Starting Right Now!!! Come join myself and Grab A Stack of Rock’s Mike Ladano as we go through our CD Collection of Kiss Compilations and let me tell you, there are a lot to get through. We have comps from Japan, Canada, the UK, Spain and so many more. From Double Platinum to Kissworld: The Best of Kiss and everything in between.
So come check out the show as it will be live, February 17, 2025 at 8pm. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.
Monday Night at 8 pm, come join myself and Grab A Stack of Rock’s Mike Ladano as we go through our CD Collection of Kiss Compilations and let me tell you, there are a lot to get through. We have comps from Japan, Canada, the UK, Spain and so many more. From Double Platinum to Kissworld: The Best of Kiss and everything in between.
So come check out the show as it will be live, February 17, 2025 at 8pm. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.
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.
While I was recording a show on Grant’s Rock Warehaus, we were discussing the Billy Idol Chrysalis Years and as I was gathering my vinyl for that show, I realized that I was missing the ‘Idol Songs: 11 of the Best’ from my collection. I could’ve sworn I had bought that one before as I remember holding it in my hand at one time. But, I apparently didn’t buy it. So, I told Grant I would remedy that situation and so I head over to discogs to see if I could get one and what the best one to get. Well, it turned out the best version to get was the UK 1988 version which came with a 12″ Limited 4 Track E.P. exclusive to this set. Sold. I bought it from someone in Sweden and a week later, it was in my hands. It still had the stickers on the front and back cover talking about the 12″ Exclusive 4 Track E.P. and it was in pristine shape.
The album was released on June 20, 1988 on Chrysalis Records and contains 11 tracks from his first three studio albums as well as the E.P. and includes a live version of “Mony, Mony” which wiki says comes from the ‘Don’t Stop’ E.P. but my E.P. does not have a live version, it is the studio track. You can get another limited edition version with 2 bonus tracks, but why do that when you get one like I have with the the 4 bonus tracks. The album went to #2 on the UK Charts and was certified Platinum. I don’t really remember this album here in the States as it came out after Vital Idol and I felt that was pushed way more than this compilation. But I have one now, so all is good. In 2003, they did reissue this album with a different cover and called it ‘Essentials’…I like my version better.
The opening track is the title song “Rebel Yell” which actually opened the ‘Rebel Yell’ album. It is a scorcher of a song, high energy and attitude. The opening of the song is all done with the guitar even though it sounds like both a guitar and a keyboard. Steve is showing off right out of the gate. Vocally, Billy is on fire and you can see his lip curling up while he is signing which is amazing as it is on vinyl. “Rebel Yell” was actually inspired by the Rolling Stones according to Billy on VH1 Storytellers. Billy was at a party thrown by the Stones and everyone was drinking Rebel Yell Bourbon Whiskey. I guess he loved that whiskey (along with a lot of drugs at the time).
Poison’s ‘Swallow This Live’ came out on November 12, 1991 and it was the band’s first live album. As an added treat the album contained four studio tracks so the band released the single for “So Tell My Why’ which was one of those four new studio tracks on the album. It did not chart in the States and a point of interest, it was the very last single with C.C. DeVille…well at least in to the album ‘Power to the People’ in 2000.
This CD Single was Made in England which is significant in the fact that the UK version of ‘Swallow This Live’ was a single disc edition. Aside from not having the solos, it was missing the songs “Let it Play”, “Life Goes On” and the 3rd track on this single “Ride the Wind” making it the only place to get that song in the UK. “So Tell Me Why” actually charted in the UK going to #25 on the Singles Chart maybe it was helped by this CD single. The other track on here is the live version to “Unskinny Bop” giving us 3 songs on the single which is always a nice value.
The single “So Tell Me Why” is a fun track with a lot of energy. It sounds like anything that was on either of the last two albums. Great melodies and lots of guitar and Bret sings his heart out. Probably the best of the four new tracks on that album which is why it was a single I’m sure. The song is about a guy who still wants to be this woman and do anything and everything for her, but she is cold, distant and seems to be emotionally empty. He just wants to know why she doesn’t want to be with him anymore.
2 Loud 2 Old Music 