August 11, 2015 Playlist

"Hotter Than Hell" by KISS (1974)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
KISS  "Hotter Than Hell"  1974 (USA)
Glam rock was a major movement in the early 1970's, having been pioneered by The Rolling Stones in the late 1960's. While the most revered glam rockers adopted a distinctly androgynous appeal (Bowie, Lou Reed, Marc Bolan, New York Dolls), there was also a strain of "macho glam" pioneered by British boot enthusiasts Slade (and perhaps Sweet, though I prefer to think of that group as "heavy bubblegum"). Macho glam reached its ultimate pinnacle with the kabuki space clown metal known as KISS, a group whose legendary penchant for spectacle and branding  could fill volumes. A well-established corporate entity for 40 years now, back in 1974 KISS was a struggling novelty group trying to climb up from the hard rock ghetto. Hotter Than Hell was not the album that helped them break out, in fact it sold less than their debut album from the previous year; the breakout would come in '75 with the double album concert document ALIVE! The sound of this album could be called"heavy", but "murky" is perhaps an even better descriptor. Yet buried beneath the clonking drums, belching guitars and croaking macho space clown harmonizing, there is actually a batch of fine tunes here, including riffy masterpieces like "Parasite", "Got To Choose" and the titular track. Indeed with the fullness of time, many KISS fans have come to see it as one of their most classic albums.
(N) = New Release
 
Artist Song Album Year Country
Iron ButterflyIn The Time Of Our LivesBall1969
USA
SpiritNew Dope In TownClear1969
USA
Built To Spill On The WayUntethered Moon (N)2015 (Warner Bros)USA
The Space Merchants Good Day To DieThe Space Merchants (N)2015 (Aqualamb)USA
 
 
Bearhug BorderlinesSo Gone (N)2015 (Spunk)Australia
Death You Are What You ThinkN.E.W. (N)2015 (Tryangle/Drag City)USA
Thee Oh Sees Turned Out LightMutilator Defeated At Last (N)2015 (Castle Face)USA
Damaged Bug The MirrorCold Hot Plumbs (N)2015 (Castle Face)USA
Black Mountain Set Us FreeBlack Mountain (N - reissue)2005 (2015 Jagjaguar)Canada
   
 
RushPanaceaCaress Of Steel1975
Canada
Judas PriestEpitaphSad Wings Of Destiny1976
UK
Uriah HeepCitcle Of HandsDemons And Wizards1972
UK
   
 
KISSGot To ChooseHotter Than Hell
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1974
USA
KISSParasiteHotter Than Hell
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1974
USA
MelvinsGoing Blind (KISS)Houdini 1993
USA
KISSHotter Than HellHotter Than Hell
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1974
USA
KISSFirehouse (live)Alive! 1975
USA
SladeGet Down With It (live)Alive! 1972
UK
   
 
DustChasin' LadiesDust1971
USA
Sir Lord BaltimoreHell HoundKingdom Come1970
USA
Blue Oyster CultHot Rails To HellTyranny And Mutation1973
USA
Twisted SisterBurn In HellStay Hungry1984
USA
Spinal TapHell HoleThis Is Spinal Tap (original soundtrack)1984
"UK" (USA)
Black SabbathFaeries Wear BootsParanoid1970
UK
 
  
BloodrockKool-Aid KidsBloodrock 31971
USA
AortaStrangeAorta1969
USA
Ted Nugent & The Amboy DukesBrain Games Of YesteryearMarriage On The Rocks - Rock Bottom1970
USA
FrostMaybe TomorrowThrough The Eyes Of Love1970
USA
Black PearlEndless JourneyBlack Pearl1969
USA
 
  
The FlockStore Bought, Store ThoughtThe Flock1969
USA
MaduraRealization / Man's Rebirth Through Childbirth, parts I & IIMadura1971
USA
ChicagoThe Aproaching Storm / Man vs. Man: The EndChicago III1971
USA
 
  
BudgieThe AuthorBudgie1971
UK (Wales)
      
   
   
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