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Alive! (Kiss album)

Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:22:21 PM Wikipedia source

Alive! is the fourth album overall, and the first live album, by American hard rock band Kiss, released on September 10, 1975. It is considered to be their breakthrough, and a landmark for live albums. The double-album 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 23, 1975. The album's title was an homage to the 1972 live album Slade Alive! by the English rock group Slade, a band that heavily influenced Kiss.

Infobox

Released
September 10, 1975 (1975-09-10)
Recorded
May 16, 1975 (Cobo Arena, Detroit)June 21, 1975 (Cleveland Music Hall, Cleveland)July 20, 1975 (RKO Orpheum Theater, Davenport)July 23, 1975 (Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood)
Studio
Electric Lady (New York City)
Genre
Hard rock heavy metal
Length
72:35
Label
Casablanca
Producer
Eddie Kramer

Tables

Professional ratings · Reception › Critical
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
Blender
Blender
Review scores
Blender
Review scores
Christgau's Record Guide
Christgau's Record Guide
Review scores
Christgau's Record Guide
Review scores
B−
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Review scores
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Review scores
10/10
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
Pitchfork
Pitchfork
Review scores
Pitchfork
Review scores
10/10
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
Spin Alternative Record Guide
Spin Alternative Record Guide
Review scores
Spin Alternative Record Guide
Review scores
7/10
Uncut
Uncut
Review scores
Uncut
Review scores
Review scores
Source
Rating
AllMusic
Blender
Christgau's Record Guide
B−
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
10/10
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Pitchfork
10/10
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Spin Alternative Record Guide
7/10
Uncut
· Charts › Weekly charts
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1975–1976)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Peakposition
13
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1975–1976)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Peakposition
3
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Chart (1975–1976)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Peakposition
56
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Chart (1975–1976)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Peakposition
31
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (1975–1976)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Peakposition
22
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1975–1976)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
49
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1975–1976)
US Billboard 200
Peakposition
9
Chart (1975–1976)
Peakposition
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
13
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
3
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
56
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
31
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
22
UK Albums (OCC)
49
US Billboard 200
9
· Charts › Year-end charts
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1976)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Position
24
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1976)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Position
20
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1976)
US Billboard 200
Position
31
Chart (1976)
Position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
24
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
20
US Billboard 200
31
· Certifications
Australia (ARIA)
Australia (ARIA)
Region
Australia (ARIA)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
20,000^
Canada (Music Canada)
Canada (Music Canada)
Region
Canada (Music Canada)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
50,000^
United States (RIAA)
United States (RIAA)
Region
United States (RIAA)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Region
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Region
Certification
Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)
Gold
20,000^
Canada (Music Canada)
Gold
50,000^
United States (RIAA)
Gold
500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. "10 All-Time Greatest Metal Live Albums"
    https://noisecreep.com/best-live-albums-of-all-time/
  2. Kiss Alive! 1975-2000
  3. Kiss and Make-up
  4. Ken Sharpe interview with Jim Lea
  5. Ultimate Albums
  6. Mental Floss
    http://mentalfloss.com/article/62982/101-masterpieces-kiss-alive
  7. Sharp, Simmons & Stanley 2013, p. 488.
  8. Sharp, Simmons & Stanley 2013, p. 491.
  9. Simmons 2001, p. 111.
  10. Sharp, Simmons & Stanley 2013, pp. 492–493.
  11. Sharp, Simmons & Stanley 2013, pp. 491–492.
  12. Face the Music: A Life Exposed
  13. Encyclopedia of KISS: Music, Personnel, Events and Related Subjects
  14. Prato, Greg. Alive! – Kiss at AllMusic
    https://www.allmusic.com/album/r11053
  15. KISS - Classic Albums VH1- ALIVE, YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhwFT9i-ggk
  16. Ultimate Classic Rock
    https://ultimateclassicrock.com/kiss-alive/
  17. KISS - Classic Albums VH1- ALIVE, YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhwFT9i-ggk
  18. Loudersound.com
    https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-30-albums-that-built-heavy-metal
  19. Loudwire
    https://loudwire.com/kiss-alive-album-anniversary/
  20. AllMusic
    https://www.allmusic.com/album/kiss-alive%21-1975-2000-mw0000560146
  21. [1] [dead link]
    http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/52637/alive!-l.html
  22. Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies
    https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=K&bk=70
  23. The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies
  24. Encyclopedia of Popular Music
  25. "Kiss: Alive!"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20051102130719/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/k/kiss/alive.shtml
  26. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide
    https://web.archive.org/web/20131204204552/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kiss/albumguide
  27. Spin Alternative Record Guide
  28. Uncut
  29. Rolling Stone
    https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/alive-91720/
  30. Billboard
    https://www.billboard.com/artist/kiss/chart-history/tlp/
  31. Rolling Stone
    https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/kiss-alive-158810/
  32. Rolling Stone
    https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/kiss-alive-2-1062928/
  33. "Top 10 Live Albums Every Rock Fan Should Own"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120408215502/http://www.guitarworld.com/top-10-live-albums
  34. (quoted in) Tolinski, Brad: 'The Woodshed', Guitar World, September 1996
  35. I'm the Man – The Story of That Guy from Anthrax
  36. Classic Rock
    https://www.loudersound.com/features/kiss-alive-anthrax-charlie-benante-interview
  37. Blabbermouth.net
    https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/kiss-soundscan-era-record-sales-revealed/
  38. Alive!
  39. "Interview with original KISS Krew member J.R. Smalling"
    https://medium.com/@threewayspeakers-onetrackmind/interview-with-original-kiss-krew-j-r-smalling-919edee6f85a#.nqgy7y3te
  40. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992
  41. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6471a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6471a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6471a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6471a
  42. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005
  43. "Norwegiancharts.com – Kiss – Alive!". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Alive!&cat=a
  44. "Swedishcharts.com – Kiss – Alive!". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Alive!&cat=a
  45. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19760620/7502/
  46. "Kiss Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kiss/chart-history/TLP
  47. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5175". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5175&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5175.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5175
  48. Billboard
    https://web.archive.org/web/20181222190714/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1976/top-billboard-200-albums/
  49. Cash Box
    https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/70s/1976/Cash-Box-1976-03-06-OCR-Page-0043.pdf
  50. "Canadian album certifications – Kiss – Alive"
    https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Alive%20Kiss
  51. "American album certifications – Kiss – Alive"
    https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Kiss&ti=Alive&format=Album&type=#search_section
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