Monday, March 12, 2012

KISStory: On this day March 12, 1996 "Unplugged" Released

On this day, March 12, 1996, Kiss' Unplugged is released. The album features 16 Kiss songs played electric acoustic. Originally taped, a week after the 1995 Convention tour was completed, on August 9, 1995 in New York City. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Bruce Kulick opened the show with Kiss classics with the highlight of the night being the reunion of Peter Criss and Ace Frehley with Paul and Gene performing "Beth" and "2,000 Man" and then bringing out Eric and Bruce to perform "Nothin' To Lose" and "Rock And Roll All Nite" as a 6 piece band for the encores.



This marked the first time all original members played together since 1979's Dynasty tour. The album peaked on the US Billboard Top 200 at #15 and #4 on the Australian charts. The recordings were released in 4 different formats, vinyl album, CD, VHS and DVD. The video went Gold selling 50,000 copies in the US alone. The album went Gold in the US selling 500,000 copies. The single "Rock And Roll All Nite" reached #13 on the mainstream rock charts.

The vinyl release featured a collage poster with the DVD ( a hard to find item ) including tracks "Hard Luck Woman" (Paul Stanley vocals), "Spit," "Heaven's On Fire," "C'mon and Love Me" and a one of a kind country version of "God Of Thunder." Phil Ashley (a longtime Kiss associate) played piano on "Everytime I Look At You" and Jon Grindstaff,  conductor and string arrangements on "Every Time I Look at You."
Track Listing:
Comin' Home 
Plaster Caster 
Goin' Blind
Do You Love Me 
Domino 
Got To Choose  (US Vinyl and Video versions only- not on the US CD)
Sure Know Something 
A World Without Heroes 
Rock Bottom 
See You Tonight
I Still Love It 
Every Time I Look At You
2000 Man
Beth
Nothin' To Lose 
Rock and Roll All Nite

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