Various Artists Compilations (This Is Soul & Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved)

What makes a classic compilation album? This week, Dude and Don explore the role compilations play in music history: introducing new genres, bridging musical generations, and proving the staying power of great songs. From Stax and Atlantic soul to KISS’s stadium anthems reimagined, we celebrate two landmark compilations that defined eras for new listeners and longtime fans.

The Theme: Why Compilations Matter

Various artist compilations curate the sound of a scene, a label, or a moment, letting listeners discover diverse voices side by side. Whether for promotion, charity, or creative tribute, these albums shape how entire generations experience and remember music.

Album #1: This Is Soul (1968)

• Artists: Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Percy Sledge, Sam & Dave, Ben E. King, more
• Background: Issued by Atlantic Records for the UK, showcasing both Stax and Atlantic soul stars; quickly became the UK’s gateway to American soul. Features 12 definitive tracks from Pickett's “Mustang Sally” to Aretha’s “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)”.
• Sound: Cohesive due to Muscle Shoals and Stax/Volt studio magic—tight grooves, big horns, urgent vocals.
• Legacy: Cemented soul’s place in popular music; educated a generation; still one of the best introductions to the genre.
• Songs: “Mustang Sally,” “When a Man Loves a Woman,” “B-A-B-Y,” “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song),” “Land of a Thousand Dances” and more.

Album #2: Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved (1994)

• Artists: Lenny Kravitz (with Stevie Wonder), Anthrax, Garth Brooks, Shandi’s Addiction, Toad the Wet Sprocket, more
• Background: Official 20th-anniversary KISS tribute, curated by Gene Simmons, uniting alt-rockers, country stars, and metal bands; gold-certified, sweeping styles from rock to orchestral piano.
• Sound: Every cover brings a new color—funk-infused by Kravitz, thrash by Anthrax, mellow by Toad. Highlights what makes KISS songs durable.
• Legacy: Shifted focus from KISS’s image to their songwriting craft, underlining their influence across genres and eras.
• Songs: “Deuce,” “Calling Dr. Love,” “Rock and Roll All Nite,” “Black Diamond,” and more reimagined for the ‘90s and beyond.

Diggin’

• Curtis Harding – Departures & Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt (2025): Space-funk concept album with deep soul roots.
• Ratt – Out of the Cellar (1984): Polished ‘80s glam metal and classic MTV glam hooks.
• Cut Copy – Moments (2025): Australian indie-dance euphoria.
• Anne Murray – Here You Are (2025): Canadian pop/country veteran covers timeless standards.

Join the Conversation

What compilations got you hooked on a genre or artist? Share with us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, or BlueSky @albumnerds or email podcast@albumnerds.com. For more, check albumnerds.com and subscribe wherever you listen.

Wrap up: “Classic compilations like these aren’t just playlists—they’re passports to musical worlds. Keep spinning, keep diggin’, and keep sharing the records that move you!”