In 1997, Kiss was enjoying the renewed attention with the make-up back on and a reunion in full swing. Ace and Peter were back so they released a compilation around the world called ‘Greatest Kiss’ which was full of songs from the early years with the original four members. Strangely enough, the UK released another compilation in 1997 called ‘Greatest Hits’. It was a UK exclusive but why release it when they released the other compilation around the same time that was released all around Europe so easy to get. Made no sense to me.

Who knows why. What I do know is I finally have a copy of the release. It was from Polygram TV which was a division of Polygram records so a legit release. It had 20 songs like the ‘Greatest Kiss’ release; however there were a few songs that were different. This UK release actually had some songs from Kiss that did not have Ace and Peter with some of the 80’s tracks. There are no unreleased tracks or anything new, these are all album cuts so you already have these songs if you own all the albums.

Now, Wikipedia states that this was released on June 28, 1999, however, that is wrong…unless the date on the back cover of 1997 was a misprint or this was held for two years after printing them out. And another thing…if you aren’t sure what the track listing is, don’t you worry. It is printed a total of 4 times throughout the booklet. On the back cover, the back of the booklet and if you open the booklet it is there again in case you forgot. And if that wasn’t enough, it is also on the CD. Whew! I’m so happy they did it so many times because I’m sure I would’ve have forgotten. Also, inside is a chance to win a portable CD player. In 1997, that would’ve been really cool.

The music is the most important part anyway, so let’s get to it. “Here’s a little song for everybody other there”…The first track is “Crazy Crazy Nights” which was a big hit in the UK so understandable it was on here. The song was written by Paul Stanley and Adam Mitchell who Paul and Gene have both worked with quite a bit. It was a different opening track for the band as was really upbeat, kind of pop sounding yet anthemic at the same time. It wasn’t an out and out rocker like most of their albums. Paul didn’t sing so much as speak the verses and is overall it is quite cheesy.  It is the only song that the band has played live after this tour. They picked it back up due to demand back in 2010 and started adding it to shows.

The first single from ‘Dynasty’ was “I Was Made For Lovin’ You”. The song was written by Paul Stanley, Vini Poncia and the great Desmond Child makes his first of many appears with the band (only one on this album). The story goes that Disco was really big at the time and the record company wanted the band to be a little more commercial. Paul thought any idiot could write a disco song and a bet was made and a few hours later, the song was written and the Paul proved his point. The song went to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. And as I mentioned earlier, the result was people thought this was a disco album. Wrong!! This song did have every trapping of a disco song, the tempo, the beat, the pop sound, the disco sound effects…I mean it was disco…but it was good and it was catchy and they still play it, but I still don’t know if I can give it full marks. Now on a side note, this is Gene’s least favorite song (and Peter and Ace hate it too).

“Detroit Rock City” is up next from ‘Destroyer’, well it is the radio edit without all the car noises, radio effects and the car crash. The song was so different than anything they had done prior, musically and lyrically.  They took a chance shaking things up a bit and it worked.  The single version pretty much cuts out the opening bit of the boy getting in the car and all the car parts as well as the crash. The song does mention Detroit, but is really about a young fan that is killed why he was on his way to a Kiss concert.  The story is based off an actual event that occurred outside a Kiss concert in Charlotte where a fan was hit by a car and killed outside the arena.  Knowing it is based a real life event adds a little extra to the impact of the song.

“Lick It Up” is the band’s first single and first video without make-up and the song only went to #66.  It opens with a nice little riff and a little scream from Paul.  Paul’s second song on the album and it was meant for the radio.  This is a pure 80’s, melodic rock song and no wonder it still gets played a lot.  The video was so 80’s as well.  Real cheesy and had the band in a post-apocalyptic world.  It is a little comical watching it now.  The song, however, is about a guy trying to talk his girlfriend in to doing the nasty so doesn’t really fit with the video.

“Hard Luck Woman”, from ‘Rock And Roll Over’, was written by Paul and Paul had written so Rod Stewart could sing and when listening to the track, I could hear Rod singing this.  Paul was talked in to giving it to Peter and although the song did do as well as “Beth”, it still gave the band another Top 20 hit.  It is mostly acoustic and Peter does a great job and delivers a sweet song.  I also think Peter’s vocals fit the song as they give it some grit and an extra added layer of emotion.  A nice change of pace on an album that has a lot of rock songs…this maybe should’ve been placed earlier to break things up a bit more but who am I to say anything.

“Calling Dr. Love” is the first of four Gene songs on the ‘Rock And Roll Over’.  The song stems from a Gene song called “Bad Bad Lovin’” which you can hear in many forms on Gene Simmons ‘The Vault’ (click links below).  It is a heavy song and Gene sounds as menacing as ever.  This is one of his signature songs.  Interesting to note, on the backing vocals, you can hear Katy Sagal from Married With Children and Sons of Anarchy.  Of course she wasn’t famous at this point.

Of course they are going to have “Beth” , also from ‘Destroyer’, which became one of the band’s biggest hits to date.  It went all the way to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was sung by Peter Criss.  The song was one Peter had written prior to Kiss and written with guitarist Stan Penridge.  The song is a ballad and played on piano by Bob Ezrin, with full backing orchestration by the New York Philharmonic.  The song originally had the line “Beck what can I do” after the girlfriend of one of Peter’s bandmates in the band Chelsea.  Of course, they changed to Beth which seem to work. The song was softly played and softly sung and was simply a beautiful song that was totally out of left field for the band up to this point.

Now we get ot one of the band’s most iconic songs, “Love Gun” from the album of the same name.  That barrage of drum hits by Peter are so recognizable that the second you hear, you know what you are getting.  When Peter does that barrage towards the end and then Ace comes in with a mini solo, it is magical.  If the bass sounds a little different, that is because Paul handles those duties. The song is still played live today and at almost every show since its release.  Paul has stated that the song was inspired by “The Hunter” by Booker T. & the MG’s but I believe performed by Albert King.  The song does mention a “love gun”.

“God of Thunder” is up next and it was written by Paul Stanley and he had all intentions of singing it.  Producer, Bob Ezrin thought differently.  He recommended slowing the song down and letting Gene sing the song.  The slow, almost nightmarish beat of the song fit Gene’s Demon personae perfectly.  It kicks off with a couple children saying…”Okay, ya’ll can start singing”.  Those kids were heard throughout the song screaming and making all kinds of noises during the song.  Those kids were actually David and Josh Ezrin, the producer’s kids.  There were so many sound effects added to it to give that eerie feeling.  Even Ace’s guitar work was done in a way to add more of a darkness feel to the song.

“Sure Know Something” which Paul and Vini Poncia wrote, incorporates some disco elements and was the band’s next single. It barely missed the top 40 as it clocked it at #47 on the Billboard Charts. I don’t really think this is a disco song. It has a great dirty bass groove and feels more R&B than disco. Of course, there are a lot of pop elements, but the tone and feel to me are more of the sound Paul had on his solo album. The chorus rocks out and it isn’t really a dance song so not sure why the disco label on this one.

“Deuce” is up next and also from the debut album. The song was written and sung by Gene and he doesn’t even know what the song actually means.  He just thought it sounded good…and he was right.  The opening line, “Get Up and get your Grandma out of here” is the best opening line.  This is one of those songs that live sounds so much cooler and has more grit, but this is still awesome.  The guitar playing is fantastic and Ace plays a killer solo to end the song.  Peter lays down some nice fills and gives the song a great fast tempo beat that drives the song along.

Then we get to another of one of my favorite Kiss songs and favorite Paul songs, “Do You Love Me”.  A mid-tempo rock song that is less about sex and more about if the girl really loves him for who he is and not for the rock star and all those fancy rock star trappings.  An honest question when every musician has to ask when they start hitting it big.  I love the simple drum beat opening and Paul singing those opening lines as he asks his girl the all important question of Do You Love Me?  It is really a simple song that is so effective and Paul just delivers it vocally.

The album kicks off with the song “Strutter”.  The song was written by both Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and over the years, this would be a rare experience as they would wind up writing songs by themselves.  The music of the song was based off an old Gene song called “Stanley the Parrot” which was recorded even before there was a Wicked Lester.

“Rock And Roll All Nite” peaked at #69 and was the first single off the album.  This version is not what broke them, it was the live version off ‘Alive!’.  It is the rock anthem of rock anthem’s and you can hear those elements and that this song was bursting to be heard.  The song came together because Neil wanted them to write an anthem or something for the fans to rally behind and this was the result…not bad!  I will add that if I never hear this song played live by the band again, I would be okay with that.  Okay, they didn’t pay attention to detail on the track listing because night was not spelled as “Nite” for the song…oops!

Gene is up again with “Plaster Caster”.  I am sure you know the story.  There was groupie back in the 70’s that used to take plaster casts of Rock Stars Private Parts.  I think it has been confirmed Jimi Hendrix was one of them.  Gene, however, was not.  I think this bothered him so he wrote this song in hopes she would plaster him…I am just playing here as I have no idea if that is why he wrote it, but he has said he hasn’t had it done.  It is a fun song and the lyrics are quite offensive which only adds to its appeal.

“Hotter Than Hell”, from the album of the same name, was written by Paul and another song he stole from somewhere else.  This one is basically a re-write of the Free song “All Right Now” and you can hear that Free influence in it.  The song is about picking up a woman in a bar and having your way and it turns out she’s married which burns you like the midday sun.  Oh, good times.  To keep with the Japanese theme, the song has Peter hitting a giant gong for added affect.

Ace is finally on lead vocals with “Shock Me” and might be my favorite Ace song.  The song is based off an incident that is well documented where Ace touched an ungrounded metal railing and had the life shocked out of him.  No, he didn’t die, but he was thrown back a little.  He continued the show with no feeling in his hand and I believe the show was December 12, 1976, at the Lakeland Civic Center in Lakeland, Florida.  Ace having little confidence wanted Gene to sing and Gene, thankfully, talked Ace in to singing.  Ace finally agreed and actually recorded the song lying down on the floor.  I hope that method has changed. The song is utterly brilliant and the guitar work is some of Ace’s best. In fact, he does all the guitar work on this one, both lead and rhythm.  This defines Ace Frehley in my book!!

Then the band goes full on rock with the incredible guitar riff by Ace on “Cold Gin”. The song is written by Ace, but his confidence in singing wouldn’t come for years so Gene would take the vocals.  It is one of my favorite songs on the album and the riff played throughout is so freaking awesome.  It is very ironic that Gene sings this song as now we know Gene doesn’t drink or do drugs, but it sounds like a Demon song so it fits perfectly with his personae.

“Black Diamond” was written by Paul and he does sing on it, but is mostly sung by Peter.  The songs starts off with a 12-string acoustic guitar and Paul sings the opening line and when he screams “Hit It!”, the song turns in to a blistering rock song with Peter taking over vocals. The song was written about New York and those ladies working on the street that they would fantasize about.  Peter’s gravelly vocals gave the song such a powerful edge and he put so much heart and soul in to those vocals.  Towards the end of the song, there is a brief musical interlude with Ace tearing it up on guitar and Peter laying down some fills all accompanied by that nasty bass riff from Gene before Peter lays down a final barrage of drum fills and then the song slowly, distortedly comes winding down to an end.  It is dark and foreboding and so metal.

Then we get to “God Gave Rock And Roll To You II” which is a cover of the Argent song written by Russ Ballard with heavy lyric changes by Paul, Gene and Bob. The song is the first good rock anthem Kiss has done in years and the first in 10 years to have a co-lead vocals with both Gene and Paul. This was from the Bill & Ted Bogus Journey movie and soundtrack. You can read all about it in the prior post and check it out at the link at the bottom as I don’t want to repeat myself too much on this one. Great track. Oh yeah, another error. Where is the “II” at the end of the song?

And that is it. 20 songs and all pretty good. It is not the most comprehensive list, but what can you do. This one seems like a waste of time considering ‘Greatest Kiss’ was released around the exact same time around the world. Oh well. What can you do. This is for the collectors (as most of their compilations are as they are mostly cash grabs). My Overall Score is a 2.5 out of 5.0 Stars as you do get 20 songs and some cool ones too!! So cool they included “Plaster Caster”, “Cold Gin”, “Shock Me” and “Crazy Crazy Nights”. Crank it up if you got it!!

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 – Greatest Hits (1997) – UK
57. Kiss – Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997)
58. Kiss – Psycho Circus (1998)
59. Kiss – The Second Coming Documentary (1998)
60. Eric Carr – Rockology (1999)
61. Mark St. John – Mark St. John Project (1999)
62. Eric Singer Project – ESP (1999)
63. Bruce Kulick – Audiodog (2001)
64. Kiss – The Very Best of Kiss (2002)
65. Kiss – Kiss Symphony: Alive IV (2003)
66. Kiss – The Best of Kiss: The Millennium Collection (1974-1982) (2003)
67. Gene Simmons – Asshole (2004)
68. Kiss – Rock the Nation 2004 World Tour: Instant Live (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte, NC 7/28/04) (2004)
69. Kiss – The Best of Kiss: Volume 2 – The Millennium Collection (1982-1989) (2004)
70. Kiss – Rock the Nation Live! DVD (2005)
71. Kiss – Gold (2005)
72. Kiss – The Best of Kiss: Volume 3 – The Millennium Collection (The 90’s) (2006)
73. Kiss – Alive! The Millennium Concert (2006)
74. Kiss – Kiss Alive! 1975-2000 Box Set (2006)
75. Paul Stanley – Live to Win (2006)
76. Kiss – Kissology: Volumes 1 to 3 (2006-2007)
77. Kiss – HoriPro Music Publishing Collection: Disc 1 (2007)
78. Kiss – Jigoku-Retsuden (2008)
79. Kiss – Ikons (2008)
80. Kiss – Playlist Your Way (2008)
81. Kiss – 3 CD » Playlist + Plus (2008)
82. Kiss – Sonic Boom (2009)
83. Kiss – Superstar Series: The Best of Kiss (2009)
84. Kiss – Icon 2 (2010)
85. Kiss – Monster (2012)
86. Kiss – The Casablanca Singles 1973-1982 (2012)
87. Kiss – Star Boulevard (2012)
88. Kiss – Kiss 40 (2014) – 2 CD Set
89. Kiss – Kiss 40 (2014) – Japanese Edition
90. Momoiro Clover Z vs Kiss – Samurai Sun – CD Single (2015)
91. Kiss – Lo Mejor De…Kiss (2015)
92. Kiss – Kiss Rocks Vegas (2016)
93. Kiss – Kissworld: The Best of Kiss (2017)
94. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Tokyo 2001 (2021)
95. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Live in Virginia Beach July 24, 2004 (2022)
96. Kiss – The Albums Ranked From Worst to First (2021)
97. Kiss – Destroyer: 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (2021)
98. Kiss – Destroyer: 45th Anniversary 2-LP Deluxe Edition (Colored Vinyl) (2021)
99. Kiss – Creatures of the Night: 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (2022)
100. Kiss – Creatures of the Night: 40th Anniversary 3-LP Deluxe Edition (Colored Vinyl) (2022)
101. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Poughkeepsie, NY Mid Hudson Civic Arena, November 28, 1984 (2023)
102. Kiss – Icon (2010 / 2023)
103. 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)