Asylum cover art

  Studio Album · No. 11

Asylum Songwriting Credits by Kiss

1985 Mercury 10 tracks 39 min

Produced by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons  ·  Engineered by Dave Wittman

Mercury Hard RockGlam Metal
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Kiss carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by Kiss 0 tracksoutside writers
Kiss's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
8
Lyricists
2
Producers
500,000
US Copies Sold
1985
Released
Data Insight

Asylum keeps the mid-1980s co-writing pattern going, with Paul Stanley turning to Desmond Child and Jean Beauvoir on his pop-leaning songs and new guitarist Bruce Kulick earning credits on three tracks. Gene Simmons writes more on his own here, but the album as a whole reads as a co-written record shaped by Stanley's outside collaborators and Kulick's arrival.

Asylum is the thirteenth studio album by Kiss, released in September 1985 and the first to feature guitarist Bruce Kulick, who would become the band's longest-serving lead guitarist of the era. Produced by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, it embraces the glossy, keyboard-tinged glam metal sound of the mid-1980s, with Stanley again leaning on co-writer Desmond Child for several tracks. The single 'Tears Are Falling,' written and sung by Stanley, became one of the album's highlights. A gold seller, Asylum continued the band's steady run through its makeup-free period.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
King of the Mountain
Paul StanleyBruce KulickDesmond Child Stanley Bert EisenBruce Howard KulickDesmond Child Paul StanleyGene Simmons Paul Stanley (Lead Vocals)
2
Any Way You Slice It
Gene SimmonsHoward Rice Chaim WitzHoward Rice Paul StanleyGene Simmons Gene Simmons (Lead Vocals)
3
Who Wants to Be Lonely
Paul StanleyDesmond ChildJean Beauvoir Stanley Bert EisenDesmond ChildJean Beauvoir Paul StanleyGene Simmons Paul Stanley (Lead Vocals)
4
Trial by Fire
Gene SimmonsBruce Kulick Chaim WitzBruce Howard Kulick Paul StanleyGene Simmons Gene Simmons (Lead Vocals)
5
I'm Alive
Paul StanleyBruce KulickDesmond Child Stanley Bert EisenBruce Howard KulickDesmond Child Paul StanleyGene Simmons Paul Stanley (Lead Vocals)
6
Love's a Deadly Weapon
Paul StanleyGene SimmonsRod SwensonWes Beech Stanley Bert EisenChaim WitzRod SwensonWes Beech Paul StanleyGene Simmons Gene Simmons (Lead Vocals)
7
Tears Are Falling #51
Paul Stanley Stanley Bert Eisen Paul StanleyGene Simmons Paul Stanley (Lead Vocals)
8
Secretly Cruel
Gene Simmons Chaim Witz Paul StanleyGene Simmons Gene Simmons (Lead Vocals)
9
Radar for Love
Paul StanleyDesmond Child Stanley Bert EisenDesmond Child Paul StanleyGene Simmons Paul Stanley (Lead Vocals)
10
Uh! All Night
Paul StanleyDesmond ChildJean Beauvoir Stanley Bert EisenDesmond ChildJean Beauvoir Paul StanleyGene Simmons Paul Stanley (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 11 contributors

More from Kiss

Frequently Asked Questions Asylum

Who wrote Asylum?
Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons wrote it with co-writers including Desmond Child, Jean Beauvoir, and new guitarist Bruce Kulick.
Who played guitar on Asylum?
Asylum was the first album with Bruce Kulick on lead guitar, beginning his long run with the band.
Who produced Asylum?
It was produced by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons.
What is the main single from Asylum?
'Tears Are Falling,' written and sung by Paul Stanley, was the album's standout single.
Is Asylum certified gold?
Yes, it is certified gold in the United States.
What does Asylum sound like?
It leans into the glossy, keyboard-tinged glam metal of the mid-1980s, with Stanley's hooks driving much of the record.

Sources