The new Kiss record is a chamber-pop concept album about the plight ofmigrant workers. Just kidding. On their 19th studio effort, the glam-rockwar horses smear on the greasepaint and blast out odes to rocking all nightand partying all day. Kiss are a piece of Americana — more akin tothe Ringling Brothers Circus than a rock band. The only question to ask ofa new Kiss song is: Will it provide decent accompaniment for a Gene Simmonsblood-belching performance in a packed arena? This big, dumb, catchy recordpasses that test.

“Oh Sherrie”

Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.