You Wanted the Best of the Best, You Got The Best of the Best…… The Hottest Best of List in World…KISS!
In August 2025, I decided to write and release a best of KISS list for this column to release around Halloween. The idea was to reconnect with my childhood roots and those of many KISS fans, and release the article as a sort of homage to KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park. However, with the recent passing of Ace Frehley, I altered plans. This ended up being one of the most difficult articles I have written, right there with Ozzy and DIO.
Four guys from New York City. It sounds like the start of a mob movie, or a recap of my adolescent years in Queens, but in reality, it is the foundation to some of the most magical music ever created.
Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss, came together in 1973 and played local venues throughout New York City, with one of those shows being at a venue I would frequent when leaving the Underground Rehearsal studio in Woodside on 51st Avenue, during my carefree time pursuing playing live music. It would be while playing those small venues to next to no audience, with empty amplifier cabinets and varying makeup designs, that Ace, Gene, Paul and Peter would come up with a magical formula that captivated millions throughout the world from 1974 through the end of 1979, and carryon now 52 years later. There have been debates about how original KISS was with their music and live shows, who they took inspiration from, etc. Elements from Slade, Alice Cooper, The New York Dolls, The Who, all show in what KISS presented. However, nobody did it as well as KISS. Those acts may have originated certain aspects, but KISS perfected them. It was the original four that laid an unbreakable foundation for all the “Kisstory” to come.
My past lists have had an honorable mentions section and have had a shorter number of songs on those lists. With the amount of music released by KISS over the past 51 years, cutting the list down to twenty songs was difficult, especially since I did not want this to be a recreation of Double Platinum, any other KISS greatest hits list, or a list dominated by favorite songs over best songs. This list is my compilation of the best songs from KISS across their entire studio catalog. This is not a favorite songs list. Many of my favorite KISS songs are not on this list. These are the songs that are their best from each decade the band mesmerized fans. So without further buildup, let’s all go rock and roll, as Symptom of the Metalverse presents….
You Wanted the Best of the Best! You Got the Best of the Best! The top 20 Best songs of all time from KISS!
Listen along on Spotify with the Hottest List in the World Playlist here!
20- “Modern Day Delilah”- Album: Sonic Boom, released 2009. The best offering from KISS since Revenge, and arguably since Creatures of the Night, Sonic Boom is the first release from the longest-running version of KISS, the Gene, Paul, Eric and Tommy version. For nineteen years, this version of KISS played around the world, releasing two studio albums and some live material. “Modern Day Delilah” is Paul Stanley going back to writing music in the classic KISS lineup style.
19- “Turn on the Night”- Album: Crazy Nights, released 1987. Off what some have argued as KISS's worst record, primarily because of the glam-rock tones of the music, we have what I consider the epitome of the non-makeup era of KISS. If this song or “Crazy, Crazy Nights” had been released in the seventies, we could very well be screaming along to them instead of “Shout It Out Loud or “Rock and Roll All Nite.”
18- “Tears Are Falling”- Album: Asylum, released 1985. The debut album of guitarist Bruce Kulick gives us a simple, but effective guitar riff. Paul’s voice sounds Destroyer era, but after he took vocal lessons, and the bands eighties harmonizing is at it’s signature peek.
17- “Let’s Put the X in Sex”- Album: Smashes, Thrashes & Hits, released 1988. One of the two new tracks on this greatest its compilation from KISS, written by Paul Stanley and Desmond Child, the song is a tongue licking the cheek of KISS sexual innuendo. A fun party romp full of KISS-a-licious goodness.
16- “Unholy”- Album: Revenge, released 1992. Written by Gene Simmons and Vinnie Vincent, the song marks the return of Gene connecting with his Demon persona and is one of the heaviest songs in the KISS library. This song puts a dagger in the heart of KISS pop-style glam-rock days.
15- “Calling Doctor Love”- Album: Rock and Roll Over, released 1976. A classic from the original four. This song is to Gene what “Love Gun” is to Paul Stanley.
14- “C’Mon and Love Me”- Album: Dressed to Kill, released 1975. One of the catchiest riffs from KISS and second release off the album, Paul put together a song boasting the sexual tones, pop hooks, and melodic riffs that would help to define KISS sound.
13- “Parasite”- Album: Hotter Than Hell, released 1974. Written entirely by Ace in a rehearsal studio in 1974, the song boast a heavy riff with strong lyrics about toxic relationships and being released from them. I remember learning to play this song on guitar, and thought about how cool it would be to do live, since most the people I knew at the time would not expect a KISS deep cut from my arsenal at the time.
12- “Black Diamond”- Album: KISS, released 1974. From the album that started it all, Peter Criss takes the vocal lead on this KISS cornerstone. A tragic tale about a woman who seemingly is a street worker making a living, fighting through the struggles of society and her own madness. The most dramatic piece KISS created, and their best show closer. Ace solo slices through the song with captivating precision.
11- “Psycho Circus”- Album: Psycho Circus, released 1998. The 1996 reunion of KISS brought us all an amazing tour and subsequent release of new material that was supposed to feature Peter Criss and Ace Frehley joining back up with Gene and Paul. However, Peter and Ace did not play on the album (with the one exception for Ace, who is on the song “Into the Void”). The reason they are not on the album can be found out through numerous interviews with Ace and Peter, but for this article, Ace said he was not asked to be on the album. Tommy Thayer stepped into the lead guitarist role here, and working with Paul and Gene, created a modern KISS classic. The only song that really stands out on the record in my opinion. That said, this is a killer classic KISS song that connects with the KISS Army deserving of a place on this list.
10- “Forever”- Album: Hot in the Shade, released 1989. Michael Bolton, that’s right, Mr. “How Can We Be Lovers if We Can’t Be Friends”, co-wrote what is arguably KISS best ballad, yes, better than “Beth.” The song is a heartfelt classic that resonates with men, women, Metalheads and pop-style fans.
9- “I Stole Your Love”- Album: Love Gun, released 1977. Classic Paul lyrics and KISS riffs that came together when Paul felt the band needed a new show opener that said, ‘You wanted the best? This is where it starts!” This is a true rockin’ and rollin’ song that grabs the crowd's attention. One of my personal favorites.
8- “Mr. Speed”- Album: Rock and Roll Over, released 1976. Coming from KISS's second record release of the year and returning them to a more unpolished sound after releasing the very studio-polished Destroyer, this song goes under the radar for those not initiated into the Kiss-Army. A killer deep-cut track with a swing-boogie tempo. Great lyrics, chorus, and guitars.
7- “Creatures of the Night” -Album: Creatures of the Night, released 1982. Though his face is on the album cover and he appears in a music video and on promotional interviews, Ace Frehley does not play a note on the record. The song and album brought KISS back to hard rock sounds after the disco-dominated Dynasty, establishing that the band still had it to create heavier music. I put the album among the top five best KISS records of all time.
6- “I Love it Loud”- Album: Creatures of the Nigh, released 1982. We return to Creatures with Eric Carr starting the biggest hit off the album with a drum beat just about as iconic as that laid down by Bill Ward for Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” or Peter Criss’s opening drum beat for “Rock and Roll All Nite.” Gene comes in with lyrics and energy with “God of Thunder” roots, and Vinny Vincent heavy guitar riffs helped to create a rebellious anthem for my generation that we all still pump fist along with to this day.
5- “I Was Made for Lovin’ You”- Album: Dynasty, released 1979. The disco KISS record that had quite a few fans walk away from their enlistment in the Kiss-Army, while reaching a new audience because of the genre crossover. Paul Stanley wanted to see if he could write a disco song while keeping it within the KISS creative themes. He did it because the song works on the dance floor as well as live on stage, where it takes on more of a rock energy. And for the record, Dynasty had the best-sounding production quality of all the KISS records between ‘74-’79. Fight me!
4- “Love Gun”- Album: Love Gun, released 1977. This is the ultimate Paul Stanley anthem. The song is hard-hitting, bold, raunchy, advertently heavy on sexual innuendo, and equally killer on the studio album as much as live on stage. The solo Ace laid down for the song is one of his most iconic.
3- “Deuce”- Album: KISS, released 1974. One of the earliest songs Gene Simmons wrote, actually predating KISS, the song is about absolutely nothing. Just ask Gene. The lyrical context is ambiguous, taking on different meanings for different listeners. Ace’s guitar solo for “Deuce” inspired me to learn how to play leads.
2- “Detroit Rock City”- Album: Destroyer, released 1976. Arguably KISS's best song of all time, and it could be swapped out with the forthcoming number one song. The song is a great story about a youth heading to see KISS playing in Detroit and dying in a horrible car accident on his way to the show. The song also sports one of the most iconic guitar solos in music history. (I do not care that Ace did not write the solo, or how easy it is to play. It is an all time classic.)
1- “Rock and Roll All Nite”- Album: Dressed to Kill, released 1975. This one is not much of a surprise, but like I said, it could be swapped into the number two slot without me having any complaints. The reason it is number one is simple though. It is the greatest rock anthem of all time. It is arguably the most identifiable rock song in history, and the greatest show-closing song to ever send fans home happy.
We are the Creatures of the Night. Forever we Shout it Out Loud while Makin’ Love through Tomorrow and Tonight. Dressed to Kill, we drink Cold Gin to cool the Love Gun. We took The Oath, with Nothin’ to Loose, and 100,000 Years to shine on, the Black Diamonds who made it through the Psycho Circus to Dance All Over Your Face in this Rock and Roll Hell. That’s right, All Hell’s Breakin’ Lose in Detroit Rock City and the War Machine is Comin’ Home, so you Got to Choose… can you let us go rock and roll, or do you love us enough to get into the New York Groove, feel the Magic Touch of our Charisma and Rock and Roll All Nite, then party every day? God Gave Rock and Roll to You, so don’t hit Rock Bottom, Turn Up the Night and join the Rock n Roll Party!
Thank you Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss and the late, great, Ace Frehley, who created a Magick among the four of them that lasted our lifetime and beyond. Thank you to the late, great Eric Carr, Vinny Vincent, Bruce Kulick, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer, for keeping the music thriving over the past forty-five years along side Paul and Gene.
In Memory of Paul Daniel Frehley
Saturday, October 28th, 1978, Queens NY. With the excitement of having his father visiting, a young boy got an extra treat that night. Being allowed to stay up with his dad and watch the NBC movie, KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park. WOW! Music guys with cool makeup and superpowers! Yeah, I was mesmerized by KISS on the TV screen, initially by the look, then by the music, but most of all, by the Space Ace. Everything about Ace was cool, and it was during the movie that I first wanted to be a guitar player, just because the coolest guy in KISS was playing guitar… and he could teleport.
Saturday, October 28th, 1978, Queens NY. With the excitement of having his father visiting, a young boy got an extra treat that night. Being allowed to stay up with his dad and watch the NBC movie, KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park. WOW! Music guys with cool makeup and superpowers! Yeah, I was mesmerized by KISS on the TV screen, initially by the look, then by the music, but most of all, by the Space Ace. Everything about Ace was cool, and it was during the movie that I first wanted to be a guitar player, just because the coolest guy in KISS was playing guitar… and he could teleport.
Throughout my childhood, into my early adult years, and right up to the KISS reunion in nineteen-ninety-six, Ace Frehley was still my favorite part of KISS. His solo work kicked ass (his solo music was better than KISS music in the eighties, fight me!) and when I heard about the reunion with Peter, Paul and Gene, the kid who watched Phantom of the Park was excited again. So on December 29th, 1996, when I stood on the floor of the Nassau Coliseum for the Alive Worldwide tour, and saw Ace playing his solos, I was not the man who had entered the arena, but that young boy again, now seeing the coolest guitar player weave his Magick on the axe. “Ack!!!”
Without his joining Peter, Paul and Gene, the magic we all love today would never have happened in nineteen-seventy-three. While others were playing music already made by others, Ace wrote his own songs that inspired generations to come. Myself included. Tonight, as I look to the stars, I thank you, Space Ace, for being one of the fondest memories of my childhood. And for opening my guitar playing beyond the Black Sabbath I played. You’re legacy lives on….
Among the Stars
The Space Ace Ten Best Songs
No reason for banter and drawn out thoughts on the music. These songs are all killer and embody the talent Ace Frehley brought to this world. You want to introduce new listeners to the Space Ace, here are the songs for the task.
10- “10,000 Volts”- Album: 10,000 Volts, released 2024.
9- “Snowblind”- Album: Ace Frehley, released 1978.
8- “Rip it Out”- Album: Ace Frehley, released 1978.
7- “Hide Your Heart” Album, Trouble Walkin’, released 1989.
6- “Pain in the Neck”- Album: Anamaly, released 2009.
5- “Do Ya”- Album: Trouble Walkin’, released 1989.
4- “Trouble Walkin’- Album: Trouble Walkin’, released 1989.
3- “Speedin’ Back to My Baby”- Album: Ace Frehley, released 1978.
2- “Rock Soldiers”- Album: Frehley’s Comet, released 1987.
1- “Into the Night”- Album: Frehley’s Comet, released 1987.
Thank you Ace! Rest in Peace!
You have just read the greatest KISS list of all time. Or did you? Share your Best of KISS list with us here in the comments! We want to hear from you! Speak on it it and let’s see if a combine KISS-Army list can topple what Boris Lee laid down here!
Boris Lee is an American author of award-nominated horror fiction and a music columnist. His work has appeared in HellBound Books, Morbidly Beautiful, and Metal Babe Mayhem. His dark storytelling and creative ventures, including fronting the band Boris & The Horribles, captivate audiences across literature, music, and the arts. Currently Lee lives in Southern California where he is summoning new characters and tales to be told.
For more about Boris Lee, check out his website here: Boris Lee
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