The Kink Kronikles

NOTE: This is the first installment of a semi-regular series here at GNABB that will take an in depth look at my favorite bands and musical artists.

"Everybody's a dreamer, everybody's a star." That is the promise of The Kinks. Ray Davies, the "poet laureate of rock and roll" (Peter Townshend), is perhaps rock's most effective spokesman for the common man. More than Springsteen's or Mellencamp's sometimes hamfisted working man anthems, Davies' tunes cut to the bone; speaking to the trials, tribulations, comedy, tragedy and profound boredom of living life in the middle class. Albeit, the English middle class.

The Kinks were far and away the most English of the original British Invasion bands of the 1960's. They made a half-assed effort to ape their American R&B influences like the rest of the Brit Invasion, but fortunately they sucked at it. So very early on The Kinks moved in a different direction. Perhaps that is why they have remained (other than during an unlikely breakthrough in the late 70's and early 80's) little more than a cult act stateside. But their fans are loyal and devout.

If they had accomplished only one of their many milestones, they would still be noteworthy. But considering all that Davies and Co. have accomplished, they are downright criminally underrated. To mention a few of their more notable accomplishments...they were as responsible as anyone for creating Garage Rock 101. They invented the concept rock album (a dubious accomplishment, I know). Ray Davies wrote one of the most impressive bodies of work in the rock canon. Brother Dave Davies is an influential and versatile guitar player. In another band without his prolific brother for contentious competition, Dave would have been the star. His one or two tunes he is given on each Kinks album are usually great. I actually prefer his vocals over Ray's.



THE GARAGE DAYS, early to mid 1960's

The riff in "You Really Got Me" is so basic, so primal; it is one of the defining moments in rock music, as well as the inspiration for countless aspiring axe slingers in garages across the English-speaking world. As with most records from this early period of rock, the first Kinks records were comprised of some killer singles surrounded by disposable filler. But what singles! "You Really Got Me", "All Day and All of the Night", "Tired of Waiting For You", "'Til the End of the Day", "Well Respected Man", "Dedicated Follower of Fashion"...and a handful of others.

The Kinks **
Kinda Kinks **
The Kink Kontroversy**
Live at Kelvin Hall *

For a clip of early Kinks on British TV, check out this clip of the boys performing "All Day and All of the Night".

THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE KINKS, late 60's

At a time when they should have been able to capitalize on their most brilliant work, The Kinks were dealt a devastating blow when they were forbidden from touring the U.S. during the late 1960's due to a bitter dispute between Ray Davies and the musician's union. Although, the records from this period were so Anglocentric, I'm not sure how much the American audience would have related to this material anyway. It was during this time that Ray found his songwriting voice and he constructed thematic records intricately detailing everyday Briton life. Eschewing the psychedelic and flower power trappings of the day, Ray became the ultimate purveyor of nostalgia for a Britain that probably only existed in his mind.

“We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, Vaudeville and Variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways for me and for you
What more can we do
We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society
God save Mrs. Mopp and good Old Mother Riley
We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium
God save the George Cross and all those who were awarded them
We are the Sherlock Holmes English Speaking Vernacular
Help save Fu Manchu, Moriarty and Dracula
We are the Office Block Persecution Affinity
God save little shops, china cups and virginity
We are the Skyscraper Condemnation Affiliate
God save tudor houses, antique tables and billiards
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways for me and for you
What more can we do
God save the Village Green”
-The Village Green Preservation Society

The crunching riffs of the early days were replaced with English music hall, baroque pop and pastoral acoustic folk. Davies captured English middle class malaise better than anyone...

“My girlfriend’s run off with my car
And gone back to her Ma and Pa
Telling tales of drunkenness and cruelty
Now I’m sitting here
Sipping at my ice cold beer
Lazin’ on this sunny afternoon”
-Sunny Afternoon

He also produced brilliant concept albums that preceded the more celebrated efforts of Pete Townshend and The Who.

Face To Face *****
Something Else By The Kinks ****
The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society *****
Arthur, or the Fall and Decline of the British Empire ****

"Waterloo Sunset" is one of their loveliest songs from this period.

THE CONCEPT YEARS, early to mid 1970's

While this period started out with perhaps their strongest record, things soon went downhill with the familiar rock and roll story of excess. Ray followed his obsession with concept pieces to its logical, absurd conclusion, as their work got less accessible as the decade wore on. But this period did produce some of their most enduring songs amidst the dreck.

Check out this great visual aid some dude put together for "Lola". One of the more unusual rock hits, about a romance with a transvestite. Also, my very favorite Kinks song is "Celluloid Heroes". Here is a nice montage to the song. And this one is a pretty creative mini-movie some dudes put together to an edit of the song.

Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround, Pt. 1 *****
'Percy' (film soundtrack) **
The Great Lost Kinks Album ***
Muswell Hillbillies ***
Everybody's in Showbiz ***
Preservation Act, Pt. 1 **
Preservation Act, Pt. 2 *
The Kinks Present A Soap Opera **
The Kinks Present Schoolboys in Disgrace **

COMEBACK AND FADE AWAY, 1977-present

After their commercial fortunes had fallen off the map, The Kinks switched labels to Arista and made a surprising commercial comeback that marked their most successful period in the United States. Between about 1977 through 1986 is my personal favorite Kinks period. I know that the late 60's were more successful artistically, but I came to the Kinks through the early 80's window. Let me see if I can explain this: my first exposure to The Kinks was through their catchy hit "Come Dancing". Then "Do It Again" hit the airwaves, and I got really hooked. Think of any classic rock band in their third decade, and they are generally on cruise control. Not that they don't create some good music, but let's face it, would The Rolling Stones hits of the 80's and after have really made it without the band's already established reputation? But The Kinks between '77-'86 produced a set of the best rock tunes out of anybody around, new or old. I decided to investigate further, and only then did I discover that this was also one of the most influential rock bands from the 1960's and 70's. Ray backed away from his convoluted rock operas, rediscovered the weapon that was Dave Davies' guitar playing, and decided to write some classic rock. But his patented wit and observation skills were still largely intact. He just decided to use them more modestly over individual songs and concentrate on rock/pop songwriting vs. making any deep statements over the course of an entire record. After they left Arista in about '86, they tried to soldier on every couple of years, but the spark was gone.

Here's the cheesy MTV video for "Come Dancing" ,but it is a great pop song. Remember when MTV videos tried to tell the story of the song? Funny stuff. One of my all time favorite rock tunes is "Do It Again", here is another cheesy early 80's MTV video.

Nowadays Ray and Dave are concentrating on their solo work, some of which is quite good.

Sleepwalker ***
Misfits ***
Low Budget ***
One For the Road ***
Give the People What They Want **
State of Confusion ***
Word of Mouth ***
Think Visual **
The Road **
UK Jive **
Phobia *
To the Bone ****

Kinks buyer's guide

Alright, now I am sure after reading all of this, you are dying to dive into some Kinks? But where to start? Well obviously the record guide throughout this piece will help. I'd grab the ***** selections first. Start with The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society and Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround, Pt. 1.

If you want to start with some hits collections, be careful. They have plenty of them, but few are career-spanning. Most of them cover a particular period. The best career overview covering all periods is The Ultimate Collection. It is a bit haphazardly put together, but at 2-discs it hits lots of the high spots. If you are interested in a good collection focusing on the 1977-86 Arista period, Come Dancing With the Kinks does the trick.

GOD SAVE THE KINKS!