Kiss – Best Of The Ritz On Fire 1988

Vinyl, LP, Unofficial Release, 180 Gram

This broadcast recording is unique for its time. This August 1988 appearance was Kiss' first club date for 15 years; the venue was The Ritz, then on East 11th Street, in New York City. The gig was arranged as a warm up for Kiss' appearance at the UK's world-renown Donnington Festival scheduled for a week later. So, superbly captured here - by local radio station WNEW - is a rare opportunity to hear this major stadium-level band at full-blast in a small capacity nightclub. The live set here draws material from across Kiss' entire career to date - from the eponymous debut album come no less than five mighty tracks: set opener Deuce, Cold Gin, Black Diamond, Firehouse and Strutter.

From 1975's 'Dressed To Kill' comes the perennial live favourite Rock And Roll All Nite. Shout It Out Loud and the closing Detroit Rock City are both from 1976's 'Destroyer'. There's a track apiece from 1976's 'Rock And Roll Over' and 1977's 'Love Gun': Calling Dr. Love and the title track respectively. Moving into the next decade, 'Creatures of the Night' is represented by War Machine and I Love It Loud; and 'Lick It Up' by Fits like a Glove and the title track. Heaven´s on Fire is drawn from 1984's 'Animalize'. Finally, the latest album released before this concert took place, 1987's 'Crazy Nights', contributes No No No, and Crazy Crazy Nights.