It is time for a brand-new series. I’m returning to my top 50 favorite rock bands. In this video series, I’m going to share the best three albums by each band. This blog is for band #49 – KISS.
Criteria for selecting the best three albums
Here are the three criteria I used to craft this list. First, if a band has less than three albums I will skip them. This point is not an issue for KISS, they have an extensive catalog. Second, greatest hits albums are allowed. Third, no live albums are allowed. This is actually problematic for KISS since some of their best albums are their live releases like the double LP landmark release Kiss Alive which actually ended up saving this band’s career..
The third-best album by KISS is their debut album
Let’s start the list with the third-best album which is their debut album. I know some of you are shaking your head going goodness gracious you really like KISS. I do. They were an innovative band back when they first started. Look they’re already wearing full makeup and their live shows were something to behold. Some of my favorite Kiss songs are on this album and it’s actually aged pretty well considering this was released in the early 1970s.
The second-best KISS album is a greatest hits album
Their second-best album is Rock and Roll Over. It comes from what I consider to be the golden years of the band. Sure they went cartoonish, but the music is good. This album includes “Calling Dr. Love”, and the surprise hit “Hard Luck Woman”.
The best album by KISS is Destroyer
Destroyer opens with “Detroit Rock City”. They did a lot of experimentation on this album. They took some chances and man did they nail it. “Shout it out loud” is a killer tune. The surprise ballad “Beth” really propelled the band forward over the next several albums.
There you have it – the three best KISS albums. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
I am Doug Keating and this is my letter to my sons.