Three best cover songs that Kiss ever pulled off

As a seasoned gamer who has lived through the golden age of rock and roll, I must say that Kiss’ cover versions have always been a bit of a mixed bag for me. They weren’t as groundbreaking as their contemporaries, but they had their moments.


Kiss wasn’t typically known for performing many cover songs; it wasn’t really their style. To be honest, their own compositions may not have been particularly artistic, but they catered to what both the band and their audience preferred. Essentially, Kiss was a band that excelled at creating a lively atmosphere, and they excelled at doing so.

Occasionally, they would attempt to cover songs by other bands, but not every effort was stellar. Kiss had their ups and downs; for each masterpiece like “Destroyer,” there was a less successful album such as “Unmasked.” They may not be remembered with the same reverence as Led Zeppelin.

According to a website called Second Hand Songs, Kiss has brought the public 19 cover versions. That is not a tremendous amount, as Kiss has been around for 50 years. But which cover versions were the best?

Three great cover songs by Kiss

“Kissin’ Time”

Initially omitted from their self-titled first album, but boy, it’s hard to resist humming along! Interestingly, the Kiss rendition doesn’t resemble the 1959 original at all, which is actually commendable. The sound quality is decent, though not as explosive as their later albums would become. It has a more New York-influenced, punky feel to it.

The song itself isn’t earth-shattering. It’s actually fairly silly, but Kiss makes it sound almost dangerous and threatening. If a cover version is meant to augment the original, Kiss accomplished their goal.

“Do You Remember Rock n’ Roll Radio?”

On this ’80s Ramones song cover, New York represents itself in typical Ramones fashion. Compared to Kiss, who sound less like the Ramones, the Ramones maintain their unique style. If you’re a fan of both bands, you’ll particularly enjoy this track. It seems odd for a die-hard Ramones fan to be reading this article.

“The Kiss band covered ‘The Kiss’ on a Ramones collection titled ‘We’re a Happy Family: A Tribute to Ramones.’ It seems Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley particularly enjoyed this track, which is evident in their rendition. The cover version is delightfully fun.

“God Gave Rock and Roll to You”

Back in 1973, this tune was first performed by the band Argent. Ring any bells? If not, let me refresh your memory – perhaps you recall the version done by Kiss instead? Indeed, a truly iconic cover is one that surpasses the original.

The tune appears tailor-made for Kiss. Despite its slower pace, it offers them ample room to deliver epic anthems. All of Kiss’s work should have taken this form.

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2024-10-09 16:00