that are pop[-flavored] — yeah, by definition it's called a hit." Despite this, he hates performing "I Was Made For Lovin' You" because he is forced to sing like his grandmother, referring to his part, "do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do."[24]

## Track listing

[edit]

All credits adapted from the original release.[25]

Side oneNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Lead vocals| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "I Was Made for Lovin' You"| Paul Stanley, Vini Poncia, Desmond Child| Stanley| 4:29
2.| "2,000 Man" (The Rolling Stones cover)| Mick Jagger, Keith Richards| Ace Frehley| 4:54
3.| "Sure Know Something"| Stanley, Poncia| Stanley| 4:00
4.| "Dirty Livin'"| Peter Criss, Stan Penridge| Criss| 4:27

Side twoNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Lead vocals| Length

|
|
|
|

5.| "Charisma"| Gene Simmons, Howard Marks| Simmons| 4:25
6.| "Magic Touch"| Stanley| Stanley| 4:41
7.| "Hard Times"| Frehley| Frehley| 3:30
8.| "X-Ray Eyes"| Simmons| Simmons| 3:46
9.| "Save Your Love"| Frehley| Frehley| 4:41
Total length:| 39:19

## Personnel

[edit]

### Kiss

[edit]

* Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar; lead guitar on "Sure Know Something" and "Magic Touch"; bass on "Magic Touch"
* Gene Simmons – vocals, bass; rhythm guitar on "X-Ray Eyes"
* Ace Frehley – vocals, lead guitar; all guitars and bass on "2,000 Man", "Hard Times" and "Save Your Love"
* Peter Criss – vocals and drums on "Dirty Livin'"

### Additional personnel

[edit]

* Anton Fig – drums (except "Dirty Livin'")
* Vini Poncia – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals

### Technical personnel

[edit]

* Vini Poncia – producer
* Jay Messina – engineer, mixing
* Jon Mathias, Jim Galante – assistant engineers
* George Marino – mastering
* Francesco Scavullo – cover and poster photo
* Howard Marks Advertising Inc. – design

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly Charts

[edit]

| Chart (1979-80)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[26] | 2
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[27] | 13
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[28] | 6
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[29] | 1
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[30] | 29
French Albums (SNEP)[31] | 2
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[32] | 13
Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)[33] | 16
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[34] | 21
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[35] | 2
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[36] | 34
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[37] | 17
UK Albums (OCC)[38] | 50
US Billboard 200[39] | 9

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1979)  | Position

|

German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[40] | 32
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[41] | 14
Chart (1980)  | Position

|

German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[42] | 19

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[43] | Platinum  | 50,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[44] | 2× Platinum  | 200,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[45] | Gold  | 100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[46] | Platinum  | 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[47] | Platinum  | 15,000^
United States (RIAA)[48] | Platinum  | 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "KISS - I Was Made For Lovin' You". Dutch Charts. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
2. ^ "KISS - Sure Know Something". Dutch Charts. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
3. ^ "KISS - Dirty Livin'". Dutch Charts. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
4. ^ "KISS - Magic Touch". Dutch Charts. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
5. ^ "KISS - 2000 Man". Dutch Charts. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
6. ^ Gooch and Suhs, Kiss Alive Forever, p. 98
7. ^ "Podomatic | I slutet av en dynasti".
8. ^ Peter Criss Demo - Rumble - 1979, retrieved March 25, 2021
9. ^ a b Bergdahl, Linnaeus, Alex, Carl (2022). Den Sista Dynastin (in Swedish). Sweden: Gain. pp. 31–32\. ISBN 9789198744804.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
10. ^ Kitts, Jeff (September 1996). "Back in black (and white)". Guitar World. Vol. 16, no. 9\. p. 68.
11. ^ Ace., Frehley (2014). No regrets. Gallery Books. ISBN 978-1-4516-1396-4. OCLC 893161127.
12. ^ "Kiss Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
13. ^ a b Prato, Greg. "Dynasty Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
14. ^ Popoff, Martin (October 2003). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 164\. ISBN 978-1894959025.
15. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4 (4 ed.). Muze. p. 875\. ISBN 0195313739.
16. ^ "Kiss: Dynasty". Pitchfork Media. June 26, 2003. Archived from the original on May 8, 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
17. ^ Fricke, David (August 23, 1979). "Dynasty". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
18. ^ "Kiss: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
19. ^ Kulkarni, Neil (December 1997). "Made up for it". Uncut. No. 7\. p. 100.
20. ^ a b Thelen, Christopher (November 8, 2008). "Dynasty-KISS". The Daily Vault. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
21. ^ Fricke, David (August 23, 1979). "Dynasty". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
22. ^ "Best Kiss 'Dynasty' Song – Readers' Poll". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
23. ^ "MARTY FRIEDMAN Ranks All KISS Albums, From Worst To Best, And Explains His Choices". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. December 2, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
24. ^ "GENE SIMMONS Defends KISS's 'Dynasty' Album: 'It Was A Multi-Platinum Record, So That's Called A Hit'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. June 19, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
25. ^ Kiss (1979). Dynasty (LP Sleeve). Los Angeles, California: Casablanca Records. NBLP 7152.
26. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
27. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Kiss – Dynasty" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
28. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4411a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
29. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kiss – Dynasty" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
30. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 166\. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
31. ^ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – K". Infodisc.fr (in French). Archived from the original on October 22, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2012. Select Kiss from the menu, then press OK.
32. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kiss – Dynasty" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
33. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved February 20, 2024. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Kiss".
34. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
35. ^ "Charts.nz – Kiss – Dynasty". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
36. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Kiss – Dynasty". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
37. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Kiss – Dynasty". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
38. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
39. ^ "Kiss Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
40. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1979. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
41. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1979 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
42. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1980. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
43. ^ "Kent Music Report No 341 – 5 January 1981 > Platinum and Gold Albums 1980". Kent Music Report. Retrieved November 12, 2021 - via Imgur.com.
44. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Kiss – Dynasty". Music Canada.
45. ^ "KISS receiving Gold Record Awards in Mexico for "Dynasty" during their Elder Promo Tour in 1981". Facebook.
46. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Kiss – Dinasty" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Dinasty  in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1979 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
47. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Kiss – Dynasty". Recorded Music NZ.
48. ^ "American album certifications – Kiss – Dynasty". Recording Industry Association of America.

## External links

[edit]

* Dynasty at Discogs (list of releases)

* v
* t
* e

Kiss

* Paul Stanley
* Gene Simmons
* Peter Criss
* Ace Frehley
* Eric Carr
* Vinnie Vincent
* Mark St. John
* Bruce Kulick
* Eric Singer
* Tommy Thayer

Studio albums|

* Kiss
* Hotter than Hell
* Dressed to Kill
* Destroyer
* Rock and Roll Over
* Love Gun
* Dynasty
* Unmasked
* Music from "The Elder"
* Creatures of the Night
* Lick It Up
* Animalize
* Asylum
* Crazy Nights
* Hot in the Shade
* Revenge
* Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions
* Psycho Circus
* Sonic Boom
* Monster

1978 solo albums|

* Ace Frehley
* Gene Simmons
* Paul Stanley
* Peter Criss

Live albums|

* Alive!
* Alive II
* Alive III
* Kiss Unplugged
* You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!!
* Kiss Symphony: Alive IV
* Alive! The Millennium Concert
* Kiss Alive 35
* Kiss Sonic Boom Over Europe
* Kiss Rocks Vegas

Compilations|

* Double Platinum
* Killers
* Chikara
* Smashes, Thrashes & Hits
* Greatest Kiss
* The Very Best of Kiss
* The Millennium Collection: The Best of Kiss
* The Best of Kiss, Volume 2: The Millennium Collection
* The Best of Kiss, Volume 3: The Millennium Collection
* Jigoku-Retsuden
* Kiss 40

Box sets|

* The Originals
* The Box Set
* Kiss Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums
* Kiss Alive! 1975–2000
* Ikons

Video albums|

* Animalize Live Uncensored
* Exposed
* Crazy Nights
* X-treme Close-Up
* Kiss Konfidential
* Kiss My Ass: The Video
* Kiss Unplugged
* Psycho Circus 3-D Video
* The Second Coming
* Kiss Symphony: The DVD
* Rock the Nation Live!
* Kissology Volume One: 1974–1977
* Kissology Volume Two: 1978–1991
* Kissology Volume Three: 1992–2000
* Kiss Rocks Vegas

Tribute albums|

* Hard to Believe: A Kiss Covers Compilation
* Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved
* A Tribute to the Creatures of the Night
* Kiss My Grass: A Hillbilly Tribute to Kiss
* Spin the Bottle: An All-Star Tribute to Kiss
* Gods of Thunder: A Norwegian Tribute to Kiss
* Lick It Up – A Millennium Tribute to Kiss
* Kiss My Ankh

Concert tours|

* Club Tour
* Kiss Tour
* Hotter than Hell Tour
* Dressed to Kill Tour
* Alive! Tour
* Destroyer Tour
* Rock & Roll Over Tour
* Love Gun Tour
* Alive II Tour
* Dynasty Tour
* Unmasked Tour
* Creatures of the Night Tour
* Lick It Up World Tour
* Animalize World Tour
* Asylum Tour
* Crazy Nights World Tour
* Hot in the Shade Tour
* Revenge Tour
* Kiss My Ass Tour
* Alive/Worldwide Tour
* Psycho Circus World Tour
* The Farewell Tour
* Alive 35 World Tour
* Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour
* The Hottest Show on Earth Tour
* The Tour
* Monster World Tour
* Kiss 40th Anniversary World Tour
* Freedom to Rock Tour
* Kissworld Tour
* End of the Road World Tour

Films|

* Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park
* Detroit Rock City
* Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery

Merchandising|

* Action figures
* Comics
* Kiss: Psycho Circus
* Pinball
* Pinball video game
* Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child
* Kiss Kasket
* Kiss by Monster Mini-Golf
* Los Angeles Kiss
* Bibliography

Related|

| Articles|

* Discography
* Band members
* Songs
* Awards
* Kiss Army
* Operation Payback
* "Road to Europe"
* Rock School
* Gene Simmons Family Jewels
* The Elder

|

Bands|

* Black 'n Blue
* Chelsea
* Eric Singer Project
* Frehley's Comet
* Mini Kiss
* Union
* Vinnie Vincent Invasion
* White Tiger
* Wicked Lester

Albums|

* Anomaly
* Asshole
* Cat #1
* Gene Simmons Vault
* Let Me Rock You
* Live to Win
* One for All
* Out of Control
* The Original Wicked Lester Sessions
* Origins Vol. 1
* Origins Vol. 2
* Rockology
* Space Invader
* Spaceman
* Trouble Walkin'
* Unfinished Business

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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