Kiss were always best known for their theatrical stage attire, explosive stage props and blood-spitting, fire-breathing antics, which is why many people continue to overlook the fact that many Kiss songs are tolerable at b... more »est. Even if the band's music is best used as loud background music for the band's visual extravaganza, the band did have a few jewels down the front of their bulging trousers. On You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!, they let them hang down to the ground, preventing the need to buy a full Kiss album ever again. "Firehouse," "Calling Dr. Love," "I Stole Your Love," and of course "Rock and Roll All Nite" shine through, and for the deluded die-hards, there are three previously unreleased live tracks and an interview with Jay Leno sure to raise the room temperature a few degrees. --Jon Wiederhorn« less
Kiss were always best known for their theatrical stage attire, explosive stage props and blood-spitting, fire-breathing antics, which is why many people continue to overlook the fact that many Kiss songs are tolerable at best. Even if the band's music is best used as loud background music for the band's visual extravaganza, the band did have a few jewels down the front of their bulging trousers. On You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!, they let them hang down to the ground, preventing the need to buy a full Kiss album ever again. "Firehouse," "Calling Dr. Love," "I Stole Your Love," and of course "Rock and Roll All Nite" shine through, and for the deluded die-hards, there are three previously unreleased live tracks and an interview with Jay Leno sure to raise the room temperature a few degrees. --Jon Wiederhorn
The 4 "newly discovered" tracks are not vintage recordings, but new ones done when the band reunited. No one really knows if the original four are playing in them, since Kiss has been lying to their fans since 1976' Destroyer by not giving credit to outside musicians on their albums.
If you listen closely to Paul's vocals you'll notice they sound kinda shot, "ala '96" style. Also, the drum sound is recent, check it out. And oh those added crowd noises!!! They sound SO fake it's disturbing.
If you only want the four unreleased tracks, then borrow it from a friend. That'd be the smartest thing to do."
A Greatest Hits set of their first two live albums
Mr. Bey | Riverside, CT United States | 06/03/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I think Kiss has put out five live albums not counting this one of the boxed det, The 4 Alives and Unplugged. When I got this album I felt really jipped because the new tracks weren't very good and I had heard Alive! and Alive II so many times already. The interview was ok but anyone who doesn't have enoguh access to a Kiss interview either on TV or on the internet is a sad person. The tracks on it were very good and if you don't want to spend the money buying each seperatly then this album is a good buy but if you buy this you'll probably want the other two anyway. Kiss dieheard fans buy this for new material but they aren't worth it. Rock and Roll all Nite is one of the most successful live songs of all time but it's been released more times than the original version. Calling Dr. Love and Beth are brilliant on this album but get them on Alive II. Kiss has enoguh money that you don't need to support this album or you can download the unreleased tracks."
Why buy this album??
EStats13 | New York | 03/23/2002
(2 out of 5 stars)
"This CD was relased at the height of the reunion frenzy. Gene being the business man he is released anything he could to capitalize on the newfound interest in the band. This CD was no exception and if it's live recordings you're after, please stick with Alive and Alive2. But, this isn't to say there isn't any justification to this album. Aside from the useless Jay Leno interview, it contains 4 un-released live tracks. 'Two Timer', 'Room Service'and 'Let me Know' were probably all taken from the same show, definitely the same time period. Kinda weak but these songs sound tight. The one track that does it for me however is 'Take Me', probably taken from the Love Gun tour. Great song. The production is a little down but it's cool to have. What Kiss SHOULD have done is followed in Cheap Trick's footsteps when they re-released their Budokan set as a double album of the WHOLE SHOW. Anyone who knows about KISS bootlegs will know that during the alive 2 period, 'take me', 'hooligan', 'Do you love me', 'black diamond', 'firehouse', and 'rock n'roll all night' were all in the set. Or perhaps Kiss has that in mind, but they just want to get your money any way they can? Kiss, you're the best!"
Mostly rehash, some unheard songs, but skip the last track
John S. Harris | Memphis, TN | 10/23/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is a compilation of stuff from "Alive" and "Alive II", plus some previously unreleased stuff. But above all, skip the Interview track at the end. Kiss sat down with Jay Leno (why, I don't know) to record this interview, and most of what you will learn from it is that Leno loves the sound of his own voice and is less interested in holding an interview than in being the so-so stand-up comic he is. The band doesn't seem to be enjoying the interview either. What a waste of 15 minutes of disc space that could have been used for more music."