The Kinks Discussion and Appreciation Thread

[Freddie French-Pounce]

I did a quick search on the board and couldn't find a proper topic dedicated to just general Kinks discussion. Thus one was needed!

So anyway, The Kinks, probably one of the most under appreciated groups of all time outside of the few known hits! What would you say is their best era? Best album? What needs to be released, and what do you find sets them apart from everyone else?

I always find the favourite album question a tough call, but usually answer the question with Arthur. Shangri-La is one of the greatest songs I've ever heard by anyone, and is there a more carefree song than Drivin'? And the Beach Boys references in Australia are something I clearly appreciate.

Anything from Kontroversy up to Muswell Hillbilles is pure gold, and there's still some great stuff beyond that. Sleepwalker is a hidden gem for sure!

I was also lucky enough to be at Ray's 'Mastertapes' Interview/Acoustic Show for Radio 4 at the end of last year, which was certainly a bizarre experience to have him sat there in his trainers and unkempt wollen fleece. Great as ever though.

[alf wiedersehen]

Their best era, I would say, definitely has to be 65-71. As much as I love The Village Green Preservation Society, my favorite album would have to be Something Else by The Kinks.. by the Kinks; first album of theirs I listened to.

I have Arthur and I've listened to it once or twice, but I wasn't really grabbed by it like I was the other two albums I own. I'll have to give it more tries, I s'pose.

[EgoHanger1966]

my favorite album would have to be Something Else by The Kinks.. by the Kinks; .

This is the one.

[Domino]

The Kinks best album is probably Village Green. But I think they have many VERY underrated albums in the 70s, especially Soap Opera and Low Budget.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Dave Davies has recovered sufficiently enough from his stroke that he played some small solo gigs earlier in 2013 and is going on another short solo tour in November.

[Gabo]

Their best era, I would say, definitely has to be 65-71. As much as I love The Village Green Preservation Society, my favorite album would have to be Something Else by The Kinks.. by the Kinks; first album of theirs I listened to.

I have Arthur and I've listened to it once or twice, but I wasn't really grabbed by it like I was the other two albums I own. I'll hive to give it more tries, I s'pose.

I  like Something Else a lot but I think Dave's tracks dilutes it. His songs just aren't as good as Ray's. I play Village Green much more than Something Else, but both are excellent.

GOD SAVE THE KINKS

Besides Village Green and Something Else, I only have The Essential Collection. I will probably buy Muswell next, because of the track Have A Cuppa Tea, which I don't already own.

[Rocky Raccoon]

Can it be? http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/04/kinks-tour-2014-ray-dave-davies

I would love to see a reunion, hopefully it would also include Mick Avory, Jim Rodford, and Ian Gibbons.

[bluesno1fann]

My favourite era of the Kinks would be the 1986 to 1993 with their last great albums..... said NO ONE EVER!

In all seriousness, their best era was from 1964 to 1971, some of their albums from that era are just brilliant. But I like the hit singles the most

[Freddie French-Pounce]

Ray said it best at the interview I saw:

"No group failed, time and time again, as much as The Kinks"

[Gabo]

Ray said it best at the interview I saw:

"No group failed, time and time again, as much as The Kinks"

Yeah, it's pretty sad from about 1968 on the band was commercially dead in the water, aside from the occasional hit like "Lola."

I really feel like The Kinks need to reissue their music in the US and go on a big advertizing blitz. It's time for The Kinks to become accepted by a wider audience outside of the UK.

[Vegetable Man]

Man, The Kinks are such an odd group, and I love 'em. Their albums from 65-71 are fantastic."Village Green Preservation Society" is one of those rare albums that I can pick up and listen to at any time. It reminds me a lot of "Friends", another album I can listen to without having to be in a 'mood' or whatever. And don't even get me started on their singles. "Autumn Almanac" and "Waterloo Sunset" were probably two of the best singles of '67. Even after the concept albums started, they could still churn out a pretty good song or two. Good gracious. The story of the Kinks truly is a long and bumpy one.  God Save the Kinks indeed.

[Rocky Raccoon]

Yeah, it's pretty sad from about 1968 on the band was commercially dead in the water, aside from the occasional hit like "Lola."

Not necessarily.  The Low Budget and State of Confusion albums were actually pretty big hits.

[Lonely Summer]

Their best era, I would say, definitely has to be 65-71. As much as I love The Village Green Preservation Society, my favorite album would have to be Something Else by The Kinks.. by the Kinks; first album of theirs I listened to.

I have Arthur and I've listened to it once or twice, but I wasn't really grabbed by it like I was the other two albums I own. I'll hive to give it more tries, I s'pose.

I disagree 100%. I always looked forward to those Dave tracks on the albums. Not nearly as prolific as Ray, but the contrast in their writing styles is one of the things I love about the group. That and those harmonies.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I actually dig their comeback era from Sleepwalker through Word Of Mouth!

[pixletwin]

The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society is one of my all time favorite albums.

Also Picture Book is brilliant.

That is all.

[Freddie French-Pounce]

Fun fact:
Picture Book - The Kinks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aaah-T0PBD0
Warning - Green Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKBU6gOlgR4

[pixletwin]

Da Dirty Rip Offs. 

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Lola is actually one of my all-time favorite albums by anyone ever!

[Lonely Summer]

I actually dig their comeback era from Sleepwalker through Word Of Mouth!

We all agree that their 60's stuff is classic, but I grew up with the latter day Kinks music, so it's the stuff I have the most personal attachment to. I remember driving around in the summer with the State of Confusion cassette playing in a friend's car, still one of the best albums they ever did.

[Mike's Beard]

Proof that post classic Kinks still could eat the average band for breakfast. Dave is God here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzjoqpTqSR4

[Aum Bop Diddit]

Have discussed the Kinks on many a Beach Boys message board, pointing out the similarities between the two great(est) bands.  For starters, Ray and Brian have  the same middle name  .  But more to the point, siblings in the band, early commercial burst followed by horrible sales in what many consider their peak years artistically, years of touring lead to crack live performing, then followed by a resurgence of popularity in mid-70s to early/mid 80s.  Both bands should be considered and rewarded as in the very top pantheon of bands (Beatles/Stones/Who/Zep etc.) but for various reasons -- including a nonpareil ability for self sabotage -- that is nowhere near the case.

And yet they are my very two favorite bands.  Partially because of a great vulnerability, whimsy, and gentle strength at the heart of their greatest songs and performances.  Which isn't to say that they couldn't rock, cos they could.

One of my first LPs was the "Kinks Greatest Hits", with "All Day and All of the Night" and all that and it blew my mind.  I caught up again after seeing them live in '74 touring behind the fairly lame "Soap Opera", but whatta show.  I then was able to get "Kinks Kronikles" (where to start) and then discover "Something Else", Arthur", "Village Green" and so forth.  My vote for the great ignored Kinks album would be "Schoolboys in Disgrace."  Pretty much every LP in their latter days has at least a few good to great tracks.

[Moon Dawg]

 The Kinks have a BIG anniversary coming up. Like The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones, they are set to go "where no rock band have gone before" - the big 50. Hope we see Dave, Ray, Mick Avory, and assorted Kinks from over the years on tour in 2014!

[Lonely Summer]

I'm not holding my breath - Dave and Mick never liked each other, and still don't want to work together; Dave thinks he and Ray should tour again, but doesn't want to be locked up in a studio 24/7 with his older brother; Ray, on the other hand, doesn't want to do a reunion unless there is new music involved.

[Moon Dawg]

  Somehow I think they'll find a way. Dave's dislike of Mick Avory has always annoyed me, btw.

  As always, God Save The Kinks.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I'm not holding my breath - Dave and Mick never liked each other, and still don't want to work together; Dave thinks he and Ray should tour again, but doesn't want to be locked up in a studio 24/7 with his older brother; Ray, on the other hand, doesn't want to do a reunion unless there is new music involved.

That's funny because Ray's talked recently about some ongoing "pet" project he and Mick have going on.

I saw Dave play in LA many years ago and someone yelled out "Waterloo Sunset" and Dave said "Ray wrote that one: the c***" ..... But then he did a gorgeous version of it all by himself.