Peter Criss (album)
Encyclopedia
Peter Criss is a 1978 solo album
from the drummer and vocalist
of American
hard rock
band Kiss
. It was one of four solo albums released by the band members on September 18, 1978. The other albums were released by Gene Simmons
, Paul Stanley
and Ace Frehley
. The album was produced by Vini Poncia
, who went on to produce the Kiss albums Dynasty (1979) and Unmasked (1980).
The album was the lowest charting of all the Kiss solo albums of 1978, reaching #43 on the US Billboard
album chart. On the other hand, it also had the distinction of being the only album of the four to have two singles released from it: "Don't You Let Me Down" and "You Matter to Me".
Criss covered "Tossin' and Turnin'
," which was a #1 hit for Bobby Lewis
in the US during the summer of 1961
. The song was subsequently covered by Kiss on their 1979 tour
. Much of the material on this album was originally written in 1971 for Peter's pre-Kiss band, Lips.
(North America)
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
from the drummer and vocalist
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...
of American
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,...
. It was one of four solo albums released by the band members on September 18, 1978. The other albums were released by Gene Simmons
Gene 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:...
, Paul Stanley
Paul Stanley
Stanley 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...
and Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley
Paul 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...
. The album was produced by Vini Poncia
Vini Poncia
Vini Poncia is an American musician, songwriter and record producer.In the 1960s, Poncia formed a songwriting team with Peter Anders. An album of songs co-written by these childhood friends The Anders & Poncia Album, was produced by Richard Perry and released in 1969...
, who went on to produce the Kiss albums Dynasty (1979) and Unmasked (1980).
The album was the lowest charting of all the Kiss solo albums of 1978, reaching #43 on the US Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
album chart. On the other hand, it also had the distinction of being the only album of the four to have two singles released from it: "Don't You Let Me Down" and "You Matter to Me".
Criss covered "Tossin' and Turnin'
Tossin' and Turnin'
"Tossin' and Turnin" is a song written by Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene, and originally recorded by Bobby Lewis. The record reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 on July 10, 1961, and R&B chart,, and has since become a standard on oldies compilations. It was named Billboard's number-one...
," which was a #1 hit for Bobby Lewis
Bobby Lewis
Bobby Lewis is an African American rock and roll and R&B singer.-Biography:Lewis learned to play the piano by age six. Adopted at age twelve, he moved to a home in Detroit, Michigan...
in the US during the summer of 1961
Hot 100 number-one hits of 1961 (USA)
These are the Billboard magazine Hot 100 number one hits of 1961....
. The song was subsequently covered by Kiss on their 1979 tour
Dynasty Tour
The Dynasty Tour was a concert tour by the rock band Kiss. It was their first tour since the Alive II tour ended on April 2, 1978 in Japan.The Dynasty Tour, also known as "The Return of Kiss", was the first tour to feature the infamous flying stunt by Gene Simmons. This was also the first tour to...
. Much of the material on this album was originally written in 1971 for Peter's pre-Kiss band, Lips.
Side one
- "I'm Gonna Love You" (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...
, Stan Penridge) – 3:18 - "You Matter to Me" (Vini PonciaVini PonciaVini Poncia is an American musician, songwriter and record producer.In the 1960s, Poncia formed a songwriting team with Peter Anders. An album of songs co-written by these childhood friends The Anders & Poncia Album, was produced by Richard Perry and released in 1969...
, Michael Morgan, John Vastano) – 3:15 - "Tossin' and Turnin'Tossin' and Turnin'"Tossin' and Turnin" is a song written by Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene, and originally recorded by Bobby Lewis. The record reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 on July 10, 1961, and R&B chart,, and has since become a standard on oldies compilations. It was named Billboard's number-one...
" (Ritchie Adams, Malou Rene) – 3:58 - "Don't You Let Me Down" (Criss, Penridge) – 3:38
- "That's the Kind of Sugar Papa Likes" (Criss, Penridge) – 2:59
Side two
- "Easy Thing" (Criss, Penridge) – 3:53
- "Rock Me, Baby" (Sean DelaneySean Delaney (KISS)Prentice John Delaney Jr. , better known as Sean Delaney, was an American musician, producer, road manager and songwriter, best known for his work with the rock band KISS from the early 1970s until the early 1980s...
) – 2:50 - "Kiss the Girl Goodbye" (Criss, Penridge) – 2:46
- "Hooked on Rock 'n' Roll" (Criss, Penridge, Poncia) – 3:37
- "I Can't Stop the Rain" (Delaney) – 4:25
Cover versions
- Harvey MilkHarvey Milk (band)Harvey Milk are an American experimental rock/noise rock band that formed in Athens, Georgia in the early 1990s. While Harvey Milk invariably draws comparisons to the Melvins, due to their penchant for slow, heavy riffs, the band has touched upon such artists as ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Leonard Cohen,...
covered "Easy Thing" for their compilation album The Singles.
Personnel
The following musicians played on Peter Criss.- 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...
- lead vocals, 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 ....
on side 1, and track 4 on side 2, 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...
on track 3, side 2, backing vocals - 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...
- drums on tracks 1, 2 and 5 on side 2 - Bill Bodine - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on side 1, and track 4 on side 2 - Neil Jason - bass guitar on tracks 1, 2 and 5 on side 2
- Art MunsonArt MunsonArt Munson is an American recording artist, musician. He has also been involved as a songwriter and record producer. Munson began his musical career playing with Dick Dale and the Del-Tones and later began touring with the Righteous Brothers and Paul Williams....
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
on side 1, and track 4 on side 2 - Stan Penridge - guitar on side 1, and tracks 3 and 4 on side 2, backing vocals
- Elliot Randall - guitar on "Easy Thing" and "I Can't Stop the Rain"
- John TropeaJohn TropeaJohn Tropea is a guitarist with extensive experience in the rock, pop, and jazz genres. Tropea has written for and played with major recording artists from around the world...
- guitar on tracks 1, 2 and 5 on side 2 - Brendan Harkin - guitar on "Easy Thing"
- Steve LukatherSteve LukatherSteve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
- guitar solo on "That's The Kind of Sugar Papa Likes" and "Hooked on Rock and Roll" - Bill Cuomo - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
on side 1, and track 4 on side 2 - Richard Gerstein - keyboards on tracks 1, 2, and 5, side 2
- Davey FaragherDavey FaragherDavey Faragher is an American bass guitarist from Redlands, California. Faragher's career took off and received critical notice as a founding member of the nineties band, Cracker, and his following work with The Imposters, the backing band for Elvis Costello since 2001.Faragher is an accomplished...
, Tommy Faragher, Danny Faragher, Jimmy Faragher, Maxine Dixon, Maxine Willard, Julia Tillman, Vini Poncia, Annie Sutton, Gordon Grody - backing vocals - Horns arranged by Tom Saviano
- Michael Carnahan - saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
solo on "Tossin' and Turnin'", baritone sax on "Hooked on Rock 'n' Roll"
Charts
Album - BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
(North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Pop Albums | 43 |
Certification
Releases
- CasablancaCasablanca RecordsCasablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
NBLP-7122 (September 18, 1978): 1st LPGramophone recordA gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
issue (with poster) - Casablanca NBPIX-7122 (September 18, 1978): US picture discUnusual types of gramophone recordsThe overwhelming majority of records manufactured have been of certain sizes , playback speeds , and appearance...
- MercuryMercury RecordsMercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
314 532 386-2 (September 16, 1997): RemasterRemasterRemaster is a word marketed mostly in the digital audio age, although the remastering process has existed since recording began...
ed CD (with poster)
External links
- Kiss FAQ - Peter Criss, Accessed on July 13, 2005.
- KISSONLINE.COM Discoography- Peter Criss, Accessed on July 28, 2008.
- The KISSFAQ- RIAA Certifications, Accessed on July 28, 2008