"Hard Luck Woman" is a song by
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
hard rock band
Kiss
A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, ...
and the
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
from their 1976 album, ''
Rock and Roll Over
''Rock and Roll Over'' is the fifth studio album by American rock band Kiss, released in 1976. It was recorded at the Star Theatre in Nanuet, New York.
Album information
To get the proper drum sound, Peter Criss recorded his tracks in a bathroo ...
''. It was originally written by
Paul Stanley
Paul Stanley (born Stanley Bert Eisen; January 20, 1952) is an American musician who is the co-founder, frontman, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's most popula ...
as a possible track for
Rod Stewart, but after the success of the
soft rock ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
"
Beth", Kiss decided to keep it for themselves as a follow-up.
[Leaf, David and Ken Sharp. ''KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography'', Warner Books, 2003. ] Stanley has stated his admiration and love of Stewart's music numerous times, and that "Hard Luck Woman" was inspired by Rod Stewart, in particular the songs "
Maggie May
"Maggie May" is a song co-written by singer Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton, and performed by Rod Stewart on his album '' Every Picture Tells a Story'', released in 1971.
In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked the song number 130 on its list of ...
" and "
You Wear It Well
"You Wear It Well" is a song written by Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton, performed by Stewart. It uses an arrangement markedly similar to that of " Maggie May", one of Stewart's hits from the previous year.
Stewart recorded "You Wear It Wel ...
". While Stewart's music served as a partial inspiration for the song, the nautical themed song "
Brandy" by American pop-rock band
Looking Glass served as Stanley's main inspiration.
Details
Alluding to the style of "Hard Luck Woman", Steven Bailey called the song an exemplar of "gentle
folk rock
Folk rock is a hybrid music genre that combines the elements of folk and rock music, which arose in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s. In the U.S., folk rock emerged from the folk music revival. Performers s ...
".
Sung by
Peter Criss
George Peter John Criscuola (born December 20, 1945), better known by his stage name Peter Criss, is a retired American musician, best known as a co-founder, original drummer, and vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss. Criss established The Ca ...
, the single was an attempt to follow the success of the hit single "Beth" released earlier in the year by releasing another love song sung by Criss. According to ''
Billboard Magazine
''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the musi ...
'', Criss' vocal performance sounds similar to
Rod Stewart. It proved to be a top 20 hit in the US, peaking at number 15.
A version of "Hard Luck Woman" appears on Kiss's 1977 ''
Alive II
''Alive II'' is the second live album by American hard rock band Kiss, released on October 14, 1977, by Casablanca Records. The band had released three albums (''Destroyer'', ''Rock and Roll Over'', and '' Love Gun'') since the previous live ou ...
''. Kiss also performed the song during their ''
MTV Unplugged
''MTV Unplugged'' is an American television series on MTV showcasing musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999 and less frequently from 2000 to 2009, when it was usually billed as ''MTV Un ...
'' appearance with Stanley on vocals. It did not appear on the
CD of the performance, but it was one of five bonus tracks on the DVD.
Reception
''
Cash Box'' said that the song is moving away from
heavy metal and that "the lead vocal is not unlike Rod Stewart — there's a growling, bluesy intensity, centered around acoustic rhythm work."
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Garth Brooks version
In 1994, country star
Garth Brooks recorded the song for the tribute album ''
Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved'', with Kiss themselves providing the instrumentation. Kiss and Brooks performed the song on ''
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that first aired from May 25, 1992, to May 29, 2009. It resumed production on March 1, 2010 and ended on February 6, 2014.
The fourth incarnation of the ...
'' in promotion of the album.
Chart performance
Other versions
*
X Japan
was a Japanese rock band from Chiba, formed in 1982 by drummer and pianist Yoshiki and lead vocalist Toshi. Starting as a predominantly power/speed metal band with heavy symphonic elements, they later gravitated towards a progressive soun ...
members
Toshi,
hide and
Pata
Pata or PATA may refer to:
Places
* Pata, Sulu, a Philippine municipality
* Pata, Galanta District, a village in Slovakia
* Pata, Central African Republic, a village
* Pata village (Samoa), a village in Samoa
* Pontrilas Army Training Area, a ...
performed a cover at Nissan Power Station on October 18, 1991.
*Japanese
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...
band Rosenfeld covered this song on their 1994
live album ''In the Garden'' as a
hidden track.
*Danish heavy metal band
Pretty Maids
Pretty Maids is a Danish hard rock/ heavy metal band from Horsens. Formed in 1981 by Ken Hammer, and completed with Ronnie Atkins in 1982, their sound and music can be described as classic guitar-laden heavy rock with a strong emphasis on melo ...
covered this song on their 1997 album, ''Spooked''.
*With Kanako Nakayama, Redd Kross covered this song on the 1998 tribute album, ''Kiss Tribute in Japan''.
*Japanese pop singer
Maki Nomiya
is a Japanese singer and musician. She released her first solo album in 1981, and worked through the 1980s as the lead vocalist of the new wave band . In 1991, she became the lead singer of the band Pizzicato Five. When the group disbanded in 20 ...
covered this song on her 1999 album, ''Miss Maki Nomiya Sings''.
*
Ginger of the heavy rock band
The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are an English rock band, formed in 1989 in Newcastle upon Tyne. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as the Beatles and 1980s- ...
covered the song on his 2001 solo live album ''Grievous Acoustic Behaviour''.
*Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters did a cover version on their 2005 album ''Long Playing''.
*
Corey Taylor performed the song acoustically during his ''Live in London'' show at KOKO in on 05/08/2016.
*
The Hold Steady
The Hold Steady is an American rock band originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, now based in Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2003. The band consists of Craig Finn (vocals, guitar), Tad Kubler (guitar), Galen Polivka (bass), Bobby Drake (drums), ...
did an electrified cover version on their 2014 covers EP, ''RAGS''.
Personnel
*
Peter Criss
George Peter John Criscuola (born December 20, 1945), better known by his stage name Peter Criss, is a retired American musician, best known as a co-founder, original drummer, and vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss. Criss established The Ca ...
– lead vocals, drums
*
Paul Stanley
Paul Stanley (born Stanley Bert Eisen; January 20, 1952) is an American musician who is the co-founder, frontman, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's most popula ...
– 12-string acoustic guitar, backing vocals
*
Ace Frehley
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley (; born April 27, 1951) is an American musician, best known as the original lead guitarist and co-founding member of the hard rock band Kiss. He invented the persona of The Spaceman (a.k.a. Space Ace) and played wit ...
– acoustic guitar
*
Gene Simmons – acoustic bass guitar
''Alive II'' version
*Peter Criss – lead vocals, drums
*Paul Stanley – electric guitar, backing vocals
*Ace Frehley – electric guitar
*Gene Simmons – electric bass guitar
In popular culture
*Episode 24 of the anime series ''
Cowboy Bebop'' is named "Hard Luck Woman" after the song.
References
External links
*
*
{{authority control
Kiss (band) songs
Garth Brooks songs
1976 singles
Songs written by Paul Stanley
Casablanca Records singles
Mercury Records singles
American folk rock songs
Rod Stewart
1976 songs