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KISS - Kiss

Kiss' penchant for make-up was inspired by their downtown New York neighbours the New York Dolls and by Alice Cooper, who was on top of the glam-rock world when Kiss' self-titled debut came out in 1974.

Rather than dress in drag as the Dolls did, Kiss fashioned their look on a mix of sci-fi and horror films, and the rock & roll of their youth. They fashioned their music on willful hard-rock arrogance. Several songs on Kiss became staples in the group's catalogue. "Strutter", about a beautiful woman with a confident swagger, mirrored the attitude of the band, and it contained the first of many incendiary Ace Frehley solos.

The album also contains "Cold Gin", Ace's signature song; "Deuce", with its quintessential sexual posturing and fiery soloing; and "Black Diamond",Paul Stanley's epic tribute to a streetwalker with a hardscrabble life. Kiss' hunger to succeed resulted in some interesting recording choices, such as transforming teen idol Bobby Rydell's "Kissin' Time" into a stomper with singalong choruses typical of early-'70s pop.

There's even an instrumental, "Love Theme From Kiss", a showcase for the quartet's musical synchronicity. It was the beginning of a long and influential career.