KISS: Dynasty (40th Anniversary Exclusive Translucent Green Vinyl)

Dynasty is the seventh studio album by the American rock band KISS, produced by Vini Poncia and released by Casablanca Records on May 23, 1979. It was the first time that the four original members of Kiss did not all appear together for the entire album. In later interviews, the band admitted they started listening to outsiders about what direction the music should go in around the time of Dynasty.

The album and the following tour were billed as the “Return of Kiss”. Kiss had not released a studio album since Love Gun in 1977. Instead, the band released their second live album, Alive II, and each member had recorded eponymous solo albums, which were simultaneously released on September 18, 1978.

After pre-production and rehearsals were completed, Vini Poncia (who had produced Peter Criss), decided that Criss’ drumming was substandard, an opinion shared by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. By this time, Criss was hindered by injuries to his hands that he had suffered in a 1978 car accident. Kiss hired the South African-born studio drummer Anton Fig, who played on Ace Frehley, to play on the Dynasty sessions. “On Dynasty, Peter was pretty much out of commission,” reflected Stanley, “so I wouldn’t point to it as a classic Kiss album.”[8] With the exception of his song, “Dirty Livin'”, Criss does not appear on the album, and he did not perform on another Kiss album until Psycho Circus in 1998, on which he again only played on one song. Fig was again hired to replace Criss during recording sessions for the following album, Unmasked. Eric Carr was hired as Criss’ permanent replacement before the Unmasked Tour began.

Frehley, who himself left the band three years later, sings three songs on Dynasty: “Hard Times”, “Save Your Love” and a cover version of the Rolling Stones’ song “2000 Man”. Although he had frequently sung backing vocals and had written the Kiss classics “Cold Gin” and “Parasite”, Frehley had only previously been lead singer on his songs “Shock Me” on Love Gun, and “Rocket Ride” on the studio side of Alive II, as he lacked confidence in his ability as a lead singer.

Stanley’s “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” was an attempt to cash in on the popularity of disco music. It was one of the band’s most successful singles, peaking at #11 on the American singles chart. He also sang on “Sure Know Something” and “Magic Touch”. In contrast, Simmons sings lead vocals on only two songs, “Charisma” and “X-Ray Eyes”.

Giorgio Moroder was originally scheduled to produce Dynasty. Escape from Hell was the subtitle of Dynasty’s Japanese release.

The album includes a colorful jacket cover which is actually a collage of photos taken from the photo session and not a group shot as it appears. The label shows a portrait of all four members instead of the usual Casablanca label. Inserts included a merchandise order form and a full-color poster.