Released in 1976, Rock and Roll Over found Kiss getting back to the raw, hard-hitting sound that first made them legends. After the more polished and theatrical feel of Destroyer, this album stripped things down and put the focus back on crunching guitars, big hooks, and straight-ahead rock energy. Produced by Eddie Kramer, it captures the band sounding tight, confident, and hungry, delivering classics like “I Want You,” “Calling Dr. Love,” and “Makin’ Love.” It’s a record that feels gritty, direct, and unmistakably Kiss at their peak.

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Jeff - I still remember the day I stumbled across this album at Budget Tapes and Records in November of 1976. Seeing it sitting there on the shelf was a total surprise. This was before I was reading all the rock magazines, and back then albums didn’t come with the kind of hype and nonstop press they get today. If you saw something new, it was usually by accident. I didn’t even have the money for it at the time, I had to scrape together five dollars from friends, but once I did, I rushed home like I’d just found buried treasure. No one was home when I got there, so I went straight downstairs to my little stereo and dropped the needle. From the first spin of “I Want You,” I was hooked. That song hit me immediately. To this day, I still think it’s the perfect way to open a new Kiss album. It had power, attitude, and that larger-than-life feel I wanted from them. I couldn’t wait for my brother to get home that night just so I could play it for him. I must’ve spun it three or four times before he even walked through the door.

   The entire first side felt strong to me. “Take Me” was another one I replayed more than once that night. It had that raw edge and urgency that really worked. But even back then, the second side felt a little weaker and honestly, it still does. I was never a huge fan of Gene Simmons’ two tracks, “Love ’Em and Leave ’Em” and “See You In Your Dreams.” Listening to them now, I can’t help but wish they’d leaned into a more aggressive guitar sound like they did on “Baby Driver” instead of the lighter pop-rock feel they went with. When Rock and Roll Over first came out, I liked “Mr. Speed,” but over time it’s lost a bit of its shine for me. “Hard Luck Woman” is one of Kiss’s most heartfelt moments, with Peter Criss channeling a strong Rod Stewart vibe in both the melody and vocal delivery. It’s a softer, acoustic-driven track that proved the band could step outside their hard rock image and still deliver a genuine, memorable song. The album does close on a high note, though, with one of my all-time favorite Kiss songs, “Makin’ Love.” That’s a killer Paul Stanley track, tight, driving, and full of energy.

   The lyrics haven’t aged as well for me as well as the music itself, but they match the times and what Kiss was going for. Paul and Gene keep things simple, bold, and straight to the point, classic Kiss themes they established years ago: love, lust, confidence, and living fast. There’s not a lot of poetic depth here, but that’s part of the charm; the words are built to match the punch of the riffs and the energy of the performances. At their best, especially on tracks like “I Want You” and “Makin’ Love,” the lyrics feel perfectly suited to the band’s swagger.

   Eddie Kramer’s production captured the band’s sound well, but he wasn’t the kind of producer who pushed for rewrites or major rearrangements. He seemed more focused on getting a solid performance down on tape than reshaping the material. Sometimes I wonder what Bob Ezrin might have done if he’d stayed on after Destroyer. It would’ve been fascinating to hear his touch on songs like “Calling Dr. Love” or “Hard Luck Woman.” And I guarantee he would’ve created a stronger side two to this album.

   For me, this album has a powerhouse first side and a noticeably weaker second half. Still, between the incredible cover, the nostalgia, and the classic tracks it does have, it remains a record I can put on and enjoy just as much today as I did that night in 1976.

Grade: A-

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​Kip -  Like so many of the albums in our discussions, I have a very clear memory of getting Rock and Roll Over. For some reason, I accompanied my mom on a week night trip to K-Mart. Being a grumpy 11-year-old, I didn't want to walk around the store with her as she shopped, so I made a beeline for the extensive music corner of the store. The store worker was in the process of putting up an impressive Kiss display of the new album they had just received. Remembering it was 1976, pre-release hype was fairly spotty, so I wasn't aware it was coming out. With the now iconic cover of full display, I was understandably ecstatic to get a copy of this unexpected revelation. Upon dropping the needle on “I Want You,” I was hooked. In fact, I played the song over and over until even my patient mom hollered down the stairs, “Enough!” While finally letting the album just play, I was rewarded with “Take Me,” which has remained one of my favorite Kiss songs, followed by “Calling Dr. Love.” I felt like I had hit the lottery! Because I have such a visceral memory of that night, the album has remained my favorite Kiss album. Though my initial love of songs such as “Ladies Room,” “Love 'em and Leave “em,” and “Mr. Speed” has definitely diminished over the years (while my initial dislike of “Baby Driver has actually softened with time,) I also find this is an album that I have to listen to in its entirety AND in order, as it is so indelibly engrained in my memory that listening to the tracks randomly negatively impacts my enjoyment of the record. The fact that the album concludes with the stone cold classic “Makin' Love” just solidifies my opinion of the record. If they had just left “See You in Your Dreams” off the track list, I think this would inarguably be Kiss' best studio effort. Even so, it is definitely my favorite.

Grade: A-

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Mark - It’s amazing to me that a band can put out not only three iconic and highly influential albums, but achieved this in the span of a year and a half, roughly: Destroyer, Rock And Roll Over and Love Gun. What a beautiful time to be 15-year-old wanna be rocker, that’s me!

    This month we’re basking in the shallow but swift waters of Kiss’s Rock And Roll Over. The 1976 release that firmly cemented them as the greatest band in the land. Not my words, but I agree wholeheartedly. Stand outs for me are “I Want You” (my favorite Kiss song ever). “Take Me”, great, great riffage. Just a Kiss ass opening duo of melodic hard rock for side one of this album

   After listening to it with Kip and Jeff I realized how much I dig Peter Criss’s “Baby Driver” it is slammin! It’s funky, it’s heavy it’s a kick in the tenders in just the right way! Also “Hard Luck Woman” is so laid back in a perfect 70’s soft rock vibe. I’m so glad Rod Stewart passed on this. Peter Criss’s gritty vocal stylings make this tune, a wonderful soulful listen. And “Hard Luck Woman” give this album some much needed depth. Let’s face it, Kiss’s lyrics aren’t taking on the deep social issues of the world… or are they? And they shouldn’t, they’re a rock and roll over band. What was I saying? "Hard Luck Woman" is romantic, dare I say schmaltzy? I like the change of pace; it’s sort of a pallet cleansing. The last tune we’re back to the hump and bump. “Makin’ Love” has an opening riff that is so sticky and nasty that it makes you want to: well, make love.

   I would give this album an A+, but we can’t ignore the Baby Ruth in the pool can we? “See You In Your Dreams” is kind of a steamy mess for me. Other than that, it’s a solid album.

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Grade: A-

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