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Psycho Circus

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This article is about the Kiss album. For other uses, see Psycho Circus (disambiguation).

Psycho Circus
Studio album by
Kiss
ReleasedSeptember 22, 1998 (1998-09-22)
RecordedJanuary–April 1998
Studio
Genre
Length44:24
LabelMercury
ProducerBruce Fairbairn
Kiss chronology
Carnival of Souls
(1997) 		Psycho Circus
(1998) 		The Very Best of Kiss
(2002)
Singles from Psycho Circus
  1. "Psycho Circus"
    Released: August 1998
  2. "We Are One"
    Released: 1998
  3. "I Finally Found My Way"
    Released: 1998
  4. "You Wanted the Best"
    Released: November 23, 1998

Psycho Circus is the eighteenth studio album by American rock band Kiss and the first and only album to involve all four original members since 1979's Dynasty. While touted as a band effort, Peter Criss only played drums on the Ace Frehley-penned track, "Into the Void", and guitarist Frehley only played on two regular album tracks, the one he wrote plus "You Wanted the Best". He also played on a bonus track called "In Your Face", penned by Simmons. All four band members, however, sang lead vocals on the album.

Background

Following the highly successful 1996–97 reunion tour, Psycho Circus was marketed as the first new studio album by the band's original lineup since 1979's Dynasty (as Peter Criss did not participate on the 1980s Unmasked, although Criss' drum work is limited to only one of the nine songs on Psycho Circus). As with Dynasty and Unmasked, however, many of the songs were recorded by uncredited players.

Composition and recording

Ace Frehley and Criss' contribution was used sparingly in the production of the album, with Criss playing drums only on "Into the Void". Criss stated in his book Makeup to Breakup: My Life in and Out of Kiss that Paul Stanley was so determined not to work with him and Frehley in the studio that they were paid $850,000 each not to participate in the recording.[1] Stanley and Simmons have claimed various, and often conflicting, reasons for their not playing much on the album from their not being capable, not showing up, to their wanting new financial deals, and to its being the producer's choice to not use them. 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".[2] Frehley would record the song under the title "Pursuit of Rock and Roll" for his 2018 solo album Spaceman.

Frehley's "Into the Void" was co-written with Karl Cochran[3] and originally titled "Shakin' Sharp Shooter", but Gene Simmons and Stanley were unhappy with the lyrics and title.[4] Frehley then went up to a separate room and rewrote the lyrics to his song in 30 minutes.[2] Despite Simmons claiming he and Stanley needed to provide substantial help arranging the song, co-writer Karl Cochran has said, "as far as the basic song structure, almost nothing was changed from what Ace and I wrote. I have the original demos that were cut in Ace's studio, and basically, it's the same song. Ace just changed the title of the song after the demo was done, which Gene had mentioned to him".[5] Even with the changes the song very nearly did not happen for the album with producer Bruce Fairbairn being unsure that Frehley could get the song fixed in time to record it the next day. He was still finishing the final verse in the studio as the recording commenced. Once recorded, Frehley was unhappy with the mix and insisted on remixing the track himself to make the song more raw, with the guitars and drums higher in the mix.[5]

The song "Within" was originally written and demoed for Kiss's previous album Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions and contains the original backwards guitar intro from the demo by previous Kiss member Bruce Kulick.[citation needed]

Bruce Fairbairn was brought in 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's 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 Fairbairn and Kiss' longtime partner George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York. 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."[6]

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, Stanley stated, "We tried to do a Kiss album, and it was an ill-fated attempt because there was no real band," 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."[7] In 2014, Stanley changed stories yet again, claiming that Criss and Frehley were trying to renegotiate deals and get to compose more songs when he and Simmons thought that "Why would they be equal partners? The band had existed [for many years without them]." Although the subsequent Kiss Farewell Tour was meant to "put Kiss out of its misery", Stanley eventually decided to continue playing because "I don't want Psycho Circus to be our last album. It's not a good memory."[8]

"You Wanted the Best" is the only Kiss song in which lead vocals are shared by the entire lineup.

Release

Some pressings featured a lenticular cover that alternates between a black Kiss logo and the album title with pictures of a clown and the band members, while the Japan initial first pressing featured a pop-up cover which had three foam spring-loaded panels of a clown face and two others with band members faces that popped out when the doors were opened.

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.[9]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal4/10[11]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[12]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[13]
Metal Rules4.0/5[14]
Rock Hard8.0/10[15]
Rolling Stone[16]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[17]

Psycho Circus debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, selling 110,000 copies in its first week of release,[18] and was certified gold by the RIAA on October 22, 1998.[19]

Contemporary critical reactions were mixed. Rolling Stone reviewer wrote that 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."[16] The Rolling Stone Album Guide was less positive, giving the album their lowest rating.[17] Matt Diehl, in his review for Entertainment Weekly stated that "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."[13] "Well up to the band's usual standards of corny hoopla," wrote Clark Collis in The Daily Telegraph. "Typical of the beast is 'I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock & Roll' — three and a half minutes of hilariously bombastic pomp-rock that simply crushes thoughts of all post-glam musical developments beneath a silver-painted stack-heel boot."[20] Metal Rules reviewer wrote that "Psycho Circus sounds so much like the KISS of old that you’d almost think the release date was 1979" and the song "'Psycho Circus' is the best arena-rock anthem KISS have put their names to since "Love Gun".[14]

Modern reviews are less positive. AllMusic Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album's music "sleazy, big, dumb pop-metal", played by a band which "no longer sound young, hungry, or sleazy -- they sound like professional dirty old men."[10] Canadian journalist Martin Popoff defined Psycho Circus "a sick, sick joke", containing "a couple of songs that will sound OK live... with about half hour of miserable filler".[11]

Accolades

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.[21]

Plagiarism

The song "Dreamin'" bears some resemblance to Alice Cooper's 1970 hit "I'm Eighteen". A month after the release of Psycho Circus, Cooper's publisher filed a plagiarism suit, which was settled out of court in Cooper's favor.[22]

The hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse took issue with the album, feeling it copied their style. The American rapper Violent J referenced this in their song "Everybody Rize" by rapping 'Fuck Gene Simmons you make me sick, psycho circus you stole my shit! Spit your blood out and do your dance but I'ma kick that ass through your leather pants.'[23]

Track listings

No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Psycho Circus"Paul Stanley, Curtis CuomoStanley5:30
2."Within"Gene SimmonsSimmons5:10
3."I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock & Roll"Stanley, Cuomo, Holly KnightStanley3:32
4."Into the Void"Ace Frehley, Karl CochranFrehley4:22
5."We Are One"SimmonsSimmons4:41
6."You Wanted the Best"SimmonsSimmons, Stanley, Peter Criss, Frehley4:15
7."Raise Your Glasses"Stanley, KnightStanley4:14
8."I Finally Found My Way"Stanley, Bob EzrinCriss3:40
9."Dreamin'"Stanley, Bruce KulickStanley4:12
10."Journey of 1,000 Years"SimmonsSimmons4:47
Total length:44:24
Japanese Edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
11."In Your Face"SimmonsFrehley3:35
Limited Edition bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Psycho Circus" (live)Stanley, CuomoStanley5:34
2."Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll" (live)Stanley, SimmonsSimmons5:33
3."Into the Void" (live)Frehley, Karl CochranFrehley9:10
4."Within" (live)SimmonsSimmons7:57
5."100,000 Years" (live)Stanley, SimmonsStanley5:17
6."Black Diamond" (live)StanleyCriss, intro by Stanley6:12

Personnel

Kiss
Additional musicians
Production

Charts

Album

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[50] Gold 50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[51] Gold 40,000^
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Criss, Peter (2012). Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of Kiss. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-732-29642-1.
  2. ^ a b Frehley, Ace (2012). No regrets : a rock 'n' roll memoir. Gallery Books/VH1 Books. ISBN 978-1-4516-1395-7. OCLC 978509794.
  3. ^ "Karl Cochran Biography". Karl Cochran Official Website. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  4. ^ "Ace Frehley Looks Back On Kiss' Psycho Circus Album - "It Was A Disappointment For Me; The Only Song I Performed On Was The One I Wrote"". Bravewords.com. Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. October 15, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Into The Void". Kiss Concert History Online. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  6. ^ Verna, Paul (December 12, 1998). "Fairbairn Lends Golden Touch to Kiss' 'Psycho Circus'". Billboard. p. 48. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  7. ^ Appleford, Steve (August 17, 2009). "Kiss "Born Again" With Walmart's "Sonic Boom": Band Talks New LP". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  8. ^ "Paul Stanley: 'The 'Farewell' Tour Was Us Wanting To Put KISS Out Of Its Misery'". Blabbermouth.net. December 25, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  9. ^ McLauchlin, Jim (August 1997). "Todd Lures KISS to McFarlane Productions". Wizard. No. 72. p. 24.
  10. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Kiss - Psycho Circus review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Popoff, Martin (August 1, 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
  12. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4 (4 ed.). Muze. p. 875. ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4.
  13. ^ a b Diehl, Matt (September 25, 1998). "Psycho Circus Review | News Reviews and News". Entertainment Weekly. p. 106. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Kiss – Psycho Circus". Metal Rules. December 1998. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  15. ^ Kühnemund, Götz (1998). "Review Album : Kiss - Psycho Circus". Rock Hard (in German). No. 137. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Lorraine, Ali (November 12, 1998). "Album Reviews: Psycho Circus". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  17. ^ a b Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8. Archived from the original on June 27, 2011.
  18. ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 7, 2009). "Kiss, Buble Battle For No. 1 On Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  19. ^ a b "American album certifications – Kiss – Psycho Circus". Recording Industry Association of America.
  20. ^ Collis, Clark (September 19, 1998). "Kiss- Psycho Circus". The Daily Telegraph.
  21. ^ Miller Gerri, ed. (August 1999). "Reader's Choice Awards". Metal Edge.
  22. ^ English, Timothy (2007). Sounds Like Teen Spirit. iUniverse. pp. 46–47. ISBN 978-0-595-90692-5.
  23. ^ "Insane Clown Posse Laughs At Itself On New Album". News & Record. May 29, 1999. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  24. ^ Brandvold, Michael (February 5, 2013). Kevin Valentine Talks About the Three KISS Albums He Played Drums On In The Studio (Podcast). YouTube. Event occurs at 21:55. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  25. ^ Daly, Andrew (February 21, 2022). "An Interview with Tommy Thayer of KISS". VWMusic Rocks.com. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  26. ^ Kulick, Bruce (September 22, 2023). Bruce Kulick KISS Psycho Circus 25th Anniversary "Behind the Curtain" (Podcast). YouTube. Event occurs at 11:33. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  27. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Kiss – Psycho Circus". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  28. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Kiss – Psycho Circus" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  29. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 7062". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  30. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kiss – Psycho Circus" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  31. ^ "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. May 30, 1992. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  32. ^ "Kiss: Psycho Circus" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  33. ^ "Lescharts.com – Kiss – Psycho Circus". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  34. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kiss – Psycho Circus" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  35. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  36. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Kiss – Psycho Circus". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  37. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Kiss – Psycho Circus". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  38. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Kiss – Psycho Circus". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  39. ^ "Kiss | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  40. ^ "Kiss Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  41. ^ a b "Billboard chart history-Kiss singles". Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  42. ^ "Kiss – Psycho Circus (Song)". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  43. ^ "Kiss – Psycho Circus (Song)". Norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  44. ^ "Top Singles - Volume 68, No. 5, October 26, 1998". Library and Archives Canada. October 26, 1998. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  45. ^ "Kiss – Psycho Circus (Song)". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  46. ^ "Kiss – Psycho Circus". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  47. ^ "Kiss – We Are One (Song)". Norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  48. ^ "Kiss – We Are One (Song)". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  49. ^ "Kiss – We Are One (Song)". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  50. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Kiss – Psycho Circus". Music Canada.
  51. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011.
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