"Nothin' to Lose" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss, released on their self-titled debut album in 1974. It is the first single the band had ever released and the first single off the album, with "Love Theme from KISS" as the B-side. Although the song failed to chart, it has remained a concert staple during the 1970s and was featured on many live albums and compilations.[1]
| "Nothin' to Lose" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Kiss | ||||
| from the album Kiss | ||||
| B-side | "Love Theme from KISS" | |||
| Released | February 8, 1974 | |||
| Recorded | 1973 | |||
| Studio | Bell Sound (New York City) | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 3:26 | |||
| Label | Casablanca/Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gene Simmons | |||
| Producer(s) | Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise | |||
| Kiss singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Kiss track listing | ||||
10 tracks
| ||||
| Audio | ||||
| "Nothin' to Lose on YouTube | ||||
Background
editGene Simmons, the sole writer of the song, admitted that the song's lyrics chronicled the singer coercing his girlfriend into trying anal sex, and her subsequent enjoyment of it.[2] Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss share the lead vocals on the song.
The song was the first Kiss song to feature an extra player, as Bruce Foster played piano on the track. His contribution was noted on the sleeve of the album. "Nothin' to Lose" was one of the first songs Kiss performed on their first national appearances, on ABC's In Concert on February 19 (the show aired on March 29). Other songs performed on the show were "Firehouse" and "Black Diamond".
Reception
editCash Box said that "one of the finest, new heavy metal bands to come out of New York City in some time debuts here (with Kerner-Wise at the controls) with a very heavy, very tasty rocker reminiscent of Deep Purple, yet able to stand freely alone on its own merits."[3] Record World called it a "hard rocker par excellence" with "big gutsy vocals and heavy instrumentals."[4]
Live performances
edit"Nothin' to Lose" was played often during the 1970s, but largely ignored during the 1980s. In the 1990s, the band performed the song at the Kiss Convention (one time with Peter Criss) and MTV Unplugged, and during the Psycho Circus show in Los Angeles.
Appearances
edit"Nothin' to Lose" has appeared on the following Kiss albums:
- Kiss - studio version
- Alive! - live version
- The Originals - studio version
- Kiss Unplugged - live version
- The Box Set - studio version and the Unplugged version
- Gold - studio version
- Kiss Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums - studio version
- Kiss Alive! 1975–2000 - Alive! version
- Kiss Alive 35 - live version
Other appearances:
- B-side of the "Kissin' Time" single
- B-side of the "Shout It Out Loud" live single
Track listing
editPersonnel
edit- Kiss
- Gene Simmons – bass, lead vocals
- Peter Criss – drums, lead vocals
- Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, lead vocals
- Ace Frehley – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Additional personnel
- Bruce Foster – acoustic piano, additional guitar
References
edit- ^ Gene Simmons Kiss and Make-Up 1407060171 2010 "At the beginning of May, it was released—“Nothin' to Lose,” a real KISS song, was the B-side—and broke into the Top 100."
- ^ "Nothin' to Lose info". Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 23, 1974. p. 34. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 2, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-17.