8 Kiss albums every vinyl lover should own

Love them or hate them, Kiss has earned its place as one of the most successful and influential rock bands ever. Their incredible stage shows, memorable image, and numerous hit songs have cemented their status as all-time greats – and with good reason.

Kiss exploded onto the New York City rock scene in the early 1970s, immediately grabbing attention with their incredibly energetic and theatrical live performances, even in small venues. Beyond their iconic look, early songs like “Strutter” and “Rock and Roll All Nite” quickly established Kiss as a band with huge potential and a path to stardom.

During the 1970s, Kiss became famous for their wild stage shows featuring fake blood, flaming guitars, and energetic rock songs. They stayed popular in the 1980s, even after famously removing their iconic black and white makeup and adapting to the glam metal sound of the era. Throughout the 1990s and beyond, Kiss continued to thrive, thanks to their incredibly loyal fans.

Kiss albums you need in your record collection

Over the years, the band has consistently released successful albums, earning them 14 platinum and 30 gold certifications from the RIAA – more gold albums than any other American rock band.

Okay, so Kiss has put out a lot of great albums over the years. As a vinyl collector, I can tell you there are definitely some you need to have. Whether you’re a long-time Kiss fan – part of the Kiss Army, maybe? – or you just dig tracks like “Detroit Rock City,” here’s what I think are the essential Kiss records for any collection.

Kiss (1974)

Kiss is a standout debut rock album that immediately showcased the band’s energetic songwriting and powerful guitar riffs. Blending elements of glam rock with hard rock, it’s considered one of Kiss’s finest works and a must-have for collectors.

Kiss is considered a classic album and features some of the band’s biggest hits, including “Strutter,” “Cold Gin,” and the memorable ballad “Black Diamond.” With their debut album, Kiss immediately established themselves as a force in music.

Hotter Than Hell (1974)

Many rock bands start strong with their first album, but struggle to maintain that energy in later releases. Kiss, however, didn’t follow this pattern. Their second album, Hotter Than Hell, was even more intense, featuring powerful songs like “Parasite,” “Hotter Than Hell,” and “Let Me Go, Rock ‘n’ Roll,” which are among the band’s most hard-rocking tracks.

Compared to their first album, Hotter Than Hell had a rougher, more intense sound and explored more challenging themes. Much of this heavier sound came from the guitar work of the late Ace Frehley, particularly on songs like “Parasite” and “Strange Ways,” which added to the album’s energetic feel.

Dressed To Kill (1975)

With Dressed To Kill, Kiss completed the impressive run of their first three albums. While “Rock and Roll All Nite” – arguably their signature song – initially draws listeners in, tracks like “Rock Bottom,” “C’mon and Love Me,” and “She” are the songs that make fans keep coming back for more.

Even casual fans will appreciate Dressed to Kill, and its famous cover art makes it a standout album. Plus, it’s relatively easy to find in record stores, making it a great choice to add to your vinyl collection.

Alive! (1975)

Even before their 1975 live album Alive!, Kiss was known for its energetic concerts and skilled musicianship. But Alive! truly set them apart, revolutionizing the way live albums were made.

After releasing their first three albums, the band Kiss began having problems with their record label, Casablanca. Although the albums sold well, even loyal fans felt the band’s live performances sounded much better – a quality that was hard to replicate in the studio.

Kiss was facing pressure from fans and their record label, so they released Alive!, a live album compiled from recordings of their Dressed To Kill Tour. This album was a turning point, rescuing both Kiss and the band Casablanca, and it’s now celebrated as a rock classic. Kiss continued the series with Alive II in 1977 and Alive III in 1993.

Many iconic musicians, including Kim Thayil and Charlie Benante, have said that Alive! was their first exposure to rock and metal. The album remains highly acclaimed for its powerful and energetic sound, and it’s something you really need to experience for yourself to understand its impact.

Destroyer (1976)

You don’t need to be a Kiss expert to remember the striking comic book cover of their album, Destroyer. Following Alive!, Destroyer was the album that truly made Kiss famous. It sounded more polished and mature than their earlier work, marking a turning point in their career and solidifying their place in mainstream rock.

The album is famous for its powerful, energetic tracks like “Detroit Rock City,” “God Of Thunder,” and “Shout It Out Loud.” However, the tender ballad “Beth,” sung by drummer Peter Criss, adds a different dimension. While Destroyer showed a bit of a change in the band’s sound, it definitely helped establish them as one of the greats.

Love Gun (1977)

By the time Kiss released their sixth album, Love Gun, they were at the peak of their popularity – a fact that likely annoyed critic Lester Bangs. The album features some of their most iconic songs, like “I Stole Your Love” and “Shock Me,” and the powerful title track is enough to make it one of Kiss’s greatest achievements.

This album marks a first for the band – every member sings lead on at least one track. It’s also their first album to reach the top 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Animalize (1984)

When the 1980s began, Kiss made a surprising decision: they stopped wearing their iconic makeup. For the first time, fans could see the real faces of the band members and learn who they truly were.

Kiss didn’t just change their appearance; their music evolved too, moving from hard rock to the popular glam metal sound of the 1980s. They faced some challenges with their albums in the late ’70s and early ’80s, but things started to improve with Lick It Up in 1983 – the first album where they didn’t wear makeup. However, it was Animalize that really marked their full comeback.

The album Animalize helped Kiss create some of their most famous songs, like “Thrills In The Night” and “Heaven’s On Fire,” and marked a shift towards a heavier, more metal sound. True to its name, the album’s songs were raw, energetic, and untamed. Animalize brought Kiss a lot of success, boosted by the growing popularity of MTV.

Overall, Animalize is one of Kiss’s strongest albums from the 1980s. Interestingly, it’s usually the first Kiss vinyl you’ll come across when you’re record shopping.

Asylum (1985)

Following Animalize, Asylum is considered one of Kiss’s strongest albums from the period when they weren’t wearing makeup. Like its predecessor, Asylum continued the band’s exploration of glam metal and features many of their most popular songs from the 1980s.

From energetic songs like “Uh! All Night” and “Love’s A Deadly Weapon” to powerful ballads like “Tears Are Falling” and “Who Wants To Be Lonely,” the album Asylum is full of hard-hitting tracks. Kiss also demonstrated their ability to stay popular after the 1970s, as many of the album’s music videos received significant airplay on MTV.

2025-11-07 14:01