TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Dynasty" - KISS (1979)

"Dynasty" - KISS (1979)

     This completes my '70s studio KISS albums with the original Mach 1 members.  "Dynasty" was their 7th album, and at this point, the band was looking (and feeling) like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone.  And yet somehow Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss did it.  It wasn't always friendly but somehow the music got waxed and it's an open-booth.  It wasn't what was expected, and haters gonna hate, but it was much better than mouths would lead you to believe.  This isn't "Destroyer" or "Rock and Roll Over," but I like it better than "Love Gun."  Think of "Dynasty" as a hard pop-rock album.  Catchy and crankable.  

Sure, it has their disco hit "I Was Made For Lovin' You" which must've felt like a sell-out to many fans, but the production is fantastic...and for what it is...the song is equally good.  But this is not a disco album.  Frehley's songs sound like a continuation of his excellent '78 solo work.  The same goes for Stanley.  No drop-off whatsoever.  Criss contributes only one song, but it makes "Dynasty" better.  Simmons brings two tamales that are okay, but nothing special.  If KISS had put the disco song at the end instead of making it the opening track…opinions of the album might have been much different.  I guess we'll never know.

I mostly lost interest in KISS when new members came along.  But whatever music I was into at the time, I seldom missed a live show when the boys were back in town.  That was always their bread and butter.  Old KISS or new KISS.  The extra-effort extremism they put into their shows was always appreciated.  Fun, and let's be honest, a bit dangerous.  It was a good time.  KISS is KISS.  Whaddyagonnado?  All I know is that whenever I'm purging some of my records, I never get rid of'em.

"Dynasty" - KISS (back)

"Dynasty" - KISS (8-pg booklet)

Of course, I enjoy both singles "I Was Made for Lovin' You" and "Sure Know Something"...
but Favorite "deep" tracks:
"Save Your Love"
"Hard Times"
"Dirty Livin'"

"Dynasty" - KISS (poster and lyrics Japanese-English)

This is a very cool original 1979 Japanese press with the early run showing all four KISS members on the label.  Later pressings reverted back to the usual Casablanca label.  The vinyl is in excellent condition and comes in a clear semi-circle sleeve.  The album jacket is VG++.  The corners have minor dings, but mostly just normal shelf wear.  It also includes a glossy 8-page booklet with lyrics in English and Japanese and with the color poster still intact.  The seller had two copies of "Dynasty"...one with the original obi still attached.  It looked awesome!  But he was asking too much so I had to fart on it.  I did get a good deal on this one though and it sounds fantastic.  Plus the classic cover.  C'mon!

Custom Casablanca label.  Round vinyl sleeve

Cat #
VIP-6678
SIDE 1  DEADWAX
NBLP  715-2  A  1 1 2  ✲ ✲
SIDE 2  DEADWAX
NBLP  715-2  B  1 2 2  X

"Hard Times" - KISS / "Dynasty" (1979)

TRACKS:
A1  "I Was Made for Lovin' You" 4:29
A2  "2,000 Man" 4:53
A3  "Sure Know Something" 3:59
A4  "Dirty Livin'" 4:16
B1  "Charisma" 4:26
B2  "Magic Touch" 4:40
B3  "Hard Times" 3:29
B4  "X-Ray Eyes" 3:42
B5  "Save Your Love" 4:39

PERSONNEL:
Paul Stanley - vocals, guitar, lead guitar (A3, B2), bass (B2)
Gene Simmons - vocals, bass, guitar (B4)
Ace Frehley - vocals, lead guitar, all guitars and bass (A2, B3, B5)
Peter Criss - vocals, drums (A4)
ADDITIONAL:
Anton Fig - drums (except A4)
Vini Poncia - keyboards, percussion, b-vocals

Good stuff.

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