Psycho Circus

Psycho Circus
Studio album by Kiss
Released	September 22, 1998
Recorded	January – April 1998, A&M Studios, Hollywood, California, One on One Studios, New York
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal[1]
Length	47:03
Label	Mercury
Producer	Bruce Fairbairn
Kiss chronology
Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997) Psycho Circus (1998) Sonic Boom (2009)

Psycho Circus is the 18th studio album by American rock band Kiss. The album features the original four members back together and in full make-up. Some pressings featured a lenticular cover that alternates between a black Kiss logo and the album title with pictures of a clown and the band members, while the Japan initial first pressing featured a pop-up cover which had 3 foam spring-loaded panels of a clown face and 2 others with band members faces that popped out when the doors were opened. The track "You Wanted the Best" is the only Kiss song in which lead vocals are shared by the entire lineup.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Metal Nightfall	[2]
Sputnikmusic	[3]
Rolling Stone	[4]
Entertainment Weekly	A−[5]

Following the highly successful 1996-1997 reunion tour, Psycho Circus was marketed as the first studio album by the band's original lineup since 1979's Dynasty (as Peter Criss did not participate on 1980's Unmasked). As with Dynasty and Unmasked, however, many of the songs were recorded by uncredited players. Guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss were used sparingly, with Criss only playing drums on "Into the Void." Frehley played on two songs from the album (not including vocals).

In a radio interview with Eddie Trunk following his departure Criss stated that only "Into the Void" featured instrumental contributions from all four members. Regarding the lack of cohesion in the group at the time of recording, Stanley stated "We tried to do a Kiss album, and it was an ill-fated attempt because there was no real band,"^[6] and continued by adding "For a band to make a great album, it has to share a common purpose, and we didn’t have it."^[6]

Psycho Circus debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200, selling 110,000 copies in its first week of release, and was certified Gold by the RIAA on October 22, 1998.^[7][8] Rolling Stone (11/12/98, p. 119) said about the album, "Psycho Circus is an album of platform-stomping rhythms, roller-coaster guitar riffs and sing-along choruses - is far more respectable than any of the awkward flops from the no-makeup years." Entertainment Weekly (9/25/98, p. 106) said, "This is rock with a capital R, captured in all its cheesy glory... This new effort proves that in the circus of hard-rock dinosaurs, Kiss remains its Barnum & Bailey."^[9]

Track listing

A limited edition was released in Brazil after Kiss concerts in the country, adding the second disc with live tracks, like the Japanese release, but without the bonus track "In Your Face" on the first disc. In Europe this expanded-release was tied-in with the tour, retaining the prismatic jewel-case of the original CD-release but adding a new sticker to the front and amended tray-insert.

Personnel

• Paul Stanley - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass guitar on "We are one", "I finally found my way" and on the chorus on "I pledge allegiance"
• Gene Simmons - lead vocals, bass guitar and rhythm guitar on "We are one"
• Ace Frehley - lead guitar and lead vocals (only on "Into the Void" and "You Wanted the Best")
• Peter Criss - drums (only on "Into the Void"), lead vocals (only on "You Wanted the Best" and "I Finally Found My Way")

Uncredited

• Tommy Thayer - lead guitar on all tracks except "Into the void" and "You wanted the best"
• Kevin Valentine - drums on all tracks except "Into the void"
• Bruce Kulick - Backwards guitar intro on "Within"
• Shelly Berg - Acoustic Piano on "I finally found my way" and "Journey of 1,000 years"
• Bob Ezrin - Fender Rhodes on "I finally found my way"

Symphonic Arrangements on "I finally found my way" and "Journey of 1,000 years"

Charts

Album

Singles

Certifications

References