Kiss – ‘3 CD » Playlist + Plus’ (2008) – Album Review (The Kiss Review Series)

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic

 The 2000’s were a huge time for Kiss…well, for the label to release greatest hits compilations that is. There are dozens. One of the easiest ones to find is The Millennium Collection which was actually a 3 volume set with a volume released in 2003, one in 2004 and the final in 2006. 2 years after the Volume 3 set was released, Universal decided, why not repackage it and release it all in one set. Sure, why not! As a result, we get ‘3 CD » Playlist + Plus’ which was repackaged as a Double-Gatefold Cardboard set up covered in a Slipcase. It was even promoted as an environmentally friendly set (despite the plastic that wrapped around the set).

The track listing is exactly as The Millennium Collection, no changes at all. For the 3 CDs, we do get a total of 36 tracks and each disc is separate era of the band which is nice. I love the choice of pictures on the packaging with two live shots, one from Alive! and one from ‘The Millennium Concert’. And the two band pictures are pretty sweet, I even like the cover shot with the black background and the faces of the guys. Each CD is a different color and this time, not representing each band member as we get a yellow, an orange and a pink (I think).

DISC 1:

The first disc is from the 70’s. You get picks from the debut up to ‘Dynasty’, but at only 12 tracks, there is a lot missing. But if you like “Beth” and “Rock And Roll All Nite” and that is all you know, then this will work for you. Nothing really cool on here and a ton of songs omitted that should be on a Kiss Greatest Hits album. You have to remind yourself, that this is what it is and that is a cheap, low cost simply basic compilation.

DISC 2:

What is cool about this one is that it is the only compilation from Kiss that focuses solely on their material from the 1980’s. Well, most of the 80’s as it goes from 1982-1989. It does skip the ‘Unmasked’ (1980) and ‘The Elder’ (1981) albums which Volume 1 doesn’t cover either. So a big miss. I love the 80’s stuff and I would’ve picked quite a few different ones. “Hide Your Heart” would be the first to go. I will admit, my scores on these are bad, but it isn’t the worst idea to have them focus on specific eras. 

DISC 3:

This one is also a little different is that it is only compilation from Kiss that focuses only on their material from the 1990’s. It gets a point for that. There isn’t much there to pick from this time period but they do an okay job. I might have picked a few different ones would not have “I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock & Roll”. The song, “Nothing Can Keep Me From You”, is a great choice as it is from a movie soundtrack and not an album  The song was actually written by Diane Warren and not by Kiss. Not a bad track, but it is a Diane Warren song…say no more. Kiss trying to be Aerosmith.

And there you have it in a nutshell. I’ve gone over all three of these discs in detail when I review The Millennium Collection several weeks back so no need to go through one by one here. That would make for a very long, repetitive post and we don’t want that now do we. I think this purchase is a much better deal then buying all three of The Millennium Collection albums separately so I would definitely recommend this one over that one if you are on a budget as you can pick this up for less than $20 if you shop around. I think I got mine for $14. This isn’t the most comprehensive compilation in their collection and it isn’t the worst either. It gives you a taste of the band throughout their career so if you get this and like it…dive deeper as you won’t be disappointed. My Overall Score is a 2.5 out of 5.0 Stars.

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 – The Very Best of Kiss (2002)
  64. Kiss – Kiss Symphony: Alive IV (2003)
  65. Kiss – The Best of Kiss: The Millennium Collection (1974-1982) (2003)
  66. Gene Simmons – Asshole (2004)
  67. Kiss – Rock the Nation 2004 World Tour: Instant Live (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte, NC 7/28/04) (2004)
  68. Kiss – The Best of Kiss: Volume 2 – The Millennium Collection (1982-1989) (2004)
  69. Kiss – Rock the Nation Live! DVD (2005)
  70. Kiss – Gold (2005)
  71. Kiss – The Best of Kiss: Volume 3 – The Millennium Collection (The 90’s) (2006)
  72. Kiss – Alive! The Millennium Concert (2006)
  73. Kiss – Kiss Alive! 1975-2000 Box Set (2006)
  74. Paul Stanley – Live to Win (2006)
  75. Kiss – Kissology: Volumes 1 to 3 (2006-2007)
  76. Kiss – Jigoku-Retsuden (2008)
  77. Kiss – Ikons (2008)
  78. Kiss – Playlist Your Way (2008)
  79. Kiss – 3 CD » Playlist + Plus (2008)
  80. Kiss – Sonic Boom (2009)
  81. Kiss – Monster (2012)
  82. Kiss – The Casablanca Singles 1973-1982 (2012)
  83. Kiss – Kiss 40 (2014) – 2 CD Set
  84. Kiss – Kiss 40 (2014) – Japanese Edition
  85. Kiss – Kiss Rocks Vegas (2016)
  86. Kiss – Kissworld: The Best of Kiss (2017)
  87. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Tokyo 2001 (2021)
  88. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Live in Virginia Beach July 24, 2004 (2022)
  89. Kiss – The Albums Ranked From Worst to First (2021)
  90. Kiss – Destroyer: 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (2021)
  91. Kiss – Destroyer: 45th Anniversary 2-LP Deluxe Edition (Colored Vinyl) (2021)
  92. Kiss – Creatures of the Night: 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (2022)
  93. Kiss – Creatures of the Night: 40th Anniversary 3-LP Deluxe Edition (Colored Vinyl) (2022)
  94. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Poughkeepsie, NY Mid Hudson Civic Arena, November 28, 1984 (2023)
  95. Kiss – Icon (2010 / 2023)
  96. 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)