CoronaVinyl Day 270 (K): KISS by KISS

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Today's CoronaVinyl category is "K," and I still only have a bunch of KISS records left for "K" artists, so let's go with their classic self-titled debut album from 1974.

It's hard to imagine a time before KISS, but picture yourself in a record store back in 1974, perusing the wares for that new Badfinger, Chicago, or Grand Funk album, and you come across this album cover.  How could you not be intrigued?  There was literally nothing like KISS.

Apparently your imaginary 1974 self wasn't intrigued, as the album only reached #87 on the Billboard album chart, and it only produced one charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, their cover of Bobby Rydell's "Kissin' Time," which was added to the album after it was originally released to help boost sales and topped out at a meager #83 on the chart.

While the album didn't light up the charts, it's a bona fide classic, featuring several songs that would go on to be concert staples for the band, like "Strutter," "Cold Gin," "Deuce," "Nothin' to Lose," "Firehouse," "Black Diamond," and 100,000 Years."  And it also has the only song in the KISS catalog that was written by all four original members, the groovy instrumental "Love Theme from Kiss."

From here, KISS would go on to rule the world.

Favorite song on Side 1:  "Cold Gin"
It was a tough choice between "Strutter" and "Cold Gin," but I give the nod to "Cold Gin," despite my now 23-year-old taste aversion to gin.  It was the first song Ace Frehley wrote for KISS, but he wasn't comfortable singing at that point, so he asked Gene Simmons (who doesn't drink) to sing the song.  The premise of the song is preposterous, but that's why I like it.  The guy's heater's broker, and he's so tired, so what's his solution?  Go to the corner liquor store and buy a quart of cheap cold gin.  But this isn't the first time this has happened, is it?  After all, the chorus tells us, "It's cold gin time again / You know it'll always win / It's cold gin time again / You know it's the only thing that keeps us together."  Just so you're paying attention, this guy's relationship is on such shaky ground that cold gin is the only thing that keeps him and his lady together.

Favorite song on Side 2:  "Deuce"
Another KISS classic, "Deuce" has a driving riff that carries the song, and a wicked guitar solo. Also, according to Gene (who wrote the song), the lyrics have no meaning, although perhaps not coincidentally, "deuce" was slang for a $20 hummer back in the '70s. Therefore, the chorus "Baby if you're feelin' good / Baby if you're feelin' nice / You know your man is working hard / He's worth a deuce" might mean "Honey, I had a shitty day at work, so if it wouldn't be too much trouble, I could really use a BJ. If that doesn't seem like something you'd be into right now, can I borrow twenty bucks?"