Kiss - The First Three Albums

[Zzzptm]

Decided to go and give them all a spin, since I've never heard Kiss other than what's been on the radio or referenced in movies. I had time as I was watching the server installation tick across the percentages.

Have to say that the first two were a mixed bag, the first better than the second, but the third, Dressed to Kill, blows them all away. Even before I was done with side one, I was of that opinion.

It's not really surprising that it was also one of their more desperate efforts. Casablanca Records didn't have enough cash to hire a producer, so the president of the label and the band had to do the production. The cover picture shows the band in suits - only Peter Criss owned one at the time, the others had to borrow from their manager. That's why Criss' suit is the only one that looks like it fits properly. Poor old Gene's got high waters something awful in that shot.

Even the album's length came up short, only 30 minutes in total. The label made it look like it had more content by padding out the passes between the tracks and printing longer-than-actual times for the songs. Even so, it really rocks out well and has some great cuts, for sure.

[Vyn]

Dressed to Kill is my fave Kiss album, hands down.

[Jack the Stripper]

The debut has the best collection of classic songs but they were never able to capture their heavy live sound in he studio, that’s why Kiss Alive is their best album, has all the best songs from those  first 3 albums done right. Kiss Alive was also incidentally the first vinyl album I ever owned. Christmas of 78 three years after it was released and Ace Frehley’s 78 solo album was the first vinyl I bought with my own money.

[Vyn]

Had several friends just shit themselves over Kiss Alive. I swear, if they could have fucked the record they would have, lol.

[Zzzptm]

It's got a great sound to it, for sure. I totally get why it was a breakthrough album for them, as it really does feel like it puts me in the concert. I won't get into the question of overdubs or whatever - live albums all over get little touches to make them better - it's what we hear as fans, and it sounds awesome. It shows why bands were afraid to have them as openers.

[Thelemech]

I absolutely love the first three KISS albums having first heard them when I was about 13 years old. I actually love every single one of their albums but there's something special about all of their work in the 70s

Try Rock and Roll Over and Love Gun as your next foray into their discography

[Zzzptm]

One thing I don't understand is how they never got played on the rock radio stations in Dallas. When I was a kid in the 70s, there was KZEW 98 and KTXQ 102 and that's where I went for rock and roll radio. Neither of them every played any Kiss. Their stuff lyrically was no more potentially objectionable than ACDC and musically they were as good as a whole lot of other rock acts out there getting airplay. Listening to them now, it makes no sense why they didn't get any airplay, especially after they became so huge in the USA after Kiss Alive got released.

[Ted Sallis]

Alive! and Destroyer have been my favourite KISS albums for a long time, however, Black Diamond, the last track on their debut is my favourite of their songs.  Paul and I think Gene have stated that the production on their first 3 albums was lacking; they basically went into the studio and reproduced what they did live when they recorded those albums, but due to a lack of material/time constraints when making Dressed to Kill, they had to include a couple of old Wicked Lester songs (WL was the band Gene and Paul were in prior to forming KISS) on it.

In my view the Group has occasionally made some songs in the 80's and beyond which come close to the quality of their pre-solo albums 70's material, but overall nothing they've done since their first 6 studio and first 2 live albums is as good.

Ted