Kiss. Psycho Circus (1998)

Psycho Circus is a 1998 album by the American hard rock band Kiss. It is also the last full studio album of new material from Kiss to date.

It was certified Gold on October 22, 1998, when it sold 500,000 copies

The track "You Wanted the Best" is the only Kiss song in which lead vocals are shared by the entire lineup.

Following Kiss' hugely successful 1996-1997 reunion tour, Psycho Circus was touted as the first album by the band's original lineup since 1979's Dynasty. As with Dynasty and 1980's Unmasked, however, a lot of the songs were recorded by uncredited players. It is now known that guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss were used sparingly, with Criss only playing drums on "Into the Void." (He had also played on only one Dynasty track). Frehley only played on two songs from the album (not including vocals).

The replacement of Criss and Frehley on a Kiss album was nothing new. Frehley had been replaced on songs as early as 1976's Destroyer. Criss was entirely absent from Unmasked, despite being pictured on the album's cover. The same was true for Frehley on 1982's Creatures of the Night. But at the time of those albums, Kiss managed to keep a lid on the personnel changes. With Psycho Circus, rumors concerning who played what were circulating prior to the album's release. Many Kiss fans voiced disappointment at the ruse.

Despite the controversy, Psycho Circus was the band's first Top 10 album since 1993's Alive III, their highest charting album - at #3, and was certified gold.

Track listing

1. "Psycho Circus" (Paul Stanley, Curtis Cuomo) – 5:30
2. "Within" (Gene Simmons) – 5:10
3. "I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock & Roll" (Stanley, Cuomo, Holly Knight) – 3:32
4. "Into the Void" (Ace Frehley, Karl Cochran) – 4:24
5. "We Are One" (Simmons) – 4:41
6. "You Wanted the Best" (Simmons) – 4:15
7. "Raise Your Glasses" (Stanley, Knight) – 4:14
8. "I Finally Found My Way" (Stanley, Bob Ezrin) – 3:40
9. "Dreamin'" (Stanley, Bruce Kulick) – 4:12
10. "Journey of 1,000 Years" (Simmons) – 4:49
11. "In Your Face*" (Simmons) - 3:40

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