Great album, love the pairing with Texas Chainsaw Massacre, that was cool. It's really strange to go back and listen to these after not hearing them for 25 years. I remember lyrics I didn't know I knew, and i understand things now that I didn't back then. I'm hearing so many things I didn't notice and songs that I didn't care for back then are a lot better than I thought.
I appreciate Kiss more now than when I was younger. Parasite and Watchin’ You are my favorite song on this album, but I wish the sound quality was better. It sounds like an amateur recording. Another very good album from 1974. The early 70s produced some great music. Thx for the great coverage Jeff.
Love your username and agree with the sentiment - This is the best song on the album, especially in the intro, which on KISS Unplugged, sounded, funnily enough, like it was played with an irish instrument. It's just how it grabs me.
Love this album too! The production is different than the debut but it’s just as good…probably a little heavier. KISS had the songs to back up the image. Parasite and Goin’ Blind rule. I wish I saw them live during this period. Wow, another great video, brother🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻
I've just now found out about the video, but I'll watch it this evening. I will say for now that GOT TO CHOOSE is just about the best way to open an album
My first and easily my favorite Kiss album. Forever burned in my memory is my 10 year old self headbanging to Parasite and destroying my bedroom the first time I ever put the record on.
From this video, we are on the same page when it comes to this album! Yes, the production isn’t stellar. But, that’s part of the charm. The deep cuts on this album are beyond awesome! Strange Ways has to be their most underrated song in their whole arsenal. Also, beyond the music, that cover! In 2000, I got a tattoo on my leg of the mask on the back cover. Great video Jeff! Best one yet!!!
I just really love early KISS up to Destroyer - mid-period, from then til The Elder is decent, has its decent moments, the rest of their career pretty much numbs me out.
Lol I love some of your comments here! Especially on “Comin’ Home”😂. But I am totally on board on the greatness of this album. Like yourself, I prefer it over the debut. I’ve said for years what you are saying about people just putting aside their prejudices because of Kiss’ image and just listen to the songs on the first three albums. Classic! Peter was a great singer. Especially when he could just belt it out as opposed to following a melody. He wasn’t really much of a songwriter but his vocals were extremely important in early Kiss. I love the early color footage in here. Man I have never watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre all the way through because I hate the gross feel of it. I like spooky, not gore. Excellent and fun video here Jeff!
Thanks Gary! In a lesser band Peter Criss would have been lead vocalist without question. Texas Chainsaw has always unsettled me but I couldn’t resist since it was released the same year as HTH. 😀
Another great deep dive Jeff loving the old footage really cool Hotter than hell is a classic Kiss went in a harder direction with this record Parasite is a ripper it's been a while since I've heard it hell ya 🤘
@@jeffwhitchervinyldestinati4486 Funny thing about that is I feel Hotter than Hell is more a debut album than their actual debut. The muddier production. Less poppier. Would make more sense that way because the songs on the real debut are much catchier and poppier. Should’ve been the album before Dressed to Kill lol imho.
When you hear ALIVE! first then stumble upon HOTTER THAN HELL, chances are you won't like it as much. I know I sure didn't. The thing for me that spoils the listening experience is the way the drums were recorded. Especially the snare. I don't know what they were trying to achieve. Kenny Kerner tried to explain what happened in the KISS ALBUM FOCUS book but it was futile. Peter even recorded a 7 minute drum solo for STRANGE WAYS but after Peter went home the producers cut it. This led to the century old feud between Peter and Gene. But in a way, had the solo stayed, it would have sounded like shit due to the engineering. Super presentation Jeff!
@@jeffwhitchervinyldestinati4486 That's what drew me in, the early menacing look. There's a great out-take shot for the cover session of the first album which I think should've been chosen for the final release. Gene reminds me of a mad dog about to attack - laughing about it first, then zeroing in and doing his damage.
"Got to Choose" is a great song. Im surprised that it didn't get played in concert more. Love Ace's solo on it! I mean, its got "Parasite," "Strange Ways," "Hotter than Hell"...the whole album is great. By yes, the production is absolutely lacking. Its too bad that Eddie Kramer or Michael James Jackson didn't produce it. I rank this higher than "Dressed to Kill," the first record and even "Destroyer," which is too cutesy and not heavy enough for my taste
Great album, love the pairing with Texas Chainsaw Massacre, that was cool. It's really strange to go back and listen to these after not hearing them for 25 years. I remember lyrics I didn't know I knew, and i understand things now that I didn't back then. I'm hearing so many things I didn't notice and songs that I didn't care for back then are a lot better than I thought.
I appreciate Kiss more now than when I was younger. Parasite and Watchin’ You are my favorite song on this album, but I wish the sound quality was better. It sounds like an amateur recording. Another very good album from 1974. The early 70s produced some great music. Thx for the great coverage Jeff.
I can never forgive them for the HTH production. Would love it to have the production value of RARO or even DTK.
Agreed.
. A remixed remaster
My favorite Kiss album and I love the production, raw and heavy. Parasite, Strange Ways and Goin' Blind are my favorite songs of theirs.
Got to choose probably the best song on album.It’s really a great album.Lots of history with album cover,a party
Love your username and agree with the sentiment - This is the best song on the album, especially in the intro, which on KISS Unplugged, sounded, funnily enough, like it was played with an irish instrument. It's just how it grabs me.
Fantastic Job here Jeff!
“Watchin You” over the years has grown on me BIG TIME! Love that song, fantastic album! Awesome review! 🤘🏻
Thanks! This album kicks some serious ass. 🤟🏻🤟🏻
Love this album too! The production is different than the debut but it’s just as good…probably a little heavier. KISS had the songs to back up the image. Parasite and Goin’ Blind rule. I wish I saw them live during this period. Wow, another great video, brother🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻
Thank you bro! It’s another greatest hits!
I've just now found out about the video, but I'll watch it this evening. I will say for now that GOT TO CHOOSE is just about the best way to open an album
My first and easily my favorite Kiss album. Forever burned in my memory is my 10 year old self headbanging to Parasite and destroying my bedroom the first time I ever put the record on.
Haha! I bet your parents were thrilled. It’s tough to name a better album than this one.
From this video, we are on the same page when it comes to this album! Yes, the production isn’t stellar. But, that’s part of the charm. The deep cuts on this album are beyond awesome! Strange Ways has to be their most underrated song in their whole arsenal. Also, beyond the music, that cover! In 2000, I got a tattoo on my leg of the mask on the back cover. Great video Jeff! Best one yet!!!
That’s awesome Trevor! Might be my favorite Kiss cover. This album was such a step forward in my opinion. Despite what Ace thinks.
Hotter than hell to me is one of kisses more raw sounding albums ever very dark actually it is one of my favorite albums from KI⚡⚡👍🥁🥁
It’s a classic!
@@jeffwhitchervinyldestinati4486 that it definitely is 🥁🥁💯
Love this album
"Hey Curly!"
..parasite lady..parasite eye..parasite lady..no need to cry.. :)
"Hotter Than Hell" may have a lame chorus, but they fixed it with "Rip And Destroy". 😄
Yes!
I just really love early KISS up to Destroyer - mid-period, from then til The Elder is decent, has its decent moments, the rest of their career pretty much numbs me out.
Yeah they kind of lost me when Peter and Ace left.
Lol I love some of your comments here! Especially on “Comin’ Home”😂. But I am totally on board on the greatness of this album. Like yourself, I prefer it over the debut. I’ve said for years what you are saying about people just putting aside their prejudices because of Kiss’ image and just listen to the songs on the first three albums. Classic! Peter was a great singer. Especially when he could just belt it out as opposed to following a melody. He wasn’t really much of a songwriter but his vocals were extremely important in early Kiss. I love the early color footage in here. Man I have never watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre all the way through because I hate the gross feel of it. I like spooky, not gore. Excellent and fun video here Jeff!
Thanks Gary! In a lesser band Peter Criss would have been lead vocalist without question. Texas Chainsaw has always unsettled me but I couldn’t resist since it was released the same year as HTH. 😀
Another great deep dive Jeff loving the old footage really cool Hotter than hell is a classic Kiss went in a harder direction with this record Parasite is a ripper it's been a while since I've heard it hell ya 🤘
Thanks Mark!
Awesome video brother 👍🤘🤘
Thank you brother
This was a good KiSs album. Early Kiss, best Kiss....imo...🍁
Agreed!
Awesome 👏
Thank you brother!
Love this footage
By far the best Kiss album imo. Wished they would’ve stayed in this vein. But they wised up…
They sold out, so to speak. 🙂
@@jeffwhitchervinyldestinati4486
Funny thing about that is I feel Hotter than Hell is more a debut album than their actual debut. The muddier production. Less poppier. Would make more sense that way because the songs on the real debut are much catchier and poppier. Should’ve been the album before Dressed to Kill lol imho.
When you hear ALIVE! first then stumble upon HOTTER THAN HELL, chances are you won't like it as much. I know I sure didn't. The thing for me that spoils the listening experience is the way the drums were recorded. Especially the snare. I don't know what they were trying to achieve. Kenny Kerner tried to explain what happened in the KISS ALBUM FOCUS book but it was futile. Peter even recorded a 7 minute drum solo for STRANGE WAYS but after Peter went home the producers cut it. This led to the century old feud between Peter and Gene. But in a way, had the solo stayed, it would have sounded like shit due to the engineering.
Super presentation Jeff!
Thanks George! Peter had every right to be upset about his solo being cut but you are right about the mixing of the drums.
My favorite era of the band as they looked scary, especially Gene. This is before they turned into Kiddie KISS.
Agreed, they looked more menacing than cartoonish at this stage.
@@jeffwhitchervinyldestinati4486 That's what drew me in, the early menacing look. There's a great out-take shot for the cover session of the first album which I think should've been chosen for the final release. Gene reminds me of a mad dog about to attack - laughing about it first, then zeroing in and doing his damage.
I love all these songs parasite is prob my favorite
That song rules
I loved this video
Thank you bro
Great review Jeff, and I agree with you about this album.....
Thanks!
love this but why th Texas Chainsaw scene? Loved it though,
Btw great movie and i am now watching it, Horns up sir.
Chainsaw was released the same year as this album.
"Got to Choose" is a great song. Im surprised that it didn't get played in concert more. Love Ace's solo on it! I mean, its got "Parasite," "Strange Ways," "Hotter than Hell"...the whole album is great. By yes, the production is absolutely lacking. Its too bad that Eddie Kramer or Michael James Jackson didn't produce it. I rank this higher than "Dressed to Kill," the first record and even "Destroyer," which is too cutesy and not heavy enough for my taste