HOTTER THAN HELL (1974)

Details:

Casablanca/Astor NBLP-7006 (Australia, 1974)
Casablanca/Quatro CBLP-9098 (Chile, 1977)
Casablanca/Phonogram 6399-058 (Europe, 1980)
Casablanca/Vogue CBLA-71002 (France, 1975)
Casablanca/EMI-Electrola 1C 062-96 262 (Germany, 1975)
Casablanca/Bellaphon NB-7002 (Germany, 1976)
Casablanca/Phonogram 6399-058 (Germany, 1980)
Casablanca/Phonogram PIC6399-058 (Holland, 1980 - Picture Disc)
Casablanca/Phonogram CALP-5040 (Italy, 1980)
Casablanca/Victor VIP-6340 (Japan, 1976)
Casablanca/Polystar 22S-2 (Japan, 1980)
Polystar R00C-2012 (Japan, 1984)
Polystar P33C-20004 (Japan, 1987 - CD Reissue)
Mercury PHCR-3053 (Japan, 1997 - CD Remaster)
Mercury PHCR-4316 (Japan, 1997 - CD Remaster)
Mercury PHJR-20003 (Japan, 7/15/1998 - Colored Vinyl Box Set)
Universal/Mercury PHCR-94041 (Japan, 9/19/1998 - CD Remaster Reissue)
Universal/Mercury UICY-2506 (Japan, 8/21/02 - Reissue)
Universal/Mercury UICY-93091 (Japan, 7/5/06 - Limited Edition)
Universal/Mercury UICY-6638 (Japan, 3/7/06 - Reissue)
Casablanca/SEM SEL-100495 (Korea, 197?)
Casablanca/Gamma GX-01-764 (Mexico, 1975)
Casablanca/PolyGram LPR-43048 (Mexico, 1980)
Casablanca/Diffusion DRS-1008 (New Zealand, 1975)
Casablanca/PolyGram NBLP-7006 (New Zealand, 1979 "Dynasty" Reissue)
Casablanca NAL2-7005 (South Africa, 1975)
Casablanca NAL2-7005 (South Africa, 1977 "Love Gun" Reissue)
Casablanca/EMI 1E 062-96 262L (Sweden, 1975)
Casablanca/Kong Mei KM-2021 (Taiwan, 1977)
Casablanca/Pye CALH-2007 (UK, 5/77 - red, then later black vinyl)
Casablanca/Phonogram 824 147-1/4 (UK, 7/89)
Casablanca/Vertigo 824 147-2 (UK, 5/89 - CD Reissue)
Casablanca NBLP-7006 (US, 10/22/74)
Casablanca/PolyGram 824-147-1/2/4 (US Reissue, 7/85 & CD, 7/87)
Mercury 532-375-2/4 (US Remaster, 7/15/97)
Mercury/Island Def Jam Music Group B002006901-A (USA, 4/1/2014 - 180g vinyl)

Tracks:

A1. Got To Choose (3:52) - Stanley | LYRICS
A2. Parasite (3:01) - Frehley | LYRICS
A3. Goin' Blind (3:34) - Simmons/Coronel | LYRICS
A4. Hotter Than Hell (3:30) - Stanley | LYRICS
A5. Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll (2:16) - Simmons/Stanley | LYRICS

(USA 10/74, did not chart)

B1. All The Way (3:17) - Simmons | LYRICS
B2. Watchin' You (3:45) - Simmons | LYRICS
B3. Mainline (3:50) - Stanley | LYRICS
B4. Comin' Home (2:37) - Stanley/Frehley | LYRICS
B5. Strange Ways (3:17) - Frehley | LYRICS

Notes:

Produced by Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise. Recorded at The Village Recorder Studios, Los Angeles, CA; August and September 1974. Engineered and mixed by Warren Dewey at The Village Recorder. Mastered at Allen Zentz, Los Angeles, CA. This album was originally going to be titled, "The Harder They Come" (Circus, 1974) but didn't turn out to be the "second burn triumph" hoped for. The Argentine version of 1984 features a vastly different comic style cover made up of images from the solo posters. The Taiwanese version on Casablanca/Dragon, either removes or replaces the Japanese script appearing on the album's cover. In the graphic above the famous "Chikara" insignia has been replace with Chinese script. On the front cover, the band member's names, appearing in yellow boxes, are completely blank. This release also features a lyric insert.

Performance credits:

No substitutions/extras currently known, however...
Parasite - Ace is rumored to play bass

Chart Action:

USA Chart Peak (USA): #100 (12/26/74) with 15 weeks on charts. Other countries: AUZ #98; CAN #97 (1974/5), #29 (1976); JAP #46

RIAA/Sales:

USA: "Hotter Than Hell" was certified Gold by the RIAA on 6/23/1977. It has never been recertified, but has sold over 185,000 copies since the SoundScan era commenced in 1991.

Performed Live:

Since several of these songs were leftovers from the club period they too form part the core of KISS' original catalog. As a result it should not be surprising that all of them have been performed live. " Goin' Blind," "Baby, Let Me Go" (later re-titled " Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll") and " Watchin' You" were all performed at KISS' first ever gig, on January 30, 1973. "Got To Choose" and "Parasite" were the first new album tracks added to the band's set as they headed out on the road in support of the album in October 1974. "Hotter Than Hell" soon followed. Other songs such as "Mainline" and "Strange Ways" were briefly tried live and discarded. The final two songs, "Comin' Home," and "All The Way" wouldn't be performed, respectively, until 1995 (Unplugged) and 2004. The former would finally get a proper electric performance on the KISS Kruise of 2011.

Multimedia:

Center-rings: "Bogart" 1st | "Bogart" 2nd | "Bogart" 3rd (with address) | "Casbah" (aka "Camel") | "Filmworks" | PolyGram
Other center-rings: Canada "Bogart"
Taiwanese version w/ Chinese Characters!
Argentine version w/ alternative cover!
Argentine Promotional Reissue Center-ring Scan

PolyGram reissue rear UPC sticker