Animalize
Encyclopedia
Animalize is the 12th studio album
by the American
band Kiss
. In a continuation of the commercial resurgence begun with Lick It Up, Animalize was certified platinum by the RIAA
on December 12, 1984. It was the biggest-selling Kiss album since 1977's Alive II
.
The album marked the only appearance by lead guitarist Mark St. John
(née Mark Norton), who replaced Vinnie Vincent
in April 1984. St. John stated that when recording this record, he had utilized his Rockman gear, and that heavy equalization was used to take the "Boston" sound out of the recording. He would be forced to leave Kiss during the subsequent tour after being diagnosed with Reiter's Syndrome
. By November 1984 he was out of the band; the third lead guitarist to exit the band in two years.
When asked what 'Animalize' meant, Stanley said that people were starting to become more like computers - and that "making music by pressing buttons" was no fun.
With:
"And I was pleased with the material the 3 of us created. I even got to play guitars and/or bass on all of those tracks, even though I’m uncredited."
Singles
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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,...
. In a continuation of the commercial resurgence begun with Lick It Up, Animalize was certified platinum by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
on December 12, 1984. It was the biggest-selling Kiss album since 1977's Alive II
Alive II
Alive II is a 1977 live album from Kiss. It is the group's eighth album and second live album.-The songs:The origins of Alive II go back to early 1977 when the band's manager, Bill Aucoin, had the idea to have Eddie Kramer record a live album during the evening show at Budokan Hall in Tokyo on...
.
The album marked the only appearance by lead guitarist Mark St. John
Mark St. John
Mark Leslie Norton , better known as Mark St. John, was a guitarist known for his brief work with the rock band Kiss.-Prior to Kiss:...
(née Mark Norton), who replaced Vinnie Vincent
Vinnie Vincent
Vincent John Cusano, better known as Vinnie Vincent, is an American guitarist from Bridgeport, Connecticut and songwriter known for his brief membership in the band Kiss.-Replacing Ace Frehley in Kiss:...
in April 1984. St. John stated that when recording this record, he had utilized his Rockman gear, and that heavy equalization was used to take the "Boston" sound out of the recording. He would be forced to leave Kiss during the subsequent tour after being diagnosed with Reiter's Syndrome
Reactive arthritis
Reactive arthritis , is classified as an autoimmune condition that develops in response to an infection in another part of the body. Coming into contact with bacteria and developing an infection can trigger the disease. Reiter's syndrome has symptoms similar to various other conditions collectively...
. By November 1984 he was out of the band; the third lead guitarist to exit the band in two years.
When asked what 'Animalize' meant, Stanley said that people were starting to become more like computers - and that "making music by pressing buttons" was no fun.
Track listing
Kiss
- 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...
, 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....
, vocals - Mark St. JohnMark St. JohnMark Leslie Norton , better known as Mark St. John, was a guitarist known for his brief work with the rock band Kiss.-Prior to Kiss:...
– 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... - Eric CarrEric CarrPaul Charles Caravello , also known as Eric Carr, was an American musician, best known as drummer for the rock band Kiss. Caravello was selected as the new Kiss drummer after Peter Criss left in 1980...
– 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 ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, backing vocals
With:
- Jean BeauvoirJean BeauvoirJean Beauvoir is an American singer bassist, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist.Beauvoir was born in Chicago to parents of Haitian background. He played drums as a child and switched to bass as a teenager. He was Gary U.S. Bonds's musical director at age 13; following this he sang in the doo wop...
- bass guitar on "Get All You Can Take," "Under the Gun" and "Thrills in the Night" - Bruce KulickBruce KulickBruce Howard Kulick is an American guitarist, musician and a member of the band Grand Funk Railroad. Previously, Kulick had been a longtime member of the band Kiss....
- lead guitar on "Murder in High Heels" and "Lonely Is the Hunter" - Allan SchwartzbergAllan SchwartzbergAllan Schwartzberg is a famous studio musician drummer, most of whose recordings were made in the 1970s. He has played on hits such as Gloria Gaynor's "Never Can Say Goodbye". He has played with KISS, James Brown and Peter Gabriel as well...
- drum overdubs - In an interview conducted by [www.rockpages.gr Rockpages], Mitch Weissman is quoted as saying:
"And I was pleased with the material the 3 of us created. I even got to play guitars and/or bass on all of those tracks, even though I’m uncredited."
Charts
Album| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums Chart | 14 |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 17 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 14 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 8 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 9 |
| UK Albums Chart | 11 |
| US Billboard 200 | 19 |
Singles
| Year | Nation | Chart | Single | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | United States | Billboard Mainstream Rock | "Heaven's on Fire" | 11 |
| Billboard Hot 100 | 49 | |||
| Austria | Pop Singles | 62 | ||
| Canada | RPM 100 Singles | 46 | ||
| Netherlands | MegaCharts | 34 | ||
| Sweden | Topplistan | 19 |