Nothin' to Lose (Kiss song)
Encyclopedia
"Nothin' to Lose" is a song by the American
hard rock
band Kiss
, released on their self-titled debut album
in 1974. It is the first single the band had ever released and the first single off the album, with "Love Theme from KISS" as the B-side
. Although the song has failed to chart, it has remained a concert staple during the '70s and was featured on many live albums
and compilations
.
, the sole writer of the song, admitted that the song is about anal sex as it chronicles the singer coercing his girlfriend into trying anal sex, and her subsequent enjoyment of it. Gene Simmons and Peter Criss
share the lead vocals on the song.
The song is most notable for being the first Kiss song to feature an extra player, as Bruce Foster played piano
on the track. His contribution was noted on the sleeve of the album.
"Nothin' to Lose" was one of first songs Kiss performed on their first national appearances, on ABC's Dick Clark's In Concert on February 19 (the show aired on March 29). Other songs performed on the show were "Firehouse
" and "Black Diamond".
appearance but hasn't performed the song until Kiss Alive/35 World Tour
.
albums:
Other appearances:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
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,...
, released on their self-titled debut album
KISS (album)
Kiss is the debut album by American band Kiss. When it was released on February 18, 1974, Kiss had been a band for a little over a year. Much of the material on the album was written by Gene Simmons and/or Paul Stanley, as members of their pre-Kiss band, Wicked Lester...
in 1974. It is the first single the band had ever released and the first single off the album, with "Love Theme from KISS" as the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
. Although the song has failed to chart, it has remained a concert staple during the '70s and was featured on many live albums
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
and compilations
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
.
Background
Gene SimmonsGene Simmons
Gene 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:...
, the sole writer of the song, admitted that the song is about anal sex as it chronicles the singer coercing his girlfriend into trying anal sex, and her subsequent enjoyment of it. Gene Simmons and Peter Criss
Peter Criss
George Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
share the lead vocals on the song.
The song is most notable for being the first Kiss song to feature an extra player, as Bruce Foster played piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
on the track. His contribution was noted on the sleeve of the album.
"Nothin' to Lose" was one of first songs Kiss performed on their first national appearances, on ABC's Dick Clark's In Concert on February 19 (the show aired on March 29). Other songs performed on the show were "Firehouse
Firehouse (Kiss song)
"Firehouse" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss released on their eponymous debut album in 1974. The song was written by the bands' rhythm guitarist and vocalist Paul Stanley...
" and "Black Diamond".
Live performances
"Nothin' to Lose" has been played often during the '70s, but has been largely ignored during the '80s. In the '90s, the band performed the song on the Kiss Convention(one time with Peter Criss) and the MTV UnpluggedMTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
appearance but hasn't performed the song until Kiss Alive/35 World Tour
KISS Alive/35 World Tour
The Kiss Alive/35 World Tour was a concert tour by Kiss to celebrate Kiss' 35th anniversary. It was the band's first major tour since the Rock the Nation Tour in 2004. On the tour, Kiss played in New Zealand for the first time since the Alive/Worldwide Tour in 1997, as well as performing in Europe...
.
Appearances
"Nothin' to Lose" has appeared on following KissKISS (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,...
albums:
- Kiss - studio version
- Alive! - live version
- The OriginalsThe Originals (album)This pack was a re-release of the first three Kiss albums: Kiss, Hotter Than Hell and Dressed to Kill. It was packaged with a 16-page history booklet, a color Kiss Army sticker and a sheet of six trading cards....
- studio version - Kiss UnpluggedKISS UnpluggedKiss Unplugged is a Kiss album featuring the group performance in MTV Unplugged.On August 9, 1995, hard rock band Kiss performed on MTV Unplugged in what fans consider the beginning of the eventual Kiss Reunion Tour. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons contacted former members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley...
- live version - The Box Set - studio version and the Unplugged version
- GoldGold (KISS album)Gold is a 2005 greatest hits collection from hard rock band Kiss. This two-disc set covers the band's recordings from 1974 to 1982. All tracks are previously available.-Track listing:Disc 1:#"Strutter"...
- studio version - Kiss Chronicles: 3 Classic AlbumsKiss Chronicles: 3 Classic AlbumsThis repackaging of the first three Kiss albums is essentially identical to The Originals , except in CD format and with different packaging.-Track listing:Disc 01 - Kiss...
- studio version - Kiss Alive! 1975–2000 - Alive! version
- Kiss Alive 35Kiss Alive 35Kiss Alive 35 is a series of 2 CD live albums, each containing a recording of the complete set from a European show on the KISS Alive/35 World Tour from 2008. A second set of recordings are also planned to be available from the North American leg of this tour in Fall/Winter 2009.- Details :The...
- live version
Other appearances:
- B-side for Kissin' Time single
- live version appears on the B-side of Shout It Out Loud (live)Shout It Out Loud (KISS song)"Shout It Out Loud" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss originally released on their 1976 album, Destroyer.-Overview:Released as a single in 1976, the band and their record company, Casablanca Records, were trying to cash in on the success of their previous single, the live version of...
single
Kiss
- 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....
, lead vocals - Peter CrissPeter CrissGeorge Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
- drums, lead vocals - 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...
, backing vocals - Ace FrehleyAce FrehleyPaul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
- 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...