Alive! Box Set [Box set, Original recording remastered]

Kiss | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 21, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B000JJRIP2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,385 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There is no shortage of Kiss collections out there, but, as they used to say before Paul, Gene, Ace, and Peter took the stage, "You wanted the best and you got the best!" Spanning four discs, Alive! 1975-2000 makes a great time capsule for Kiss Army completists, packed with a quarter-century of pictures and band reminiscences. And then there's the music. Remastered and packaged together for the first time, the immortal hard-rock one-two punch of Alive! and Alive II together with 1993's makeup-free Alive III showcase the legendary band in their element: driving audiences wild with their thunderous riffs, bombastic ballads, and shameless showmanship. Previously unreleased, Alive: The Millennium Concert captures the reunited and remasked original lineup at the New Year's Eve 1999 stop on what appears to be a never-ending farewell tour. It's safe to say the definitive live Kiss experience is captured here--from Paul Stanley's barefaced buttering-up of the crowd ("This song is dedicated to you, 'cause this song is about people who know what rock 'n' roll is about") to Peter Criss's nearly-epic "God of Thunder" drum solo, and four, count 'em, four, versions of "Rock and Roll All Nite." Kiss was never a band likely to be accused of understatement, and Alive! 1975-2000 is an appropriately exalted celebration of their excess and excellence. --Ben Heege

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Fans Who Already Own The Remasters..., November 30, 2006

By 

"The Woj" (Downers Grove, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alive! Box Set (Audio CD)

I was hesitant to purchase this box set since I already own the first three "Alive" albums on cd (not to mention the first 2 on vinyl). I decided to make the purchase based on the inclusion of the Millennium Concert, the great price and having all the albums in the same place. I do not believe "Alive III" was ever remastered, so the sound improvement here is very noticeable. What pleasantly surprised me was the better sound on "Alive I & II". I did a side by side with "Alive! Box Set" cds and the 2 disc remastered sets of "Alive I & II". I found these new recordings to sound clearer, brighter, louder (when played at the same volume level), and to have more concert hall ambiance and overall punch when compared to the 2 disc "remastered" versions. The differences I heard immediately were Criss's drums & Gene's bass on the "Alive!" album giving my car subwoofer a much better workout. While the sound improvement on these first two "Alive!" albums might seem like a slight "tweak" to some, the ears of dedicated KISS fans will really appreciate the improvement.
So, for the music fan who does not own any Kiss albums, shame on you! This is a great place to start; four great live cds in one collection at a very reasonable price. For any KISS fan wondering if this set is worth the money, ask yourself one question, "Do you want the best?" I thought so....add to cart ASAP.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Befitting package of 'ALIVE' discs from Kiss, November 22, 2006

By 

R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Alive! Box Set (Audio CD)

THE BAND: Alive!, Alive II, Millennium Concert: Paul Stanley (vocals, guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals, bass), Ace Frehley (guitar, vocals), Peter Criss (drums, vocals). Alive III (only): Paul Stanley (vocals, guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals, bass), Bruce Kulick (guitar, vocals), Eric Singer (drums, vocals).

THE DISCS: (2006) 4 discs containing 69 tracks and lasting over 291 minutes. Disc-1 ("Alive!" 1975) at 77+ minutes; Disc-2 ("Alive II" 1977) at 74+ minutes; Disc-3 ("Alive III" 1993) at 73+ minutes; Disc-4 ("The Millennium Concert" 1999) at 66+ minutes. The case is a 5-side cardboard foldout. Included with the discs is an extensive 72-page booklet containing numerous band photos (many unreleased), band members, song titles/credits, excerpts from band interviews, and all original artwork from Alive I - III. Digitally remastered sound. Label - Mercury.

COMMENTS: "Alive!" is always going be the album by which all Kiss records should be judged. It stands on its own - a true 'live' rock classic. "Alive II" is 3-sides live and 1-side studio recording... good, but not a classic in my book. "Alive III", in my opinion, is probably their 3rd best 'live' album behind their "MTV Unplugged" release which is not featured here (their "Alive IV - Australian Symphony" album isn't either). "Millennium"" is good and exciting to hear - but after several listens, maybe you'll feel the same way I do now... that it's cool for us fans to have, but it's easy to recognize the original four's playing is beginning to slip. In some songs, Peter Criss' beat is fast and then slow; Ace's guitar solo's are familiar, but they are at times sloppy; and Paul's singing is sometimes to fast, while other times he's trying to catch up. Nothing negative to say about Gene, though I wish he had more time vocally on Disc-4 (only 4 songs with lead vocals, and 2 of those he shares with Paul). "Millennium" has some old classics done nicely... most notably "Firehouse", "100,000 Years", "Do You Love Me?" and "Black Diamond". Kiss fans will eat this up as I did. "Alive II" sounds good since I never replaced my old vinyl on CD. I thought "Alive III" always sounded great, but the sound is crisper and deeper and the remastering is a nice improvement. Bonus track - "Take It Off" a song dropped from "Alive III" sounds fantastic. The radio single edit of "Rock And Roll All Nite" from their "Alive!" is not needed... approximately 40 seconds is chopped out of the song. Like others have noted here, I too ran to Best Buy to get the 2 extra tracks ("2000 Man" and "God Of Thunder") only to be duped. The 2 bonus tracks are nowhere to be found. The folks at Best Buy are/were clueless (most are teens and early 20-somethings that don't appreciate the old classic rock bands from yesteryear). This is also the first time that either of the first two "Alive" discs are available on a single disc. Some will say this boxed set really isn't necessary, but for the price, the new "Millennium Concert", the remastered others, and the extensive booklet make it worth the purchase. A wonderful package featuring a lot of music despite its minor flaws (4.5 stars).

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it, Great Pack, Lots of Thought, May 14, 2007

By 

Santeria "Son of Tazz" (Tallahassee) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alive! Box Set (Audio CD)

Yes, I must Admit I did buy it for the so Called Millennium Concert. I am Happy that they did release some of that concert: anyone with tapes of that concert knows they could quite easily have done two discs of the Millennium concert, since the entire show was fully recorded, so why only one song from Ace, and no solo? Anyway, I am happy for the Bits they gave on disc.
The Alive 1,2 and 3 are great discs, sounding superb in 5.1 systems; much improved. I must admit I did think that Gene ( or Someone, :-) redid the Bass work for the Live 1 and 2, but I guess with a Remaster that fixes all sounds.
Each of the discs reprises the Packaging of the original albums, as well as the disc bed, which has a reprise of the cover shots. The Booklet tops the memorable tour of the KISS past.
It really does bring home that KISS has material that is better than Good. Ace has said that the Reunion tour was DAT recorded. With a great selection of other songs, why can't they release more. Anyways, I more than Love what I got. Its a Great Buy, and I am more than happy with the great sound