Neha Patil (Editor)

Hard Luck Woman

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Released
  
November 1, 1976 (US)

Genre
  
Soft rock

Writer(s)
  
Paul Stanley

Format
  
7"

Length
  
3:29

Label
  
Casablanca NB-873A (US)

"Hard Luck Woman" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss and the lead single from their 1976 album, Rock and Roll Over. It was originally written by Paul Stanley as a possible track for Rod Stewart, but after the success of the ballad "Beth", Kiss decided to keep it for themselves as a follow-up.

Contents

Sung by Peter Criss, 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. It proved to be a Top 20 hit in the US, peaking at #15.

A version of "Hard Luck Woman" appears on Kiss's 1977 Alive II album; however, it was later revealed that the song was recorded in an empty warehouse with an audience overdubbed, rather than an actual live recording.

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 in promotion of the album.

Other versions

  • X Japan members Toshi, hide and Pata performed a cover at Nissan Power Station on October 18, 1991.
  • Japanese thrash metal band Rosenfeld covered this song on their 1994 live album In the Garden as a hidden track.
  • Danish heavy metal band Pretty Maids 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 covered this song on her 1999 album, Miss Maki Nomiya Sings.
  • Ginger of the heavy rock band The Wildhearts covered the song on his 2001 solo live album Grevious Acoustic Behaviour.
  • Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters did a cover version on their 2005 album Long Playing.
  • The Hold Steady did an electrified cover version on their 2014 covers EP, RAGS.

    • Personnel

  • Peter Criss - lead vocals, drums
  • Paul Stanley - twelve string acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Ace Frehley - 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
  • Episode 24 of the anime series Cowboy Bebop is named "Hard Luck Woman" after the song.

    • References

    Hard Luck Woman Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA