Yawn.... more useless compilations.... Zzzzzzzzzzzzz....wake me up when we get to SONIC BOOM...

manny wrote:

At this point my contribution to this thread ends since I donot own the Alive collector's boxset or Sonic Boom.

I hope you've told your kids that Daddy would like the SONIC BOOM CD for Christmas!

_________________
"And everybody knows the center of the Universe is Huddersfield. That's why I don't live there anymore."

I do have to say that I like seeing All Hell's Breakin' Loose on the comp. A vastly underrated song, I think.

KISS Gold
KISS Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums
2005 Mercury/UME


KISS Gold Track List
Disc 1:

1. "Strutter"
   
   
   
   • From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_(album)]Kiss[/url]
     

"Nothin' To Lose"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_(album)]Kiss[/url]
  

"Firehouse"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_(album)]Kiss[/url]
  

"Deuce"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_(album)]Kiss[/url]
  

"[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Diamond_(Kiss_song)]Black Diamond[/url]"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_(album)]Kiss[/url]
  

"Got To Choose"

• From Hotter Than Hell
  

"Parasite"

• From Hotter Than Hell
  

"Hotter Than Hell"

• From Hotter Than Hell
  

"C'mon And Love Me"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dressed_to_Kill_(album)]Dressed to Kill[/url]
  

"She"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dressed_to_Kill_(album)]Dressed to Kill[/url]
  

"Anything For My Baby"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dressed_to_Kill_(album)]Dressed to Kill[/url]
  

"Rock Bottom (Live)"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alive!_(Kiss_album)]Alive![/url]
  

"Cold Gin (Live)"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alive!_(Kiss_album)]Alive![/url]
  

"Rock And Roll All Nite" (Live)

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alive!_(Kiss_album)]Alive![/url]
  

"Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll (Live)"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alive!_(Kiss_album)]Alive![/url]
  

"[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Rock_City_(song)]Detroit Rock City[/url]"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyer_(Kiss_album)]Destroyer[/url]
  

"King Of The Night Time World"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyer_(Kiss_album)]Destroyer[/url]
  

"Shout It Out Loud"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyer_(Kiss_album)]Destroyer[/url]
  

"[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_(song)]Beth[/url]"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyer_(Kiss_album)]Destroyer[/url]
  

"Do You Love Me?"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyer_(Kiss_album)]Destroyer[/url]
  

</LI>

Disc 2:

1. "I Want You"
   
   
   
   • From Rock and Roll Over
     

"Calling Dr. Love"

• From Rock and Roll Over
  

"Hard Luck Woman"

• From Rock and Roll Over
  

"I Stole Your Love"

• From Love Gun
  

"Love Gun"

• From Love Gun
  

"Christine Sixteen"

• From Love Gun
  

"Shock Me"

• From Love Gun
  

"Makin' Love (Live)"

• From Alive II
  

"[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_of_Thunder_(song)]God of Thunder (Live)[/url]"

• From Alive II
  

"Tonight You Belong To Me"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Stanley_(album)]Paul Stanley[/url]
  

"New York Groove"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_Frehley_(album)]Ace Frehley[/url]
  

"Radioactive (Single Edit)"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Simmons_(album)]Gene Simmons[/url]
  

"Don't You Let Me Down"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Criss_(album)]Peter Criss[/url]
  

"I Was Made For Lovin' You"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynasty_(album)]Dynasty[/url]
  

"Sure Know Something"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynasty_(album)]Dynasty[/url]
  

"[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shandi_(song)]Shandi[/url]"

• From Unmasked
  

"Talk To Me"

• From Unmasked
  

"A World Without Heroes"

• From Music from "The Elder"
  

"Nowhere To Run"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killers_(Kiss_album)]Killers[/url]
  

"I'm A Legend Tonight"

• From [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killers_(Kiss_album)]Killers[/url]
  

KISS Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums
Disc One - KISS
Disc Two - Hotter Than Hell
Disc Three - Dressed To Kill

Now we cover the year 2005 in KISStory. There was not much at all going on in the band. KISS had completed the 'Rock The Nation' tour with Poison in 2004. Tommy Thayer was busy editing the footage for the show at Nissan Pavillion outside of Washington, DC to make a DVD. And my daughter was born - with her due date being close, I missed the Rock The Nation concert that was taped for the DVD. The DVD was released just in time for Christmas 2005.

On the audio CD front, UME executives where sitting around trying to figure out how to hit their numbers so they can get their yearly bonus. All of sudden, one of them said "I know, let's release a KISS compilation! We'll call it KISS Gold! Those hard core KISS fan will buy it just to add to their collection!"


KISS Gold is yet ANOTHER KISS compilation put together by the record company to make a quick buck off the KISS catalogue. This one has a few rare tracks in the US, that being 2 songs from KISS Killers. It also included some deeper tracks like "Anything For My Baby" and "Talk To Me". In showing that the record company execs are completely out of touch with the actual KISS fans, they included a song from Peter's solo album. Again, this collection is only for those who want an interview of KISS and haven't been into the band before.

The second KISS audio CD release in 2005 was the KISS Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums. It's basically a re-packaging of "The Originals" that was released on vinyl in the 70's and is nothing but KISS' first three albums. This isn;t a bad idea for new fans just starting to collect KISS' studio albums or for the fan that hasn't upgraded the albums to CD yet.

I don't own this set as I already have all of the songs. If you are a new KISS fan, the KISS Chronicals makes more sense than the KISS Gold cd's. If you want an overview of the band before you start buying the albums, KISS Gold is for you.

Another year another comp album, another huge paycheck for the coke sniffing record execs who in stoned bewilderment wonder why music fans hold the music industry with such contempt.

Another record company compilation. One of the few I don't own. Cool photo on the Gold cover. Ace rules!

Is reviewing all these comps really necessary? Just one guy's opnion of course, but if it's not a band-approved part of their discography, it seems like were wasting time here. Eh, whatever. Just my 2 cents. Carry on.

*Sigh* This is just ridiculous overkill on the record company's part. Move along,nothing to see here.

I saw that KISS GOLD disc in the spinner rack of cheap CDs at my local Rite Aid store a while back. I think it was priced at $6.99, which wasn't bad for a 2-CD set. For that price I suppose it would be a cheap introductory primer for a KISS noob, but is there anyone left out there who isn't at least somewhat familiar with a good chunk of the songs on there?? Sheesh.

Don't have this.

I have a 2 hour BORNING training session via phone & webinar - so, I may be able to get up the alive box set reviews this afternoon.

I can barely keep up with the comps that have been released. I didn't even know a vol 3 of the 20th century masters was released and the KISS playlist my way I didn;t even know about until Ult reviewed it!!!

KISS - KISS Alive! 1975 - 2000 (AKA Alive Box Set)
2006 Mercury/UME

DISC ONE "Alive" 1. "Deuce" (3:54) 2. "Strutter" (3:22) 3. "Got to Choose" (3:52) 4. "Hotter Than Hell" (3:18) 5. "Firehouse" (3:50) 6. "Nothin' to Lose" (3:34) 7. "C'Mon and Love Me" (3:04) 8. "Parasite" (3:35) 9. "She" (6:47) 10. "Watchin' You" (3:49) 11. "100,000 Years" (12:09) 12. "Black Diamond" (6:00) 13. "Rock Bottom" (3:23) 14. "Cold Gin" (7:16) 15. "Rock and Roll All Nite" (4:01) 16. "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll" (5:44)

DISC TWO "Alive II" 1. "Detroit Rock City (3:56) 2. "King of the Night Time World" (3:05) 3. "Ladies Room" (3:09) 4. "Makiní Love" (3:13) 5. "Love Gun" (3:31) 6. "Calling Dr. Love" (3:31) 7. "Christine Sixteen" (2:45) 8. "Shock Me" (5:50) 9. "Hard Luck Woman" (3:07) 10. "Tomorrow and Tonight" (3:06) 11. "I Stole Your Love" (3:31) 12. "Beth" (2:24) 13. "God of Thunder" (5:16) 14. "I Want You" (4:14) 15. "Shout It out Loud" (3:41) 16. "All-American Man" (3:14) 17. "Rockin' in the USA" (2:38) 18. "Larger Than Life" (4:02) 19. "Rocket Ride" (4:08) 20. "Any Way You Want It" (2:34) 21. "Rock and Roll All Nite" [Single Version] (3:23)

DISC THREE "Alive III"
1. "Creatures Of The Night" (4:39)
2. "Deuce" (3:42)
3. "I Just Wanna" (4:24)
4. "Unholy" (3:27)
5. "Heaven's On Fire" (4:14)
6. "Watchin' You" (3:34)
7. "Domino" (3:47)
8. "I Was Made For Lovin' You" (4:31)
9. "I Still Love You" (6:03)
10. "Rock And Roll All Nite" (3:33)
11. "Lick It Up" (4:17)
12. "Forever" (3:53)
13. "Take It Off" (6:04)
14. "I Love It Loud" (3:20)
15. "Detroit Rock City" (5:30)
16. "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You II" (5:21)
17. "Star Spangled Banner" (2:38)

DISC FOUR "Kiss Alive: The Millenium Concert"
1. "Psycho Circus" (5:33)
2. "Shout It out Loud" (3:16)
3. "Deuce" (3:45)
4. "Heaven's on Fire" (4:14)
5. "Into the Void" (4:25)
6. "Firehouse" (3:59)
7. "Do You Love Me?" (3:54)
8. "Let Me Go Rock 'N' Roll" (5:16)
9. "I Love It Loud" (3:24)
10. "Lick It Up" (4:39)
11. "100,000 Years" (5:47)
12. "Love Gun" (4:17)
13. "Black Diamond" (5:28)
14. "Beth" (2:42)
15. "Rock and Roll All Nite" (5:41)

After the MULTIPLE KISS comps that Universal released without any input from KISS, the band has some input into KISS' next "box set", KISS - ALIVE! 1975 - 2000. The first three discs are just a repackaging of Alive!, Alive II and Alive III. The fouth disc makes it all worth while and that is the album that was to be Alive IV, now titled Alive - The Millenium Concert.

The set comes with a 72 page booklet contains lots of pics, notes, etc. Anyone wanna bet that Gene's gopher Tommy Thayer put this together? Well, the best thing about the booklet is that it includes ALL of the original artwork and booklets that were included in the original vinyl releases of Alive! and Alive II. That is awesome to have!

Now that CD's can hold more information and a longer playing time, Alive and Alive II have been put on one disc as opposed to the two disc original versions. I have the bulky CD version of Alive! - Remember the old two disc CD's that where two CD cases slapped together?

Additionally, it was nice to be able to have Alive! in the remaster version (my original Alive II is the remaster). Plus, Alive III now has been remastered!!!! The set includes a couple extras - the "Rock And Roll All Nite - Live Version" single version is included on the Alive II disc since it couldn't fit on Alive!. Also, "Take It Off" is available on the CD version of "Alive III" in the US for the first time.

All of this PLUS the unreleased ALive IV for 20 bucks!!!! With a price that low I didn't mind buying Alive! for the 4th time (Vinyl, Cassette, original CD release).

But, on to the main attraction, the album that would have been Alive IV featuring all 4 original members of KISS! The Alive IV that the KISS Army wanted before the KISS Symphony! The album is great!!!! I saw KISS on the farewell tour at the Nissan Pavillion and I am happy to have a recording of most of the set list! Sound wise, it sounds pretty much like KISS did in concert during the time - live and raw. Of course, the band did the usual studio fixes. Whoever they got to record the show did a decent job. I only wish they had brought Eddie Kramer back to record this one. Have seen KISS in concert a bunch of times since the reunion and having the KISSology dvd's, I have a pretty good idea what was fixed in the studio - a missed cord here and there and a dropped vocal from Paul here and their. Anyone who has seen KISS live knows that Paul jumps around alot and some of his singing is dropped because his mouth is away from the mic.

As far as the band performance, Peter plays BETTER than he did - he does a great job behind the kit! He may not hit the drums as hard as he did on Alive!, but his timing is better, especially compared to the coked-up speed he played with on Alive II. Gene is very tight with Peter. Paul, well he is Paul and sounds great. He has a great KISS tone on this one. Ace sounds great and plays well, his solos have great feel. A couple are too perfect and I wonder how much they were doctored in the studio and if Tommy Thayer happened to do the overdubs. Only Gene knows.......

This is a great package to pic up just for the original Alive IV concert. If you are missing any of the first 3 Alives, this is the perfect buy. New KISS fans wants to pick up Alive, should just get this one instead.

Finally! The Alive IV we were promised is released, thought it is part of a pricey 4-CD box set. I too saw Kiss on the Farewell Tour and much anticipated this album. I was a bit disappointed when it was shelved in place of the Symphony album. Overall, a nice collection complete with a huge booklet, a few extra bonus tracks and the final piece in the Alive puzzle.

Skipped this box cuz I already have the previous 3 ALIVEs and to be quite honest, the addition of yet another live collection packed in the box was not gonna be enough to make me re-buy.

If they ever put out the ALIVE IV disc separately I'd pick it up just for the sake of fanboy-osity (is that a word?) but otherwise, no thanx.

I've considered purchasing this one a few times since I don't any of the KISS Alive albums, but just never went through with it. Maybe someday.

I will eventually buy it the Alive Boxset for Alive IV, and also my Alive II CD is the not the remastered version but the bulky old double CD cases. I have seen it cheap a few times and passed on it but will add this to my collection eventually.

I wouldn't mind having the Alive Boxset just for Alive IV but I'm not buying it just for the one disc (unless I somehow find it cheap). Hopefully,Alive IV will be released as a single disc and I can pick it up then.

I bet they won't release a single disc version for a while as Sonic Boom is currently out in the market place

I thought the original plan was to release the 'Alive IV' set individually, that was not case of course. I do not see them releasing this separte unless they make a decision to take the Alive Boxet out of print.

Not a bad set besides the fact that that I already had the first 3 Alives.

i'm back.
am i missed something special ?

I got mine for under 20 bucks when it fiirst came out.

I only had alive and alive 2 on vinyl, so it was worth getting the box all the way around for me.

KISS - Jigoku-Retsuden
2008 DefStar/Sony Music Japan

1. "Deuce" (3:08)
2. "Detroit Rock City" (3:57)
3. "Shout it Out Loud" (2:54)
4. "Hotter Than Hell" (3:10)
5. "Calling Dr. Love" (3:26)
6. "Love Gun" (3:14)
7. "I Was Made For Lovin' You" (4:42)
8. "Heaven's on Fire" (3:24)
9. "Lick It Up" (3:56)
10. "I Love It Loud" (4:09)
11. "Forever" (3:53)
12. "Christine Sixteen" (2:59)
13. "Do You Love Me" (3:39)
14. "Black Diamond" (4:20)
15. "Rock and Roll All Nite" (2:49)

In 2008, KISS re-recorded a bunch of KISS classic and released it in Japan as a limited addition set with a DVD of a concert that was included on the KISSology series (I think as a bonus disc). It was called Jigoku-Retsuden which translates to "Intense Transmission From Hell". KISS self-produced this set with the person who would co-produce "Sonic Boom", Greg Collins. This disc is also included in the "Sonic Boom" 2 CD, 1 DVD set as "KISS Klassics" thus keeping the KISS Army from having to pay 50 bucks on Amazon to add this to the collection.

Why did KISS decided to re-record the classics? Only Paul and Gene know for sure. I wonder if they did it so when the songs are used on TV/Movies/Etc they don't have to pay any royalties to Ace & Peter if the original versions were used (as Eric and Tommy are employees of the band). Or, where they trying to get back their studio chops to record Sonic Boom? As I said, only Gene and Paul know for sure.

The recordings were produced to mimic the production on the original recordings and pretty close to note for note new versions. The fact that the songs were recorded with 2008 studio technology does add a bit sonically. In particular, "Hotter Than Hell" sounds MUCH better than the original "grunge" recording.

The makeup-less ear songs included, "Lick It Up", "Heaven's On Fire" and "Forever" sound MUCH better than the original records also. Heaven's On Fire sound more on the Metal side of the fence than the pop side of the fence now.

Eric and Tommy do a fine note for note and beat for beat recording. Tommy's style is very Ace-like to begin with and Eric is an EXCELLENT drummer! The biggest difference on the drums is that Eric is so much better, the 70's songs lose a little bit of the character that Peter added to the songs. Eric also belts out "Black Diamond" and his voice sounds awesome on the song.

I like the set of re-recorded classic and is a great spin, especially since you get it included with 'Sonic Boom"!