Love Gun was Kiss' fifth studio album in three years (and seventh release overall, peaking at number four on Billboard), and proved to be the last release that the original lineup played on. By 1977, Kiss merchandise was flooding the marketplace (lunch boxes, makeup kits, comic books, etc.), and it would ultimately lead to a Kiss backlash in the '80s. But the band was still focused on their music for Love Gun, similar in sound and approach to Rock and Roll Over, their previous straight-ahead rock release. It included Ace Frehley's lead vocals on "Shock Me," as well as one of Kiss' best and most renowned hard rockers in the thunderous title track. The album's opener, "I Stole Your Love," also served as the opening number on Kiss' ensuing tour, while "Christine Sixteen" is one of the few Kiss tracks to contain piano prominently. "Almost Human" is an underrated rocker and features a great Jimi Hendrix-esque guitar solo from Frehley (no doubt due to ex-Hendrix producer Eddie Kramer manning the boards again), while "Plaster Caster" is a tribute to the famous groupies of the same name. The only weak spots on an otherwise stellar album are an obvious "Rock and Roll All Nite" ripoff titled "Tomorrow and Tonight," and a pointless remake of the Phil Spector-penned classic "Then He Kissed Me" (reworked as "Then She Kissed Me"). ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
Love Gun is an album by the Americanhard rock band Kiss. It was certified Platinum on June 30, 1977 when it sold 1,000,000 copies.[1]Love Gun was the second Kiss album to ship platinum, and would eventually achieve triple platinum status.
Love Gun is notable for being the first Kiss album to feature a lead vocal performance from lead guitarist Ace Frehley. This makes Love Gun the first Kiss album to feature lead vocal performances from all four band members. It was also the last album to feature the entire original lineup of Kiss on every track, as drummer Peter Criss was replaced by session drummer Anton Fig for much of 1979's Dynasty.[2]
A cardboard "Love Gun" (assembly required) was included inside the album,[3] along with a Kiss merchandise order form.[4]
"Christine Sixteen" has also been a permanent staple on the band's shows. Then unknown guitarist Eddie and drummer Alex Van Halen played on the demo of this song.[5] In this song, Gene Simmons talks like he did later in Domino.
"Shock Me"
The song was inspired by an event that took place during Kiss's Rock and Roll Over tour, when Frehley was nearly electrocuted. On December 12, 1976, Kiss performed a concert at the Lakeland Civic Center in Lakeland, Florida. During the opening number, Frehley touched a metal staircase railing, which was ungrounded. Frehley was knocked to the ground, and the concert was delayed for 30 minutes. The show was eventually completed, and Frehley claimed to have lost feeling in his hand for the remainder of the concert.[6]
"Tomorrow And Tonight"
This song was written to try and recapture the feeling of "Rock And Roll All Nite," but never reached the success of the original. A soundchecked version appears on Alive II.
"Love Gun"
The title song, "Love Gun", has been played on every Kiss tour since its release. Singer, songwriter (and for this one song only bassist)[7]Paul Stanley has cited it as one of his favorite Kiss songs.[8]
"Plaster Caster"
Even though none of the band members attended a cast session, the song "Plaster Caster" was inspired by Cynthia Plaster Caster, a former groupie who is infamous for casting penises of famous rock musicians[9] like Jimi Hendrix, as well as breasts of female music artists.[10]
