KISS PSYCHO-CIRCUS LP LENTICULAR COVER SEALED, MINT EU 2014, 180 GR, 3D, MP3

$

37

NEW  RECORD FROM 2014, COMES WITH 3D LENTICULAR COVER,that alternates between a black Kiss logo and the album title with pictures of a clown and the band members.

INCLUDES A VOUCHER TO DOWNLOAD AN MP3 VERSION OF THE ALBUM

180 GRAM HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL

VINYL  IS  UNPLAYED MINT  AND COVER IS PERFECT, STILL SEALED WITH FACTORY SHRINK

BUYER PAY $14 S/H

Production[edit]

Following the highly successful 1996-97 reunion tour, Psycho Circus was marketed as the first studio album by the band's original lineup since 1979's Dynasty (as Peter Criss did not participate on 1980's Unmasked). As with Dynasty and Unmasked, however, many of the songs were recorded by uncredited players. Ace Frehley and Criss were used sparingly, with Criss only playing drums on "Into the Void". Frehley played on two songs from the album (not including vocals). In 2011, in Frehley's book No Regrets, he says that he wrote a lot of songs for the album, one of those songs being titled "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Rock 'n' Roll". He mentions that the title and song were deemed very similar to the song "I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock 'n' Roll". "Into the Void" was originally titled "Shakin' Sharp Shooter" but Simmons and Stanley were unhappy with the lyrics and title so Gene Simmons rewrote it. The song "Within" was originally written and demoed for Kiss' previous album Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions and contains the original backwards guitar intro from the demo by previous Kiss member, Bruce Kulick.

In a radio interview with Eddie Trunk following his departure Criss stated that only "Into the Void" featured instrumental contributions from all four members. Regarding the lack of cohesion in the group at the time of recording, Paul Stanley stated "We tried to do a Kiss album, and it was an ill-fated attempt because there was no real band,"[2] and continued by adding "For a band to make a great album, it has to share a common purpose, and we didn't have it."[2] In 2012, Stanley also talked about why the original lineup didn't play on the record, and that's because so many lawyers were getting involved and they just lost tolerance and told Frehley and Criss not to bother showing up. Although Stanley doesn't say whose lawyers were getting involved.

Bruce Fairbairn was brought to produce the album, and stated that he wanted to stay away from gimmicks and trends such as guest appearances, just "tried to stay true to what Kiss does best and people remember them for". The album was mostly recorded at Los Angeles' A&M Studios and One on One Recording Studios, with the performances being first recorded with analogue equipment, and then digitized for mixing and overdubs. Afterwards it was mixed by Mick Guzauski in his New York studio, and mastered by Fairbarn and Kiss' long-time partner George Marino at Sterling Sound NY. Fairbairn complimented the band for being collaborative, declaring that "it had the potential to be a nightmare because they're all disparate and strong characters, musically and as people."[3]

It is sometimes assumed that Psycho Circus is based on the comic book series Kiss: Psycho Circus, which debuted the year before the album was released. However, while it is true that the album had not been conceived at the time the comic book was first published, Simmons claims that the "Psycho Circus" concept was originally created as a Kiss tour theme.[4]

Reception[edit]

Psycho Circus debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200, selling 110,000 copies in its first week of release, and was certified gold by the RIAA on October 22, 1998.[9][10] Rolling Stone said about the album, "Psycho Circus is an album of platform-stomping rhythms, roller-coaster guitar riffs and sing-along choruses - is far more respectable than any of the awkward flops from the no-makeup years."[7] Entertainment Weekly (9/25/98, p. 106) said, "This is rock with a capital R, captured in all its cheesy glory... This new effort proves that in the circus of hard-rock dinosaurs, Kiss remains its Barnum & Bailey."[8]

Accolades[edit]

The album was voted Album of the Year in the 1998 Metal Edge Readers' Choice Awards, while the title track won Song of the Year and Best Video Clip.[11]

Track listing[edit]

A limited edition was released in Brazil after Kiss concerts in the country, adding the second disc with live tracks, like the Japanese release, but without the bonus track "In Your Face" on the first disc. In Europe this expanded-release was tied-in with the tour, retaining the prismatic jewel-case of the original CD-release but adding a new sticker to the front and amended tray-insert.

Personnel[edit]

• Paul Stanley - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass guitar (on "I Finally Found My Way" and the chorus section of "I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock and Roll")
• Ace Frehley - lead guitar, lead vocals (on "Into the Void", "You Wanted the Best" and "In Your Face")
• Gene Simmons - lead vocals, bass guitar, rhythm guitar (on "We Are One")
• Peter Criss - drums (on "Into the Void"), lead vocals (on "You Wanted the Best" and "I Finally Found My Way")

Uncredited[edit]

• Bruce Kulick - backwards guitar intro and solo (on "Within"), rhythm and bass guitar (on "Dreamin'")
• Tommy Thayer - lead guitar (except on "Into the Void", "You Wanted the Best" and "In Your Face")
• Kevin Valentine - drums (except on "Into the Void")
• Shelly Berg - acoustic piano (on "I Finally Found My Way" and "Journey of 1,000 Years")
• Bob Ezrin - Fender Rhodes (on "I Finally Found My Way")
• Psycho Circus Studio album by Kiss Released September 22, 1998 Recorded January – April 1998 at A&M Studios, Hollywood, California, One on One Studios, New York Genre Hard rock, heavy metal[1] Length 48:01 (Including "In Your Face") Label Mercury Producer Bruce Fairbairn Kiss chronology Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions
  (1997) Psycho Circus
  (1998) Kiss Symphony: Alive IV
  (2003)