LOVE GUN (1977)

Casablanca NBL-5/8/P-7057 (USA, 6/17/1977)

A1. I Stole Your Love (3:04) - Stanley | LYRICS
A2. Christine Sixteen (3:12) - Simmons | LYRICS

(USA #25, 7/16/77; AUZ #99; CAN #22; GER #46)

A3. Got Love For Sale (3:28) - Simmons | LYRICS
A4. Shock Me (3:47) - Frehley | LYRICS
A5. Tomorrow And Tonight (3:38) - Stanley | LYRICS
B1. Love Gun (3:16) - Stanley | LYRICS

(USA #61, 9/24/77; CAN #41)

B2. Hooligan (2:58) - Criss/Penridge | LYRICS
B3. Almost Human (2:48) - Simmons | LYRICS
B4. Plaster Caster (3:25) - Simmons | LYRICS
B5. Then She Kissed Me (3:01) - Barry/Greenwich/Spector | LYRICS

(AUZ #78)

Disc 2: (2014 Deluxe Edition Only)
11. Much Too Soon (Demo) (3:23) - Simmons | LYRICS
12. Plaster Caster (Demo) (3:35) - Simmons | LYRICS
13. Reputation (Demo) (5:39) - Simmons | LYRICS
14. Love Gun (Teaching Demo) (2:14) - Stanley | LYRICS
15. Love Gun (Demo) (3:18) - Stanley | LYRICS
16. Gene Simmons 1977 Interview (6:59)
17. Tomorrow and Tonight (Instumental Demo) (3:46) - Stanley
18. I Know Who You Are (Demo) (3:09) - Simmons | LYRICS
19. Love Gun (Live) (3:34) - Stanley
20. Christine Sixteen (Live) (2:55) - Simmons
21. Shock Me (Live) (8:21) - Frehley

Produced by KISS and Eddie Kramer. Recorded at the Record Plant Studios, New York City, NY, during May 1977. Engineered and mixed by Eddie Kramer and Corky Stasiak. Some copies of the album have a misspelling of Ace's surname. Aerosmith's producer, Jack Douglas, was considered to produce this album prior to Eddie committing to the project. Casablanca raised the price of their albums by $1 to $7.98 on 6/27, just in time for the release of this album. Included gun. Japanese Victor release a gate-fold cover.

The 2014 deluxe edition includes a mix of demos, an interview, and three live tracks recorded at the Capitol Centre in Landover, MD, on December 20, 1977 (technically the Alive II tour). This show was previously partially released as the Wal-Mart bonus disc for "KISSology, Volume 1" DVD in 2006, though track 21 wasn't included on the video.

I Stole Your Love - Paul and Ace share lead guitar on solo
Christine Sixteen - Gene Simmons on guitar and piano
Got Love For Sale - Gene Simmons on guitar
Love Gun - Paul Stanley on bass and all guitars except solo
Hooligan - Paul Stanley on end solo
Almost Human - Gene Simmons on rhythm guitar, Jimmy Maelin on congas
Plaster Caster - Gene Simmons on guitar
Then She Kissed Me - Paul Stanley on lead guitar
** Background vocalists, The KISSettes: Tasha Thomas, Ray Simpson, and Hilda Harris

Chart Peak (USA): #4 (7/30/77) with 25 weeks on charts. Other countries: CAN #3; GER #18; SWE #6

"Love Gun" was certified gold and platinum by the RIAA on 6/30/77. It has never been recertified, but has sold over 229,000 (3/12) copies since the SoundScan era commenced in 1991.

There has long been the suggestion that "Almost Human" was performed during the first show of the "Love Gun" tour in Halifax, Nova Scotia. However, no proof other than word-of-mouth or hearsay has yet surfaced, so it remains unconfirmed and discounted. It was briefly attempted (twice) at the KISS Konvention in San Francisco, CA on June 18, and at some other shows. When the tour started five new songs were in the set: "Love Gun," "Hooligan," "Shock Me," "I Stole Your Love," and "Christine Sixteen." During the unplugged era "Plaster Caster" became a staple in the set. "Got Love for Sale," "Tomorrow and Tonight," and "Then She Kissed Me" remain unperformed (fully). "Got Love for Sale" had a single unplugged attempt on June 22, 1995 in Salt Lake City, UT. Even though it was on "Alive II," "Tomorrow and Tonight" was never performed live by KISS, at least in front of a paying audience, since it could have been tried out at Sound check. Recorded in the studio on the same day as "Larger than Life" (Sharp, Ken - BtM) and mixed with an audience track.

Gatefold
Inner Dust Sleeve
Assembled "Love Gun"
US Love Gun Picture Center Ring
Merchandise Order Form Side 1 | Side 2