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Unmasked (Kiss album)

Updated: 12/10/2025, 4:45:00 PM Wikipedia source

Unmasked is the eighth studio album by American rock band Kiss, released on May 20, 1980, by Casablanca Records. Continuing the band's departure from hard rock, the album has a more pop-friendly sound, but with less disco influence. Drummer and founding member Peter Criss (largely absent from the preceding Dynasty, only performing on the song "Dirty Livin'") is not present on any tracks. Despite having no involvement in its production, Criss features in the album's artwork, the video for "Shandi" and receives credit. Unmasked is often considered a "flop" or at least a commercial disappointment compared to the band's earlier success, with the dubious distinction of being the first non-platinum Kiss album since Dressed to Kill (1975), only reaching No. 35 on the Billboard 200, the worst position for the band since Hotter Than Hell (1974), and only one of the singles, "Shandi", charting in the U.S. Still, it was certified gold by the RIAA on July 30, 1980, reached the top five in several countries, and was one of the band's most successful albums in Oceania. Critical reception of Unmasked was equally poor, with even bassist Gene Simmons opining "it's a shitty album," and vocalist and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley calling it "wimpy" and a "pretty crappy album" but defended "Tomorrow" as "really a great song." In recent years, the album has garnered some positive reappraisal, with Ultimate Classic Rock considering it a "highly underrated power-pop gem," but is still unpopular with Kiss fans, and blamed for the band's early 1980s slump, due to alienating their loyal hard rock audience.

Infobox

Released
May 20, 1980 (1980-05-20)
Recorded
January–March 1980
Studio
The Record Plant, New York City
Genre
Hard rockpop rockpower pop
Length
39:46
Label
Casablanca
Producer
Vini Poncia

Tables

Professional ratings · Critical reception
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Review scores
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Review scores
4/10
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
Pitchfork
Pitchfork
Review scores
Pitchfork
Review scores
0.8/10
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
Uncut
Uncut
Review scores
Uncut
Review scores
Review scores
Source
Rating
AllMusic
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
4/10
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Pitchfork
0.8/10
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Uncut
· Charts › Weekly charts
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1980)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Peakposition
3
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Chart (1980)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Peakposition
3
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1980)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Peakposition
12
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (1980)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peakposition
13
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (1980)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
4
Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)
Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)
Chart (1980)
Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)
Peakposition
11
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Chart (1980)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Peakposition
15
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (1980)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Chart (1980)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Peakposition
1
Spain (AFYVE)
Spain (AFYVE)
Chart (1980)
Spain (AFYVE)
Peakposition
11
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (1980)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Peakposition
17
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1980)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
48
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1980)
US Billboard 200
Peakposition
35
Chart (1980)
Peakposition
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
3
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
3
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
12
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
13
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
4
Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)
11
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
15
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
1
Spain (AFYVE)
11
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
17
UK Albums (OCC)
48
US Billboard 200
35
· Charts › Weekly charts › Year-end charts
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (1980)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Position
25
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1980)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Position
11
Chart (1980)
Position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
25
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
11
· Certifications
Australia (ARIA)
Australia (ARIA)
Region
Australia (ARIA)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
50,000^
Canada (Music Canada)
Canada (Music Canada)
Region
Canada (Music Canada)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Region
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)
Norway (IFPI Norway)
Region
Norway (IFPI Norway)
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)
Platinum
50,000^
Canada (Music Canada)
Gold
50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Platinum
15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)
Gold
50,000
United States (RIAA)
Gold
500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Dutch Charts
    https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=KISS&titel=Is+That+You?&cat=s
  2. Dutch Charts
    https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=KISS&titel=What+Makes+The+World+Go+'Round&cat=s
  3. "Kiss Chart History"
    https://www.billboard.com/artist/kiss/chart-history/tlp/
  4. Ultimate Classic Rock
    https://ultimateclassicrock.com/kiss-unmasked/
  5. Sleaze Roxx
    https://sleazeroxx.com/reviews/kiss-unmasked/
  6. Ultimate Classic Rock
    https://ultimateclassicrock.com/kiss-unmasked/
  7. "Ranking Kiss: From first to worst, the hottest band in the world's studio albums"
    https://www.kissasylum.com/news/2012/07/23/ranking-kiss-worst-hottest-band-worlds-studio-albums/
  8. VH1
    https://www.vh1.com/news/ria7ll/kiss-unmasked-35-facts
  9. Loudwire
    https://loudwire.com/kiss-albums-ranked/
  10. The Viking Times
    https://whsvikingtimes.com/1900/arts-and-entertainment/unmasked-kiss-album-review/
  11. Kerrang!
  12. Kiss: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography
  13. Kitts, Jeff: 'Back in black (and white)', Guitar World, September 1996, p68
  14. "American album certifications – Kiss – Unmasked"
    https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Kiss&ti=Unmasked&format=Album&type=#search_section
  15. Billboard
    https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_7AoEAAAAMBAJ
  16. AllMusic
    https://www.allmusic.com/album/unmasked-mw0000194490
  17. The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties
  18. The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
  19. Pitchfork Media
    https://web.archive.org/web/20030626075901/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/k/kiss/unmasked.shtml
  20. "Kiss: Album Guide"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110627000037/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kiss/albumguide
  21. Uncut
  22. Fricke, David
    https://web.archive.org/web/20190620095417/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/unmasked-182922/
  23. "Defending 'Unmasked,' the Kiss Album Even Paul Stanley Says Is 'Crappy'"
    https://ultimateclassicrock.com/kiss-unmasked/
  24. Blender
  25. Unmasked
  26. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992
  27. "Austriancharts.at – Kiss – Unmasked" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Unmasked&cat=a
  28. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4411a". 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=nlc008388.4411a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4411a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4411a
  29. "Dutchcharts.nl – Kiss – Unmasked" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Unmasked&cat=a
  30. "Offiziellecharts.de – Kiss – Unmasked" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-8592
  31. Musica e Dischi
    http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php
  32. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005
  33. "Charts.nz – Kiss – Unmasked". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Unmasked&cat=a
  34. "Norwegiancharts.com – Kiss – Unmasked". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
    https://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Unmasked&cat=a
  35. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002
  36. "Swedishcharts.com – Kiss – Unmasked". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Unmasked&cat=a
  37. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19800629/7502/
  38. "Kiss Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kiss/chart-history/TLP
  39. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20211021191905/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1980
  40. "Kent Music Report No 341 – 5 January 1981 > Platinum and Gold Albums 1980"
    https://i.imgur.com/HmFDCnW.jpg?1
  41. "Canadian album certifications – Kiss – Unmasked"
    https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Unmasked%20Kiss
  42. "New Zealand album certifications – Kiss – Unmasked"
    https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/1980-08-22
  43. Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=654963486427759&set=a.578120734112035
  44. Music & Media
    https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-01-13.pdf
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