Kiss in the 80s

[Paul_UK]

Kiss are very often criticised for the material they produced in the 80s (the non-make up years), but I've recently dusted off "Crazy Nights", "Lick It Up", "Hot In The Shade", "Asylum" and "Revenge" and was totally blown away by much of the tracks!

For me, "Revenge" is one kick ass album, every bit as good as the likes of "Destroyer" and "Love Gun" from the classic years.

[Mr.Rock]

'Revenge' is a good album but it was done in '92.

You forgot 'Animalize', which I think is one of their best albums. I prefer the 80's style Kiss to the 70's, and I know I'm going to be in the minority.

[Serendipity]

Can't say I've played these albums a lot; too many below average songs on them. Songs like I'll Fight Hell To Hold You, Who Wants To Be Lonely, Thrills In The Night, and Hide Your Heart are among my favorites from that era. I really like those songs.

[Paul_UK]

'Revenge' is a good album but it was done in '92.

You forgot 'Animalize', which I think is one of their best albums. I prefer the 80's style Kiss to the 70's, and I know I'm going to be in the minority.

Oh yeah, so it was!!! Haha! Having said that I did say (non-make up years!!!!) How the fcuk could I have forgotten such a masterpiece as "Animalize"?!?! Love that album!

I too prefer Kiss of the 80s! - Lets wait for the backlash!!!!

Songs like I'll Fight Hell To Hold You, Who Wants To Be Lonely, Thrills In The Night, and Hide Your Heart are among my favorites from that era. I really like those songs.

I think you've pointed out a handful of my alltime fave Kiss trax there, along with the likes of "Lick It Up", "Heavens On Fire", "Forever" and "Uh! All Night"!!

[Serendipity]

I too prefer Kiss of the 80s! - Lets wait for the backlash!!!!

You didn't get much of a rebuke from me... Even though I prefer seventies Kiss (+ the Creatures Of The Night album), we both like a lot of the same tracks of the eighties.

[Paul_UK]

I too prefer Kiss of the 80s! - Lets wait for the backlash!!!!

You didn't get much of a rebuke from me... Even though I prefer seventies Kiss (+ the Creatures Of The Night album), we both like a lot of the same tracks of the eighties.

Yeah, true!! Haha!

I find that the 70s tracks come accross a lot better on the live stage than they do on record. I think its because I love the heavy guitar sound.

I sure hope the band come over to the UK on the latest tour...I think Tommy Thayer is one hell of a player and would love to see him on these shores. I feel that his playing has given the band back a harder edge, similar to the style Brce Kulick brought to the band in the 80s.

[Serendipity]

I sure hope the band come over to the UK on the latest tour...I think Tommy Thayer is one hell of a player and would love to see him on these shores. I feel that his playing has given the band back a harder edge, similar to the style Brce Kulick brought to the band in the 80s.

Thayer is a good guitar player, I agree. Don't get your hopes up on seeing him live though... As far as I know Kiss are skipping Europe on this tour. Apparently they've been asking more money than the promotors were willing to pay them.

[Bobbi Flekman]

I like Kiss from all 'ages'. everything apart from 'Carnival Of Souls' (they shouldn't have done the Nirvana routine).

[Paul_UK]

Thayer is a good guitar player, I agree. Don't get your hopes up on seeing him live though... As far as I know Kiss are skipping Europe on this tour. Apparently they've been asking more money than the promotors were willing to pay them.

Dammit! Typical Simmons...money comes before the fans.

I like Kiss from all 'ages'. everything apart from 'Carnival Of Souls' (they shouldn't have done the Nirvana routine).

Totally agree Bobbi. A very disappointing album after the awesome "Revenge" record.

[Wayne]

I think Kiss made some great rock & roll during the 80's without their makeup with Lick It Up being a great album showcasing them at their finest at the time but nothing they do will ever be in the same leagues as their important & influential classic rock albums during ther 70's reign like Alive, Destroyer & Rock & Roll Over.

[merlo]

Paul Yes they made a few good tunes in the eighties but I totally disagree with your comments on Tommys playing being like Bruce! Its much more like Aces,Listen to the instant lives from this year
Thats why they hired him because of his classic style,Bruce is very much more technical and twiddly!
Bruce isnt doing much now but his solo CDS are Killer and Union was a brill band i reckon if KISS carried on where Carnival of souls left off they would have been stunning,But hey we wouldnt have got the reunion!

[AOR rules]

When talking about 80`s Kiss albums where have you forgotten hidden treasure called "The elder" (-81)? I know that this is really love/hate type of thing being concept album including ballads, orchestrations, choirs etc. But as this was my first Kiss album I didnt think there is anything wrong with it. I thought that this is normal Kiss. Of course I later realised that it was quite big departure from their normal repertoire but I still love it and it brings lot of nostalgia for me.

[Serendipity]

When talking about 80`s Kiss albums where have you forgotten hidden treasure called "The elder" (-81)?

At first I thought you were joking, calling this a hidden treasure! I can see why you like it though... first song I heard from Kiss was I Was Made For Loving You, from their nearly as infamous Dynasty album. Even though the disco beat is hideous, it will always have a special place in my heart, since it was my first Kiss song and I see them as the band that paved the way for me getting into rockmusic a couple of years later. (I wasn't yet that interested in music in 1979, but I found them one fascinating band!)

[Kenny]

I really like 'The Elder'.....songs like 'Dark Light', 'The Oath', 'Just a Boy' and 'Only You' are great songs!!
I kinda liked it because it was a bit different for the band - let's face it, how many risks do they take these days??

[Serendipity]

I still see The Elder as a very odd album... the one song that I remember liking is A World Without Heroes; then again I haven't played that record very often. Agreed though, those were the adventurous days for Kiss... they sort of set a standard for how a live album should sound, the experiment with Phantom Of The Park, and taking off the make-up.

[AOR rules]

I seem to have in every way quite odd taste in Kiss albums as I even like "Unmasked" which is another one of most hated Kiss albums. Its also one of my early Kiss experiences allthough I heard it after "the elder".

[Kenny]

Ah well I don't mind 'Unmasked' either!!

The production is pretty bad IMO, but there are some great songs - 'Tomorrow', 'Is that you?', 'Shandi' and 'Two sides of the coin' are all great tracks - though 'Torpedo girl' has to be one of the worst songs ever recorded.....

Basically I like it because it holds some good memories for me of that time in my life, like so many other albums.

[Serendipity]

I like that album too! Shandi I must have heard a million times! I always must think of the fun fair whenever I hear it... I remember they played it over and over there that year. Naked City is another great song; has become my fave off that album.

[Big J]

Unmasked is an awesome album. The song I lone off it that doesnt get much credit is 'What Makes the World Go Round'

Great song.

Of the 80's lbums, Asylum is my favorite; but my favorite songs are probably the Crazy Nights era Paul demos that didnt even make albums...one of them, Time Traveler, was on the Box Set, but there are a few others...Don't Let Go, When 2 Hearts Collide, Sword and Stone, that are just great. Pop/Light, but great stuff for that era.

[WaaTafuLiam]

Creatures of the Night is my fav.

[All Nights Reserved]

Well, let me tell you that the album 'Asylum' was my first rock record (at the age of 12) and this one started me on the path of rock! And I haven't got fed up with this album yet!

[LeesaAnn]

the first album I had was Kiss Destroyer......played it over and over and over and over and loved it just the same every time.

Leesa

[T-Bone]

My first glimpse of Kiss was the Rock N Roll Over album cover my cousin had. I took out her Animalize cassette and listened to that and noticed they didn't have any makeup on. I was a little confused at first, but I caught on after a while as I started to read Metal Edge, Circus, Hit Parader, RIP, etc.....

Always a fan, but I wish they would give it up while they can instead of becoming a parody

[NealIsGod]

Always a fan, but I wish they would give it up while they can instead of becoming a parody

Dude, that boat sailed long ago...

[T-Bone]

Maybe... but it hasn't sunk yet I'd like them to take off the damn makeup, make a new album in the Revenge style and get on with the new tunes, or hang up the hat (wigs) and call it a day

[arvg77]

1. The Oath
2. War Machine
3. Creatures of the night
4. All Hell Breakin Loose
5. I love it loud
6. Lick it up
7. I've Had Enough (Into The Fire)
8. Heaven's On Fire
9. Thrills In The Night
10. Under The Gun
11. Who Wants To Be Lonely
12. Uh! All Night
13. Crazy Crazy Nights
14. I'll Fight Hell To Hold You
15. Reason To Live
16. Rise To It
17. Hide Your Heart
18. Forever
19. You love me to hate you
20. A World Without Heroes

[Big J]

I'll throw my top 20 out there too, why not. Album tracks only or else some unreleased stuff would make this list for me.

1. Forever
2. Tears Are Falling
3. I Love it Loud
4. Creatures of the Night
5. Heaven's On Fire
6. King of Hearts
7. UH! All Night
8. Fits Like A Glove
9. I Still Love You
10. I'll Fight Hell to Hold You
11. A Million To One
12. The Oath
13. Reason to Live
14. Who Wants to be Lonely
15. King of the Mountain
16. Hide Your Heart
17. Lick It Up
18. A World Without Heroes
19. Exciter
20. War Machine

[Cato Alumni]

Kiss' stuff since I'd say Dynasty has been very inconsistent. By constrast, I like the 70's stuff because you just chuck in the record and don't run in to a lot of duds.

Unmasked was terrible and Elder was atypical, so we'll leave those out. These are some of the songs I liked:

Creatures: Creatures, I love it loud, WarMach, I still love u... rest good filler.
Lickitup: Exciter, Not for innocent, Lick it up, All hells'.. rest average filler
Animalize: Burn Bitch, Heavens', Thrills.. rest very average filler
Asylum: Uh all night.. rest average filler
Crazy: CCN, I'll Fight Hell, My Way, Turn on, Thief.. rest decent filler
Hot: Rise to it, Hide your heart.. rest very average filler

So that's what, 19 songs I really like. The same can be said of Revenge and Circus.. some really good songs.. a lot of crap. Kiss has just got to be the worst when it comes to consistency.

[Little Lenny]

my partner shaggy is a DJ (rock Music) and a massive Kiss fan, and whenever he does his job at various Rock nights, Kiss no matter what is played always gets a positive response, especially crazy nights, lets face it, it has that feel good factor to it, and I think as far human nature goes, the feelgood factor will always get a great response from the vast majority of people. And that's a good track record in my opinion