DRESSED TO KILL (1975)

Pimpin' ain't easy...

When I first started doing this, this was the album I figured would win my top spot. While most Kiss fans consider the 76-77 period the best, for me these first 3 albums (4 including Alive!) are where the most fun is.

In fact, this album probably would have taken the top spot if not for 'Ladies in Waiting'. Not that the song is bad - because it isn't. It just isn't as good as everything else on the album and it always just sticks out like a dry, stale muffin surrounded by bowls of ice-cream and Snickers bars. But by Prime, those ice-creams are all such delicious flavours.

Oh I know - 'Rock Bottom' suffers the same problem as 'Comin' Home', as it rocks so much harder on 'Unplugged'. I want to go back to 1974 Kiss and play them the 'Unplugged' show so they can feel bad about making electric songs weaker than when done acoustically... before they go back to their groupies and millions of dollars. That'll teach 'em. But it is still fun, and the rest of the album is as strong and consistent as anything Kiss have ever produced. 'Getaway' is so much fun and 'Love Her All I Can' is an unappreciated gem. This album is full of killer guitar riffs. Oh, and it also happens to close with a certain rock'n roll national anthem... yeah, these guys sure know how to end albums.

This album may not have the classics that everyone knows, or still get performed live all the time. But to me, this album sums up Kiss better than any other album before or after; fun, simple rock'n roll that makes you want to "rock'n roll all nite and party every day"

Highlights:

Room Service, Two Timer, Getaway, C'mon and Love Me, She, Love Her All I Can, Rock'n Roll All Nite

Lowlights:

Only 29 minutes long. I'm not sure if Ladies in Waiting really counts - it isn't actually terrible, just compared to everything else it sounds like... well, me trying to do a Kiss song

Verdict = 4 Smoking Les Pauls and a thumbs up