Kissin' Time (song)

"Kissin' Time" is a song by the American singer Bobby Rydell. It was released in 1959 on Cameo-Parkway Records. Written by Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann, the track was Rydell's first single and it would also go on to be his first Top 20 hit.

Background

Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann, founders of Rydell's label, wrote "Kissin' Time". It quickly became a number 11 hit in the United States and made Rydell (then a 17-year-old) a "teen idol". This success was followed by a tour through Australia with The Everly Brothers, Billy "Crash" Craddock, Marv Johnson, The Champs and The Crickets. Rydell recorded a new version of "Kissin' Time" to fit Australia ("they're kissin' in Sydney. Perth and Brisbane too..."). The song was covered by the hard rock band Kiss in 1974.

Kiss version

In 1974, the hard rock band Kiss released its eponymous debut album. The record struggled to stay on the charts and the group was in need of a single that would help. Neil Bogart, founder of the band's record company Casablanca Records, knew that a catchy single could save the record. He consequently ordered the band to record "Kissin' Time", hoping that it would achieve the same success as it had for Rydell. The single first had to be drastically reworked because of lines like "They're smoochin' all over, even in St. Lou."

Kissin Time

Kissin Time is the 16th album by British musician Marianne Faithfull.

Overview

After turns as a neo-cabaret/slow ballad crooner in previous works (represented by her 1990s works with Hal Willner, Angelo Badalamenti and the interpretation of Brecht/Weill standards), Faithfull was eager to collaborate with contemporary musicians. She co-wrote almost all the songs, and worked with several notable musicians who produced the tracks.

The song "Kissin Time" is the result of a collaboration between her and Blur, and is, according to Faithfull, "sort of about Damon (Albarn) and sort of about me." Beck, who worked with her in Los Angeles, is responsible for the tracks "Sex With Strangers", "Like Being Born" and "Nobody's Fault". While the first one is an electro-funk sprechstimme track, influenced by Serge Gainsbourg and Beck's Midnite Vultures, the other two tend to a more folk/country/Leonard Cohen path. 'Nobody's Fault' appeared on Beck's album Mutations. Beck's collaborations were co-produced by Tony Hoffer.