Calling Dr. Love
"Calling Dr. Love" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Kiss | ||||
from the album Rock and Roll Over | ||||
B-side | "Take Me" | |||
Released | February 13, 1977 (US) | |||
Recorded | 1976 at Star Theatre, Nanuet, New York | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:46 | |||
Label | Casablanca NB-880 (US) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Gene Simmons | |||
Producer(s) | Eddie Kramer | |||
Kiss singles chronology | ||||
|
"Calling Dr. Love" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss, originally released on their 1976 album Rock and Roll Over.
A live version of the song was included on Alive II, released in 1977. Since then, "Calling Dr. Love" has appeared on numerous Kiss compilation albums. In 2003, it appeared on Kiss's fifth live album, Kiss Symphony: Alive IV. "Calling Dr. Love" was also featured in the setlist of the Alive 35 World Tour in 2008.
The Canadian 8-track tape version of the song is extended by about 55 seconds, with a smoothly edited-in repeat of the guitar solo.
Background
It was written by bassist Gene Simmons, who sings lead vocals on the song, at a Holiday Inn in Evansville, Indiana. The song's title came from Simmons' recollection of The Three Stooges film Men in Black, which contained a hospital intercom announcement, "Calling Doctor Howard, Doctor Fine, Doctor Howard."[citation needed]
Reception
Cash Box said that "a hard-driving rhythm line and straightforward vocals combine with Simmons' distinct style to make a top 40 and FM playlist addition."[3] Record World called it a " rocker...in a Humble Pie vein."[4]
Charts
The song was the second single released from the album, and the band's fourth US Top 20 single, reaching #16 in Billboard. In Canada, the song reached number two,[5] and is ranked as the 54th biggest Canadian hit of 1977.
Weekly charts
| Year-end Charts
|
Personnel
- Gene Simmons – lead vocals, bass
- Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar
- Peter Criss – drums, backing vocals
- Ace Frehley – lead guitar, additional guitar, backing vocals
Covers
- In 1994, the song was recorded and re-arranged by the one-off supergroup Shandi's Addiction (vocalist Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Billy Gould, and drummer Brad Wilk) as part of the Kiss tribute album Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved.
- In 1996, the industrial rock band The Electric Hellfire Club covered the song on their album Calling Dr. Luv, renaming the album and song to reflect the name of their keyboardist The Rev. Dr. Luv who had recently died, which the album was dedicated to.
- The punk band Hullabaloo covered the song for the Kiss tribute album Hard to Believe: Kiss Covers Compilation.
Popular culture
- In the film Detroit Rock City, which revolves around Kiss fans, once a character is asked his name after foiling a robbery, he replies "They call me Dr. Love". The song is also played in the film itself.
- The song was released as downloadable content in the music video game Rock Band.
- The song is mentioned - albeit briefly - in The Wastelands, the third installment of Stephen King's epic The Dark Tower.
- The song was used in a 2009 commercial for the cherry-flavored Dr. Pepper. It features Gene Simmons, referred to as "Dr. Love," on a couch with several women, in front of a large electric Kiss logo which flashes while he says that the new product has a "kiss of cherry." His son Nick enters and scolds him for over-emphasizing the word "kiss." The ad ends with Simmons saying "trust me, I'm a doctor!" A variant of this ad aired during Super Bowl XLIV.[11][12]
- "Calling Dr. Love" was featured in the film Magic Mike.
References
- ^ Prato, Greg. "Rock and Roll Over - Kiss | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Dick, Jonathan (October 2, 2014). "The 10 Best KISS Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 12, 1977. p. 34. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 19, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5447a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Kiss Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Top 100 1977-06-04". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5502b." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1977". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
- ^ "GENE SIMMONS' DR PEPPER Commercial Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. March 25, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Vranica, Suzanne (January 5, 2010). "Dr Pepper Buys Its First Super Bowl Spot". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- v
- t
- e
- Kiss
- Hotter than Hell
- Dressed to Kill
- Destroyer
- Rock and Roll Over
- Love Gun
- Dynasty
- Unmasked
- Music from "The Elder"
- Creatures of the Night
- Lick It Up
- Animalize
- Asylum
- Crazy Nights
- Hot in the Shade
- Revenge
- Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions
- Psycho Circus
- Sonic Boom
- Monster
- Ace Frehley
- Gene Simmons
- Paul Stanley
- Peter Criss
- Double Platinum
- Killers
- Chikara
- Smashes, Thrashes & Hits
- Greatest Kiss
- The Very Best of Kiss
- The Millennium Collection: The Best of Kiss
- The Best of Kiss, Volume 2: The Millennium Collection
- Gold
- The Best of Kiss, Volume 3: The Millennium Collection
- Jigoku-Retsuden
- Kiss 40
- The Originals
- The Box Set
- Kiss Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums
- Kiss Alive! 1975–2000
- Ikons
- Animalize Live Uncensored
- Exposed
- Crazy Nights
- X-treme Close-Up
- Kiss Konfidential
- Kiss My Ass: The Video
- Kiss Unplugged
- Psycho Circus 3-D Video
- The Second Coming
- Kiss Symphony: The DVD
- Rock the Nation Live!
- Kissology Volume One: 1974–1977
- Kissology Volume Two: 1978–1991
- Kissology Volume Three: 1992–2000
- Kiss Rocks Vegas
- Hard to Believe: A Kiss Covers Compilation
- Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved
- A Tribute to the Creatures of the Night
- Kiss My Grass: A Hillbilly Tribute to Kiss
- Spin the Bottle: An All-Star Tribute to Kiss
- Gods of Thunder: A Norwegian Tribute to Kiss
- Lick It Up – A Millennium Tribute to Kiss
- Kiss My Ankh
- Club Tour
- Kiss Tour
- Hotter than Hell Tour
- Dressed to Kill Tour
- Alive! Tour
- Destroyer Tour
- Rock & Roll Over Tour
- Love Gun Tour
- Alive II Tour
- Dynasty Tour
- Unmasked Tour
- Creatures of the Night Tour
- Lick It Up World Tour
- Animalize World Tour
- Asylum Tour
- Crazy Nights World Tour
- Hot in the Shade Tour
- Revenge Tour
- Kiss My Ass Tour
- Alive/Worldwide Tour
- Psycho Circus World Tour
- The Farewell Tour
- Alive 35 World Tour
- Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour
- The Hottest Show on Earth Tour
- The Tour
- Monster World Tour
- Kiss 40th Anniversary World Tour
- Freedom to Rock Tour
- Kissworld Tour
- End of the Road World Tour
- Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park
- Detroit Rock City
- Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery
- Action figures
- Comics
- Kiss: Psycho Circus
- Pinball
- Pinball video game
- Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child
- Kiss Kasket
- Kiss by Monster Mini-Golf
- Los Angeles Kiss
- Bibliography
Management | |
---|---|
Songwriters |
|
Articles | |
Bands |
|
Albums |
|
- Category