"This is the best KISS compilation. A perfect introduction for those who are curious and a good mix tape for the die-hards. It's better than Smashes, Thrashes and Hits and Greatest Kiss because it goes longer. All The way up to 1992. The versions on this CD are the original ones. Which means "Rock and Roll All Nite" is the live version from Alive. All but one of their Top 40 hits are here (1978's "Rocket Ride" from AliveII is missing). Also "New York Groove" is indeed the Ace Frehley hit from 1978. KISS fans may find something missing. A track from the 80's like "Heaven's On Fire" could be here, as could a 70's one like "Black Diamond". One caveat: their are NO liner notes here. Just Album info for each song. It would be nice if Mercury would put liner notes on one of these KISS collections. At over an hour, though, this is a great introduction to the KISS legend."
5 Stars For The Music, 1 Star For The Greed...
"The Woj" | Downers Grove, IL | 09/02/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Here's Kiss (aka Gene Simmons) following in Aerosmith's footsteps and running a close second in the "Greatest", "Ultimate", "Best Of", "Essential", "Classic Hits" sweepstakes. Didn't Kiss come out with a box set and an album called "Greatest Kiss" recently.
Not to mention "Double Platinum", "Smashes, Thrashes, & Hits" & "You Wanted The Best...".
You can not fault the music. The songs are imbedded in the hearts and souls of every kid who grew up with this band in the 70's. "Ace Frehley, lead guitar!" But the recycling of the music over and over is wearing thin. NO unreleased studio or live tracks, NO new music at all. "If it wasn't for the fans we would be nothing", Simmons always boasts. Well I am a Kiss fan, a Stones fan, an Aerosmith fan, a Skynyrd fan, a Tull fan, a Blue Oyster Cult fan, a Who fan etc...etc....and I ain't biting anymore. Excuse me while I go spin my vinyl copy of Alive I bought 30 years ago for under 5 bucks."
ALMOST the Very Best
Frank M. Murtaugh III | Memphis, TN United States | 08/27/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"With 18 studio, three live, and four solo albums to choose from, coming up with the definitive "Very Best of KISS" is a sizeable chore . . . if it's to be done right. This 21-track collection almost pulls the trick. You've got the six definitive KISS classics (songs that have been included on three previous greatest-hits packages): "Deuce," "Strutter," "Detroit Rock City," "Beth," "Calling Dr. Love," and the dynamic live version of "Rock and Roll All Nite." The finest song from the four solo albums of 1978 ? Ace Frehley's "New York Groove" ? is an appropriate addition, as is one of the best power ballads of the late-Eighties, "Forever."
Where the album falls short is in the absence of the very best (!) song released in the post-makeup era of the band: "Heaven's on Fire." An omission the band should be ashamed of. Also, instead of including some rather average tracks, like "I Want You" and "I Stole Your Love" from the band's glory years in the late Seventies, the album would be better served with another one or two tracks from the more recent KISS catalog. Why not "Domino" from 1992 or "Psycho Circus" from 1998?
This is a fun album, particularly for newcomers to the KISS Army. Its only limitation is in not providing a full audio spectrum of a rock band whose impact has now grown for more than a quarter century."
Mercy!!! Please no more Rock n Roll all Nite!!
Johny Bottom | Jacksonville, NC | 09/28/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I'm sorry KISS fans, I can't take no more. Yes I am a KISS soldier in the KISS Army. In fact I have probably been promoted to Lieutenant General by now. But enough is enough already!Can you believe the promotional sticker on this album says 'Featuring Rock n Roll all Nite as heard on That 70's Show'? Run that by me again? Is there no end to this? Hey I love that song as much as the next KISS fan, but how many times do you have to purchase that song? Let's see.....1. Dressed to Kill
2. Alive!
3. Double Platinum
4. Killers
5. Smashes, Thrashes, and Hits
6. The Kiss Box Set
7. 20th Century Remasters
8. ALIVE III
9. ALIVE IV
10. The Very Best of KISS
11. KISS Greatest HitsI'm sure I missed one or two, but I've made my point. If you're a KISS fan, why bother buying this? No doubt in your CD collection you probably have every one of these songs at least three times over."
The Very Best + Some, - Some
mwreview | Northern California, USA | 12/29/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"First off, the cover of this album is awesome! It would make a great poster! Now for the music...For those who have KISS's studio albums, this compilation is obviously not worth the money. It has only the standard tracks with nothing new or rare (how many live versions of "Rock N Roll All Night" does one need?).For those who do not own a KISS album and want an introduction, this is a good CD; however, keep in mind that (1) it does not cover KISS's entire career and (2) it does not contain several KISS classics that are on almost every other compilation album.Like most "Best of KISS" compilations, this record's track listing is taken mostly from KISS's pre-solo album years (it does have Ace Frehley's "New York Groove"). This CD, however, does seem to spread itself out more by taking tracks from all those albums instead of concentrating of KISS's debut album which sports a huge portion of KISS's live shows even through the final tour. This may be the reason that this CD includes tracks like "Got To Choose," "Hotter Than Hell," "I Want You," etc. yet does not include longtime KISS standards like "Firehouse," "Cold Gin," "Black Diamond" (all of which are from the first KISS album), and "God of Thunder" (off Destroyer from which three other songs are on this CD).Understandably, this compilation completely skips over less familiar KISS works like Unmasked, Music From The Elder, and most of the non-makeup releases. I agree with another reviewer on this site that "Heaven's On Fire" (the most famous post-makeup--or, actually, inter-makeup track) is a glaring omission. Based on the cover artwork with the original members, these non-makeup omissions may have been intentional, but then including the last three tracks does not seem to make sense. Having said that, "Psycho Circus" is sorely missing from this CD."