KISS Off The Soundboard: Live In Des Moines

If you don’t understand the title of the series being called, “Off the Soundboard,” you’re missing the whole point. This was literally recorded using the soundboard mix from this show in 1977. This is exactly what the audience heard at this show on the “Alive II Tour.” You’re not going to get a more realistic experience unless you were in the audience at the time. Unlike the album they were supporting at the time, there are no overdubs. There are mistakes. It was likely recorded direct to two-track magnetic audio 46 years ago and showcases the band at the peaks of their popularity and live prowess.

KISS at their absolute original lineup best!! The sheer energy is off the charts! Sound quality is a bit rugged but it’s a must own for any big fan of the band.

Listening to these so called off the soundboard recordings just shows you how much the Alive albums were doctored up. This came out the same time Alive 2 came out.Listen to Alive 2 and then this lolol.Alive 2 sounds like a studio record compared to this bunk

Need the Brazil soundboard from the creatures tour

This is pure garbage! Sounds like s

Rare and raw!!! Love it!!!!

Sounds like a second-rate Kiss tribute band recorded on a portable tape player with low batteries. Don't hand Gene Simmons your hard earned money for this garbage.

Sounds like you’re at the show! Raw sound and energy. Kiss has always been about the music for me! I’m glad they’re releasing these gems! I’d like to hear a Dressed to Kill tour show or the 74 Winterland show next!

OK, now we're getting somewhere with this 'Off the Soundboard' series! Granted, KISS fans have had the same songs being sold to them over the years just with different packaging, but 'Live in Des Moines' is special because it captures the band probably at the height of their popularity in 1977 and it's 100% LIVE, unlike the studio-polished 'Alive II' which contains many of the songs here. And as many fans know this particular concert has been available for years as a bootleg but the sound quality was poor. Moving forward, I'd like to see more shows from different eras of the band that I think will make this 'Off the Soundboard' series appealing. The first release, 'Tokyo 2001' featured Eric Singer playing with Gene, Paul, and Ace on the original farewell tour which made that show unique so I purchased it. However, I've since skipped over the next two releases in 'Live in Virginia Beach' as that is the current lineup playing basically the same setlist they've been playing for the past twenty years, and then 'Live in Donington' which although is from the '96 reunion tour, I just didn't feel the quality of the performance was worth the money. I would definitely be interested in shows from the '79 Dynasty tour through the eighties with Eric Carr, Vinnie Vincent, Mark St. John, and the great Bruce Kulick, as many of those setlists contained songs that haven't been officially released as live versions before. Back to this release, I will be purchasing 'Live in Des Moines' on Sep. 9th after hearing the first preview track "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll." Remember, this isn't the KISS we've known the past twenty years that may not sound the same as they once had due to age and attrition. This is KISS in their prime delivering energy and a show unlike any other artists back when they were in fact, "THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD!"

Special for me