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The Kiss. With them, there are no half measures. You either love them or you hate them. You either think they are the most abject degradation of the rock culture paradigms, or you believe they represent the best thing that has happened on earth since the invention of spaghetti!!! Well, I love the Kiss. I've practically grown up with them. Just look at my first photograph, at one year old, where I stick out my tongue excessively... a sign of destiny. But who the heck cares about my destiny?
The band of Eugene Klein and Stanley Eisen (real names of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley) is one of the most contested in history. The picky ones, or rather those who don't know a damn thing about music, criticize them for their blatant commercial orientation, alignment with the industry, pharaonic stage designs, provocations... These fools don't understand that the Kiss are the logical consequence of the mythic dimension that shrouds rock stars since this genre came of age in the Sixties (as Gus Cabezas said in his biography on the band). If these people stopped criticizing without knowing and started listening to the Kiss's music, most of them would change their minds... When Gene and Paul recruited Peter Criss and Ace Frehley (Frehley, who was in pretty poor financial condition, turned up for auditions and made a great impression but nobody realized he was there to audition, they thought he was a beggar) they started working on their first LP aptly titled KISS, dating back to 1974, which would be followed by a long series.
This... THE VERY BEST OF KISS, is one of their many collections, from 2002 to be precise, and I recommended it to a friend of mine who was aware of my passion for the band and wanted to get into something rock... (I saved a life, didn't I? Someone who considered Gianluca Grignani the God...). I succeeded in my intent and my friend was truly fascinated... I remember his comment... "I listened to them all... from the first to the last, without skipping...". Ah... when a CD grabs you on the first listen, then it's truly a good piece of work. 21 tracks in total. 75 minutes of pure glam-hard-rock and metal atmosphere with some gems that really leave a mark. The tracks are in chronological order.
It starts off then with "Strutter" and "Deuce" from their first self-titled album mentioned earlier. The first, clear and bright, written by Gene and enhanced by Paul (after all, Paul was, so to speak, the savior of most of the group's songs), the second born from a "little modification" by Gene to the riff of "Bitch" by the Stones. These two tracks are kind of the group's "first famous stones", and were usually used as opening tracks in concerts, warming up the atmosphere pretty well.
Moving on with "Got To Choose" and "Hotter Than Hell" from the group's second album (where the cover showed them drunk – an idea of the photographer – with Criss parading with a girl and Stanley, the worst off, touching her behind) eponymous to the latter. The first very edgy, a work of Paul, and the second, also by Paul, an authentic glam blast with its syncopated rhythm that is very catchy.
Again, with the sensual (coincidentally by Paul) "C'mon And Love Me" which I find really very, very... I don't know how to define it, let's say a song that energizes your entire body. Then there's the masterpiece... the first hit in the band's history, not taken from the original album but from the live ALIVE (considered by many the best live of the 70s)... it's "Rock N Roll All Night" which would become the closing song of all their concerts. This song, the result of a combination between Paul and Gene (showing how together they were a force) arose from the ashes of another song, Drive Me Wild. PERFECT! The right adjective for this song. Even more lively than C'mon And Love Me.
The tracks numbered 7, 8, and 9 are those that confirmed the band's success, with the album following the great Live: DESTROYER. Number 7 is titled "Detroit Rock City" and talks about a sensational car accident in the motor city par excellence. Pure dynamite, insuperable riff and the solo at the end with the two guitars, rhythm of Paul and 6 strings of Ace. The following is "Shout It Out Loud" very similar to the previous one in power and rhythm. They are brilliant songs... a bit ear-splitting but with an equal melody, they have something extra. (Moreover, it's the most used Kiss song by many bands for covers... very beautiful the one by Redd Kross). Number 9 is of a completely different genre but the same pasta in that it sticks in the mind of whoever listens to it from the first listen. It is "Beth", a romantic ballad written and sung by the drummer the "cat" Peter Criss, who had to bend over backward to convince the other three to include it in the album. It was included and it became even more famous than Rock N Roll All Night... the first Kiss song to enter the Top 10.
"I Want You", "Calling Dr. Love", and"Hard Luck Woman" are instead taken from the album ROCK AND ROLL OVER. The first is very curious: it begins with soft notes... and after just ten seconds: THE EXPLOSION... a little more metal and heavy, not very similar to Detroit Rock City and Rock N Roll All Night. The song is signed Stanley. The second follows the style of the previous one although it is by Gene. Hard Luck Woman instead is another ballad written by Paul and necessary for the group to try to repeat the success obtained with Beth. And the success was repeated. The song passed from Paul's pen to Peter's singing. The result is something very beautiful... melodic of course, more rhythmic than Beth thanks to the guitars.
The journey continues with three songs from LOVE GUN (1977). They are: "I Stole Your Love" by Paul, "Christine Sixteen" by Gene, and "Love Gun" again by Paul. The first seems a return to Shout It Out Loud, consistent guitars that almost overlay the singing and make the song very fast. The "Zeppelin-like" solo is an extra gear. The second is lighter and reminiscent of Calling Dr. Love. In it, Gene has fun playing the piano just for the two main notes. And here we are at another great masterpiece. Love Gun is something strong... a "Bomb" indeed... You never get tired of listening to this song. Explosive to the maximum, this is very hard Hard Rock... Ace's six-string at the end is a masterpiece. One of the best on the whole record.
Meanwhile, in '78 the four released a solo CD for each. The best-selling was Gene's but the best was definitely Ace's. Evidence of that is that in this The Best Of there is indeed "New York Groove" track number seventeen, from ACE FREHLEY. The song was a cover of Russ Ballard's tune but much improved (a deep bow to Russ).
And here we are heading towards the end but still in the 70s (probably because the Kiss didn't do much in the 80s, except CREATURES OF THE NIGHT from '82 obviously). "I Was Made For Lovin' You" is something unique in the music of the Kiss. The album from which it is taken, DYNASTY, from '79, was heavily influenced by the wave of dance novelties that was popular in those years... so even the Kiss lent a hand and the result was yet another masterpiece. This single then is fantastic. Written by Stanley along with Vini Poncia, it reflects a parallel reality... like a profound digital vision. A sharp and powerful rock and the musicality, especially thanks to the keyboards, that made the track more dance than rock.
And here we arrive at the three only tracks taken from albums of the 80s. First, there is "I Love It Loud" from CREATURES OF THE NIGHT. The track is very strong. Stadium choirs and kick drums that sound like cannon shots (in fact the album remained famous mainly for the drums... the new guy, Eric Carr, was indeed a promise). "Lick It Up" (which then means 'lick it up') taken from the eponymous album from '83 is similar, but just a little, to the previous one in sounds. The finale is amazing. "Forever" from HOT IN THE SHADE from '89 was a very commercial and saccharine ballad written by Stanley along with a specialist in the field, Michael Bolton, and designed specifically to make little girls sigh. It's one of the most well-known singles by Kiss and one of the most beautiful overall. Probably when the group wrote the set list for this Best Of, Forever was the first to be inserted: indispensable. Besides, the commotion is justifiable. The song is truly stunning.
And here we are at the end. The only track taken from the 90s and the last of this CD is "God Gave Rock And Roll To You II" taken from REVENGE, the album that was the Kiss's “revenge” in '92. In my opinion, their most beautiful album excluding the live ALIVE. The song is an extraordinary symphonic adaptation by Paul and Gene (together with their friend Bob Ezrin and Russ Ballard) of a not very well-known song by the Argent – the band Kiss opened for in their early days. It was included as part of the soundtrack in the film “Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey” with Keanu Reeves. Fantastic lyrics (I recommend the translation) and incredible music. The choirs are truly emotional and all four members participated a little... “Writing this song was like a party for us” Stanley declared “We reunited with old friends and our success was immortalized.” So it's indispensable in this Best Of. It closes the CD excellently.
In conclusion, this THE VERY BEST OF KISS summarizes very well, indeed excellently, the career of the legendary Kiss and truly explains to those critics who consider the band a profound degradation... well, I had already said it... just because they see the singers in makeup, just because they see Gene spitting blood and fire... just because they see Ace making his guitar smoke and then smashing it... just because they see Peter flying with his entire drum set... to all these, I strongly recommend buying this CD to understand who the Kiss really are. And for those who know their songs and are still strongly, stubbornly convinced of what they say... then I tell you you don't like Rock N Roll... because that's what the Kiss are: the KISS ARE ROCK AND ROLL... Uff!!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Strutter (03:15)
I know a thing or two about her
I know she'll only make you cry
She'll let you walk the street beside her
But when she wants she'll pass you by
Ev'rybody said she's lookin' good
And the lady knows it's understood
Strutter!
She wears her satins like a lady
She gets her way just like a child
You take her home and she says "Maybe, baby"
She takes you down and drives you wild
Ev'rybody said she's lookin' good
And the lady knows it's understood
Strutter!
(Solo)
I know a thing or two about her
I know she'll only make you cry
She lets you walk the street beside her
But when she wants, she'll pass you by
Everybody said she's lookin' good
And the lady knows it's understood
Strutter- I know she'll just make you cry
Strutter- Look out, that girl just pass you by
Strutter- Whoa oh! She gets her way like a child
Strutter- Mama!, That girl will just drive you wild
Strutter! (repeats out)
02 Deuce (03:08)
Get up
And get your grandma outta here
Pick up
Old Jim is workin' hard this year
And baby
Do the things he says to do
Baby, if you're feeling good
And baby if you're feeling nice
You know your man is workin' hard
He's worth a deuce
Honey
Don't put your man behind his years
And baby
Stop cryin' all your tears
Baby
Do the things he says to do
Do it
Baby, if you're feeling good
And baby if you're feeling nice
You know your man is workin' hard
He's worth a deuce
And baby, if you're feeling good
Yes baby if you're feeling nice
You know your man is workin' hard
Yeah
03 Got to Choose (03:58)
Baby, you know I heard the neighbours say
Baby, you might be leavin' me today
Oh yeah, mmm, someone's come along and shared your time
Don't care, no I don't, no
But you can't be his and still be mine, so
Ooh, got to choose who's your baby
Ooh, got to choose
Sometimes, oh sometimes, I know you need a change of pace
Oh yeah, but I ain't gonna run no race
Baby, you've got to tell me yes or no
Alright, alright, come on and tell me
Tell me if you're gonna go, come on
Ooh, got to choose who's your baby
Ooh, got to choose who's your baby
Ooh, got to choose who's your baby
Ooh, got to choose, got to choose
Who's your baby, who's your baby
Who's your baby, who's your baby
04 Hotter Than Hell (03:33)
Come on
She looked good
She looked hotter than hell
All dressed in satins and lace
I looked at her and it was just too clear
I had to get on the case
I said "Lady, oh lady, can I take you home
There's just so much we could do
I'll take you all around the whole wide world
Before the evening is through"
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
You know she's gonna leave you well done
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
Burn you like the midday sun
I asked her why she couldn't make up her mind
She said "You don't understand
I'd love to go, but there's something you should know"
She showed me her wedding band
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
You know she's gonna leave you well done
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
She'll burn you like the midday sun
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
You know she's gonna leave you well done
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
She'll burn you like the midday sun
08 Shout It Out Loud (02:52)
Well, the night's begun and you want some fun
Do you think you're gonna find it (think you're gonna find it)
You got to treat yourself like number one
Do you need to be reminded (need to be reminded)
It doesn't matter what you do or say
Just forget the things that you've been told
We can't do it any other way
Everybody's got to rock and roll, whoo, oh, oh
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
If you don't feel good, there's a way you could
Don't sit there broken hearted (sit there broken hearted)
Call all your friends in the neighborhood
And get the party started (get the party started)
Don't let 'em tell you that there's too much noise
They're too old to really understand
You'll still get rowdy with the girls and boys
'Cause it's time for you to take a stand, yeah, yeah
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
You've got to have a party
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Turn it up louder
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Everybody shout it now
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Oh yeah
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Hear it gettin' louder
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
And everybody shout it now
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
09 Beth (02:50)
Beth I hear you calling
But I can't come home right now
Me and the boys are playing
but we just can't find the sound
Just a few more hours
And I'll be right home to you
I think I hear them calling
Oh Beth what can I do
Beth what can I do
You say you feel so empty
That our house just ain't our home
I'm always somewhere else
And you're always there alone
Just a few more hours
And I'll be right home to you
I think I hear them calling
Oh Beth what can I do
Beth what can.....I do
Beth I know you're lonely
And I hope you'll be alright
'Cause me and the boys will be playing all night
all night
12 Hard Luck Woman (03:36)
If never I met you
I'd never have seen you cry
If not for our first "Hello"
We'd never have to say goodbye
If never I held you
My feelin's would never show
It's time I start walkin'
But there's so much you'll never know
I keep telling you hard luck woman
You ain't a hard luck woman
Rags, the sailor's only daughter
A child of the water
Too proud to be a queen
Rags, I really love you
I can't forget about you
You'll be a hard luck woman
Baby, till you find your man
Before I go let me kiss you
And wipe the tears from your eyes
I don't wanna hurt you, girl
You know I could never lie
I keep telling you hard luck woman
You ain't a hard luck woman
You'll be a hard luck woman
Baby, till you find your man
Rags, the sailor's only daughter
A child of the water
Too proud to be a queen
Rags, I really love you
I can't forget about you
You'll be a hard luck woman
Baby, till you find your man
You'll be a hard luck woman
Baby, till you find your man
Oh yeah, bye bye, so long, don't cry
I'm just packin' my bags, whoo, leavin' you
Bye bye, bye bye, bye bye, baby, don't cry
I gotta keep on movin', yeah movin'
Bye, bye my baby
Ooh, don't cry, lady, oh
14 Christine Sixteen (03:16)
She's got me dizzy, she sees me through to the end
She's got me in her hands and there's no use in pretending
Christine sixteen, Christine sixteen
She drives me crazy, I want to give her all I've got
And she's hot every day and night, there is no doubt about it
Christine sixteen, Christine sixteen
"I don't usually say things like this to girls your age, but when I saw you
coming out of the school that day, that day I knew, I knew, I've got to have
you, I've got to have you."
She's' been around, but she's young and clean
I've got to have her, can't live without her, whoo no
Christine sixteen, Christine sixteen
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, yeah
So clean, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, Christine, yeah, yeah
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, Christine, yeah, yeah
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, yeah, yeah
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, yeah, yeah
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen, Christine, yeah, yeah
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, yeah, yeah
15 Love Gun (03:20)
I really love you baby
I love what you've got
Let's get together, we can
Get hot
No more tomorrow, baby
Time is today
Girl, I can make you feel
Okay
No place for hidin' baby
No place to run
You pull the trigger of my
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
You can't forget me baby
Don't try to lie
You'll never leave me, mama
So don't try
I'll be a gambler, baby
Lay down the bet
We get together, mama
You'll sweat
No place for hidin' baby
No place to run
You pull the trigger of my
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun)
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun)
Love gun, (love gun)
Love gun, (love gun)
Love gun, (love)
16 New York Groove (03:05)
Many years snice I was here, on the street I was passin' my time away
To the left and to the right, buildings towering to the sky
It's outta sight in the dead night
Here I am and in this city, with a fistful of dollars
And baby, you'd better belive
Chorus:
I'm back, back in the New York groove
I'm back, back in the New York groove
I'm back, back in the New York groove
Back in the New York groove, in the New York groove
In the back of my Cadillac
A wicked lady, sittin' by my side, sayin' "Where are we?"
Stop at third and forty-three, exit to the night
It's gonna be ecstacy, this place was meant for me
Feels so good tonight, who cares about tomorrow
So baby, you'd better belive
Chorus
I'm back, back in the New York groove (repeats out)
17 I Was Made for Lovin' You (04:33)
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Tonight I wanna give it all to you
In the darkness
There's so much I wanna do
And tonight I wanna lay it at your feet
'Cause girl, I was made for you
And girl, you were made for me
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me?
Tonight I wanna see it in your eyes
Feel the magic
There's something that drives me wild
And tonight we're gonna make it all come true
'Cause girl, you were made for me
And girl I was made for you
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me?
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can give it all to you baby
Can you give it all to me?
Oh, can't get enough, oh, oh
I can't get enough, oh, oh
I can't get enough
Yeah, ha
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me?
Oh, I was made, you were made
I can't get enough
No, I can't get enough
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me?
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can give it all to you baby
19 Lick It Up (04:00)
Don't wanna wait 'til you know me better
Let's just be glad for the time together
Life's such a treat and it's time you taste it
There ain't a reason on earth to waste it
It ain't a crime to be good to yourself
Lick it up, lick it up, it's only right now
Lick it up, lick it up, ooh yeah
Lick it up, lick it up, come on, come on
Lick it up, lick it up
Don't need to wait for an invitation
You gotta live like you're on vacation
There's something sweet you can't buy with money - lick it up, lick it up
It's all you need, so believe me honey
It ain't a crime to be good to yourelf
Lick it up, lick it up, it's only right now
Lick it up, lick it up, ooh yeah
Lick it up, lick it up, come on, come on
Lick it up, lick it up
Come on - it's only right now (it's only right now)
Ooh yeah (ooh yeah) ooh yeah (ooh yeah), yeah yeah
Lick it up, lick it up, it's only right now
Lick it up, lick it up, yeah yeah yeah
Lick it up, lick it up, come on, come on
Lick it up, lick it up
20 Forever (03:54)
I gotta tell you what I'm feeling inside
I could lie to myself but it's true
There's no denying when I look in your eyes
Girl, I'm out of my head over you
I lived so long believeing all love is blind
But everything about you
Is telling me this time it's
CHORUS:
Forever, this time I know
And there's no doubt in my mind
Forever, until my life is through
Girl, I'll be loving you forever
I hear the echo of the promise I made
When you're strong you can stand on your own
But those words grow distant as I look at your face
No, I don't wanna go it alone
I never thought I'd lay my heart on the line
But everything about you
Is telling me this time it's
REPEAT CHORUS
Solo
Oh
I see my future when I look in your eyes
It took your love to make my heart come alive
Cause I lived my life believing all love is blind
But everything about you is telling me this time it's
REPEAT CHORUS (2X)
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