FIRST KISS FIRST LICKS

NB9001 Warner Bros. Radio Spot for Kiss First Album/(Live at the Wabx Kite-In and Balloon Fly April 7 1974, Detroit, Mi, Michigan Palace) Deuce/Strutter/She/Firehouse/Nothin’ to lose/Cold gin/100,000 years/ Black Diamond/Baby, Let me go

(Allison Steel the Nightbird First Interview with Kiss June 23 1974)

Featuring: Strutter/Deuce/Watchin’ you/Cold gin/Black Diamond (Original Demo Recording)

Not For The Innocent was one of The Godafther's finest releases and definitely the best KISS release since vinyl days (Egos At The Stake, anyone?). Now the Godfather returns with an all new vintage KISS release we get a master reel of a 1974 KISS concert. Back in those days KISS were frequent guests on live radio shows but so far only a truely excellent tape of this Detroit show has surfaced and we are in for a treat. This is KISS when they weren't a cover band of themselves and still had to earn the title THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD. Unfortunately once they earned this self proclaimed title things went downhill but that's another story. In ' 74 KISS was definitely the hottest band on the scene with Ace Frehley ripping like only Hendrix could, Peter Criss long before he released ballad cd's titled One For All and Gene and Paul still being two guys who wanted to make it BIG. In other words KISS is hungry here.

The tape used here is a copy of an analogue FM master that surfaced a while ago. Unfortunately that tape, aswell as many circulating versions, was recorded at the wrong speed. This version is corrected at the right pitch and combined with the great quality this makes another excellent KISS title by The Godfather. The sound is clear and full and has a great setlist of only klassics that to this very day still make up a big part of KISS's setlists with the exception of the "Baby, Let Me Go" song that would later evolve into "Let Me Go Rock And Roll" on the second album Hotter Than Hell from late '74.

The bonus is something special, besides the great radio spot for the first KISS album that opens the CD you get the very first radio interview the band did on Allison Steel's radioshow The Nightbird.. A great interview with an honest and open KISS who answer all questions politely but with the bravoure the band is still known for nowadays. As the original broadcast had album tracks in it the Godfather opted for a great alternative. They edited in the DEMO versions of the songs played off the first KISS demo from '73 produced by Eddie Kramer. These versions are remarkebly different and just as the interview and other material on this disc in GREAT quality!

To make this release another contender for the Hotwacks Top 10 over 2007 they threw in an excellent booklet as they did with Not For The Innocent! The booklet consists, just as the triple gatefold, of photos from the very first photosession KISS did in advance of the KISS album release aswell as a reprint of the original first album presskit!

First Kiss, First Licks is an excellent release so be sure to get one if you're into KISS or a collector of excellent bootlegs!