The American rock band Kiss has released 20 studio albums (24 counting the unified 1978 solo albums), 13 live albums, 2 extended plays and 67 singles. Formed in New York City in 1973, the group initially consisted of bassist Gene Simmons, rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley, lead guitarist Ace Frehley, and drummer Peter Criss; this most recognizable and successful lineup lasted until Criss' departure in 1980. The band is known for its makeup and on-stage antics, which influenced many artists who later used similar effects in their concerts. Stanley and Simmons were the only members to feature on every studio and live album during their entire run.
The band's eponymous debut album, released in 1974, did not have a hit single and rose only as high as 87 on Billboard, despite significant touring and promotion. The follow-up album, Hotter Than Hell (1974), was a bigger disappointment, peaking at 100 and quickly dropping off the charts. It rebounded in Canada peaking at number 29 in June 1976. Dressed to Kill, released in 1975, was a much bigger success, breaking into the top 40, but the band's record label, Casablanca Records, was close to bankruptcy and needed a commercial breakthrough. This would later be achieved with both Kiss' and Casablanca's first top-10 album, the double live album Alive!, which featured the number 12 hit "Rock and Roll All Nite". The next three albums, Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over, and Love Gun were successful, achieving Platinum status and spawning Top-20 singles (including the number 7 ballad "Beth", the band's highest-charting single in the US).
Their seventh studio release, Dynasty, while being a musical departure, was a global success, thanks largely to the worldwide hit "I Was Made for Lovin' You". The next three albums, Unmasked, Music from "The Elder" and Creatures of the Night, were domestic commercial failures, even as the band maintained popularity in many other parts of the world. Lick It Up was the first album featuring the band without makeup and was certified gold. Their next studio releases (Animalize; Asylum; Crazy Nights; Smashes, Thrashes & Hits) were more successful and Kiss recaptured some of their earlier glory (though not to the level of their 1970s heyday). Hot in the Shade was the lowest charting album of the unmasked era in the US, despite the success of the top-10 power ballad "Forever".
With their 16th studio release, Revenge, Kiss attempted to modernize their sound for the 1990s with heavier songs. The album initially charted at number 6 on the Billboard 200, and quickly reached Gold status in the US. 1997's Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions was released after the reunion tour and did not receive much promotion. It has yet to be certified Gold in the US despite the album's lone single "Jungle" reaching number 8 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Followed by a highly successful reunion, in 1998 Psycho Circus was released and was a moderate success. Their first album in 11 years, Sonic Boom, was released in 2009. The band released their 20th and final studio album, Monster, on October 9, 2012. To date, Kiss has had 25 million copies certified by the RIAA in the United States. The band has 30 gold albums as of July 2015.
The Kiss discography also includes a large number of unofficial bootleg releases. Most of them are live performances—audience recordings, radio broadcasts or soundboard recordings—but there are also unofficial releases featuring unreleased studio recordings. Some bootlegs are known to include fake "Kiss" songs recorded by other bands.
Albums Studio albums ReleaseTitlePeak chart positionsCertificationsUS[ allmusic ((( Kiss > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))]AUSAustralian Kiss chart positions:
Peaks to June 5, 1988 except noted: N.B. The top 50 portion of the Kent Music Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and June 5, 1988. "Sure Know Something": N.B. David Kent's 1970–1992 Australian chart book and the Kent Music Report end of year chart for 1980 erroneously list the peak for "Sure Know Something" as number 5. Top 50 peaks after June 5, 1988: "Hide Your Heart": Top 100 peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: "(You Make Me) Rock Hard": "Rise to It": Kissworld: CANGERNLDNZNORSWEUK1974 Kiss Released: February 8, 1974 Label: Casablanca (#7001) Format: CD, LP, CS, 8-track87—82——38——— CAN: Gold"Certified Kiss Awards US: GoldHotter Than Hell Released: October 22, 1974 Label: Casablanca (#7006) Format: CD, LP, CS, 8-track1009891—————— US: Gold1975Dressed to Kill Released: March 19, 1975 Label: Casablanca (#7016) Format: LP, CD, CS, 8-track32—26—————— US: Gold1976Destroyer Released: March 15, 1976 Label: Casablanca (#7025) Format: CD, LP, CS, 8-track116616681625422 US: 2× PlatinumRock and Roll Over Released: November 11, 1976 Label: Casablanca (#7037) Format: LP, CD, CS, 8-track1116739———9— US: Platinum1977Love Gun Released: June 17, 1977 Label: Casablanca (#7057) Format: CD, LP, CS, 8-track413318———6— CAN: Platinum US: Platinum1979Dynasty Released: May 23, 1979 Label: Casablanca (#7152) Format: LP, CD, CS, 8-track9261312341750AUS: Platinum CAN: 2 x Platinum NL: Platinum NZ: Platinum US: Platinum1980Unmasked Released: May 20, 1980 Label: Casablanca (#7225) Format: LP, CD, CS, 8-track35312413111748AUS: Platinum CAN: Gold NOR: Gold NZ: Platinum US: Gold1981Music from "The Elder" Released: November 16, 1981 Label: Casablanca (#7261) Format: LP, CD, CS, 8-track7511—1039—71951AUS: Gold NOR: Gold1982Creatures of the Night Released: October 13, 1982 Label: Casablanca (#7270) Format: LP, CD, CS, 8-track4533—4234—312222 US: Gold1983Lick It Up Released: September 18, 1983 Label: Mercury (#814-297-1) Format: LP, CD, CS, 8-track (record club only release)2436461814—737 CAN: Gold US: Platinum1984Animalize Released: September 13, 1984 Label: Mercury (#822-495-1) Format: LP, CD, CS, 8-track (record club only release)1940412517—14811 CAN: Platinum FIN: GoldIFPI Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Kiss Retrieved June 27, 2011. US: Platinum1985Asylum Released: September 16, 1985 Label: Mercury (#826-099-1) Format: LP, CD, CS2089544334—11312 CAN: Gold US: Gold1987Crazy Nights Released: September 18, 1987 Label: Mercury (#832-626-1) Format: LP, CD, CS1824214444—8114 CAN: Platinum FIN: Gold US: Platinum UK: Gold1989Hot in the Shade Released: October 17, 1989 Label: Mercury (#838-913-1) Format: LP, CD, CS29304646——82935 CAN: Platinum US: Gold1992Revenge Released: May 19, 1992 Label: Mercury (#848-037-1) Format: LP, CD, CS65111646—41010 CAN: Gold US: Gold1997Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions Released: October 28, 1997 Label: Mercury (#536-323-2) Format: LP, CD, CS2754323666—2329—1998Psycho Circus Released: September 22, 1998 Label: Mercury (#558-992-2) Format: LP, CD, CS312551—4147 CAN: Gold SWE: Gold US: Gold2009Sonic Boom Released: October 6, 2009 Label: Kiss Records (#2009-01) Format: LP, CD, CS2222413—23242012Monster Released: October 9, 2012 Label: Universal Format: LP, CD, CS 3 7 3 6 17— 2 4 21
1978 solo albums ReleaseTitlePeak chart positionsCertificationsUSAUSCAN1978 Gene Simmons Released: September 18, 1978 Label: Casablanca (#LP-7120) Format: CD, LP, CS, 8-track223221 CAN: Gold"Certified Gene Simmons Awards US: Platinum Ace Frehley Released: September 18, 1978 Label: Casablanca (#LP-7121) Format: CD, LP, CS, 8-track264834 CAN: Gold"Certified Ace Frehley Awards US: Platinum Peter Criss Released: September 18, 1978 Label: Casablanca (#LP-7122) Format: CD, LP, CS, 8-track435952 CAN: Gold"Certified Peter Criss Awards US: Platinum Paul Stanley Released: September 18, 1978 Label: Casablanca (#LP-7123) Format: CD, LP, CS, 8-track405843 CAN: Gold"Certified Paul Stanley Awards US: Platinum
Live albums ReleaseTitlePeak chart positionsCertificationsUSAUSCANGERNORSWEUK1975 Alive! Released: September 10, 1975 Label: Casablanca (#LP-7020) Format: CD, LP, CS, 8-track9133—312249AUS: Gold CAN: Gold US: Gold1977Alive II Released: October 24, 1977 Label: Casablanca (#LP-7076) Format: CD, LP, CS, 8-track7175——2860AUS: Gold CAN: Platinum US: 2× Platinum1993Alive III Released: May 18, 1993 Label: Mercury (#514-777-2)914957152024 CAN: Gold US: Gold1996Kiss Unplugged Released: March 12, 1996 Label: Mercury (#528-950-1)15415479574ARG: GoldCAPIF Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Kiss Retrieved June 27, 2011. US: GoldYou Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! Released: June 25, 1996 Label: Mercury (#532-741-1)172634—2925— US: Gold2003Kiss Symphony: Alive IV Released: July 22, 2003 Label: Sanctuary (#06076-84624-2)18141015523— CAN: Gold2006Alive! The Millennium Concert Released: November 21, 2006 Label: Universal (#0007586-02)167——————2016Kiss Rocks Vegas Released: August 26, 2016 Label: Eagle Rocks Entertainment———24———2021Off the Soundboard – Tokyo 2001 Released: June 11, 2021 Label: Eagle Rocks Entertainment192——21———2022Off the Soundboard: Live in Virginia Beach 2004 Released: March 11, 2022 Label: Eagle Rocks Entertainment———————2022Off the Soundboard: Live at Donington 1996 Released: June 10, 2022 Label: Eagle Rocks Entertainment———————2022Off the Soundboard: Des Moines 1977 Released: July 28, 2022 Label: Eagle Rocks Entertainment———————2023Off the Soundboard: Live In Poughkeepsie, NY 1984 Released: April 7, 2023 Label: Eagle Rocks Entertainment———————2025Off the Soundboard: HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas - December 3, 1985 Released: March 28, 2025 Label: Eagle Rocks Entertainment———————
Instant Live album series ReleaseTitle2004Instant Live Released: 2004 Label: Clear Channel2008Alive 35 Released: 2008–2009 Label: Clear Channel2010Sonic Boom over Europe Released: 2010 Label: Clear Channel
Compilation albums ReleaseTitlePeak chart positionsCertificationsNewly released contentUSAUSCANPeak position for Gold on Canadian Albums Chart: GERNORSWEUK1978Double Platinum Released: April 1978 Label: Casablanca (#LP-7100) Format: CD, LP, CS, 8-track221715————AUS: Gold CAN: Gold US: PlatinumYes1982Killers Released: June 15, 1982 Label: Phonogram (#6302-193)—21—10641— AUS: GoldYes1988Chikara Released: May 25, 1988 Label: Polystar (#P30R-20008)———————YesSmashes, Thrashes & Hits Released: November 15, 1988 Label: Mercury (#836-427-1)21385365133062 CAN: Platinum US: 2× PlatinumYes1997Greatest Kiss Released: April 8, 1997 Label: Mercury (#534-299-2)7711—6425358ARG: Gold AUS: Platinum SWE: GoldYes1999Greatest Hits Released: June 18, 1999 Label: Polygram——————— UK: GoldNo2002The Very Best of Kiss Released: August 27, 2002 Label: Mercury (#440 063 122–2)526133801630—ARG: Gold US: GoldNo2003The Millennium Collection: The Best of Kiss Released: August 5, 2003 Label: Universal (#0000827-02)132—————— US: GoldNo2004The Best of Kiss, Volume 2: The Millennium Collection Released: June 15, 2004 Label: Universal (#0002549-02)———————No2005Gold Released: January 11, 2005 Label: Universal (#6-02498-63154-2)——200————No2006The Best of Kiss, Volume 3: The Millennium Collection Released: October 10, 2006 Label: Universal (#0007332-02)———————No2008Jigoku-Retsuden Released: August 27, 2008 Label: Sony (#58)———————Yes2014Kiss 40 Released: May 23, 2014 Label: Universal3031————— UK: SilverYes2017Kissworld: The Best of Kiss Released: June 2, 2017 (UK); January 25, 2019 (Worldwide) Label: Universal—60—37——18UK: GoldNo
Box sets ReleaseTitlePeak chart positionsCertificationsNewly released contentUSCANSWE1976The Originals Released: July 21, 1976 Label: Casablanca (#LP-7032-3) Format: 8-Track, LP, CS, CD3654—No1978The Originals II Released: March 23, 1978 Label: Casablanca (#VIP-5504-6)———No2001The Box Set Released: November 20, 2001 Label: Mercury (#586 561–2)128——RIAA: GoldYes2005Kiss Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums Released: June 21, 2005 Label: Mercury (#0004654-02)———No2006Kiss Alive! 1975–2000 Released: November 21, 2006 Label: Mercury (#0007586-02)167——Yes2008Ikons Released: October 21, 2008 Label: Universal (#001189802)——42No2012The Casablanca Singles 1974–1982 Released: November 13, 2012