Rock & Roll All Nite (1975) 5/7/20

The powers-that-be at Casablanca Records were NOT happy with the group Kiss.

When the time came to record a follow-up album to 1974's “Hotter Than Hell,” they had exactly ZERO songs ready.

At that point, Casablanca head honcho Neil Bogart pulled the group off their tour and ordered them to come up with an album's worth of songs...INCLUDING an anthem that would capture the excitement of their live shows.

Tall order, and the pressure was on. Paul Stanley came up with the phrase “I Wanna Rock & Roll All Night and Party Every Day,” and mentioned it to Gene Simmons. Together, they reworked an older Kiss song called “Drive Me Wild” with new riffs and lyrics...and in 1975, it was released as the first single off their new album, “Dressed to Kill.” It peaked at #68 on the Hot 100.

Not good.

But then they recorded a live version for their NEXT album (“Alive!”) that included a new guitar solo by Ace Frehley and released THAT as a single at the end of '75. By early 1976, “Rock & Roll All Nite” was #12 on Billboard's Hot 100, and #13 in Canada.

Not Bad!

Not only did Kiss find a way to showcase the excitement of their live shows, they found their signature song...and a “Great Song of the '70s!” VH-1 agreed. In 2008, they named “Rock and Roll All Nite” the 16th “Greatest Rock Song of All Time!

From 1975 & 76: