"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 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 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]
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])
^Dolan, Joe; Martoccio, Angie; Sheffield, Rob (November 20, 2024). "The 74 Best Albums of 1974". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 30, 2024. ...within a decade, the glam metal [KISS] blueprinted on "Strutter" and "Deuce" would be more dominant than any other sound on this list.
^Stanley, Paul. The Kiss Box Set liner notes, The Island Def Jam Music Group, 2001. ISBN 0-446-53073-5
^Leaf, David and Ken Sharp. KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography, Warner Books, 2003. ISBN 0-446-53073-5
