Strutter Explained

"Strutter" is a song by the American rock band Kiss, released in 1974 on their self-titled debut album, Kiss. It was the third single released from the album and failed to chart.

"Strutter" is one of the few Kiss songs written by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley together. Stanley wrote new lyrics to "Stanley the Parrot", a song whose music was composed by Simmons.^[5] Stanley's lyrics display his Bob Dylan influence.^[6] The song was featured in the video games and Guitar Hero 2.

Critical reception

"Strutter" is widely considered one of Kiss's best songs. Cash Box said that "this may be their most dynamic [rock 'n' roll song] to date" and has "lots of bass and guitar, along with those power driven vocals here, all making for a great single release."^[7] Record World called it "pleasurably pompous rock in the best style and tradition of hard, boogie-gaited music."^[8] In 2014, Paste ranked the song number two on their list of the 20 greatest Kiss songs,^[9] and in 2019, Louder Sound ranked the song number five on their list of the 40 greatest Kiss songs.^[10]

Covers

• Extreme covered the song on the album (1994).
• The Donnas covered the song for the Detroit Rock City soundtrack (1999).
• Vitamin String Quartet covered the song for the String quartet tribute to kiss album (2004).
• Electric Six covered the song in their covers album, Streets of Gold (2021)

Appearances

"Strutter" has appeared on the following Kiss albums:

• Kiss – studio version
• Alive! – live version
• The Originals – studio version
• Double Platinum – re-recorded version titled "Strutter '78" ("I look back at that and think, 'Why?'" remarked Simmons in 1996. "The original version is the classic and the best."^[11])
• Smashes, Thrashes & Hits – remixed & edited studio version
• Greatest Kiss – studio version
• The Box Set – demo version
• The Very Best of Kiss – studio version
• – live version
• – studio version
• Gold – studio version
• – studio version
• Kiss Alive! 1975–2000 – Alive! version
• Kiss Alive 35 – live version
• Ikons – studio version
• Kiss 40 – re-recorded version titled "Strutter '78"

Personnel

• Paul Stanley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Gene Simmons – bass, backing vocals
• Peter Criss – drums, backing vocals
• Ace Frehley – lead guitar

Notes and References

1. Web site: KISS - Strutter - Reviews - Album of the Year . August 10, 2024 . Album of the Year.
2. Book: Philo, Simon. Glam Rock: Music in Sound and Vision. 2018. Rowman & Littlefield. 978-1-44227-148-7. 130.
3. Web site: Strutter - Kiss Song Info. Guarisco. Donald A.. AllMusic. August 17, 2019.
4. Web site: Dolan. Joe. Martoccio. Angie. Rob. Sheffield. The 74 Best Albums of 1974. . November 20, 2024. ...within a decade, the glam metal [KISS] blueprinted on “Strutter” and “Deuce” would be more dominant than any other sound on this list.. November 30, 2024.
5. Stanley, Paul. The Kiss Box Set liner notes, The Island Def Jam Music Group, 2001.
6. Leaf, David and Ken Sharp. KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography, Warner Books, 2003.
7. News: CashBox Record Reviews. July 13, 1974. 16. 2021-12-11. Cash Box.
8. Record World. July 13, 1974. 2023-03-15. Hits of the Week. 1.
9. Web site: The 20 Best KISS Songs. Mark. Lore. Paste. June 26, 2014. April 5, 2022.
10. Web site: The 40 best Kiss songs of all time. Louder Sound. July 15, 2019. April 5, 2022.
11. Guitar World, September 1996
12. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6.