By 1975, KISS were facing near exctinction. While they built up a good following in the live circuit, their albums failed to sell big numbers. They just couldn't translate exactly what made them so hot live. The idea was then to record a live album. Essentially four sides of KISS' then most well known songs "live". The band recorded multiple shows including ones in Detroit and Cleveland for what would be at the time, their biggest album.
The album boasted mostly the best of the best from the first three releases including incredible renditions of songs like "Black Diamond", "Hotter Than Hell" and even a killer extended version of "100,000 years". This would also produce their first hit, the live rendition of "rock n roll all nite" which is the version that is played on every classic rock station. The songs especially from "Dressed To Kill" sound alot better here with alot more power behind them. The production, though dubbed to enhance the experience and tighten up live mess ups, still leaves enough to believe that this is what a perfect 70s KISS show may have sounded like.
Overall, this album I give an 8.5 out of 10. Theres a few songs I wouldve loved here in place of others but this album is really what made the double live album a huge deal. It essentially spawned the idea that when you record one, youve made it. Thin Lizzy, UFO, Cheap Trick and plenty of others would make major career highlights with this format and for KISS really did pioneer it for hard rock and heavy metal going forward.
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