Sure Know Something
| "Sure Know Something" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Kiss | ||||
| from the album Dynasty | ||||
| B-side | "Dirty Livin'" | |||
| Released | August 1979[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1979 | |||
| Studio | Electric Lady Studios, New York City; Record Plant Studios, New York City | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:58 | |||
| Label | Casablanca NB-2205 (US) | |||
| Songwriters | Paul Stanley, Vini Poncia | |||
| Producer | Vini Poncia | |||
| Kiss singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Sure Know Something" is a song by American rock, band Kiss, released in 1979 as the second single off their seventh studio album Dynasty. While not as successful as the album's previous single, "I Was Made for Lovin' You", the song reached No. 47 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was another top ten hit (No. 4) for the band in Australia.
Composition
[edit | edit source]"Sure Know Something" is a hard rock and pop rock ballad written by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley and producer Vini Poncia.[2][3] Along with "Strutter '78", "I Was Made for Lovin' You" and "Dirty Livin'", the song is one of four disco flirtations by Kiss.[4] One of the more sophisticated songs written by Stanley, it's heavily carried by a bass guitar line that follows a close melody to the vocals.[5] Musically and lyrically darker than most Kiss tracks, it's played in a minor key with lyrics referring to being overwhelmed by loss of virginity.
Reception
[edit | edit source]Cash Box declared the song has "a rock-anthemic quality with just the right pop hook to take it straight to the top."[6] Record World called it a "megarocker that bowls you over with sheer power and enthusiasm."[7] A personal favorite of Castleton Spartan writer Jack Aicher, he claims the "retro sounds from the vinyl pull the listener deeper into this song."[5]
A promotional video, directed by John Goodhue, features the band on a mock-up of what was their Dynasty-era stage show.[8]
Appearances
[edit | edit source]"Sure Know Something" has appeared on the following Kiss albums:
- Dynasty - studio version
- Killers - studio version
- Kiss Unplugged - live version
- Greatest Kiss - studio version
- The Box Set - studio version
- Kiss Symphony: Alive IV - live version
- Gold - studio version
Other appearances:
- B-side of the "Dirty Livin'" single
- B-side of the "2,000 Man" single
- Double A-Side of the "Tomorrow" single in Mexico
Track listing
[edit | edit source]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sure Know Something" | Paul Stanley, Vini Poncia | 3:38 |
| 2. | "Dirty Livin'" | Peter Criss, Stan Penridge | 3:45 |
| Total length: | 7:23 | ||
Personnel
[edit | edit source]- Paul Stanley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar
- Gene Simmons – bass
- Ace Frehley – additional guitar, backing vocals
- Anton Fig – drums
- Vini Poncia – keyboards, backing vocals
Charts
[edit | edit source]
Weekly charts[edit | edit source]
|
Year-end charts[edit | edit source]
|
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ KISS video information
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). 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 RPM Singles: Issue 6856a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kiss" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Kiss – Sure Know Something". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Kiss Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kiss – Sure Know Something" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 153: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).