Strutter

For other uses, see Strutter (disambiguation).

"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"
cover image for "Strutter '78" re-release
Single by Kiss
from the album Kiss
Released	August 10, 1974 (US)[1]
Recorded	1973
Studio	Bell Sound (New York City)
Genre	Hard rock[2] glam rock[3] glam metal[4]
Length	3:10
Label	Casablanca Warner Bros. (US) NB-9001
Songwriter(s)	Gene Simmons Paul Stanley
Producer(s)	Kenny Kerner Richie Wise
Kiss singles chronology
"Kissin' Time" / "Nothin' to Lose" (1974) "Strutter" / "100,000 Years" (1974) "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll" / "Hotter Than Hell" (1974)
"Rocket Ride (Edit)" / "Tomorrow and Tonight (Live)" (1978) "Strutter '78" / "Shock Me (Live)" (1978) "I Was Made for Lovin' You (Edit)" / "2,000 Man" (1979)

"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]

Covers

• Extreme covered the song on the Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved 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
• Kiss Symphony: Alive IV – live version
• The Best of Kiss: The Millennium Collection – studio version
• Gold – studio version
• Kiss Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums – 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

Charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australian Singles (Kent Music Report)[12]	89