Welcome to the 50th Review in the Kiss Review Series and we aren’t even close to being done. Sadly, the 50th review is this pile of crap. Kiss in 1997 was still touring the Alive / Worldwide Tour and to keep pushing out product for cash grabs, they dumped on us a total worthless pile of dung called ‘Greatest Kiss’. Yes, another greatest hits package. This one was released on April 6, 1997 and it only hit #77 on the Billboard Charts. I don’t think it was ever certified Gold or anything like that because let’s be honest, this is not a good greatest hits package.
The problem with it is that the U.S. version only covers the time frame of 1974-1980, the make-up years with the four original members. And there is only one previously unreleased track which is “Shout it Out Loud” that was recorded the prior year while on tour. It was recorded at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, MI on June 28, 1996 and was the show opener. It had a ton of explosions and fireworks and you hear every last pop. It’s not a bad recording.
There are 16 tracks and the only real interesting choice of songs is the Ace song “Two Sides of The Coin” off ‘Unmasked’ and I’m always a fan of “Flaming Youth” off ‘Destroyer. Other than that, there isn’t much of a variant as they are all pretty typical and classic Kiss songs. I get they are celebrating the return of Ace and Peter, but this really sucks with them ignoring everything after the boys left the band.
The only real interesting thing about the album is that their are four separate track listings depending what part of the world you live in. There is a European and Australian Track Listing, which gives you one more recent song as they do have “God Gave Rock & Roll To You II” off ‘Revenge’. That song is actually on all releases other than the U.S. release. This album gives you 20 songs which omits the songs “Christine Sixteen”, “Flaming Youth” and “Two Sides of The Coin” which are at least two of the songs I found interesting. It does give you “Black Diamond”, “Goin’ Blind”, “She” and “God of Thunder” which are all great classic songs.
The Japanese version also has 20 tracks and is basically the European/Australian track listing with two changes. They dropped “Cold Gin” and “Plaster Caster” and added “C’mon on Love Me” and “Rock Bottom” which again are two great choices. The last track list is the Mexican release. This release actually had the European track list accidentally printed on the album which is totally wrong as they had a few different tracks. The Mexican release had “2,000 Man” instead of “Shock Me” as I guess they like that Ace song better. The other song they had that no one else had was “I Want You”.
The only real fun thing about this release is the different track listings across the globe which actually makes this fun to get all the different ones out there. That is the only reason to get this and it is for diehards. Do not buy this otherwise. It is a pure and simple, CASH GRAB!! But we don’t expect anything less from Kiss now, do we. For all the reasons mentioned, this gets a 1.0 out of 5.0 Stars as it is a complete and utter waste of time. I have nothing else to say about it so we will see you for the next review. Thanks for staying this long on this review.
Next Up: Kiss – Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997)
Check out the rest of the series if you have time!!
The Kiss Review Series:
- Wicked Lester and the Progeny Demo Sessions (Bootleg)
- Kiss – Kiss (1974)
- Kiss – Hotter Than Hell (1974)
- Kiss – Dressed to Kill (1975)
- Kiss – Alive! (1975)
- Kiss – Destroyer (1976)
- Kiss – “Flaming Youth” 45 Promo Single – Bonus Edition (1976)
- Kiss – Special Kiss Album For Their Summer Tour (1976)
- Kiss – The Originals (1976)
- Kiss – Rock & Roll Over (1976)
- Kiss – Love Gun (1977)
- Kiss – Alive II (1977)
- Kiss – Double Platinum (1978)
- Kiss – Paul Stanley (1978)
- Kiss – Gene Simmons (1978)
- Kiss – Peter Criss (1978)
- Kiss – Ace Frehley (1978)
- Kiss – Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park Movie (1978)
- Kiss – Dynasty (1979)
- Kiss – “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” (1979) – 12″ & 7″ Singles (Bonus Edition)
- Kiss – Unmasked (1980)
- Peter Criss – Out of Control (1980)
- Kiss – Music From The Elder (1981)
- Kiss – Killers (1982)
- Kiss – Creatures of the Night (1982)
- Kiss – Lick It Up (1983)
- Kiss – Animalize (1984)
- Wendy O. Williams – WOW (1984) (Bonus Edition)
- Kiss – Animalize Live Uncensored (1985)
- Kiss – Asylum (1985)
- Kiss – “Tears Are Falling” 7″ Single (Bonus Edition) (1985)
- Kiss – Creatures of the Night (1985 Re-Issue)
- Vinnie Vincent Invasion – Vinnie Vincent Invasion (1986)
- Black N’ Blue – Nasty Nasty (1986)
- Ace Frehley – Frehley’s Comet (1987)
- Kiss – Exposed VHS (1987)
- Kiss – Crazy Nights (1987)
- Kiss – “Crazy Crazy Nights” – 12″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Kiss – “Reason To Live” – 12″ Picture Disc (Bonus Edition)
- Kiss – Chikara (1988)
- Kiss – Smashes, Thrashes & Hits (1988)
- Kiss – Hot In The Shade (1989)
- Kiss – “God Gave Rock And Roll To You II” (1991) – 12″ Picture Disc
- Kiss – Revenge (1992)
- Kiss – Alive III (1993)
- Kiss – Konfidential VHS (1993)
- Kiss – Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved (1994)
- Kiss – MTV Unplugged (1996)
- Kiss – You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! (1996)
- Kiss – Greatest Kiss (1997)
The Bootleg Series:
- Kiss – ‘Accept No Imitations’ (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ASYLUM TOUR)
- Kiss – Look Wot You Dun to Me (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (CRAZY NIGHTS TOUR)
- Kiss – The Summer of Satan: The Devils Ride Out! (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DESTROYER TOUR)
- Kiss – Return to Capital Center (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DYNASTY TOUR)
- Kiss – With Fire & Thunder (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (HOTTER THAN HELL TOUR)
- Kiss – Northhampton PA March 19th, 1975 (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DRESSED TO KILL TOUR)
- Kiss – The Hottest Show On Earth (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (THE HOTTEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR 2010)
- Kiss – All the Way to the Ball Room (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (Australian Tour 1995)
- Kiss – Kiss of Thunder (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (The Rising Sun Tour 2006)
- Kiss – Agora Ballroom 1974: The Cleveland Broadcast plus Bonus Cuts (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (THE KISS TOUR)
- Kiss – Hotter Than Hell: Radio Broadcast 1976 (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ROCK & ROLL OVER TOUR)
- Kiss – The Tickler (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (LICK IT UP TOUR 1983)
- Kiss – Barbarize (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ANIMALIZE WORLD TOUR 1984 – North American Tour)
- Kiss – They Only Come Out At Night (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ANIMALIZE WORLD TOUR 1984 – EUROPEAN TOUR)
- Wicked Lester and the Progeny Demo Sessions (Bootleg)
Kiss – The Box Set:
- The Box Set (Part 1 of 6)
- The Box Set – Disc One 1966-1975 (Part 2 of 6)
- The Box Set – Disc Two 1975-1977 (Part 3 of 6)
- The Box Set – Disc Three 1976-1982 (Part 4 of 6)
- The Box Set – Disc Four 1983-1989 (Part 5 of 6)
- The Box Set – Disc Five 1992-1999 (Part 6 of 6)
Gene Simmons – The Vault:
- Part 1 – The Grand Opening
- Part 2 – Disk 1
- Part 3 – Disk 2
- Part 4 – Disk 3
- Part 5 – Disk 4
- Part 6 – Disk 5
- Part 7 – Disk 6
- Part 8 – Disk 7
- Part 9 – Disk 8
- Part 10 – Disk 9
- Part 11 – Disk 10
- Part 12 – The Bonus Disk
- Part 13 – The Best Songs of the Vault
- Part 14 – The Worst Songs of the Vault
- Part 15 – The Final Verdict
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
Didn’t the band have a lot of money by this point? Why did they need to put out another greatest hits album for cash?
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Greatest Hits aren’t necessarily up to the band. That is usually the label and they are trying to milk as much money as possible from this reunion because they probably know that Peter and Ace will implode again so get it while they can.
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Ah ok it’s up to the label, oh ok so it’s not necessarily the band’s idea to do a greatest hits release. I mean I’m sure they made a lot of money with the return of Ace and Peter, maybe not on that release though.
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No, usually the label tells them they are doing a greatest hits. And depending on where they are in their career, they might not have any input in to it at all. That is why all the older bands have so many greatest hits because the label keeps dumping out a different one in hopes of squeezing a little more money out of the fan base since the bands generally aren’t putting out that much new material.
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Ok let me see if I get what you’re saying: The label uses the greatest hits album as a cash grab if the band isn’t doing much. Depending on how successful they are in their career, they may not get a say and just go along with it. Is that correct?
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Yes
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Oh ok I got it, thanks for explaining that to me! Is it really necessary to put out a greatest hits album if the band isn’t doing much? Unless there’s like a big gap between the last album.
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I think it is when there are long gaps between albums or it used to be when a band had 4-5 albums , the record company would automatically put one out. Once a band stops releasing albums or broken up, the label will do it every several years it seems like to keep trying to milk the catalog as best they can.
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That explains why there are so many Queen greatest hits/live releases years later after the classic lineup went their separate ways. Def Leppard didn’t have a greatest hits release between Pyromania and Hysteria, then again they only had three albums at the time, so not much to choose from.
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But Lep has made up for it now as how many live albums have they released over the last 20 years and greatest hits albums!
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How many of those live albums and greatest hits are memorable though? The Vault chose “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” from High ‘n’ Dry? Come on, that’s pathetic!
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Only Viva Las Vegas was memorable. By far my favorite. Hits Vegas second favorite because they both play so many deep cuts.
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Oh that’s right Viva Hysteria was an unbelievable show. They played “High ‘n’ Dry (Saturday Night),” ahhhh!!! Hits Vegas was good too (like you said), I liked that they played some songs they haven’t played in years.
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Never bought this as it was the same ol same ol but I will add what a great back cover shot. Thanks for taking one for the KISS ARMY John and telling it like it is.
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You aren’t missing anything. And you are welcome. They have so many greatest hits packages that I haven’t bought them all yet. One day I’ll breakdown and get the Icon ones and the Millennium sets.
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I think if you have Double Platinum from the 70s and Smashes from the 80s your set. lol
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Yep, you are pretty set with that.
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I didn’t think you were going to go here but you did! Nice one. I have three of the four. Only missing Mexico. Don’t need to add it to my collection. I would have been happy with just the original (European). When the US mix came out, a buddy bought it for me “autographed”. One of those mall places that used to exist that sold “autographs”. I don’t know if such places exist anymore. I assumed it was fake. Then the Japanese came into my store and for $10, I had to get it too. Otherwise I would have just stuck with the European!
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Cool that you have 3 of the 4 and one autographed…that is awesome. I have the one and that is why I did it since it was in my collection. I almost skipped it.
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Well fake autographed but yes I have 3 of the 4.
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Duly noted! Thanks for being honest!
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I will always be honest, even though some times bias can get in the way a tad when I feel a band can do no wrong. Kiss is not one of those bands.
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With cash grabs like these, I suppose that’s why they’re sometimes referred to as Ki$$!
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Kiss loves money so much that Gene even trademarked the money bag emblem and then went after Monopoly for using it!!
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HAHAHA I didn’t know he went after the Monopoly man!
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I could have sworn I read he ended up settling with them on it, but I don’t know what he made off it. I am sure a lot!!
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Yep, that is one heck of a popular game. Too bad Kissopoly isn’t an official Monopoly. Opportunity missed.
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I so want one of those. I haven’t bit the bullet on that plus now I think its expensive.
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I have one somewhere, hopefully at the lake.
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I read that Teenage Fanclub had to arrive at a settlement with Gene $immons after they used the money bag on the cover of Bandwagonesque!
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Is that true??
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I believe so!
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Ha, I’m robbing your collection since I got Garth playing(thanks to shuffle.Did u ever listen to yours? And just got Hollywood Undead Five. I think I have this Kiss somewhere…back later!
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I did listen to it and still enjoy his stuff. I like that Hollywood Undead as well. I need to finish getting their stuff on CD.
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen you give 1/5. I did laugh out loud at your intro. good stuff!
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Oh, I have in the past. Check out for Quiet Riot and Michael Bolton…oh yeah and Meatloaf!!!
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oh yes! I think I remember Meatloaf. I’m guessing Quiet Riot isn’t Metal Health?
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No, not that one. It was one of the more recent ones. I believe my dog Bear did a zero word review along with my review.
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OK I’ll bite. If this one’s a steaming pile, what is a Hits set by KISS that’s actually great?
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Double Platinum is great, Smashes is also good. I say it sucks because there was nothing really special about it, they skipped a whole decade of songs. It was just lazy and sloppy!! You can tell by the art work and everything about it that it was a rush job.
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Yeah I own a lot of KISS (some I don’t remember buying – it multiplies like rabbits). I’d just want a one-stop set for all the crap a noob like me would care about, with good versions. I think I have an LP set of Double Platinum here, otherwise I’d need you and Mike to make one for me!
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We can make one for you. That would be fun!!
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That would be! Mike made me a 5CDr Priest set ages ago. I knew it was expertly chosen!
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Nice!! I couldn’t do that for you as I am only 5 albums in to their catalog. But i could do a killer Kiss one for you. One disc with the best Paul songs, one with Gene’s and maybe two with the must haves and then the rare stuff.
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Interesting seperation by member rather than Hits by album!
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Why do it the normal way…be different…be unique.
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True, especially if it flows well!
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Got have good flow.
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Yup that’s essential.
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Ki$$ in cash grab shocker!! I have a hits set somewhere… don’t know which it is, as I haven’t dug it out in a long (long) time. Definitely not this one, though. Quite possibly Double Platinum.
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Double Platinum is one that should be owned by everyone!!
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I can’t believe that so much effort went into to doing four different versions.
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They wanted to put on “the” song or songs that would sell in that region. Its not like much effort was put in to the package to begin with so taking a little time to change up the songs a little wasn’t that big of a deal.
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