Wicked Lester (Self-Titled) 1972 - Pre-KISS

Wicked Lester (Self-Titled) 1972 - Pre-KISS

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Wicked Lester. This was the band that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were in for a couple of years in which they recorded their Self-Titled debut, before dissolving it and then morphing into KISS soon after. The album to this day has never been released. It's a must sought-after bootleg within' the KISS circuit. Well, it was till YouTube came along. The first time I ever actually heard the album was maybe 20 years ago. A friend of mine, who was way into bootleg this and bootleg that, somehow got his hands on this. I think he paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $45 for a copy on an audio cassette.

So, needless to say, I begged him to make me a duplicate. He did. When I got my copy and gave it a whirl, the quality was so piss poor you couldn't really make anything out of it with all the hissing and noise. He was saying that his copy was no worse than a 2nd generation loss. Mine sounded like it was 20 Gens. He let me listen to his copy at his house, and the quality was only slightly better. I gave him back my shitty copy. And that was the last I ever heard anything from the album.

But I remember liking some of the songs, especially She and Shout It Out Loud. The version of She was pretty much intact when it made it's way onto Dressed To Kill. But the version of Shout It Out Loud is nowhere near the same as what eventually made it's way onto Destroyer. The version on here is a hippie, flower power song. And for some strange reason, I like this version of it as well. This album is trippy to say the least when it comes to this very uneven and un-KISS-like project, even though technically there wasn't a KISS yet to make it "un-KISS-like".

Fave Songs: She and Shout It Out Loud

Rating: 3 Stars out of 5

Review By Chiprocks1

KISS (Self-Titled) 1974

KISS (Self-Titled) 1974

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I'll be the first to admit that I didn't really care for KISS' debut when I first picked it up. And that's only because I started with Rock And Roll Over and worked my way backwards. To me the newer stuff on RARO and Destroyer was fresher and definitely in the vein of that "wall of sound", which made everything on this album seem way to simplistic and dated IMO.

So when I first got KISS' selfi-titled album, to me it only had a couple of cool songs on it and the rest seemed nothing more than filler to me. I was an idiot back then. Stupid little kid I was. :slap:

Now and for what seems a life time, this is has been a personal fave of mine with some good fucking music on it. I definitely rank this in my top 5 of all KISS albums. Out of the 10 songs on here, 8 of them are still used as the bulk of their live set list. The only song not part of the set and from what I know of, to never have been played live is Love Theme From KISS, which is the only instrumental in their entire catalog of songs as well. And what seemed so "dated" back then is fresh and alive today. Me love this one long time. :)

Fave Songs: All of 'em. I love them all so much I'm gonna go ahead just name drop all the songs.  Strutter, Nothin' To Lose, Firehouse, Cold Gin, Let Me Know, Kissin' Time, Deuce,  Love Theme From Kiss, 100,000 Years and Black Diamond

Great fucking album cover too, even with the fucked up Cat makeup done by a "professional" artist.

Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

KISS (Hotter Than Hell) 1974

KISS (Hotter Than Hell) 1974 

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As a whole, Hotter Than Hell is a pretty good album. But it's nowhere near the level of their debut album, even though a lot of KISS fans would say otherwise. It has some classic, kick ass songs that are still played to this day in their live sets. Even though this is a solid album, it's not one that I play a whole lot these days.

Fave Songs: Got To Choose, Parasite, Goin' Blind, Hotter Than Hell, Let Me Go Rock 'N' Roll, Watchin' You and Comin' Home. The title track Hotter Than Hell get's the MVP award for best song on the album. 

Fun fact, in the made-for-TV movie KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park, they had to change the lyrics from "Hot, hot, hotter than hell" to "Rip, rip, rip and destroy" due to censors. Haha. :D

Another sweet, kick ass cover. 

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

KISS (Dressed To Kill) 1975

KISS (Dressed To Kill) 1975

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Dressed To Kill's biggest contribution here is the inclusion of Rock And Roll All Nite, their biggest hit as far as being the most well recognized song. Even your Mom knows this song. DTK has other notable songs that are still played live in their sets to this day. But overall DTK is slightly above average with a few fillers.

Fave Songs: Rock Bottom, C'mon And Love Me, She, Love Her All I Can and Rock And Roll All Nite, which of course gets the MVP nod here for the best song on the album.

Another killer cover that depicts the band wearing suits, which Gene, Paul and Ace didn't own. They were borrowed from their manager and that's why Gene's pants legs are far too short. Hahahaha.

Rating: 3  1/2 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

KISS (The Originals) 1976

KISS (The Originals) 1976 

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16 Page Booklet Insert

The Originals With LP's and 16 Page Booklet

The Originals a combo-pack that took the first 3 albums (LP's) and bundled them as a set along with a 16 page Booklet insert. This was the beginning of sick, sick, sick giveaways that KISS would utilized in future albums. As a kid, the ONLY reason why I got this was just to get the book since I needed to have everything with the KISS logo on it. :)

I give the booklet 5 stars as well as the idea of getting a 3 for 1 bundle deal.

Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

KISS (Alive!) 1975

KISS (Alive!) 1975

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Interior Gate-fold

You want the best, you got the best! The hottest band in the world...KISS!!! With those 15 words, their lives and mine would be forever changed. Normally I wouldn't include live albums as part of a "Best Album Of All Time" poll. But in this case, it is absolutely warranted.

Alive! saved the band from extinction as they were going nowhere and fast based on their first 3 albums. This is a double live concert album recorded at Cabo Hall in Detroit. A lot was made about how this was the best "Live" concert ever released on Vinyl. But for hardcore fans, we later learned that the album was in fact doctored with overdubs and sweetened to make the end product better. So technically not really a Live Concert as it was purported to be. Not cool. 

I give it a full 5 Star rating in spite of being swindled by the band due to the significance of what it did for them. It's still a great listen and I hold a soft spot for it. This was the start of what unfortunately becomes a trend with the band constantly pulling a fast one on it's fans...i.e...me. And for that they get...

 The interior gate-fold cover had 4 handwritten notes from each band member to the fans, signed in their own names. This is where I learned to forge their names with their signatures. I was so good that kids at school would constantly ask me to sign their books, etc...with their names. :)

Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

KISS (Destroyer) 1976

KISS (Destroyer) 1976

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Vinyl Sleeve

I don't have to listen to anything after this to determine what I'm going to vote for. I already know that Destroyer is the Best Album Of All Time with the Original Lineup. It's their masterpiece. Destroyer is just worlds apart from anything they ever did before or after with Gene, Paul, Peter and Ace when it came to songwriting, recording and studio tricks for sound FX, etc....

First time I ever listened to this, I was floored. Just the opening to Detroit Rock City had me captivated with the car engine, radio and the crash that follows. I was sucked in. At the conclusion of DRC it segues right into King Of The Night Time World, which is a hell of a song. One of my all time faves.

God Of Thunder is next and is Gene's crown jewel both on record as well as live. What a lot of people don't know is that Paul wrote this for himself, but the albums producer Bob Ezrin said he just couldn't see him singing it and to give it to Gene. The rest is KISSTORY.

Great Expectations, Sweet Pain and Flaming Youth just kick so much ass too. I hear the knock against Great Expectations with the inclusion of using a kids choir as the reason why they don't rate it as high. Personally, I just think its a great song.

Shout It Out Loud finds it's way here from the Wicked Lester days in a completely different and better, i.e. classic version. Following this is Beth, their first top 10 hit.

But my personal favorite and the best song of the entire album is the last one: Do You Love Me? I put this right up there with Queen's We Will Rock You. These 2 songs are neck and neck for best drum song ever. The slow build to the chorus is full of tension, waiting to get to those power chords. And when you finally hear those chords....ah, the release is awesome.

Hidden track that follows is 1 minute of screaming fans at a KISS concert. 

Fave Songs: All of 'em

Best album cover ever! Cover artist is Ken Kelly, who would also do the Love Gun cover as well.  The inner sleeve had the KISS Army registration membership on one side and the lyrics to Detroit Rock City. The sleeve itself is hard stock cardboard. None of that flimsy paper that tears as soon as you put your vinyl back in.

Rating: 10 Stars out of 10 (That's right, 10 Stars which is to tell you it's an absolute must for your collection. Get it now!!!!!)

Review by Chiprocks1

KISS (Rock And Roll Over) 1976

KISS (Rock And Roll Over) 1976

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Full Size RARO Sticker, Order Form and Vinyl Sleeve

Rock And Roll Over was my first KISS album I ever got. I had to beg my Mom to buy it for me. She did. Thanks, Mom. :)  RARO is a fantastic album and is only slightly behind that of Destroyer for Best Of All Time for the band. It's a shame they don't perform many of the songs from the album now (with the exception of the 1996 Reunion Tour). The only song that sees the light of day anywhere on the set list would be Calling Dr. Love. But during the aforementioned tour, they routinely brought out such classics as I Want You, Take Me and Calling Dr. Love.

Fave Songs: All of 'em. Even Peter Criss' sappy, country-ish Hard Luck Woman can't be ignored. MVP goes to I Want You.

RARO continued the trend of packing free stuff in the album covers. With this one you got a full size replica sticker of the cover, an order form for more KISS goodies. And the sleeve, not so much a freebie as it was just really cool to look at.

Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

KISS (Love Gun) 1977

KISS (Love Gun) 1977

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Love Gun Pop Gun Freebie Insert

Love Gun has in my opinion the greatest KISS song of them all: Love Gun. It doesn't get any better than this. It's great on the album, but it's so much better live. The rest of the album is pretty solid, if not perfect. Standout songs include Christine Sixteen, and Plaster Caster. 

It took 6 studio albums for Ace Frehley to finally step up to the mic and actually sing. He, for whatever reason up till this album had been terrified to sing on anything, and that includes the songs that he actually wrote for himself earlier but would give to Gene or Paul. He gets his moment to shine with Shock Me. With Peter Criss singing lead on Hooligan, this makes it the first KISS album to have all 4 with lead vocal duties.

Fave Songs: Christine Sixteen, Shock Me, Tommorrow And Tonight, Plaster Caster and Then She Kissed Me with Love Gun getting the MVP for top honors.

Sick cover. Drool worthy.  Ken Kelly knocks this one outta the park.

Free giveaway trend continues with the Pop Gun insert. Bang bang!! :)

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

KISS (Alive II) 1977

KISS (Alive II) 1977

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Gate-fold Interior - Stage Explosion

The Evolution Of KISS Booklet Insert

Rub-On Tattoo Insert

Alive II is a double LP with 3 sides dedicated to a "Live" concert recorded during the Love Gun Tour. I say "Live" because just like Alive!, a whole lot of sweetening went on during post production. Also, the songs themselves are taken from many different shows. Anyways, it's still a good listen. Personally I prefer Alive! over Alive II. I know I shouldn't be so critical of any "Live" album that has been doctored to make it sound better than the original recording. As I've gotten older, I've come to see this as being standard practice with pretty much all Live Concert recordings. But back in the day, we were made to believe that these shows were recorded as is.....Live. For a little kid like myself at that time, that was a big thing to hear and believed everything that was said. Ah, good times indeed. :)

Fave Song: Love Gun. <----- MVP

The 4th side is all new songs: All American Man, Rockin' In The USA, Larger Than Life, Rocket Ride and Any Way You Want It. Once again, the band felt it necessary to dupe the KISS Army by telling us this was all new stuff from the 4 members. Turns out that Ace only played on Rocket Ride, while Paul did everything on Any Way You Want It. They secretly hired a session man by the name of Bob Kulick to do the guitars for the remaining songs, who will also play an important role in the future regarding KISS....in a round about way, that is. Stay tuned.

Insert trend continues with the "Evolution Of KISS Booklet" insert as well as the Rub-On Tattoo sheet. This was like Xmas...everyday for me. 

The back cover with Gene was so insane with all that blood when it came out. But I no idea what lay in store for me when I opened the gate-fold cover to reveal......

The EXPLOSION!!!!! Daaaaaaaaaaamn. It's still an amazing image to look at even today.

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

KISS (Peter Criss) 1978

KISS (Peter Criss) 1978

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Peter Criss Poster Insert

Um.....uh....um.....There's a reason why I haven't listened to this since 1978. I was going to put this one off to listen along with all the KISS Solo albums tomorrow. But I decided to just get this one out of the way so as not to totally ruin tomorrow for me.

I hated this when I picked it up then. Things haven't changed all that much now. Peter Criss' solo effort was the poorest performing of the 4 and rightly so. It's nothing like a KISS record. It's all big band, swing, "easy listening" and some disco-ish elements. Ugh. This album is better than warm milk if your looking to drift off. So sleepy right now.

Fave Songs: Yeah, right. Where? That's The Kind Of Sugar Papa Likes is about as close as that gets here. And that's stretching it a bit here.

Freebie trend continues with a Poster insert that is 1/4th of a larger poster that connects with the other 3 solo album posters ala a jigsaw puzzle.

This gets at least a 1 star rating for the cover though, which has become iconic along with the other 3 solo covers. 

Peter, I luv ya man, but just not this album. Sorry dude. 

Rating: 2 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

KISS (Paul Stanley) 1978

KISS (Paul Stanley) 1978

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Paul Stanley Poster Insert

Out of the 4 solo albums that came out simultaneously, I had the highest hopes for Paul Stanley knocking it out of the park. Back then it was a major disappointment when I heard it. It did sound the closest in vein to that of a KISS album, but the songs were underwhelming back then. Now listening to this for the first time in a long time, it's actually much better than I remember it to be. I think if I were to continue to listen to this one more, the rating for it could definitely go up. 

Hold Me, Touch Me sounds like it could be something from Christopher Cross with it's tone and tempo. Geared strictly for FM radio market back in the day no doubt.

Love In Chains is an average song, but it has the most wicked guitar solo on the record. I don't remember it being that good!!! Wow!!  Remember what I said about Bob Kulick from the Alive II review? Well, he gets lead guitar duties here. But this won't be his biggest contribution to the future of KISS. More on that later.

Fave Songs: Tonight You Belong To Me and Take Me Away (Together As One)

Freebie trend continues with a Poster insert that is 1/4th of a larger poster that connects with the other 3 solo album posters ala a jigsaw puzzle.

The album cover gets props. Iconic.

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1