Crazy Nights

Lore & Background

The band approached this record with a desperate need to prove themselves after a career decline and the loss of two prime members. Management changed hands to Larry Mazur, but internal friction grew; Paul Stanley eventually confronted Gene Simmons in a parking lot about his lack of commitment while pursuing acting and producing other bands. 'I'm getting screwed,' Stanley told him, to which Simmons replied, 'That's fair.' This tension left space for Eric Carr and Bruce Kulick to contribute significantly, with Kulick securing four co-writing credits and Carr one. While Simmons provided 20–25 potential songs, including the unused 'I'm Going to Put a Log in Your Fire Place,' producer Ron Nevison noted that he did most of the work with Paul and Bruce, often finding Gene reading Variety in the back of the studio. The album was initially titled 'Who Dares Wins,' an idea from Carr inspired by a commando patch, but it was dropped for sounding unclear in print.

In Their Own Story

Recording sessions began at One on One Recording Studios in Canoga Park before moving to Rumbo and Can-Am Recorders. Producer Ron Nevison, chosen for his work with Heart and Ozzy Osbourne, found the bass tracks cut initially, requiring Simmons only for lead vocals. Meanwhile, Paul Stanley pushed through creative hurdles, including a period where Eric Carr stopped speaking to him during the tour due to personal struggles with substance use and obsession over not being an original member. Stanley insisted the 'non-communicative bullshit' had to end. The songwriting process was a mix of internal riffs and external collaborations; Adam Mitchell co-wrote tracks like 'I'll Fight Hell to Hold You,' while Desmond Child helped craft 'Reason to Live.' A demo for 'No, No, No' started with Kulick's riff recorded in Ira Hoch's home studio, featuring stereo drum mixes from a prior album. The band even joked about the title 'Condomnation,' though it never made print.

Reader's Guide

The resulting album features singles like 'Crazy Crazy Nights,' which reached No. 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became Kiss' joint highest-charting single in the UK at No. 4. Another track, 'Reason to Live,' charted at No. 64 in the US and No. 33 in the UK, supported by a music video featuring Playboy centerfold Eloise Broady that dominated MTV's Dial MTV. 'Turn On the Night' followed as the third single, reaching No. 41 in the UK. While many songs were performed on the supporting tour, most were dropped shortly after; only 'Crazy Crazy Nights' survived into the Hot in the Shade Tour before vanishing for nearly 20 years until the Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour. This makes the album one of the least represented in their catalog, trailing only Music from 'The Elder' and Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions. It was re-released in 1998 as part of the Kiss Remasters series.

Did You Know?

• The album was originally titled 'Who Dares Wins,' a suggestion by Eric Carr inspired by a commando patch found during a photo session.
• Gene Simmons contributed lyrics to 'No, No, No' but rarely attended recording sessions, often reading Variety magazine in the back of the studio.
• 'Crazy Crazy Nights' is Kiss' joint highest-charting single in the UK alongside 'God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II,' reaching No. 4.
• The song 'Thief in the Night' was first recorded by Wendy O. Williams on her 1984 solo album WOW before being covered for this album.