Favorite 70's Kiss Album

007 wrote:

But I do gotta say that Love Gun is my least favorite. Its basically Love Gun, Shock Me and a bunch of b-sides.

Interesting that you think "I Stole Your Love" is b-side material.

I think 'Dressed To Kill" has some of the bands catchiest tunes but it got it's balls cutt off by Bogart....kinda/sorta what Poncia did later on (IMHDO)

The studio tunes on Alive 2 are well written but the cover of Dave Clark Five was a dismill choice. Always thought the riff for "larger Than Life" was killer. Even then, I was  
That tone doesn't sound right at all.

Went with Destroyer - my first KISS album, got it in 1976 \m/

Rock and Roll Over
Hotter than Hell
Kiss
Dressed to Kill
Destroyer
Love Gun
Dynasty

I can't vote in this because I don't think that I've ever heard any of these records all of the way through. The only KISS records that I've ever owned are Double Platinum, Lick it Up and Asylum.

Destroyer.

From the list I voted for Rock 'N' Roll Over. That was my first Kiss album, purchased after seeing them on the Paul Lynde Halloween Special 1976.

007 wrote:

Love Gun is my least favorite. Its basically Love Gun, Shock Me and a bunch of b-sides.

my least fave as well. I even like Dynasty more than Love Gun.

I really want to know who voted Dynasty. A rogue drone, perhaps?

I went with Hotter Than Hell, but it was pretty much a three-way tie between that, Dressed to Kill, and Destroyer.

I went with Hotter Than Hell.

This is a very difficult decision for me. KISS is perhaps my all-time favorite band and I could pick a number of these records as my favorite.

The debut is just a classic, essential album. Every song, except "Kissin' Time" and the instrumental. It has my favorite KISS song ever, "Black Diamond." The only thing is, I've heard most of those songs so many times I just don't get the same enjoyment listening to them anymore, especially "Cold Gin" and "Firehouse." Some of the songs I prefer on the Alive! album like "100,000 Years" and "Black Diamond."

Hotter Than Hell is such a heavy, dark album for that time. There were a few songs I didn't care for back in the day ("All The Way," "Mainline," "Comin' Home") but I like them now and, since I didn't play them to death when I was a kid like the debut album, they have a freshness to them. "Strange Ways" is awesome. The only song I don't like is "Let Me Go, Rock 'N' Roll."

Dressed To Kill was probably my favorite when I was a kid. So many catchy songs (I loved "Two Timer"). Most of the tracks were very short, like songs from the 1960s, that the 4:08 "She" seemed to just drag in comparison. Nothing weak on this album at all. The only cons are that it is short and "Rock And Roll All Nite" has been played to death.

Destroyer: Surprisingly, I'm not crazy about this album. As concept albums go, I prefer Music From: The Elder. I was fascinated with "Detroit Rock City" back in the day but, like "R&R All Nite," it has been overplayed. Same with "God Of Thunder." I could go years without hearing that song again. I never cared much for "Shout It Out Loud" and "Beth" is nice but, again, I've heard it so many times, I'm over it. I've always thought "Great Expectations" was silly.

Rock And Roll Over has an awesome album cover! The songs are very catchy. It is kind of like Dressed To Kill but the songs are a little longer. I think Dressed To Kill is more solid, however. I don't like "Baby Driver." "See You In Your Dreams" is good, but sounds a little stilted since the first time I heard that song was the rocked-out version on Gene's solo album. "Makin' Love" gets on my nerves a little bit. I guess I really like "Hard Luck Woman," because I sing it to myself a lot.

Love Gun has some classics ("I Stole Your Love," "Christine Sixteen," and the title track) and I really like "Almost Human." I like "Shock Me" but I'm not as crazy about it as some fans are. "Tomorrow And Tonight" sounds like a boring attempt at another "Rock And Roll All Nite" anthem. I really like the cover of "Then She Kissed Me," but it might not have fit the overall sound of the album. "Got Love For Sale" is OK, but sounds a bit awkward. It doesn't flow well.

Dynasty: I REALLY like this album! I could listen to "I Was Made For Lovin' You" on a continuous loop. "Sure Know Something," "Charisma," "Magic Touch," "X-Ray Eyes" are some of my favorite KISS songs. I even consider Peter's contribution, "Dirty Livin'," the best song he wrote on a KISS studio album. The only thing keeping me from choosing this one is Ace's songs. They are unmemorable to me and his cover of "2,000 Man" just kind of drags.

So, after consideration, my choice: Dressed To Kill.

I feel the same way about 'Destroyer' and 'Love Gun', I feel they get too much love but they do have some good stuff on 'em. As far as 'Dynasty' goes I really like that one.

80s Metal Lady wrote:

It has my favorite KISS song ever, "Black Diamond."

Black Diamond is simply one of the greatest songs of the 70's, and you're right it's even better on Alive. Of course, everything is better on Alive.

Anyway, it is true that while Destroyer is a kickass seminal record, it is quite uneven. The four were really branching out at the time, musically, and there was a push-pull quality to the tracks that was a bit abrupt. It's not bad by any means, hell it's one I throw on the turntable more than the others; but it doesn't have that consistency and economy that the previous albums have.

Plus, as much as I love Detroit Rock City, I could now do without the overlong intro.

I chose Rock N Roll Over...just a good solid record. Hotter than Hell would be my #2 Choice.

brokentulsa wrote:

I chose Rock N Roll Over...just a good solid h record. Hotter than Hell would be my #2 Choice.

My exact choices as well. I thought Rock and Roll Over was their most solid, honest, and hard rocking record. It was as honest as their first album. The band, their instruments and producer Eddie Kramer, who instead of forcing the band and a bunch of studio musicians to do what he wanted, got the best he could out of the four band members.

ultmetal wrote:

brokentulsa wrote:

I chose Rock N Roll Over...just a good solid h record. Hotter than Hell would be my #2 Choice.

My exact choices as well. I thought Rock and Roll Over was their most solid, honest, and hard rocking record. It was as honest as their first album. The band, their instruments and producer Eddie Kramer, who instead of forcing the band and a bunch of studio musicians to do what he wanted, got the best he could out of the four band members.

Sonically, it was their best mix out of all the albums, very full and punchy.

The s/t debut. I'm not really a fanboy so maybe I could get by with Double Platinum. I know that's cheating but it would be good enough for me.

Someone else voted Dynasty? I smell a troll.

Easy one for me. Destroyer was the first LP I ever bought with my own money. Been a KISS fan ever since.

Dynasty is actually a really good album (even with the disco-y feel). All 3 Ace sung tunes are absolute classics and pushes the album up a notch or 2, in spite of the horrid Dirty Livin' dragging it down a bit.

007 wrote:

Dynasty is actually a really good album (even with the disco-y feel). All 3 Ace sung tunes are absolute classics and pushes the album up a notch or 2, in spite of the horrid Dirty Livin' dragging it down a bit.

Agree 100% - even as a kid (got the album as a new release), I was quickly bored with Dirty Livin' and often would pick the needle up when the song started

I enjoy Dynasty too. I'm more curious why someone would pick that over the greatness of what came before.

I was one of the Dynasty voters because

a) I wanted to see how the voting was going and felt a bit left out!
b) This is very genuinely my favorite KISS song ever

Boris2008 wrote:

I was one of the Dynasty voters because

a) I wanted to see how the voting was going and felt a bit left out!
b) This is very genuinely my favorite KISS song ever

While that's...weird...it's nice to see appreciation for a somewhat disliked album.

I hated when bands sold out to disco and still hate it.