Midnite Dynamite is the third studio album by the American hard‑rock band Kix. It was released on August 8 1985 by Atlantic Records and recorded at Atlantic Studios in New York City. The album is classified within the hard rock and glam metal genres and has a total running time of 41 minutes 4 seconds.
Background and production
The album was produced primarily by Beau Hill, with additional production by Bill Dooley and Keith Lentin on the tracks “Lie Like a Rug” and “Sex.” Recording featured the core members of Kix—Steve Whiteman (lead vocals, harmonica, saxophone), Ronnie “10/10” Younkins (guitar), Brian “Damage” Forsythe (guitar), Donnie Purnell (bass, keyboards, backing vocals), and Jimmy “Chocolate” Chalfant (drums, percussion, backing vocals). Guest musicians included Anton Fig (drums on two tracks), Mike Slamer (guitar on two tracks), and producer Beau Hill (additional keyboards and guitars). Mastering was performed by George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York.
Songwriting
Seven of the ten songs were co‑written by bassist Donnie Purnell and professional songwriter Bob Halligan Jr., known for work with Kiss, Judas Priest, and other rock acts. Kip Winger contributed to one composition, while John Palumbo of Crack the Sky co‑wrote three tracks. Steve Whiteman is credited as a co‑writer on the song “Sex.”
Track listing (selected)
- “Midnite Dynamite” – 3:51
- “Red Hot (Black & Blue)” – 3:23
- “Bang Bang (Balls of Fire)” – 4:00
- “Layin’ Rubber” – 3:52
- “Walkin’ Away” – 4:56
- “Scarlet Fever” – 4:20
- “Cry Baby” – 4:17
- “Cold Shower” – 5:02
- “Lie Like a Rug” – 3:41
- “Sex” – 3:56
Reception and legacy
Upon release, Midnite Dynamite received mixed reviews. AllMusic assigned the album a three‑star rating, noting its energetic performances but critiquing its adherence to contemporary glam‑metal conventions. Kerrang! and Music Week offered comparable moderate assessments. Retrospectively, the album has been highlighted by some critics as an overlooked entry in the 1980s hair‑metal scene; in 2018, Consequence’s Collin Brennan listed it among “10 Hair Metal Albums That Don’t Suck.” While the record did not achieve significant commercial success, it helped solidify Kix’s fan base and paved the way for their later breakthrough with the 1988 album Blow My Fuse.
Commercial performance
The album peaked modestly on U.S. charts and did not produce major hit singles, contributing to its status as a cult favorite rather than a mainstream bestseller.
Personnel summary
Kix
- Steve Whiteman – lead vocals, harmonica, saxophone
- Ronnie Younkins – guitars
- Brian Forsythe – guitars
- Donnie Purnell – bass, keyboards, backing vocals, co‑lead vocals on “Cold Shower”
- Jimmy Chalfant – drums, percussion, backing vocals, co‑lead vocals on “Cold Shower”
Additional musicians
- Anton Fig – drums, percussion (tracks “Lie Like a Rug” and “Sex”)
- Mike Slamer – guitars (tracks “Walkin’ Away” and “Scarlet Fever”)
- Beau Hill – keyboards, guitars, production
Production credits
- Producers: Beau Hill; Bill Dooley and Keith Lentin (selected tracks)
- Engineers: Stephen Benben, Jim Faraci, Ed Garcia, Ira McLaughlin (assistant)
- Mastering: George Marino
- Art direction: Bob Defrin
- Photography: David Michael Kennedy
Midnite Dynamite remains a representative artifact of mid‑1980s American glam‑metal, reflecting both the genre’s commercial aspirations and its underground appeal.