Kiss – Madison Square Garden 1977 (2016) – Album Review (The Kiss Bootleg Series)

I have been doing a Kiss Bootleg Series for years. You get a review every time I add a new one to the collection. Well, after buying 38 Bootleg CDs from John Humphrey’s personal collection,… More

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Kiss – Madison Square Garden 1977 (2016) – Album Review (The Kiss Bootleg Series)

I have been doing a Kiss Bootleg Series for years. You get a review every time I add a new one to the collection. Well, after buying 38 Bootleg CDs from John Humphrey’s personal collection, I figured let’s jump right back in and do a whole lot of reviews on the Bootlegs. Oh, if you don’t know who John Humphrey is, you need to know he is a massive Kiss collector. And he is the drummer of the band Seether. John decided to sell off his entire collection…sort of…he kept all the vinyl (like 4,000 of them). He did it through an auction at Backstage Auctions and I had to have a piece of it…and I did wind up with some things.

This time the bootleg is a live show from Madison Square Garden recorded on February 18, 1977. This was a historical show for the band as it was their first time playing this arena. It is also known for that great photo of the band members in full make-up and outfits surrounded by their parents and even has Bill Aucoin in the picture (see above). The set we have here was released in 2016 by Eat A Peach! and of course it is unofficial or it wouldn’t be in my bootleg series.

Included is a little 4 page booklet and even an inner sleeve like an album sleeve with some information on the show. Lastly, the CD is a cool picture disc with the I Love NY on it and the band’s faces in the heart (or the love part). This show is a soundboard recording, but it isn’t the best one I’ve heard. The sound is weak, almost hollow at times and there is a lot of tape wobble at certain parts too. However, it is a full show and even comes with 2 bonus tracks which we will discuss.

I wrote about two 1977 shows Japan recently that were around this time and the set list is identical. I mean it is the same. No differences. No changes. I think you get the picture. The recording starts and there is song playing before it stops and then you get “You Wanted the Best” and they go straight into “Detroit Rock City”. For a soundboard recording, the sound isn’t very loud, but you can hear everyone really well. Lots of energy from the band, however, soundboard means not much crowd noise which I like to have. And why they added a ton of it to the Alive albums. Ace’s solo on this one, though okay, seems to have a little tape wobble to it and seems slow for some reason. The other thing is the sound is a little muddied to me. Not overly crisp. Now, that doesn’t take away too much from the enjoyment factor. I might be complaining, but I am liking what I hear overall.

“Take Me” comes straight away with the opening guitar riff and Paul still has vocals. A ton of tape drag on this one at one point. After this song, we get Paul’s first “Woah” and interaction with the crowd and what confidence he has. His banter feels natural and man he commands that crowd. Kiss then tears it up “Let Me Go, Rock ‘N’ Roll” and Gene lets out a big scream and off to the races. A heavy song with some killer guitar work by Ace. He shreds throughout this one. More Paul’s banter and he talks about getting some and getting it quick and easy in the “Ladies Room”. Gene still on vocals and he tears this one up.

“Firehouse” is up and during that long drawn out bit towards the end is where Gene would spit the fire and we get the big siren sound as well. Always a favorite portion of the show in person. On an album though, you don’t get to see the fire. But the song kicks ass regardless. Ace’s solo is sloppy, but the band is giving it their all. The opening riff to “Makin’ Love” hits and I think the show gets even hotter and faster…damn this version is quick. I love this song and live is even better than the studio version. Peter’s drum fill at the end is always the best. Paul’s vocals cut out at the end of some lines but he could be moving around so much and pulling away too fast and we just miss those last words. No time is wasted as we get another live favorite for me with “I Want You”. Two awesome Paul songs.

“Cold Gin” is up next but not before Paul goes through his little different type of alcohol story. It’s classic, so I don’t mind. A killer song that shows Ace guitar playing chops and of course that leads to his killer solo. And man, I love his solos back then. The sounds and effects he would get it to make are simply stellar. A fun moment. Peter lays down the beat and then we get “Do You Love Me?” and I keep saying it, but another favorite of mine. The set of Paul songs on here are ones I never tire of hearing live for some reason.

And they don’t waste anytime between tracks here either as “Nothin’ To Lose” comes slamming in and Gene is back on the mic. The band is ferocious. Peter sounds great on his back and forth with Gene. Such a killer version just wish the overall sound was better. Now it is Gene’s turn for a solo (and the blood spitting if we were there at the show. His solo is more noise than an actual solo but the blood makes up for it. It is eerie and evil sounding which fits his image. Then it is his signature song (written by Paul), “God Thunder” and Peter gets his solo slap dab in the middle. Peter could play back then so it is a great solo. They finish things up with their all time classic “Rock And Roll All Nite”. No need to talk about it as you’ve heard it a million times, literally.

The band then goes in to Encore mode with another Paul “Woah”. and then they tear it up with “Shout It Out Loud”. A great rock & roll anthem and an exciting live song. Peter whips out his tail…I mean piano and plays “Beth” as it should be. A great rendition. They close out the night with another one of my favorite live songs “Black Diamond” with Paul and Peter sharing vocals. What a way to go out.

But that isn’t the end…well, it is the end of the show, not the CD though. They through on two different versions of “Calling Dr. Love”…man, that is so random. The first is an alternate mix of the song, not sure if this was a demo or a mix for something else. Lots of bass on this one as it is front and center almost as loud as Gene. No backing vocals so this leads me more to a demo rather than an alternate mix. Lastly, an instrumental of the same song. This seems like the studio version with all the vocals just pulled off. Either way, what a strange thing to add on to a live show. Just because there is space left on the CD doesn’t mean you should fill it!!

And there you have it. Another great live show from one of their two tours in 1977. We’ve done quite a few 1977 shows, need to pull out another show that is not that year. Although this was a soundboard recording, I think it was a copy of a tape which was a copy of tape and so on as the sound was a little lacking, a little muddied and there was some wobble every now and again. However, still an enjoyable show despite those flaws. It is a historic show as well being their first ever at Madison Square Garden so you know it is important to the band being from New York. I got to see their last ever Madison Square Garden show which was really cool!! My Overall Score is a 3.0 out of 5.0 Stars. Yes, a good show, just not the cleanest boot but cleaner than most still.