Alive! is the first live album, and fourth overall, by American hard rock band Kiss. It is considered to be their breakthrough and a landmark for live albums. Released on September 10, 1975, the double-disc set contains live versions of selected tracks from their first three studio albums, Kiss, Hotter Than Hell and Dressed to Kill. It was recorded at concerts in Detroit, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Wildwood, New Jersey; and Davenport, Iowa on May 16, June 21, July 20 and July 23, 1975.

The album's title was a homage to the 1972 live album Slade Alive! from the English rock group Slade, a band that heavily influenced Kiss.

Background

From 1973 to 1975, Kiss released three albums: Kiss, Hotter than Hell, and Dressed to Kill. Although the three albums helped establish a cult following in the Rust Belt, they were commercial failures. Guitarist Paul Stanley attributed the low sales to Kiss' weak sound when they were in the studio versus when they were in concert. According to Stanley: "I never thought any of our first three albums captured the intensity of what the band was going for or was. And it was a problem because people would come to see us and many of them weren't buying our albums." Kiss was famous for its elaborate stage performances, where the band members would wear kabuki-style makeup, use pyrotechnics, and spit fake blood. Bassist Gene Simmons said that because of Kiss' notoriety, they were kicked off of multiple tours with groups like Argent, Black Sabbath, and Savoy Brown because they were afraid to play after Kiss.  

Kiss' record label, Casablanca Records, had similar financial issues. By 1974, Casablanca's profits were declining, so CEO Neil Bogart decided to release a double album of audio highlights from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, a show that averaged fourteen million viewers a night. Casablanca shipped 750,000 copies, but the album was an enormous failure. Distributors mailed back their free copies, and Casablanca co-founder Larry Harris said: "It hit the floor with a lifeless, echoing thud." The failure negatively affected many acts signed with Casablanca, including Kiss; the band only received $15,000 advance for the first three albums, and had yet to receive any royalties. As a result of the breach of contract, Kiss began looking at other labels to sign with, and a lawsuit was eventually filed against Bogart.

In a last-ditch effort to save the label, Bogart decided to capitalize on Kiss' onstage notoriety and have the band record a live album. Kiss' manager Bill Aucoin was receptive toward the idea, as he felt the band could finally achieve the sound they strove for. He also liked the fact that a live recording would be less expensive than a studio recording. The band members also liked the idea, and within a few days Bogart arranged the Dressed to Kill Tour. Bogart could not finance the tour however, so Aucoin paid for the entire tour with his own money, a total of $300,000.

Track listing

Side one

No.

Title

Writer(s)

Lead vocals

Length

1.

"Deuce"

Gene Simmons

Simmons

3:56

2.

""

Paul Stanley, Simmons

Stanley

3:22

3.

"Got to Choose"

Stanley

Stanley

3:40

4.

"Hotter than Hell"

Stanley

Stanley

3:30

5.

"Firehouse"

Stanley

Stanley

3:50

 

Side two

No.

Title

Writer(s)

Lead vocals

Length

6.

"Nothin' to Lose"

Simmons

Simmons, Peter Criss

3:33

7.

"C'mon and Love Me"

Stanley

Stanley

3:05

8.

"Parasite"

Ace Frehley

Simmons

3:34

9.

"She"

Simmons, Stephen Coronel

Simmons, Stanley, Criss

6:56

 

Side three

No.

Title

Writer(s)

Lead vocals

Length

10.

"Watchin' You"

Simmons

Simmons

3:49

11.

"100,000 Years"

Stanley, Simmons

Stanley

12:12

12.

"Black Diamond"

Stanley

Criss, intro by Stanley

6:16

 

Side four

No.

Title

Writer(s)

Lead vocals

Length

13.

"Rock Bottom"

Stanley （intro: Frehley）

Stanley

3:21

14.

"Cold Gin"

Frehley

Simmons

7:16

15.

"Rock and Roll All Nite"

Stanley, Simmons

Simmons

3:59

16.

"Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll"

Stanley, Simmons

Simmons

5:45

Personnel

Kiss

Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals Ace Frehley – lead guitar, backing vocals Gene Simmons – bass guitar, vocals Peter Criss – drums, vocals

With

J.R. Smalling – spoken word introduction