Inspired by the Eddie Trunk Volume show top 20 KISS songs, I thought I'd throw mine out. I left out the solo albums, but included live ones.
20. Nothin' To Lose - I think this song is vaguely about anal sex, but I'll defer to ignorance in my old age. Swinging groove, trade off vox; Peter is fine form in the chorus.
19. Forever - 2nd highest charting single after Beth. Great melody, outstanding acoustic solo, solid drums for a ballad.
18. C'mon and Love Me (Alive I) - How can one argue with poetry like "I'm a Capricorn and she's a Cancer"? The energy and pace of this song live is excellent, and Ace's solo is, like usual, a song within the song.
17. God of Thunder (Alive II) - Yes, you need to sit through the horrid drum solo, but just listen to Gene's voice after that: cracking, powerful, demonic. Also, the tempo is so much better than the dirge of the album version.
16. Got To Choose - Another prime example of an Ace solo being a song within a song. Love the group vox in the chorus
15. Rock Bottom (live) - Great pinch harmonics from Ace on the live version, plus he takes an extended solo after the 1st verse.
14. Psycho Circus - Going recent... if 20 years is considered recent. Powerful tune, great riff, Paul is in fine voice on this one.
13. Nowhere To Run - Off the Killers disc, Paul wails on this one. Bob Kulick plays some excellent guitar fills. Hidden gem.
12. Love Her All I Can - Something for every band member on this one. Jaunty little diddy, showing their southern influence, even being a NY band. Great solo by Ace, as per usual.
11. Mr. Speed - Another one that could easily be a Skynyrd outtake. Sing along melody and Ace busts out a phenomenal solo on this.
10. A Million To One - 2nd non-makeup tune & it's a doozy. Paul lets out some raw emotion on this one. Great melody with the help of Vinnie Vincent.
9. Sure Know Something (Unplugged) - So powerful in its acoustic form. The band really shines on vocals & Paul was SO good back then (lyric screw up non-withstanding).
8. Goin' Blind (Unplugged) - Take the creepy factor out of the lyrics (I'm 93, you're 16), this is a truly melodious tune. Gene sings his ass off on this one.
7. Thrills In The Night - Always loved the palm muted verse riff, leading into the gang chorus. Extremely underrated tune and often forgotten.
6. Deuce - Linked to a live show in '75, just to remind everyone that KISS was "dangerous" way back when. The song Ace auditioned on, with much of the off-the-cuff solo making its way to the final version.
5. Turn on the Night - Call me cheesy if you want, but I just LOVE the pick harmonics in the bridge. And Bruce's outro solo is pretty badass.
4. King of the Nighttime World - Driven by a great chord riff & Peter's staccato drumming, the melody is so outstanding. Written by Kim Fowley about some adult "actions" in an alley by the light of a car, KISS made it about getting away from commandeering parents & having a good time.
3. Who Wants To Be Lonely - Great riff, huge Eric Carr drums, what's not to like? Too high? Maybe, but it's my list...
2. Comin' Home (Unplugged) - I went unplugged here for the energy. Many might think this is too high, but I based this list on KISS songs I wouldn't turn off for fatigue factor, so this stays at #2.
1. Black Diamond (Alive I) - No brainer for me: Outstanding arpeggio opening, Paul's soft vocal leading into a bombastic riff, followed by Peter Criss' pure raspiness... Add to that the Ace guitar wizardry on the outro, you have yourself a classic EPIC tune.
I can literally guarantee this list will change by morning, possibly several times.
