KISS Creatures Of The Night Super Deluxe box set
( UMe )
Events leading to 1982 ' s Creatures of the Night found Kiss in transition and taking stock , with a focused desire to reclaim the band ' s fundamental sound and appeal . 1979 ' s pop-oriented Dynasty ( with disco hit " I Was Made for Lovin ' You ") had been a top ten album but Unmasked and Music from " The Elder " encountered slipping fortunes in the USA as a burnt-out band tried to change a winning formula . Following those two illremembered LPs , drummer Peter Criss was out , replaced by hard-hitting drummer Eric Carr . Lead guitarist Ace Frehley had been pushing for a return to Kiss ' roots in heavier rock and was especially disappointed by Music from " The Elder ," but had given up on the band and succumbed to addiction before work began on the new album . Frehley appeared on Creatures ' cover art but was ghost-performed by musician and songwriter Vinnie Vincent . Creatures of the Night returned the band decisively to the hard-rock territory that had made fan favorites of albums including Destroyer and Love Gun . Staple cuts include the single " I Love it Loud ," with its monstrous beat and arena-sized singalong chorus . The chugging title cut tips its hat toward Led Zeppelin ' s " Immigrant Song ." Bassist Gene Simmons sings grim-riffer " War Machine ," co-written with Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance . The bombastic ballad " I Still Love You " featured Paul Stanley ' s anguished vocal and became another setlist mainstay at Kiss shows . Simmons and Stanley enlisted outside help to realize their revitalized vision of a heavier Kiss sound . Mr . Mister guitarist Steve Farris performs lead guitar on the title track " Creatures of the Night ." Robben Ford contributes guitar to " I Still Love You " and " Rock and Roll Hell ." Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora and future Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick had been among those who auditioned to replace him in the studio and on stage . The Super Deluxe box includes five CDs and a Blu-ray disc with highdefinition and surround audio . The set comprises 103 songs in total , with 75 previously unreleased . The main album is refreshed with a new remaster that adds depth and dimension to the sound , particularly to Carr ' s John Bonham-inspired drumming . Two discs of demos and studio outtakes feature four previously unheard songs from the Killers era , including " Partners in Crime ," in addition to three unreleased songs from the Penny Lane session that produced The Elder . Fans will make repeated returns to two Continued on page 14 discs of soundboard recordings f Ki ' 1982 83 t Li
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