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Beth (song)

Updated: 12/20/2025, 3:00:43 PM Wikipedia source

"Beth" is a ballad by American rock band Kiss, originally released on their fourth studio album Destroyer (1976). The song was composed by producer Bob Ezrin, who reworked a demo called "Beck," which was written by drummer Peter Criss and his friend Stan Penridge. Released as an A-side single by Casablanca Records in August 1976, due to its growing popularity after having been released the previous month as the B-side to "Detroit Rock City", "Beth" is Kiss's biggest commercial hit in the United States, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song received a Gold Record certification from the RIAA, and won the 1977 People's Choice Award for "Favorite Song". The demo, "Beck", was written by Criss and Penridge during their time with the band Chelsea. During the recording of Destroyer, Criss showed it to Ezrin, who made several changes to it and recommended changing its title to "Beth". Due to its positive commercial reception, the song appeared in many of Kiss' concerts, where Criss usually sang it over an instrumental track. "Beth" has appeared on most Kiss compilations and live albums, including Kiss Unplugged (1996), where the band performed it acoustically.

Infobox

B-side
"Detroit Rock City"
Released
August 1976
Recorded
1976
Studio
Record Plant, New York City
Genre
Soft rock
Length
2:49
Label
Casablanca Records
Songwriters
Peter Criss, Stan Penridge and Bob Ezrin
Producer
Bob Ezrin

Tables

· Charts › Weekly charts
Australian Singles (Kent Music Report)
Australian Singles (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1976–1977)
Australian Singles (Kent Music Report)
Peakposition
79
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Chart (1976–1977)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Peakposition
5
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)
Chart (1976–1977)
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)
Peakposition
20
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1976–1977)
US Billboard Hot 100
Peakposition
7
US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
Chart (1976–1977)
US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
Peakposition
14
US Cash Box Top 100
US Cash Box Top 100
Chart (1976–1977)
US Cash Box Top 100
Peakposition
7
Chart (1976–1977)
Peakposition
Australian Singles (Kent Music Report)
79
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
5
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)
20
US Billboard Hot 100
7
US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
14
US Cash Box Top 100
7
· Charts › Year-end charts
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Chart (1976)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Position
69
US Cash Box
US Cash Box
Chart (1976)
US Cash Box
Position
92
US Opus
US Opus
Chart (1976)
US Opus
Position
96
Chart (1976)
Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
69
US Cash Box
92
US Opus
96
· Charts › Year-end charts
US American Top 40
US American Top 40
Chart (1977)
US American Top 40
Position
41
Chart (1977)
Position
US American Top 40
41
· Certifications
Canada (Music Canada)
Canada (Music Canada)
Region
Canada (Music Canada)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
75,000^
United States (RIAA)
United States (RIAA)
Region
United States (RIAA)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Region
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Region
Certification
Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)
Gold
75,000^
United States (RIAA)
Gold
1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. LA Weekly
    https://www.laweekly.com/this-monthly-club-is-a-non-ironic-celebration-of-rocks-softer-side/
  2. Criss 2012, p. 129.
  3. "Beth – Kiss"
    https://www.allmusic.com/song/beth-mt0031735684
  4. Stanley 2014, p. 28.
  5. Kiss
    https://www.allmusic.com/album/kiss-mw0000194489
  6. Criss 2012, p. 99.
  7. Simmons 2010, p. 8.
  8. "Lydia Criss Tells the 'Beth' Story"
    http://www.songfacts.com/blog/writing/lydia_criss_tells_the_beth_story/
  9. No Regrets
    https://archive.org/details/noregretsrocknro00freh
  10. Simmons 2010.
  11. "Kiss Forever: The Rolling Stone Cover Story"
    https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kiss-forever-40-years-of-feuds-and-fury-20140326?page=5
  12. Loudwire
    https://loudwire.com/kiss-paul-stanley-peter-criss-beth/
  13. Campion 2015, p. 11.
  14. Criss 2012, p. 130.
  15. Campion 2015, p. 20.
  16. Campion 2015, p. 21.
  17. Radio Revolution: Rise and Fall of the Big 8 Dir. Michael McNamara. Markham Street Films, 2004. Film
  18. Riaa.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152533/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=kiss&format=SINGLE&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25
  19. Leaf & Sharp 2008, p. 69.
  20. Musichound Rock: The Essential Album Guide
    https://archive.org/details/musichoundrockes0000unse/page/390/mode/2up
  21. Destroyer
    https://web.archive.org/web/20030219080544/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/k/kiss/destroyer.shtml
  22. AXS
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160720181004/https://www.axs.com/kiss-s-5-best-lyrics-verses-56227
  23. Ultimate Classic Rock
    https://ultimateclassicrock.com/kiss-songs-1970s/
  24. Classic Rock
    https://www.loudersound.com/features/top-10-best-kiss-songs-as-chosen-by-you
  25. The Arizona Republic
    https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/07/04/best-kiss-songs-playlist-strutter-beth/12124693/
  26. Criss 2012, p. 132.
  27. Criss 2012, p. 167.
  28. www.kissfaq.com
    https://www.kissfaq.com/forum24/viewtopic.php?t=159090
  29. Criss 2012, p. 252.
  30. Weiss 2016, p. 51.
  31. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992
  32. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5123A." 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=nlc008388.5123A&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5123A.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5123A
  33. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 5148." 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=nlc008388.5148&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5148.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5148
  34. "Kiss Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kiss/chart-history/HSI
  35. Billboard
    https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1976-11-06
  36. Cashbox Magazine
    http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19761120.html
  37. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5173a." 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=nlc008388.5173a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5173a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5173a
  38. Cashbox Magazine
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120825143147/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1976YESP.html
  39. "The Top 100 Hits of 1977"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160429163202/http://www.charismusicgroup.com/Cue%20Sheets/12-31-77.pdf
  40. "Canadian single certifications – Kiss – Beth"
    https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Beth%20Kiss
  41. "American single certifications – Kiss – Beth"
    https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Kiss&ti=Beth&format=Single&type=#search_section
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