You Wanted the Best
Encyclopedia
"You Wanted the Best" is a song by the American
hard rock
band Kiss
, released on their eighteenth studio album Psycho Circus
in 1998. The song was written by the band's bassist
Gene Simmons
, and was released as the fourth single off the album on November 23, 1998. The song only charted on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks, reaching number 22. The band never performed the song live.
, the sole writer of the song, said about the lyrics: "The lyrics talk about a time when everyone in the band was bitching at each other in the press. With family, there's always a mixture of affection and bickering. Listen, we're really servants of the people. Ultimately we have to brush aside our internal differences for the greater of the whole, the greater good, which is the fans. The least we owe them is to shut up, get up on stage and put out." The song is the only one where all band members share lead vocals. At first, the song was titled "Just Give Me Love" and was written in 1977, but Simmons changed the lyrics to make it as a story of the band members.
It is one of only two songs from the album where Ace Frehley
played lead guitar
, with other being his song "Into the Void". Drums weren't played by Peter Criss
, but by Kevin Valentine
, a session drummer who played on most of the tracks on the album.
"You Wanted the Best" was released as fourth single off Psycho Circus
. It managed to chart only on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks, reaching number 22. Kiss never performed the song live.
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 eighteenth studio album Psycho Circus
Psycho Circus
Psycho Circus is the 18th studio album by American band Kiss. The album features the original four members back together, and in full make-up....
in 1998. The song was written by the band's bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
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:...
, and was released as the fourth single off the album on November 23, 1998. The song only charted on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks, reaching number 22. The band never performed the song live.
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, said about the lyrics: "The lyrics talk about a time when everyone in the band was bitching at each other in the press. With family, there's always a mixture of affection and bickering. Listen, we're really servants of the people. Ultimately we have to brush aside our internal differences for the greater of the whole, the greater good, which is the fans. The least we owe them is to shut up, get up on stage and put out." The song is the only one where all band members share lead vocals. At first, the song was titled "Just Give Me Love" and was written in 1977, but Simmons changed the lyrics to make it as a story of the band members.
It is one of only two songs from the album where 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...
played lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, with other being his song "Into the Void". Drums weren't played by 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...
, but by Kevin Valentine
Kevin Valentine
Kevin Valentine is an American rock drummer who is best known for being a member of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. Valentine played drums on all of the band's early albums during the 1980s....
, a session drummer who played on most of the tracks on the album.
"You Wanted the Best" was released as fourth single off Psycho Circus
Psycho Circus
Psycho Circus is the 18th studio album by American band Kiss. The album features the original four members back together, and in full make-up....
. It managed to chart only on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks, reaching number 22. Kiss never performed the song live.
Appearances
"You Wanted the Best" has appeared on following Kiss albums:- Psycho CircusPsycho CircusPsycho Circus is the 18th studio album by American band Kiss. The album features the original four members back together, and in full make-up....
- studio version
Credited personnel
- 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....
, co-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...
, co-lead 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...
, co-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, co-lead vocals
Charts
| Year | Country | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue... |
22 |