Smashes, Thrashes & Hits is a compilation album by the American hard rock band Kiss. It was the fourth hits album overall but the second hits album released by the band in the United States (Killers and Chikara were not released there originally). Of the 15 songs on the album, two were new compositions, and three were released after the band's unmasking in 1983. The remaining 10 were all released during the band's years in make-up.
The two new songs on Smashes, Thrashes & Hits were "Let's Put the X in Sex" and "(You Make Me) Rock Hard.” They were both produced and co-written by guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley and were accompanied by videos.
Nearly all of the songs recorded by the band's original lineup were remixed or altered in one way or another. "Beth" was re-recorded with lead vocals by drummer Eric Carr, who had replaced the original drummer Peter Criss in 1980. It was Carr's first lead vocal on a Kiss album. The cover art was done by Amy Guip and directed by Mitchell Kanner.
Contents
Reception
Smashes, Thrashes & Hits was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA on February 26, 1996.
In the United States Smashes, Thrashes & Hits is the best-selling Kiss album since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking record sales in 1991 with 830,000 copies sold until March 4, 2012.
Track listing
All credits adapted from the original releases.
Personnel
Kiss
Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar, bass on "Let's Put the X in Sex", "(You Make Me) Rock Hard", "Love Gun" and "Tears Are Falling", drum programming (bass drum and hi-hat) on "Let's Put the X in Sex"
Gene Simmons – bass, vocals
Eric Carr – drums on "Let's Put the X in Sex", "Crazy Crazy Nights", "(You Make Me) Rock Hard", "I Love It Loud", "Reason to Live", "Lick It Up", "Heaven's on Fire" and "Tears Are Falling", vocals on "Beth"
Bruce Kulick − lead guitar on "Let's Put the X in Sex", "Crazy Crazy Nights", "(You Make Me) Rock Hard", "Reason to Live" and "Tears Are Falling"
Peter Criss – drums on "Love Gun", "Detroit Rock City", "Deuce", "Calling Dr. Love", "Strutter", "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "Shout It Out Loud"
Ace Frehley – lead guitar on "Love Gun", "Detroit Rock City", "Deuce", "Calling Dr. Love", "Strutter", "I Was Made for Lovin' You", "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "Shout It Out Loud"
Vinnie Vincent – lead guitar on "Lick It Up" and "I Love It Loud"
Mark St. John – lead guitar on "Heaven's on Fire"
Additional musicians
Phil Ashley – keyboards on "Let's Put the X in Sex", "(You Make Me) Rock Hard" and "Reason to Live"
Anton Fig – drums on "I Was Made for Lovin' You"
Vini Poncia – keyboards and backing vocals on "I Was Made for Lovin' You"
Dick Wagner – acoustic guitar on "Beth"