In 2014, Kiss was celebrating their 40th Anniversary. To celebrate they did a huge tour with none other than Def Leppard. I caught the show in Charlotte, North Carolina with Leppard opening and I will admit that Def Leppard blew Kiss off the stage, but that is another story. Kiss decided to celebrate with another Greatest Hits compilation titled ‘Kiss 40’. It was released on May 23, 2014 and contained one song from every Kiss release giving them 40 tracks…well, 36 tracks and they stuck 4 other tracks on their for good measure and put out on a 2 CD set. 

In Japan only, there was another release of Kiss 40 that was only a single disc edition. It had only 20 tracks and a few different ones then you got on the 2 Disc Set. And for that reason you had to have both sets. And being a Japanese Edition, you also got an OBI strip but this one was bigger as it actually covered the entire back of the CD case as well. The set also included a booklet in both English and Japanese with the lyrics to the songs. There is a new song on the set called “Samurai Son” that was done with the Japanese girl band Momoiro Clover Z and as a result there is a little picture card of the band with Kiss. The last thing is the CD booklet itself which is full of bright, vivid color pictures of the band from throughout the years. It includes every member of the band.

The opening track is “Samurai Son (U.S. Mix)” with the band Momoiro Clover Z. This song sounds like nothing you have heard before with Kiss…well except for Paul’s vocals sound like Kiss. The drums are immense, Momoiro Clover Z does some of the backing vocals and even Gene joins in as well. It is a modern sounding rock song and I think it sounds really cool. Paul hasn’t sounded better, the Japanese sounding drums are cool and there is killer riff included. The song is worth the price of admission here easily.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=gwBc3rsyuE4%3Fsi%3DKuz0Mr1K7w0k9jrz

The second thing that is different from this set is instead of a live version of “Rock And Roll All Nite” that you get on the 2 disc set, this one is the album version from ‘Dressed to Kill’ rather than ‘Alive!’. You know the song, so no need going in to detail. It is their biggest anthem and the song they end EVERY Kiss show with so yeah, it is good (just heard it a million times). The next track is also a different version then the 2 CD set. That set had “Shout it Loud” Live from ‘Alive II’. This is the studio track from ‘Destroyer’.

The next two tracks are both Peter Criss ballads and thanks to these, they helped Kiss’ fandom grow even more as “Beth” was the band’s first and biggest radio hit. The piano ballad off the album ‘Destroyer’ saw the softer side of Kiss and brought them major success. To capitalize on that, for the next album, ‘Rock And Roll Over’ they did another ballad with “Hard Luck Woman” which I like a lot myself. Another thing this album does is actually repeat an album as we get “Detroit Rock City” which is also from ‘Destroyer’ and now the third song from that album. This is the full song with all the radio broadcast and car noises (including the crash) from the original song. No radio edit here. On the 2 disc set this song was a live version taken from ‘Kiss Symphony: Alive IV’.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=k6Rl8TpGIP4%3Fsi%3DPDGld3VIlJ-kAUBD

With “Calling Dr. Love”, we repeat the album ‘Rock And Roll Over’ again. This is the studio track and this song was not even on the 2 CD set of ‘Kiss 40’ so another different track. Another classic Demon song and one of my favorite Gene tracks. Hard, heavy and a lot of fun. Next up we get a couple tracks from ‘Love Gun’ with “Christine Sixteen” and “Love Gun”. ”Christine Sixteen” was on the 2 CD set of ‘Kiss 40’ and it is a badass, totally inappropriate song with some killer drums and Gene being the disgustingly dirty demon he is and I love it. ”Love Gun” isn’t actually on the other set so a treat her getting another pure classic Kiss song that is always played live. I miss the old dirty Paul intros on this song live.

Then we get a Single Edit of another one of the band’s most popular song and still played live, “I Was Made For Loving You”. Paul’s successful attempt at how easy it was to write a disco hit and with the help of Desmond Child, he did just that. I think Gene still hates this song, but they faithfully play it live every night as the fans still love it and I will admit it I like it more now then I did back then. Off the ‘Unmasked’ album, we get the Australian favorite “Shandi”. The Aussie’s made this song a hit and there is a reason why as it is a great song from a very underrated album.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Jk_q2ekS66w%3Fsi%3DQ8K9u21A7V3YpyOt

On the 2 CD set, the song you get from ‘Killers’ was my least favorite track on the disc with “Down On Your Knees”. For this set, they made up for it and picked one of the best with “I’m A Legend Tonight” which is a much better rocker with a really cool riff and more of Paul at his best. And then for some reason we skip right over ‘Creatures of the Night’ and go straight in to ‘Lick it Up’ with the title track “Lick It Up”. The song that helped get them back to a favorable view in the public eye, well that and they took off their make-up with this one. Keeping the 80’s going, we have more Paul with “Heaven’s on Fire” from ‘Animalize’. We have a Vinnie Vincent song with “Lick it Up” and then a Mark St. John track with “Heaven’s on Fire” so everyone is getting some time.

Next we go to the ‘Asylum’ album and now we get a Bruce Kulick track on guitar with “Tears are Falling”. The 80’s were mostly about Paul so of course this is another Paul track and this time we go to those 80’s cheesy ballads. Still, it was a hit for the band. Now, the next track is different from the 2 Disc Set as we get the studio version of “Crazy Crazy Nights” which was a live version on the other set from ‘Kiss Sonic Boom Over Europe’ from 2010. This one is pure 80’s version.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lEwnfhuPJGs%3Fsi%3DZXG_oxmFuMAnUaTw

From the ‘Revenge’ album, we get the Argent cover of “God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll To You II” which the band doesn’t play at concerts, but it became the song that would come over the speakers after the show as over and people would file out of the arena. A great cover song, but I would’ve preferred probably “Unholy” from this album. I’ll take it thought.

Then we get to the modern era of Kiss…well, that probably isn’t right. What we get are the final three songs from the last three studio albums. First up is the killer track “Psycho Circus” from the not so great reunion album. I do love the carnival feel of the song and the fact it really rocks out and makes for a great, fun live song to be played live. From ‘Sonic Boom’, we get “Modern Day Delilah” and now we have Tommy Thayer on guitar so all guitarists are represented. And for the record, all the drummers were too. One of the better tracks from the album and another solid Paul track. The set ends with a track from ‘Monster’ with the song “Hell or Hallelujah” which was the first single off that album. A great way to end it all with a song from the last studio album.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=BWIW6Ti0PbE%3Fsi%3DrJWfxURZXEaySCSd

Kiss has had a ton of greatest hits albums, but I have to admit that these ‘Kiss 40’ sets are really great. They are a solid representation of the full history of the band. Each set gives you every band member that has ever been in the band and that my friends is how you do a greatest hits album. This Japanese Edition single disc set gives you a bunch of different tracks that aren’t on the 2 CD set plus a bonus NEW song from the band. This is one of the few times, Kiss got it right. My Overall Score is a 4.0 out of 5.0 Stars. I think this could’ve been a 5 with a some different song choices, maybe even making every song on this set different than the 2 CD set…that would’ve been really cool!!!

The Kiss Review Series:

1. Wicked Lester and the Progeny Demo Sessions (Bootleg)
2. Kiss – Kiss (1974)
3. Kiss – Hotter Than Hell (1974)
4. Kiss – Dressed to Kill (1975)
5. Kiss – Alive! (1975)
6. Kiss – Destroyer (1976)
7. Kiss – “Flaming Youth” 45 Promo Single – Bonus Edition (1976)
8. Kiss – “Beth” – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition (1976)
9. Kiss – Special Kiss Album For Their Summer Tour (1976)
10. Kiss – The Originals (1976)
11. Kiss – Rock & Roll Over (1976)
12. Kiss – “Calling Dr. Love” – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition (1977)
13. Kiss – Love Gun (1977)
14. Kiss – “Christine Sixteen” – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition (1977)
15. Kiss – Alive II (1977)
16. Kiss – Double Platinum (1978)
17. Kiss – Paul Stanley (1978)
18. Kiss – Gene Simmons (1978)
19. Kiss – Peter Criss (1978)
20. Kiss – Ace Frehley (1978)
21. Kiss – Best of Solo Albums (1978)
22. Kiss – Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park Movie (1978)
23. Kiss – Dynasty (1979)
24. Kiss – “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” (1979) – 12″ & 7″ Singles (Bonus Edition)
25. Kiss – Unmasked (1980)
26. Peter Criss – Out of Control (1980)
27. Kiss – Music From The Elder (1981)
28. Kiss – Killers (1982)
29. Kiss – Creatures of the Night (1982)
30. Kiss – Lick It Up (1983)
31. Kiss – Animalize (1984)
32. Wendy O. Williams – WOW (1984) (Bonus Edition)
33. Kiss – Animalize Live Uncensored (1985)
34. Kiss – Asylum (1985)
35. Kiss – “Tears Are Falling” 7″ Single (Bonus Edition) (1985)
36. Kiss – Creatures of the Night (1985 Re-Issue)
37. Vinnie Vincent Invasion – Vinnie Vincent Invasion (1986)
38. Black N’ Blue – Nasty Nasty (1986)
39. Ace Frehley – Frehley’s Comet (1987)
40. Kiss – Exposed VHS (1987)
41. Kiss – Crazy Nights (1987)
42. Kiss – “Crazy Crazy Nights” – 12″ Single (Bonus Edition)
43. Kiss – “Reason To Live” – 12″ Picture Disc (Bonus Edition)
44. Kiss – Chikara (1988)
45. Kiss – Smashes, Thrashes & Hits (1988)
46. Kiss – Hot In The Shade (1989)
47. Kiss – “God Gave Rock And Roll To You II” (1991) – 12″ Picture Disc
48. Kiss – Revenge (1992)
49. Kiss – Alive III (1993)
50. Kiss – “I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Live)” (1993) – CD Maxi Single (Bonus Edition)
51. Kiss – Konfidential VHS (1993)
52. Kiss – Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved (1994)
53. Kiss – MTV Unplugged (1996)
54. Kiss – You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! (1996)
55. Kiss – Greatest Kiss (1997)
56. Kiss – Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997)
57. Kiss – Psycho Circus (1998)
58. Kiss – The Second Coming Documentary (1998)
59. Eric Carr – Rockology (1999)
60. Mark St. John – Mark St. John Project (1999)
61. Eric Singer Project – ESP (1999)
62. Bruce Kulick – Audiodog (2001)
63. Kiss – Kiss Symphony: Alive IV (2003)
64. Gene Simmons – Asshole (2004)
65. Kiss – Rock the Nation 2004 World Tour: Instant Live (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte, NC 7/28/04) (2004)
66. Kiss – Rock the Nation Live! DVD (2005)
67. Kiss – Alive! The Millennium Concert (2006)
68. Paul Stanley – Live to Win (2006)
69. Kiss – Kissology: Volumes 1 to 3 (2006-2007)
70. Kiss – Jigoku-Retsuden (2008)
71. Kiss – Sonic Boom (2009)
72. Kiss – Monster (2012)
73. Kiss – The Casablanca Singles 1973-1982 (2012)
74. Kiss – Kiss 40 (2014) – 2 CD Set
75. Kiss – Kiss 40 (2014) – Japanese Edition
76. Kiss – Kiss Rocks Vegas (2016)
77. Kiss – Kissworld: The Best of Kiss (2017)
78. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Tokyo 2001 (2021)
79. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Live in Virginia Beach July 24, 2004 (2022)
80. Kiss – The Albums Ranked From Worst to First (2021)
81. Kiss – Destroyer: 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (2021)
82. Kiss – Destroyer: 45th Anniversary 2-LP Deluxe Edition (Colored Vinyl) (2021)
83. Kiss – Creatures of the Night: 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (2022)
84. Kiss – Creatures of the Night: 40th Anniversary 3-LP Deluxe Edition (Colored Vinyl) (2022)
85. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Poughkeepsie, NY Mid Hudson Civic Arena, November 28, 1984 (2023)
86. Kiss – Icon (2010 / 2023)
87. Kiss – Lick it Up (40th Anniversary Picture Disc) (2023)

The Bootleg Series:

1. Kiss – ‘Accept No Imitations’ (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ASYLUM TOUR)
2. Kiss – Look Wot You Dun to Me (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (CRAZY NIGHTS TOUR)
3. Kiss – The Summer of Satan: The Devils Ride Out! (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DESTROYER TOUR)
4. Kiss – Return to Capital Center (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DYNASTY TOUR)
5. Kiss – With Fire & Thunder (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (HOTTER THAN HELL TOUR)
6. Kiss – Northhampton PA March 19th, 1975 (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DRESSED TO KILL TOUR)
7. Kiss – The Hottest Show On Earth (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (THE HOTTEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR 2010)
8. Kiss – All the Way to the Ball Room (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (Australian Tour 1995)
9. Kiss – Kiss of Thunder (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (The Rising Sun Tour 2006)
10. Kiss – Agora Ballroom 1974: The Cleveland Broadcast plus Bonus Cuts (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (THE KISS TOUR)
11. Kiss – Hotter Than Hell: Radio Broadcast 1976 (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ROCK & ROLL OVER TOUR)
12. Kiss – The Tickler (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (LICK IT UP TOUR 1983)
13. Kiss – Barbarize (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ANIMALIZE WORLD TOUR 1984 – North American Tour)
14. Kiss – They Only Come Out At Night (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ANIMALIZE WORLD TOUR 1984 – EUROPEAN TOUR)
15. Wicked Lester and the Progeny Demo Sessions (Bootleg)
16. Kiss – Black Diamond: Lafayette Music Room, Memphis, TN April 18th, 1974 – FM Broadcast
17. Kiss – End of the Road: In Allentown 2020 (PPL Center, Allentown, PA, 4th February 2020) (End of the Road Tour) – Blu-Ray
18. Kiss – ‘Monster Tour: Simpsonville 2013’ (Charter Amphitheatre at Heritage Park, Simpsonville, C – 13th August 2013) – Blu-Ray
19. Wicked Lester – The Original Wicked Lester Sessions (Bootleg)
20. Kiss – The Ritz on Fire (August 12, 1988, The Ritz, New York City. A radio broadcast – Crazy Nights Tour)
21. Kiss – Kiss My Axe 1978: Live from the Los Angeles Forum in California, August 25, 1977 (Love Gun Tour)
22. Kiss – Gods of Thunder: The Legendary Concert Broadcast – Sao Paulo, August 27, 1994′
23. Kiss – Black Diamond: Lafayette Music Room, Memphis, TN April 18th, 1974 – FM Broadcast (Alternate Cover)
24. Kiss -Alive! in Amityville: June 1973 – (2021)
25. Kiss – Set the World On Fire: Live (10 CD Box Set – Radio Broadcasts 1974-1994)
26. Kiss – Diamonds in the Dust (2022)