KISS – DYNASTY SESSIONS (5 CD)

Description

Collection of all the Dynasty Sessions starting in late 1978 and ending just before release in 1979.

　The epic demo album from the legendary “DYNASTY” album that capped the golden 70s has been newly discovered! This epic 5-CD press includes all existing recordings!

　This work is permanently preserved as a studio recording spanning approximately 4 hours and 48 minutes. It’s not a collection of existing demos, but rather a completely first-time master. This newly discovered demo album was brought to us through our own unique route, and while some of the recordings are already known, they are also new masters of the highest quality, and a large number of previously unheard demos are included.

　The sheer volume may seem intimidating, but the content is actually surprisingly simple and easy to understand, with the discs divided into three sections. Let’s take a look at each one individually
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[DISC 1: A collection of demos filled with songs not included on albums]
●Sessions 1 & 2: Planet Studios (1979/1989)
·Tracks from GENE SIMMONS VAULT (6 songs): Gypsy Nights / It’s Funny But It Ain’t No Joke / Queen of Hearts / Love By Invitation / Fourever (1979 version) / Dorothy Lamour　
·Tracks from DYNASTY (2 songs): Charisma / X-Ray Eyes
●Session 3: Music Farm Studios (January 22, 1979)
·Tracks from DYNASTY (1 song): Dirty Livin’
·Tracks from OUT OF CONTROL (2 songs): There’s Nothing Better / Out Of Control
·Unreleased track (1 song): Rumble

　This album contains seven sessions recorded across five discs, with the first, Disc 1, containing early sessions 1, 2, and 3 from 1978 to early 1979. Disc 1 is actually the easiest to enjoy. Perhaps recorded just as the band was moving from the composition stage to the selection stage, it contains a variety of classic tracks, both album and non-album, in perfect form. These are not practice recordings, and there are no alternate takes. This demo album can be enjoyed as a 12-track musical work.

　The content is rich and varied. Although these sessions were for “DYNASTY,” only three tracks made it onto the final album: “Charisma,” “X-Ray Eyes,” and “Dirty Livin’.” Other tracks include the original versions of “There’s Nothing Better” and “Out Of Control,” both of which appeared on Peter Criss’ solo album “OUT OF CONTROL,” as well as the unreleased track “Rumble,” which has yet to be heard on an official release.

　Half of the songs on this album are classics that first came to light on Gene Simmons’ “VAULT.” In particular, “Fourever” was created for “ALIVE II,” and is a song about the eternal bond between the four original KISS members, which was also re-recorded during the “DYNASTY” sessions
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[DISC 2-4: Electric Lady Studio Classics Full Sessions]
Session 4: “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” Session (February 20, 1979)
Session 5: “Sure Know Something” Session (February 21, 1979)
Session 6: “Dirty Livin'” Session (February 22, 1979)

　After completing the writing stage, they moved to Electric Lady Studios to begin full-scale production. Discs 2, 3, and 4, recorded there, have a completely different feel from Disc 1. While Disc 1 was packed with a variety of completed demos, these discs show each song being refined, practiced, and developed into a stage where it could actually be recorded.

　What’s more, one day = one song = one disc. As mentioned above, for the three days of February 20th, 21st, and 22nd, the sessions for “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” (approximately 71 minutes), “Sure Know Something” (approximately 80 minutes), and “Dirty Livin'” (approximately 73 minutes) are each recorded on one disc.

　The content is a super-realistic experience. Test plays, discussions, and even the “Let’s all do it!” chlorine-based backing are all recorded on tape that runs continuously. It’s not a demo to listen to again after the song has taken shape, but it gives you the feeling of being right there with the four original KISS members developing a masterpiece. You can fully immerse yourself in this sense of secrecy over the course of three songs, a total of three hours and 44 minutes.
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[DISC 5: Alternate Versions by Jim Burgess]
Single Edit: Sure Know Something / Hard Times
Extended Remix: I Was Made For Lovin’ You / Dirty Livin’

　The final disc, Disc 5, is Session 7, which took place after the album was completed. Here, Jim Burgess creates a separate version for a single from the completed multi-track. This work includes a total of four takes of edited and remixed versions, but none of them are work in progress; they are the fully finished, finished versions. The sound is also completely official quality, making this the most complete disc in this epic five-disc set.
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　This is a treasured studio recording spanning 4 hours, 47 minutes, and 34 seconds. It includes unreleased tracks from the “DYNASTY” sessions, documentary recordings of the recording studio, and treasures from the singles. Previously available tracks are of the highest quality, and most importantly, this is an astounding 5-disc set, with the majority appearing completely for the first time. Experience the final masterpiece of the 70s with this permanent 5-CD set.

This is a massive demo album from the classic album “DYNASTY.” It’s not a collection of existing demos; it’s a completely new master, brought to us through our own unique channels. The previously available tracks are of the highest quality, and this five-disc set encompasses all existing recordings, including full sessions and alternate single versions of “I Was Made For Lovin’ You,” “Sure Know Something,” and “Dirty Livin’.”

Disc 1 (42:40)
Session 1 : Planet Studios, Los Angeles 1978
1. Gypsy Nights
2. It’s Funny But It Ain’t No Joke
3. Queen of Hearts
4. Love By Invitation

Session 2 : Planet Studios, Los Angeles 1979
5. Fourever (1979 version)
6. Dorothy Lamour　
7. Charisma
8. X-Ray Eyes

Session 3 : Music Farm Studios, New York 22nd January 1979
9. Dirty Livin’
10. There’s Nothing Better
11. Rumble
12. Out Of Control

Disc 2 (70:58)
Session 4 : Electric Lady Studios, New York 20th February 1979
1. I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Part 1)
2. I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Part 2)
3. I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Part 3)
4. I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Part 4)

Disc 3 (79:41)
Session 5 : Electric Lady Studios, New York 21st February 1979
1. Sure Know Something (Part 1)
2. Sure Know Something (Part 2)
3. Sure Know Something (Part 3)
4. Sure Know Something (Part 4)

Disc 4 (73:16)
Session 6 : Electric Lady Studios, New York 22nd February 1979
1. Dirty Livin’ (Part 1)
2. Dirty Livin’ (Part 2)
3. Dirty Livin’ (Part 3)
4. Dirty Livin’ (Part 4)

Disc 5 (21:07)
Session 7 : Electric Lady Studios, New York April 1979
Jim Burgess remixes and single edits
1. Sure Know Something (Single Edit)
2. Hard Times (Single Edit)
3. I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Extended Remix)
4. Dirty Livin’ (Extended Remix)

INFORMATION FOR OVERSEAS’ COLLECTORS

At the end of the Alive II tour in Tokyo in April 1978, the decision was made to take a hiatus from touring and allow the band some much-needed time off.

Each member began working independently on new material for a future KISS album. It was a highly creative period, and much of that material ultimately appeared on the four solo albums, but not all of it. Some of the strongest songs developed during this time would later form the foundation of what became the Dynasty album.

Most of the material that ended up on Dynasty is presented here in alternate takes and work-in-progress versions. In addition, this collection includes songs that were not used at the time but deserved to be liberated from the vaults and preserved for the future on CD, such as the 1979 version of “FOURever,” which should not be confused with the 1990 hit ballad “FORever.”
This release stands as a testament to the four band members as individual creative forces, united as KISS, and serves to silence critics who believed the band would split up following the release of the four solo albums.

This 5-CD set compiles all circulating material from the Dynasty sessions, making it the definitive collection.