Decades have passed since the publication of her debut album. And for almost as long, music fans argue about whether the make -up Kiss-Quartet from New York City are now rock-&-roller gods or just false prophets on platform shoes.
In 2014 – in the original line -up with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss (alias Starchild, Demon, Spaceman and Catman) – was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At least this seemed to be temporarily brought about a ceasefire between the Kiss Army and the critics.
One thing is certain. Behind make-up and merchandisebergen is a glittering bunch of very, very good music. You want the best? You got the best. Here are the top 10 albums (solo projects not counted) the band, which many consider for the “Hottest Band in the World” – yesterday, today, forever.
10. “Hot in the Shade ”(1989)
If fans are to choose the best kiss album of the no-make-up era, they usually call either the first- Lick it up from 1983 or the last: Revenge from 1992. But while the former shines with a great title track and otherwise offers little, and the latter wants to sound too hard to sound hard Hot in the Shade As a surprisingly solid hard rock plant of the late eighties on their own feet.
Ironically, it is one of the most overlooked albums by Kiss. Although it produced the greatest hit of this era with “Forever”, a collaboration between Paul Stanley and Michael Bolton. The tracklist is too long with 15 songs. But there are some highlights the test of the time. For example, the slide guitar-supported opener “Rise to it” (with video in which Stanley and Simmons create the iconic make-up again). The driving “Silver Spoon”. The track “Little Caesar” sung by Eric Carr. And the first single “Hide Your Heart”. A song that was so good that it was recorded three times. By Kiss, the Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler and, interestingly, Ace Frehley.
9. “Alive II ‘”(1977)
This album appeared only two years after Alive!. In the meantime, despite intensive tours, KISS released three more studio albums. Alive IIanother double album, repeats the recipe for success of the predecessor. But with a completely new song set. Which may be the last time – if you assume that the album represents a single concert – that the band “Rock and Roll All Nite” did not play.
By not doing anything from Pre-Alive! Accepted, they also demonstrated how much great material they had produced in no time. Including “Detroit Rock City”, “King of the Night Time World”, “Shock Me”, “Love Gun” and “Shout It Out Loud”. The fourth side, consisting of studio recordings and a cover, looks superfluous. However, it contains a real insider tip with “Rocket Ride”. A Frehley composition with snotty, phase-rich guitar reef and typically tumbling ACE singing.
8. “Rock and Roll Over ‘”(1976)
After the studio excesses from Destroyer Kiss decided to screw her sound back. You committed Eddie Kramer, producer of Alive! and the kiss demo of ’73. And took up in an old theater north of New York to capture a “live” feeling. The result: Rock and Roll Over. Leaner, harder. The ten songs shine with Simmons ‘”Calling Dr. Love” and Stanley’s “Makin’ Love”.
The latter with a guitar reef that is reminiscent of Aerosmith’s “Toys in the Attic”. The greatest success was a strategy that is already on Destroyer had proven. Peter Criss as lead singer. This time at “Hard Luck Woman”, an acoustic, “Maggie May”-like ballad that Stanley originally wanted to offer Rod Stewart. As with “Beth”, it became a top 20 hit.
7. “Creatures of the Night ”(1982)
After the disco excursion Dynastythe soft skirt of Unmasked and the concept album mislay Music from “The Elder” applied Creatures of the night As a return to old form. In fact, the album marked the birth of a new, shiny metallic kiss version of the eighties. Eric Carr, now an integral part of the band, was an energetic and dominant drummer compared to Peter Criss.
Frehley was still on the cover. But it has long been replaced – with a guitar team around Vinnie Vincent. The result: less party, more force. Title like the driving opener, the Hymnic “I love it Loud” (with “We Will Rock You”-like choir vocals) and the pounding “War Machine” show Kiss at eye level with almost every hard rock or metal publication of the year.
6. “Dressed to Kill ”(1975)
Maybe songwriter. Maybe not quite as strong as Hotter Than HellBut more focused and toned. And above all: cheerful-tracks like “Love Her All I Can”, “Room Service”, “Anything for My Baby” and the final “Rock and Roll All Nite” are pure power pop I ecstasy. An album made for the stage. Which is no wonder. Charts success was still a long way off, but Kiss became increasingly a sensation. So no coincidence that several songs celebrate tour life and groupie experiences-such as Simmons ‘”Ladies in Waiting” or Stanley’s “Room Service”, in which the Starchild in Hotelzimmern, aircraft and even at home has fun with a “Sweet Sixteen, Lookin’ Hot and Mean”. Until suddenly her father appears.
5. “Hotter Than Hell ”(1974)
Production (and the cover) leave something to be desired. The album flopped initially. But Hotter Than Hell Contains numerous kiss classics. Title track and “Got to Choose” provide first-class riffs with a GLAM Groove, which is reinforced by the fact that both songs sound as if the band is playing in slow motion. Frehley’s “Parasite” and “Strange Ways” show a harder gait. So much so that they were later covered by Anthrax or Megadth. And then there would be Simmons ‘”Goin’ Blind”, so dark and slow that two Grunge bands-the Melvins and Dinosaur Jr.-reinterpreted it in the early ninety.
4. “Love Gun ”(1977)
The last studio album of the golden era. Before solo albums, disco elements, members of the member and concept adventure began. And yet: Love Gun not only contains great songs like the opening “I Stole your love”. Or the title track. It is also a real band project. For the first time, all four members sing lead vocals (Frehley’s “Shock Me” is a highlight-see Buckcherry’s “Lit Up”, a rip-off) and also help in an instrumental manner. Stanley plays lead guitar and bass. Simmons rhythm guitar. Producer Eddie Kramer even reaches into the buttons at “Christine Sixteen”. A one-chord piano, “played like a Neanderthal”, says Kramer about Genes Coaching.
3. “Destroyer ”(1976)
After Alive! hit kiss with Destroyer a completely new way. To complex studio sounds. With Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Lou Reed), strings (“Beth”), car accident noises (“Detroit Rock City”) and children’s choirs (“Great Expectations”) were integrated. In addition, the Simmons trademark “God of Thunder” (written by Stanley), “Shout It Out Loud” and the explosive “King of the Night Time World”. Kiss at the zenith. Even if cracks became visible. Session guitarist Dick Wagner had to step in at “Sweet Pain” and “Beth” because Ace Frehle did not appear in the studio.
2. “Alive! ‘”(1975)
The cover was spectacular. Even if the album is not quite as “live” as it seems. But illusion has always been part of the kiss magic. With Alive! brought the complete live experience explosions, lights, fire, blood, make-up-directly into the youth room. The tracklist is a best of the first three albums. With turned on tempos and a loud audience, which the weak studio versions – especially from Hotter Than Hell-Mass -drowned out. The version of “Rock and Roll All Nite” with iconic ACE solo is now considered the ultimate variant.
1. “Kiss ”(1974)
The debut album sprays with energy and enthusiasm. Even more than the celebrated Alive!. And every song sits (yes, also the reuniting with the sweet cover of “Kissin ‘Time”). The “Strutter” opener, a GLAM pop piece by Stanley/Simmons, is perhaps the strongest KISS song ever. Immediately behind it follows “Nothin ‘to loose” with a melodic bass run, Beatles-Esk Harmonia and changes in singing between Demon, Starchild and Catman. A hymn about … let’s say: alternative ways to love. The true “love theme from Kiss”.