KISS – COMPLETE LOVE GUN SESSIONS (CD)

Description

★Completely compiled with the highest quality new master ever!!

　From KISS’s unique source discovery series, another earth-shattering demo album has arrived! This time it’s the 1977 masterpiece ‘LOVE GUN’. This is an absolute must-have, completely compiling 20 studio recordings with the highest quality new master ever!!

　The “Complete Sessions” series has previously exposed the hidden stories behind numerous masterpieces such as “DRESSED TO KILL,” “DESTROYER,” and “ROCK AND ROLL OVER.” The latest installment in this series targets the production sessions for “LOVE GUN.” While the official deluxe edition of “LOVE GUN” included a few demo takes, this release boasts a massive 20 takes—a truly unprecedented volume. Moreover, all of these are new masters of the highest quality, leaked through exclusive insider channels, and are not copies of previously released material. This is a truly “complete” edition, containing plenty of unreleased tracks and alternate takes that were left untouched in the official deluxe edition.

　This album is compiled in the order of its recordings, but in this article, we will introduce the tracks according to their subsequent usage, such as “demo versions of album tracks” and “unreleased tracks.”

[Demo versions of album tracks (7 tracks, 8 takes)]
● “Love Gun” (2 takes)
　The album’s title track opens this album. This demo was written by Paul on the “Clipper Kiss Special” on the way back from the Japan tour in April 1977, and is a version that is significantly different from the final version. Furthermore, the last track (track 20) ​​is “Love Gun (Rehearsal Take).” It records Paul in an extremely rough, stripped-down state, allowing you to relive the feeling of the moment when this masterpiece was born.

● “Christine Sixteen”
　- An early demo by Gene. This is a raw version where you can feel the differences from the final version in many places. Since it was not included as a standalone demo in the official deluxe edition, it is a hidden gem unique to this release.

● This is the original version of “Got Love For Sale,”
　from the time when its working title was “Have Love Will Travel.” The title alone gives it the feel of a completely different song.

●This is an instrumental demo of “Tomorrow And Tonight”
　with a different Ace Frehley solo than the final version.

● “Hooligan”
　is an early demo by Peter Criss, a version with a slightly harder edge than the final version.

　● An early demo featuring a distinctly different arrangement from the final version of “Almost Human.”

● “Plaster Caster”
　is an alternate version with different vocals and guitar solos than the final version.

[Unreleased tracks (3 songs, 5 takes) that also served as inspiration for Christine Sixteen]
● “Obnoxious”
　is the earliest version of the song that would later become “Reputation”. This is a demo from when it was recorded under a different title.

● “Reputation (Take 1)” and “Reputation (Take 2)”
　are evolved versions of “Obnoxious” with a changed title. “Take 1” includes a piano part that would later be used in “Christine Sixteen.” “Take 2,” on the other hand, is a version without piano and was written with the participation of rock and roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis in mind. Unfortunately, Jerry himself missed his flight and was unable to record piano in the studio, but Gene’s reference to him remains in the lyrics. Fans can only dream about what a collaboration between these two true rock legends would have sounded like. Only one take was included in the official deluxe edition, but this release allows you to trace the evolution from “Obnoxious” to “Reputation” x 2.

● “I Know Who You Are,” “I Know Who You Are (Take 2),”
　and “Reputation” were all recorded in the same session. These are early versions of “Living in Sin,” which was included on Gene Simmons’ 1978 solo album. “Take 2” in particular includes the piano part that was later used in “Christine Sixteen.” It’s a hidden gem that reveals how much trial and error went into creating the material for this masterpiece.

[Songs reused in other works (5 songs)]
● “Much Too Soon”
　A song that was created during the “LOVE GUN” sessions but ended up unused. However, some of the phrases were developed into “X-Ray Eyes,” which was included on “DYNASTY.”

● “Larger Than Life”
　is a song that would eventually be included on side 4 of ‘ALIVE II’, but it was also created during the ‘LOVE GUN’ sessions. However, at this point, it hardly resembles the final version or the demo for ‘ALIVE II’. You can enjoy the original version, which is practically a different song altogether.

● “Tunnel of Love”
　This song was recorded in the same session as “Christine Sixteen,” but was ultimately cut at the last minute. It was included on Gene Simmons’ 1978 solo album, but the original demo was a slightly different version.

● “Mongoloid Man”
　was originally recorded as an instrumental track titled “Daily Planet” during the ‘ROCK AND ROLL OVER’ sessions. A final version with lyrics was created during the ‘LOVE GUN’ sessions, but it was ultimately not included on the album ‘LOVE GUN’ and instead saw the light of day on ‘THE VAULT’.

● “Eat Your Heart Out”
　is the most shocking track. It was included on the 2012 album ‘MONSTER’, but it was actually already produced during the ‘LOVE GUN’ sessions. “Mongloid Man” was mentioned in an interview with Gene, so its existence was known. This is a surprising new discovery that even researchers were unaware of. On this album, you can hear the original version with different lyrics from the ‘MONSTER’ version.

[Two previously unreleased songs that were simply cut]
● “Love Bite”
　is a song that Peter Criss provided for ‘LOVE GUN’. It was one of two songs he submitted (the other being “Hooligan”), but it was not selected.

● “I’ve Just Begun To Fight”
　A song Gene recorded before the ‘LOVE GUN’ sessions but was not included. It was re-recorded in 1985 under the Bruce Kulick/Eric Carr regime, but was not included on ‘ASYLUM’ either. A great song that missed out on an album twice due to bad luck.

　This is a treasure trove of 20 takes in total. Various original songs that culminated in “Another LOVE GUN” and “Christine Sixteen,” which were composed from demos, as well as songs reused on other works, and unreleased songs that were sadly left out of the sessions—this is truly an absolute masterpiece that completely covers the ‘LOVE GUN’ studio sessions in the highest quality ever. It is an eternal hidden gem that you should place on your shelf alongside ‘LOVE GUN’. It is proudly born here in a permanent preservation pressed CD.

★ A super definitive edition that completely covers the demos/outtakes of the great album ‘LOVE GUN’. All 20 takes are the highest quality versions ever leaked from unique insider sources. This is the ultimate “behind-the-scenes LOVE GUN” edition, far surpassing the official deluxe edition in volume, and covering everything from the origins of “Christine Sixteen” to unreleased tracks that were cut from the album.

01 Love Gun
02 Christine Sixteen
03 Got Love For Sale
04 Tomorrow And Tonight
05 Hooligan
06 Almost Human
07 Plaster Caster
08 I Know Who You Are
09 I Know Who You Are (Take 2)
10 Much Too Soon
11 Obnoxious
12 Reputation (Take 1)
13 Reputation (Take 2)
14 Larger Than Life
15 Love Bite
16 Eat Your Heart Out
17 I’ve Just Begun To Fight
18 Mongoloid Man
19 Tunnel Of Love
20 Love Gun (Rehearsal Take)

INFORMATION FOR OVERSEAS’ COLLECTORS

Love Gun is often celebrated as the final album by the original “Fantastic Four” the last studio album to feature Gene, Paul, Ace, and Peter together in the classic line-up of KISS.

The recording sessions with legendary producer Eddie Kramer in the spring of 1977, following KISS’s triumphant first visit to Japan, produced a remarkable amount of exclusive and fascinating material, much of it hidden away for decades, with some recordings never before seeing the light of day.

Here, we proudly gather the rare material from the long out-of-print Love Gun Deluxe CD together with outstanding unreleased studio recordings, carefully and beautifully arranged in chronological order and album sequence to create the ultimate listening experience.

Take a deep dive into one of the most exciting and creative periods in KISS history and discover incredible songs such as “Eat Your Heart Out,” a track that would only resurface decades later in reworked form on Monster in 2012; the legendary, much-discussed but never before heard “Mongloid Man”, multiple fascinating takes of “I Know Who You Are”and “Reputation,” originally intended as a collaboration with rock ’n’ roll icon Jerry Lee Lewis.

Sadly “The Killer” himself never made it to the studio to record his piano parts after missing a flight although Gene still references his involvement in the lyrics. Fans can only dream of how this extraordinary collaboration between two true rock legends might have sounded.

A spectacular journey into the final chapter of the classic KISS lineup rare, historic, and absolutely essential for every serious fan and collector.

* Love Gun
Original demo recorded by Paul after writing the song aboard the Clipper Kiss Special from Japan in April 1977. A very raw version that differs significantly from the final album version.

* Christine Sixteen
Raw demo version of this Gene composition, featuring noticeable differences from the final released version.

* Got Love for Sale
The original and alternate version of the song, still carrying the working title “Have Love Will Travel.”

* Tomorrow and Tonight
Raw instrumental demo version featuring a different solo by Ace Frehley.

* Hooligan
An early and alternate demo version by Peter Criss, slightly harder-edged than the final album version.

* Almost Human
Early demo version with noticeable differences from the final recording.

* Plaster Caster
Alternate demo version featuring different vocals and an alternate guitar solo.

* I Know Who You Are
Recorded during the same sessions as Reputation, this early version of “Living in Sin” was later re-recorded for Gene’s 1978 solo album.

* I Know Who You Are (Take 2)
A completely different take featuring piano, later reused in Christine Sixteen.

* Much Too Soon
Recorded during the Love Gun sessions but left unused. Parts of the song later evolved into “X-Ray Eyes” on the 1979 Dynasty album.

* Obnoxious
An early version of Reputation, originally recorded under a different title.

* Reputation
A second version of Obnoxious, now renamed “Reputation” and featuring piano parts later used in Christine Sixteen. The song eventually evolved into Christine Sixteen.

* Reputation (Take 2)
An alternate take without piano, written with the idea of rock ’n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis participating. Gene even refers to him in the lyrics.

* Larger Than Life
The original Love Gun version of the song that later appeared on Side 4 of Alive II. This version is very different and bears little resemblance to either the final recording or the Alive II demo.

* Love Bite
Peter Criss contributed two songs for the Love Gun album. This track was ultimately rejected.

* Eat Your Heart Out
Recorded during the Love Gun sessions but shelved for many years. In 2012, it resurfaced, at least in title and lyrical form, on the Monster album.

* I Have Just Begun to Fight
Recorded by Gene before the Love Gun sessions. It was not used for the album and later re-recorded with Bruce Kulickand Eric Carr in 1985, but once again rejected, this time for the Asylum album.

* Mongloid Man
Originally recorded as an instrumental during the Rock and Roll Over sessions under the title “Daily Planet.” Presented here in its final version with lyrics, which was ultimately rejected for Love Gun.

* Tunnel of Love
Recorded during the same sessions as Christine Sixteen but rejected at the last minute. Fortunately, a slightly different version later appeared on Gene’s 1978 solo album.

* Love Gun (Rehearsal Take):
Paul rehearsing a very raw and stripped-down version of the title track.