The Kinks' scattershot U.S. career never fully flourished like that of their British Invasion peers. The most quintessentially British of British bands -- especially in the increasingly nostalgic songs of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Ray Davies -- the Kinks enjoyed a spike in popularity in America in the late '70s and early '80s. The gold-selling 1980 double-live album One for the Road is a fascinating document of trailblazing elder statesmen who paved the way for heavy metal and punk, but never felt a glorious pop song was out of their grasp. It also proves that Dave Davies is a criminally underrated lead guitarist. Brothers Dave and Ray Davies, bass guitarist Jim Rodford, drummer Mick Avory, and guest keyboardists Ian Gibbons and Nick Newell recorded One for the Road at several concerts in 1979 and 1980. "Lola" is the best-known track from this album, and this live reading was a minor hit single; Ray Davies' teasing intro shows his playful side. &"The Hard Way," "Low Budget," a raw, stripped-down "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman," "Celluloid Heroes," and "You Really Got Me" are the other standouts. [The Konk/Velvel enhanced two-CD reissue is fantastic. It includes all the songs from the original double album; "20th Century Man" was cut from Arista's U.S. CD but is restored here. The extremely detailed, photo-packed liner notes feature an enlightening essay and complete recording information -- an appropriate approach given the historical importance of the Kinks. Surprisingly, overdub information is mentioned; most live albums are doctored and sweetened in some way, but bands usually aren't eager to reveal this fact. Among the extras on the second CD are 20 minutes of footage from the September 23, 1979, show in Providence, RI. All similar reissues should aspire to this level of quality.]
Here's a tune from the Kinks' self-titled debut album. Despite the nothingness of the lyrics, it is a catchy, melodic tune...kinda like the Beatles' in their very early days. That is to say, its value lies not in its musicianship but in its simplicity... Oh, and it is also a song which the record companies will include in those "The Best of" compilations every now and then.
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The difference between the original studio track and live versions in performance can be interesting. Case in point:Some years back (1969), Ray Davies was working on a television concept - a recounting of the British working-class experience from the beginning of the Twentieth Century up to the 1960's, in the form of a narrative of the life of one Arthur, whose family were all gathered togethe...
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I really have missed it here.So, after being a dick about Monterey Pop, I've decided to spend some time writing about the genius of the Kinks. Growing up, I knew the Kinks mostly as the band of "Lola," "You Really Got Me" and "Destroyer." (They were also the concert I was attending when a colossal biker evicted me from a bathroom stall mid-urination, thus engendering a case of publc bathroom s...
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Songs that have reminded me of the friends getting together this weekend at one time or another.All Day And All Of The Night - The KinksRocky Racoon - The BeatlesJoy To The World - Three Dog Night Baba O'Riley - The WhoBrandy (You're A Fine Girl) - Looking Glass Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard - Paul Simon God Save The Queen - Sex PistolsTeenage Girls - Surf PunksThe Unguarded Moment - The ...
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Here's a tune from the Kinks' self-titled debut album. Despite the nothingness of the lyrics, it is a catchy, melodic tune...kinda like the Beatles' in their very early days. That is to say, its value lies not in its musicianship but in its simplicity... Oh, and it is also a song which the record companies will include in those "The Best of" compilations every now and then.
More >
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 "One for the Road")
