At Home in Hespeler

One likes to believe in the freedom of music.

Rush – Spirit of Radio.

“I just heard Slade’s Cum on Feel the Noize on the radio,” a friend texted me the other day. “I felt 13 again.” Yea well, I’ve had Kiss 40 playing on my iPod for the last four weeks, so I know what you mean.

Kiss 40 is a new compilation in celebration of Kiss’ 40-years as a recording band, featuring 40-tracks, one from each album released (live, studio and hits collections) plus some bonus demos and live material from the past ten years. The collection is a fairly complete set of Kiss songs that ultimately leans heavily on the early years and satisfies an original member of the Kiss army, even if I haven’t been in good standing for 37-years.

The first thing you notice on listening to Kiss 40 is that the sound on the songs from the first three albums, Kiss, Hotter Than Hell and Dressed to Kill, are greatly improved from the original. Widely considered in music geek circles to be albums that suffered under spotty production, Kiss’ early albums get a major sonic upgrade here (presumably the same upgrade the re-released vinyl albums got), and Nothin’ to Lose, Let Me Go Rock and Roll and C’Mon and Love Me all sound fabulous, allowing the quality of the songs and performances to come through.

Moving into the Destroyer, Rock & Roll Over, Love Gun era, the bands professionalism and songs improve, although understandably, some of the youthful fun and energy from the early albums seem to fade. But material like Beth, Hard Luck Woman, Christine Sixteen, as well as a demo of God of Thunder and live Shout it Out Loud remind you the band was at it’s peak commercially and artistically in the mid-70’s.

Offering something from every Kiss album, (the four 1978 solo albums included) means music from every era from disco, to 80’s hair metal to the modern era. You will learn Kiss were, if nothing else, a band that adapted to it’s surroundings (perhaps Gene Simmons is really a lizard). Some of the material can be spotty (Paul Stanley’s Hold Me, Touch Me or Shandi) some can be very good (Ace Frehley’s New York Groove, Gene Simmons Radioactive) but most is just good, serviceable rock and roll.

Compliation albums like this really should be easy to listen to in the modern age, yet nostalgic. Listening should be visceral experience that takes you back to being 13. Kiss 40 succeeds spectacularly at that.

Unless indicated all selections are album versions
CD 1
1.     Nothin To Lose
2.     Let Me Go, Rock ‘N’ Roll
3.     C’mon and Love Me
4.     Rock And Roll All Nite (Live)
5.     God Of Thunder (Demo)
6.     Beth
7.     Hard Luck Woman
8.     Reputation (Demo) – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
9.     Christine Sixteen
10.  Shout It Out Loud (Live)
11.  Strutter ‘78
12.  You Matter To Me (Peter Criss)
13.  Radioactive (Gene Simmons)
14.  New York Groove (Ace Frehley)
15. Hold Me, Touch Me (Paul Stanley)
16.  I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Single Edit)
17.  Shandi
18.  A World Without Heroes
19.  I Love It Loud
20.  Down On Your Knees
21.  Lick It Up
22.  Heaven’s On Fire

CD 2
1.     Tears Are Falling
2.     Reason To Live
3.     Let’s Put The X In Sex
4.     Forever (Remix)
5.     God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll To You II
6.     Unholy (Live)
7.     Do You Love Me? (MTV Unplugged)
8.     Room Service (Live)
9.     Jungle (Radio Edit)
10.  Psycho Circus
11.  Nothing Can Keep Me From You
12.  Detroit Rock City (Live)
13.  Deuce (Live 2004) – UNRELEASED COMMERCIALLY
14.  Firehouse (Live – 1999/2000)
15.  Modern Day Delilah
16.  Cold Gin (Live 2009) – UNRELEASED COMMERCIALLY
17.  Crazy Crazy Nights (Live 2010) – UNRELEASED COMMERCIALLY
18.  Hell or Hallelujah

The Freedom of Music 40, Kiss