Kiss 40

Kiss 40
Greatest hits album by Kiss
Released	May 23, 2014
Recorded	1973–2013
Genre	Hard rock
Length	02:31:07
Label	Universal Music Group
Producer	Various
Kiss chronology
Monster (2012) Kiss 40 (2014)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Kiss 40 is a compilation released by Kiss to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band.^[2]

Information

The album contains one track from every album the band have released over their 40 year career including live albums, the 1978 solo albums, as well as songs from compilations, the three instant live albums, which are commercially available for the first time and one unreleased song ("Reputation").^[3]

The album is the first released by the band since their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.^[4]

A limited edition Best Buy exclusive version was released that comes with a T-shirt.^[5]

The Japanese edition features an exclusive track "Hell or Hallelujah (Live at Budokan 2013)".^[6]

Reception

Reception for the album has been mostly positive. In David Jeffries' review for AllMusic, he praised the album for being "filled with classics and desirable extras" but questioned the album's "odd one song-per-album rule" before finishing the review by commenting that "this is a triumph of format and the band's longevity, but not necessarily a knockout introduction".

Track listing

Chart performance

Personnel

• Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar(Disc 1, tracks 1-5, 7-11, 15-22; Disc 2), lead vocals, (Disc 1, tracks 3, 5, 10-11, 15-17, 20-22; Disc 2 tracks 1-5, 7-12, 14, 16-18), acoustic guitar (Disc 2, track 7)
• Ace Frehley – lead guitar(Disc 1, tracks 1-5, 7-11, 14, 16-18; Disc 2, tracks 10-11, 14), lead vocals, (Disc 1, track 14), acoustic guitar (Disc 1 track 18)
• Gene Simmons – bass guitar(Disc 1, tracks 1-5, 7-11, 13, 16-22; Disc 2), lead vocals, (Disc 1, tracks 1-2, 4, 8-10, 13, 18-19; Disc 2 tracks 5-6, 13, 15), acoustic bass (Disc 2, track 7)
• Peter Criss – drums(Disc 1, tracks 1-5, 7-12, 16-17; Disc 2, tracks 11-12, 15), lead vocals, (Disc 1, tracks 6-7, 12)
• Eric Carr – drums, vocals, (Disc 1, tracks 18-22; Disc 2, tracks 1-4)
• Vinnie Vincent – lead guitar, vocals, (Disc 1, track 19 and track 21)
• Mark St. John – lead guitar, (Disc 1, track 22)
• Bruce Kulick – lead guitar, backing vocals, (Disc 2, tracks 1-9), acoustic guitar (Disc 2, track 7)
• Eric Singer – drums, backing vocals, (Disc 2, tracks 5-9, 13, 15-19)
• Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, backing vocals, (Disc 2, tracks 10, 12-13, 15-19)

with

• Bob Kulick - lead guitar (Disc 1, track 20)
• Bob Ezrin - piano (Disc 1, track 6)
• Dick Wagner - acoustic guitar (Disc 1, track 6)
• Kevin Valentine - drums (Disc 2, track 10)

References