| Big Four (along with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who).Something Else, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, Arthur and Muswell Hillbillies are highly regarded by fans, critics, and peers, and are considered amongst the most influential recordings of the era.The Kinks first gained prominence in 1964 with the hit single "You Really Got Me", written by Ray Davies (it was their third single).Mick Avory on drums and percussion.With the loss of Ray's best friend and longest serving member in the band beside them, the band managed to soldier on for another decade.Rumours of Kinks reunion are vague and bandmembers have since embarked on solo careers.Many modern bands such as The Killers, The Libertines and Franz Ferdinand also acknowledge The Kinks and Ray Davies' expert songwriting skills.Kinks fan Pete Townshend said for The History of Rock 'n' Roll: "The Kinks were much more quintessentially English.Ray Davies should one day be Poet Laureate.He invented a new kind of poetry and a new kind of language for Pop writing that influenced me from the very, very, very beginning."Formation and first years
1.Return to commercial success
1.Formation and first years
The Davies brothers were born at 6 Denmark Terrace, Fortis Green, North London.Ray and his brother Dave (b.Ray's schoolmate Pete Quaife (b.Weevils," and "The Ramrods," before the band settled on "The Ravens" in the summer of 1963 and recruited drummer Mickey Willet.December 1963 audition with Philips Records ended in rejection, but eventually a demo tape landed in the hands of American record producer Shel Talmy, who helped them land a contract with Pye Records in early 1964.It was during this time that The Ravens changed their name to The Kinks.Before signing to the label, drummer Willet left the band.The Kinks invited drummer Mick Avory (b.Michael Charles Avory, February 15, 1944, in East Molesey, Surrey) to join the band after seeing his advertisement in the magazine Melody Maker.Moreover, Ray knew Mick as the two grew up together in the same neighbourhood.The first single from The Kinks, "Long Tall Sally," was a cover of a Little Richard song, but because The Beatles had also covered it with enormous success, The Kinks' version was overlooked and failed to chart.The Kinks' version, though not without charm, suffered from an obvious splicing of different takes.UK and made the top 10 in the US, boosted by a performance on the UK television show Ready Steady Go!.With a loud, distorted guitar riff, achieved by Dave's slicing of the speaker cones in his Elpico amplifier (referred to by the band as the "little green amp"), which gave the song its signature, grittier guitar sound."You Really Got Me" provided a blueprint for hard rock, and served as template for heavy metal.In 1965, The Kinks recorded "Set Me Free", and "Tired of Waiting for You," featuring a repeated bass guitar riff on both songs.Following the summer 1965 American tour, the American Federation of Musicians refused permits for the group to appear in concerts in America for the next four years, cutting the Kinks off from the main market for rock music at the height of the British Invasion.Mumbai, India on the way to Australia led Davies to write the song "See My Friends" (released as a single in July 1965).This was a prominent early example of crossover music and (along with The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood") was one of the first pop songs of this period to display a direct influence from the traditional music of the Indian subcontinent.He spent several months recuperating, during which he wrote several new songs and pondered about the band's direction.Quaife also left the band for much of 1966 after an automobile accident.After he recovered, he decided to step back from the band.This caused a little tension as Avory was more used to Dalton's style of playing."Sunny Afternoon" was a dry run for the band's Face to Face.One of the earliest concept albums, Face to Face displayed Davies' growing skill at crafting gentle yet cutting narrative songs about everyday life and people.One of the songs from the album, "Session Man," was written about notable session musician Nicky Hopkins, who often joined the band in the studio playing keyboards, mellotron, and harpsichord.Hopkins had first played with the band during The Kinks Kontroversy sessions the year before.He would play on the band's next two studio albums (and would also be featured on numerous live BBC recordings with the band) before joining The Jeff Beck Group in 1968.It failed commercially in the US, only reaching No.Golden age'
In May 1967, The Kinks returned with "Waterloo Sunset" (which reached No.The songs on their enduring 1967 album Something Else By The Kinks expanded the musical progressions of Face to Face, adding English music hall influences to their sound.Ray and recorded by The Kinks, but released as a Davies solo single (although confusingly also released on the Something Else LP).Later, the Rolling Stones would remark that Face to Face and Something Else were both serious influences on their own albums of the late 1960s.After a disappointing commercial reception for Something Else, The Kinks rushed out a new single, "Autumn Almanac," which became another hit in the UK.But their next single, "Wonderboy", released in the spring of 1968, stalled at No.Throughout 1968, Davies continued to pursue his deeply personal songwriting style, while at the same time rebelling against the heavy demands placed on him to keep producing commercial hits.The song prominently features percussion.Their next album, released in the autumn of 1968, is now widely regarded as a masterpiece, but at the time The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society failed to sell strongly.Although it was commercially unsuccessful, Village Green was embraced by the new underground rock press, particularly in the US, where The Kinks' status as a cult band began to grow.Packard television commercial in 2004.Original bassist Peter Quaife resigned in March 1969 to form his own band Mapleoak, and was swiftly replaced by John Dalton.The American ban upon the band was finally removed that same year.The Kinks returned to the US their shows were at first held in smallish venues such as the Fillmore East.It was a modest commercial success and was particularly well received by music critics in America, where it was favourably compared to the rock opera Tommy by The Who.Much of the album was inspired by Ray and Dave's beloved sister Rosie, who had migrated to Australia in the early 1960s with her husband.Rosie was a significant musical influence on the brothers in their youth, and she inspired numerous Kinks songs, including "Australia", "Rosie Won't You Please Come Home" and "Come Dancing".Gosling debuted with The Kinks on "Lola" (1970), a clever account of a confused romantic encounter with a transvestite that became a hit in both the UK and the US.The song originally contained a reference to "Coca Cola", but the BBC refused to play it as this was considered a violation of their advertising policy.In 1971, the band released Percy, a soundtrack album to a film of the same name about a penis transplant.This helped fund the construction of their own recording studio, Konk.Their debut for RCA, Muswell Hillbillies, was soaked with country influence and is often hailed as their last great record, though it failed commercially.The Kink Kronikles, which actually outsold Muswell Hillbillies.The record featured the ballad "Celluloid Heroes" and the catchy "Supersonic Rocket Ship", their last UK Top 20 hit for over a decade.And celluloid heroes never really die."The album was a commercial failure in the UK, but more successful in the US.The record was a transitional piece between the band's early 1970s rock material and the theatrical incarnation in which they would immerse themselves over the next four years.In conjunction with the Preservation project, Davies expanded The Kinks' lineup to include a horn section and female backup singers, essentially reforming the group as a theatrical troupe.Preservation: Act 2 was the first project recorded at Konk Studio.Coupled with the band's abuse of drugs and alcohol and some members' antipathy for their new theatrical incarnation, the band's output remained uneven and their already wobbling popularity eroded further.Preservation: Act 2 appeared in the summer of 1974 to a similar reception.Davies soon began another musical, Starmaker, this time for the Britain's Granada Television.In 1976, The Kinks recorded their final theatrical work, Schoolboys in Disgrace, a backstory biography of Preservation's capitalist overlord Mr.One of the biggest bands of the time, Van Halen, achieved their breakthrough hit with an arena rock remake of "You Really Got Me", which in turn greatly boosted The Kinks' commercial resurgence.Return to commercial success
John Dalton left the band before finishing "Mr.Andy Pyle was brought in to complete the track and to play on the following tour.Andy Pyle and keyboardist John Gosling soon left the group to work together on a separate project.The Pretty Things keyboardist Gordon Edwards joined the band.The Kinks' dedicated fanbase.The album's title track was a commentary on the band's lack of commercial success.Dalton left the band permanently after the end of their UK tour, with Gordon Edwards soon to follow.Former Life keyboardist Ian Gibbons was drafted for the following tour and soon become a permanent member.Despite the personnel changes, the group's recording and concert success continued to grow.The hard and punk rock sounds of Low Budget (1979) helped make it the group's most successful album in America, peaking at No.Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman".The Kinks headline at Madison Square Garden for the first time."Better Things" (a rare UK hit single), as well as "Destroyer", tracks reminiscent in sound to the band's 1960s heyday.The Kinks spent the better part of 1982 touring.In spring 1983, the nostalgic "Come Dancing" became their biggest American hit (at number 6) since "Tired of Waiting for You".The song "Young Conservatives" in turn commented on the aspirations of the younger generation in the 1980s.The Kinks performed Saturday Night Live three times during this period, further adding to their resurgent popularity.The Kinks' second wave of popularity effectively peaked with State of Confusion in 1983, but both internal and external factors would soon begin to undermine them.UK bands such as David Bowie, The Who, and The Rolling Stones).Bands influenced by The Kinks, such as U2, The Smiths, The Jam and Duran Duran were topping charts.Davies' commitment to writing, directing and scoring the new work caused tension in his relationship with his brother.Another problem was the stormy end of the volatile romance between Ray Davies and Chrissie Hynde.Avory's relationship with Dave Davies had reached a breaking point.Ray Davies said that Avory was his best friend in the band and he unwillingly had to choose sides, as said later in a 1989 interview: "The saddest day for me was when Mick left.The Kinks' rhythm section, no longer supported by Avory, was especially troubled, with a third of the tracks featuring Avory, others with Henrit, and still others supported by a drum machine which the band employed before the arrival of Henrit."Living on a Thin Line", and The Kinks' last Billboard Hot 100 entry, "Do it Again" (No.They have not made the Top 40 since.The Kinks followed Think Visual in 1987 with another live album, titled The Road, which was a mediocre commercial and critical performer.MCA Records ultimately dropped them, leaving The Kinks scrambling to find a label deal for the first time in over a quarter of a century.When receiving the award Ray Davies looked out at the audience and said, "Seeing everybody makes me realise rock 'n' roll has become respectable.The prestigious induction, however, did not bring back The Kinks' stagnated career.MCA period officially ended.The Kinks' first album for Columbia, Phobia (1993), was released and recorded by the band as a four piece.Following the departure of Mark Haley after the bands sell out performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London, Gibbons rejoined for a US tour and again became part of the band.As usual, no impression was made on the group's home country chart in the UK.The album contained a disproportionate contribution from Dave Davies and an at times overzealous heavy rock sound.But Phobia had moments of interest, including the call and response duet "Hatred," in which the Davies brothers sent up their fractious reputation as brawling brethren.One single, "Only a Dream" narrowly failed to reach the UK chart, climbing to No.Following this failure, the group was dropped by Columbia in 1994.In 1994 the band released the first version of the album To The Bone on their own Konk label in the UK, a live album recorded partly on the highly successful UK tours of 1993 and 1994, and in the Konk studio before a small invited audience.John Carpenter's remake of the 1960 alien invasion classic Village of the Damned.The band's name and profile rose considerably in the mid 1990s, mainly due to the British rock boom called "Britpop" by the UK press.Several of the most prominent bands of the decade, including Blur, Pulp, Suede and Oasis, acknowledged The Kinks as a major influence on their careers and proclaimed themselves as among The Kinks' most admiring students.Blur frontman Damon Albarn and Oasis' chief songwriter Noel Gallagher especially stressed that The Kinks were one of the bands that made the biggest impact on their songwriting as well as their development as artists and musicians.Sadly, all these accolades made little difference to the commercial viability of the group.Ray was published in early 1995, while the Britpop hysteria was at its peak in the UK.Not to be outdone, brother Dave Davies responded with his memoir Kink, published in the spring of 1996.One of Ray's projects has included a choral work commissioned by the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, performed but never recorded.Before becoming an album, Storyteller began life as a cabaret style show in 1996.Kinks fan and friend of Ray, The Who's guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend, who expressed his wishes to see The Kinks reunited in 2006.Ray Davies was awarded the rank of Commander of the British Empire, or CBE (the rank below Knighthood), by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004, for "services to music."On January 4 of that year, Ray Davies was shot in the leg while pursuing a thief who had snatched the purse of his companion in the French Quarter of New Orleans.Several of these songs appeared six years later on his first full studio album.After The Kinks' demise, he toured and released solo albums, such as Purusha and the Spiritual Planet (1998), Fortis Green (1999), and Fragile (2001).In 2003 Dave Davies released the critically acclaimed concept album Bug, based in Davies' belief that he was contacted telepathically by space aliens in the 1970s (the incident is also the subject of "True Story", a track from Chosen People).Davies was hospitalised and released shortly afterward, though he is still recovering as of early 2007.Davies released a new studio album, Fractured Mindz, in January of 2007.Since leaving The Kinks in 1984, Mick Avory has engaged in little session work or touring.Chip Hawkes from The Tremeloes, Eric Haydock from The Hollies, and features guitarists "Telecaster" Ted Tomlin and Graham Pollock.The band tours internationally and has recorded both an album of hits from the primary band members' pasts and an original single.In 2007 the band members of Haydock, Avory, Pollock and Tomlin left the band and then brought in Martin Lyon of Love Affair and are currently touring under the new name of THE LEGENDS OF THE SIXTIES.The Kinks Biography on All Music.The Kinks Biography on RollingStone.The Kinks Biography on BBC Music.Who Let the Kinks In?Mick Avory Interview on retroSellers.This page was last modified 19:55, 8 January 2008.All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.February 3, 1947), who were born and raised in Muswell Hill, London.American record producer who was under contract to Pye Records.English folk, than the rest of his British contemporaries.RCA and signed with Arista Records.Arista album, was also a U.For most of 1982, the band was on tour.Kink, was published in the spring of 1996.Sign in to get personalized recommendations.Your search did not match any products.Use fewer keywords to find more results.Track your recent orders.View or change your orders in Your Account.Visit our Help department.You have no recently viewed items or searches.Sign in to get personalized recommendations.View or change your orders in Your Account.After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.Click your browser's Back button to return to the previous page.Click here to return to the MSN Entertainment home page or click this link for help."The Kinks on MSN Music";s.The Kinks
Induction Year: 1990
Induction Category: Performer
"For longevity alone, the Kinks deserve a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Ravens (soon renamed the Kinks).The original lineup consisted of Ray (guitar, vocals), Dave (lead guitar, vocals), Mick Avory (drums) and Pete Quaife (bass).Only the Rolling Stones, which formed in 1962, can claim a lengthier run as an active rock and roll band.Face to Face, Something Else and Arthur.Ray Davies spent the early Seventies composing a series of concept albums (Preservation, Soap Opera and Schoolboys in Disgrace) that made for entertaining stage theater.Ray Davies and Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders occurred in the Eighties.The Kinks have always been outsiders.To be accepted is unique for us.God Save the Kinks.February 3, 1947: Dave Davies was born.June 1, 1965: The Kinks begin their first U.The Kinks are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.It's a shame, because millions of Beatles fans have missed a chance to appreciate Davies' sentimental and thoughtful pop ballads, not to mention his impressive string of concept albums.The Kinks' 1960s discography is messy, with a lot of uncollected single and EP sides and rarities that have cropped up on assorted compilation albums; there's also the failed late 60s Dave Davies solo album project, which has resulted in numerous bootlegs and one official 1987 UK release that I haven't seen.About a decade ago Rhino Records released the band's first three albums on CD with a set of very reasonable bonus tracks, but those discs are now relatively hard to find.More recently, there has been a major reissue of the band's albums through the early 70s.This page is only complete for the Kinks' initial, Pye records period (through 1972) because I simply don't have a solid collection of the later material, some of which is quite good (e.There's a fantastic Kinks web site with all sorts of goodies, and a diehard Kinks fan at Columbia has put up a nicely done condensed history of the Kinks' recording sessions in the 60s.Avory replaced by Rob Henrit, 1984.The Kinks (1964)
After scoring an unexpected hit with their third single, the mindless, but unforgettably riffy rocker "You Really Got Me," the Kinks were rushed into the recording studio by producer Shel Talmy to pump out an LP."Too Much Monkey Business," and the teenage Dave Davies is given the lead vocal on too many of them ("Long Tall Shorty"; "Got Love If You Want It," done convincingly by the Yardbirds)."Bald Headed Woman," also recorded by the Who in similar circumstances).Talmy recruited Jimmy Page to play rhythm guitar on a few tracks (not on "You Really Got Me") and a professional studio drummer to sit in for Avory, and also played around with amateurish effects like panning the lead vocal from one speaker to another, but it doesn't help much.Kinks' earlier hits ("Till The End Of The Day"; "Where Have All The Good Times Gone").Well Respected Man" and "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion" (my rating applies to the original album).Face To Face (1966)
The rock industry was really heating up in 1966, and the Kinks were one of the few Invasion bands to keep up with the day's rapid musical advances.Garfunkel were playing with on the other side of the Atlantic.Something Else (1967)
Don't let the tritely hip pun of an album title fool you: this is a serious effort, and it shows considerable improvement in recording technique, songwriting ability, and overall versatility.Cockney sense of humor ("Harry Rag"), all of which would feature importantly in his work over the next few albums.Brother Dave also contributes a couple of fine rockers like the thudding, whiny "Love Me Till The Sun Shines."Fans will get a blast out of it all: the players are clearly having a good time ("Come On Now"), the song material is quite strong for this era ("A Well Respected Man"), and Ray's voice is in good form (perhaps some of the vocals were overdubbed)."Monica"), and rock anthems (title track).Lola (1970)
The twisted title track is probably the band's biggest hit, but it has nothing to do with most of the record, a concept album that condemns the rock industry ("Top Of The Pops"; "The Moneygoround").Nonetheless, the collection holds together fairly well, rocks out when it has to ("Powerman"), shifts gears for a pretty ballad ("This Time Tomorrow"), and scores a few good jabs on the lyrical side.Unfortunately, there's little new ground broken anywhere, and the band's arrangements and chord progressions have started to get formulaic.There are a couple of characteristically clever efforts ("Animals In The Zoo"), but mostly the band just shuffles along, frequently to the accompaniment of a nauseatingly tacky orchestra.Delta blues formula being augmented only with a few touches like flute and steel drums.And Davies annoyingly recycles chord progressions on tune after tune."Celluloid Heroes," a Hollywood sendup that succeeds in juggling nostalgia and biting satire.Meanwhile, the live material is largely drawn from the past two albums, with a brief instrumental "Lola" thrown in at the end as if to prove that Davies didn't give a damn about commercial success.There are some interesting rearrangements like the haunted house take on "Alchohol," but the song material isn't their strongest.JA)
Preservation Act II (1974)
The second part of the Preservation rock opera.The band is Avory, Dalton, Gosling, and a horn section of Alan Holmes, Laurie Brown, and John Beecham.They only approach the loose, bluesy Muswell Hillbillies sound in a couple places ("Have Another Drink"; "You Can't Stop The Music," with a rare guitar solo).Several tracks try hard to be funny but aren't really (the genteel roots rocker "Rush Hour Blues" and stylish 1920s dance tune "Holiday Romance").And although the melodies are pleasant enough, or even pretty (the wistful "Nine To Five"), nothing really sticks, and often the band's so mellow it's hard to pay attention ("Underneath The Neon Sign"; the piano ballad "(A) Face In The Crowd").Schoolboys In Disgrace (1975)
One of Ray Davies' lyrically coherent concept albums, and like the others it's strangely lifeless."No More Looking Back") has forgettably generic lyrics.Apart from an old greatest hits disc and their American debut album, this was the first Kinks record to solidly dent the Top 40, and for the next several years the Kinks were again big news.JA)
Misfits (1978)
Andy Pyle (bass) replaced John Dalton on this record, and John Gosling made his last appearance.Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" was the record's big hit; "Catch Me Now I'm Falling" and "Pressure" were also memorable.The Kinks had been energized instead of ostracized by the punk movement.About half the cuts are from the glory years, including a revved up "Where Have All The Good Times Gone," a straightforward "Lola," a lurching, thunderous "All Day And All Of The Night," and no less than three songs that were hits for other bands at this time: the wimpy "Stop Your Sobbing" (a breakthrough for the Pretenders), a pogoing "David Watts" (see the Jam), and the earbusting, obligatory "You Really Got Me" (who needs Van Halen?Give The People What They Want (1981)
This was the Kinks' last gold record, as far as I can tell.Of The World" has ironically interesting social protest lyrics.Dave's vocal spotlight "Bernadette" is like any number of Paul McCartney rock 'n' roll shouters (Ray wrote the whole LP this time).Word Of Mouth (1984)
There are some strong tunes here, but none of them cracked either the British or U.Kinks' final commercial slide."Living On A Thin Line" is one of his best ballads ever, and his "Guilty" is a lively rocker that sounds remarkably like Midnight Oil."Too Hot," with a smarmy 50's nostalgia arrangement.Argent drummer Rob Henrit, who appears on more than half the tracks.And Ray does try hard with the lyrics, even if they're mired in nostalgia (the bluesy "Welcome To Sleazy Town"), wistfulness ("How Are You?""Natural Gift"), and often make the same political points he'd been pounding on for years (the loud, plodding "Working At The Factory," yet another record industry slam; title track, yet another generic corporate sendup)."Rock 'N' Roll Cities," with Avory on drums)."Come Dancing," "Think Visual," "Destroyer," and "Give The People What They Want," the major exception being "Apeman" (Ray plays about five seconds of "Lola" as well).Ian Gibbons appears here, and I believe he left the band shortly afterwards."My Generation," there's little of the annoying nostalgia of earlier 80s records.Phobia (1993)
This one was a disappointment, doing more poorly than any of the band's new studio LPs back to the lean years of the early 70s.Still, if you like the Kinks' last few records you'll like this one too.As far as I know there's no particular reason to think that the Kinks will either cut a new record or tour as a unit any time soon, despite the fact that both of the Davies brothers continue to tour separately.The track selection includes some oldies like "Victoria" and "See My Friends" and some new titles.RemainsAlex ChiltonThe TelefonesThe SmithereensBronco BullfrogThe GurusBig StarFormal ConnectionsNicky HopkinsPerformed Songs ByR.Shop Amazon for low prices on a vast selection of new and used music.Although they weren't as boldly innovative as the Beatles or as popular as the Rolling Stones or the Who, the Kinks were one of the most influential bands of the British Invasion.The KinksBy: The KinksCredited Role:Main PerformerSong List: You Really Got Me, All Day And All Of the Night, Tired Of W...Shop Amazon for low prices on a vast selection of new and used music.Download Instantly in 30 Seconds.Buy a wide variety of music cds at low price from Mack CD Superstore.Download Ringtones from KINKS.Learn more about our paid syndication program. |
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