Actually, it was more like couldn't. In the height of KISS's initial 1970s popularity, there was a rumor among parents that these make-up wearing rock stars were not appropriate for a ten year old. My parents, therefore, restricted my acquiring of KISS albums after I purchased 1978's Ace Frehley solo album, the only one I bought that year. What I cannot remember, however, was how I came to own Unmasked (1980). Perhaps, by then, things had changed.
Be that as it may, it took me another twentysomething years to finally purchase KISS Dynasy (I bought the 1997 remastered version). I've now lived with "The Return of KISS" (as it was billed in 1979) for an additional twenty years. And I'm come to a conclusion: the album gets a bad rap for being a disco album. The truth is in the music.
Disco Permeated the Culture
By May 1979, the crest of the disco wave may have already passed, but the music was still everywhere: on radio, on TV, on commercials. Yes, the growing punk movement was already railing against disco and yes, there was the famous Disco Demolition Night in Chicago, but many established artists and bands brought elements of disco into their music. David Bowie did it. Chicago did it. Rod Stewart did it. The charts of popular songs and albums demonstrated the buying public enjoyed the music.
So why wouldn't KISS try their hand at writing a disco song?
The genesis was already out there. In 1978, they released Double Platinum with a remixed and discoized version of "Strutter." Now, it wasn't really a disco song. All that was basically added was a hit hat cymbal doing sixteenth notes. Nevertheless, Paul Stanley brought to the studio a song destined to overshadow the rest of the new KISS album.
I Was Made For Loving You
I may not have owned the album in 1979, but I knew the song. It was on the radio. It was featured in the commercials for the new record. It was even sung by Linda Carter on a variety show. Then, as now, I love this song. There are the high hat beats underscored by the bass played by Gene Simmons. I was not adept at musical knowledge to hear that it wasn't Peter Criss playing the drums, but Anton Fig. If any song on this album could be said to be disco (well, there are two), it was this one, but it's still not 100% disco. It's a power pop song, and a darn good one. Even the 1993 version on the Revenge tour when KISS created the harder-edged version, it remains a good song.
The Rest of Side One
If the opening track rang disco bells, then the intro of the next song, Frehley's cover of the Rolling Stones's song "2,000 Man," reminded listeners KISS remained a rock band. There's nary a disco note in this tune. It's all Ace, almost as if he wrote it himself.
"Sure Know Something," also written by Paul, could also be lumped into a disco bubble, but only tangentially. It's more mainstream pop than disco, and it is arguably one of the best songs Paul ever wrote. All performers are working at perk performance here. The bass kicks off the song and drives the opening riff. It is one of my favorite melodic bass lines Gene eve performed. The rhythm guitar lays in tasteful chord patterns. Anton Fig sets the tempo with tasteful and sure-footed playing. And Paul's singing is incredible. One of the best of his entire career. I never heard this song until the Unplugged version debuted, but have loved it ever since.
"Dirty Living" is Peter Criss's lone song on Dynasty, but it's a winner. Many people who hear it now (and maybe even in 1979) think it sounds like the theme song to some 70s cop TV show. Spot on. Peter's vocals are really good on this tune, a nice return to his early 70s sound. I'm thinking of Mainline, Strangeways, and Baby Driver. Yes, there is a definitive disco vibe, but the pocket is such a good groove, you don't care. The guitar solos that interweave throughout this song bring this song up in stature, especially the latter solos that go higher on the fret board. Great song. One of Peter's best.
Side Two
"Charisma" is Gene's first song on the album. That it arrives on side two might give you and indication of where Gene's mind was at the time. As a kid, I heard this song at a friend's house, and the only thing that shocked me was Gene emphasizing the word "sexuality." The Gene vocals from the mid 70s is on full display here, with all of his ad libs and peculiar vocal tics. The guitar solo is good, a nice respite from the driving rhythm of the main verses. And there's cowbell! What's not to like?
Over the years, I've learned that Paul either wrote most of songs during the studio sessions or only brought in a handful for consideration. That the trio of songs he contributed to Dynasty are so good is a testament to his songwriting prowess and keen ear for what works. "Magic Touch" is a nice, mid-tempo song that serves to highlight Paul's growing vocal ability. That it includes yet another melodic bass line and a good guitar solo is icing on the cake. What does Paul think of this song? He brought it out in 2006 during his solo tour. To think that all three of Paul's songs on this album have reemerged in later years is all the proof you need to know these are special songs.
Ace returns with "Hard Times," his autobiographical song about his time growing up in New York. Ace songs have a certain vibe. His 1978 solo solidified it, and "Hard Times" fits right in that pocket. Whimsy is on full display with the various background noises, too. Befitting a song with that title, this is a rock and roll song with zero disco. More evidence? The solo. A nicely composed piece that changes the feel halfway, basically giving listeners two guitar solos. And it ends without a fade.
"X-Ray Eyes" is Gene's second song. Like "Hard Times," there is no evidence of disco here. One of the criticisms of Dynasty is that it sounds less like a KISS album than outtakes from the four solo albums. That's very true here. I don't dislike the song, but it there's a throwaway song, this is it. I suspect, however, ten year old me would have loved the sound effects in the background.
"Save Your Love" closes out the album on a spare, rocking song. You get punched in the gut on the opening few beats before Ace starts lamenting the singer's recent breakup. He all but screams at her in the chorus. Paul sings in his lower register on the chorus, and that's always a treat. The solo is a quirky solo chock full of trademark Ace-isms. I also love Gene's "Save your lo-ove!" call backs toward the end. And cowbell again. This is a rock that drives straight to the end, allowing listeners to pump fists and know KISS as a rock band still lived.
The Verdict
By the time I finally purchased the CD in 1997, I knew Dynasty as 'the disco album.' But when you actually listen to the songs--especially far away from the later 70s--what emerges is less of a disco album but a power pop/rock record with disco stylings included in at least two songs, maybe three. At nine songs, that's only a third at most. Since when does a third of something define something?
Dynasty is a really good record with some terrific songs that have stood the test of time these past forty years. I never begrudge a band for seeing what's popular and, if compelled, giving it a try. That's how a band remains popular. It's the job of a band to produce records people want to buy. In 1979, that meant incorporating disco into KISS's original sound to try and bring in the new, younger fans (like I was) with their existing fan base.
And they nailed it. No, the album wasn't to everyone's tastes. The dangerous band from 1973 had given way to the superhero rock stars who starred in comic books and sold toys by 1979. But as a collection of songs in 1979, it was perfectly suited to that time frame.
I have enjoyed Dynasty ever since I first listened to it back in 1997. It barely misses my own person Top 10 KISS albums (tune in tomorrow for the list) but it's in the Top 15.
A Different Point of View
In the most recent episode of Ken Mills's excellent PodKISSt, they did something neat in regards to Dynasty. Many of the initial album covers listed the songs in a different order. The physical LPs always had the track listing I mentioned here, but the album sleeve was different.
Ken and co-host BJ listen to the album with this as the song order:
Charisma | Dirty Livin' | Hard Times | I Was Made For Loving You | Magic Touch | Save Your Love | Sure Know Something | X-Ray Eyes | 2,000 Man
Take a listen. The album takes on a whole new vibe.
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