On 30. April, 1973, the first LP with Kiss material was made. “The KISS Demos Windfall Records Richard Totoian Acetate” is the very first Kiss recording to ever exist in LP form. The songs were “Deuce”, “Cold Gin”, “Strutter”, “Watchin’ You” and “Black Diamond”, taken from the Eddie Kramer demo in March ’73. The LP was auctioned for $25.000 on 28. August 2022.
Richard Totoian, National Promotion Director at Windfall Music from 1971-1973:
“During the early 1970’s, when “glitter bands” were fading and “theatrical bands” were taking the stage, I was working at Windfall Music with Bud Prager, Gary Kurfurst and Felix Pappalardi who produced CREAM and MOUNTAIN. Every night we would get a pile of demo tapes, listen to the tapes, and discuss them. I came across a tape that really impressed me. This band was hungry to get signed with my company and be produced by Felix Pappalardi. Shopping their music around to the major labels, the band had a music showcase set-up for Don Ellis of Epic records. I was also invited to the showcase to see them play and brought Gary Kurfurst. Gary called me the next day and asked me what I thought. I told them we should sign them immediately! This music was incredible! The stage make up the band wore was just a hint of what would come later taking the Theatrical Band show to a whole new level! Luke warm on them, Gary couldn’t figure out what market to fit them into and wanted to pass. I had two or three meetings with the band in my office at Windfall. They gave me an acetate record in hopes it would still meet the ears of Bud and Felix. As fate would have it, they never heard it and had to go on the word of Gary. Without Felix’s vote, Windfall Music would end up passing on the deal. From the demo tape, came this rare acetate record, and then there was the music showcase in New York City, September 28th, 1973 at Le Tang’s Ballet Studio on a little riser stage; this band would become one of the most legendary bands of all time….. KISS! Paul Stanley reminded me of this story one night at The Bottom Line in New York City, and thanked me for my interest. He has always been gracious and reminds people when we bump into each other of my passion for his then little known band KISS.”
On 30. April, 1973, the first LP with Kiss material was made. “The KISS Demos Windfall Records Richard Totoian Acetate” is the very first Kiss recording to ever exist in LP form. The songs were “Deuce”, “Cold Gin”, “Strutter”, “Watchin’ You” and “Black Diamond”, taken from the Eddie Kramer demo in March ’73. The LP was auctioned for $25.000 on 28. August 2022.
Richard Totoian, National Promotion Director at Windfall Music from 1971-1973:
“During the early 1970’s, when “glitter bands” were fading and “theatrical bands” were taking the stage, I was working at Windfall Music with Bud Prager, Gary Kurfurst and Felix Pappalardi who produced CREAM and MOUNTAIN. Every night we would get a pile of demo tapes, listen to the tapes, and discuss them. I came across a tape that really impressed me. This band was hungry to get signed with my company and be produced by Felix Pappalardi. Shopping their music around to the major labels, the band had a music showcase set-up for Don Ellis of Epic records. I was also invited to the showcase to see them play and brought Gary Kurfurst. Gary called me the next day and asked me what I thought. I told them we should sign them immediately! This music was incredible! The stage make up the band wore was just a hint of what would come later taking the Theatrical Band show to a whole new level! Luke warm on them, Gary couldn’t figure out what market to fit them into and wanted to pass. I had two or three meetings with the band in my office at Windfall. They gave me an acetate record in hopes it would still meet the ears of Bud and Felix. As fate would have it, they never heard it and had to go on the word of Gary. Without Felix’s vote, Windfall Music would end up passing on the deal. From the demo tape, came this rare acetate record, and then there was the music showcase in New York City, September 28th, 1973 at Le Tang’s Ballet Studio on a little riser stage; this band would become one of the most legendary bands of all time….. KISS! Paul Stanley reminded me of this story one night at The Bottom Line in New York City, and thanked me for my interest. He has always been gracious and reminds people when we bump into each other of my passion for his then little known band KISS.”