Artist: KISS
Album: UNMASKED REMASTERED (CD)

Year: 1980/ 1997
EAN/UPS: 0731453238923
Media type: CD

Unmasked is an album by the American band Kiss released in 1980. It is the group's 8th studio album. At the time it was the last studio album from the original lineup of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, although Criss actually had no involvement with the recording of the album. Anton Fig (uncredited) played all drums on the album. This album marked another departure for Kiss: this was the first album since 1976's Rock and Roll Over not to feature all members on vocals. (Excluding the four solo releases in 1978)

Although the album reached #35 on the U.S. Billboard chart and was certified gold, it marked a major departure musically for the band. The album was the group's most pop-oriented to date.

The band filmed a promotional video for "Shandi," with Peter Criss. It was the last time Criss appeared with Kiss in any capacity until he performed with them at a Kiss Convention on June 17, 1995. In the band's authorized biography, Criss revealed that he was the last one left in the band's dressing room after filming, and broke down crying.

A lip-synched German television performance of "Talk to Me" and "She's So European" featured the debut of Eric Carr, who became the band's permanent drummer until his death in 1991. The band would play a concert at the now defunct Palladium Theatre in New York to officially introduce Carr as Criss' permanent replacement in the band.

It was certified Gold on July 30, 1980, when it had sold 700,000 copies.

Throughout the years, the album's songs have been largely ignored on live performances - with the exception of "Shandi", which is often played in the band's shows in Australia.

TRACKLIST:

1. "Is That You ?" Gerard McMahon Paul Stanley 3:55
2. "Shandi" Paul Stanley, Vini Poncia Stanley 3.33
3. "Talk To Me" Ace Frehley Ace Frehley 4.00
4. "Naked City" Gene Simmons, Poncia, Bob Kulick, Pepe Castro Gene Simmons 3:49
5. "What Makes The World Go Round" Stanley, Poncia Stanley, 4:14
6. "Tomorrow" Stanley, Poncia Stanley 3:16
7. "Two Sides Of The Coin" Frehley Frehley 3:15
8. "She's So European" Simmons, Poncia Simmons 3:30
9. "Easy As It Seems" Stanley, Poncia Stanley 3:24
10. "Torpedo Girl" Frehley, Poncia Frehley 3.31
11. "You're All That I Want" Simmons, Poncia Simmons 3.04

LINE-UP:

Gene Simmons - bass guitar, lead vocals
Paul Stanley - rhythm guitar, lead vocals, bass guitar on "Tomorrow", lead guitar on "Shandi"
Ace Frehley - lead guitar, lead vocals, bass guitar on "Talk to Me", "Two Sides of the Coin", & "Torpedo Girl"
Peter Criss - drums, percussion (credited in album liner notes, but does appear only in the promotional video for "Shandi")

with:
Anton Fig - drums (uncredited)
Vini Poncia - producer, keyboards, backing vocals, percussion
Holly Knight - keyboards on "Shandi"