The Kinks | CD review by Maggie Woods

“A fantastic blast from the past: The
Kinks In Mono is yet another brilliant
music gem rooted in the Sixties
that has travelled well over the years
to the 21st Century and follows the
welcome releases of the rock band’s
first seven albums earlier in the year...”

THE KINKS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE — at least, that's the way it seems. Founded in London in 1964 by brothers Ray (lead vocals and rhythm guitar) and Dave Davies (lead guitar, vocals), the band has proved itself over a number of decades and remains one of the most important and influential bands ever.

Now Sanctuary is releasing a huge, beautifully packaged ten-CD collection on 21 November with The Kinks' first seven LPs (from Kinks to Arthur), four extra EPs and two volumes of further collectables, all in the original mono, with sounds straight from recent music history that sound both fresh and nostalgic.

“The Kinks In Mono
is a must-have collection
that showcases an
absolutely fabulous band
that’s inspired
generations”
— Maggie Woods

Over the years there have been changes to the band's line-up. Originally Pete Quaife (bass guitar, vocals) and Mick Avory (drums, percussion) joined Ray and Dave, but were replaced by, respectively, John Dalton in the late Sixties and Bob Henrit in the mid-80s. Sadly, Pete Quaife passed away in 2010 after a lengthy illness.

In 1964 The Kinks first rose to prominence with the release of the catchy You Really Got Me, their third single, which became an international hit. The marvellous Indian-style See My Friend was a 1966 hit and during the same year Sunny Afternoon knocked the Beatles' Paperback Writer from the number one spot in the British charts. Death Of A Clown is a fine track; poignant and nostalgic.

Appealing and sexy, The Kinks have that enduring quality. Their music style is a mix of Rock, Rhythm & Blues, Folk, Country and Music Hall. Many of their songs reflect real-life situations: the amazing Lola, with an ambiguous gender; Lazing On A Sunny Afternoon (In The Summertime) is about a rock star who has fallen foul of the taxman; and Dead End Street about young people who are living in poverty because they haven't been given a chance in life. Ring any bells?

There are also feel-good, romantic tracks like Till The End Of The Day and the catchy You Really Got Me. Some songs hark very much back to previous decades: the quirky Dedicated Follower Of Fashion and Party Line, which refers to a now-obsolete telephone system. The unusual Louie, Louie is fabulous, with Ray Davies singing a delicious drawl; and the quirky, 1920's jazz-infused Village Green Preservation Society is a gem.

We also liked the folkish, beautifully constructed Nothing In This World (To Stop Me Worrying About That Girl), which is about a two-timing girl the singer cannot get off his mind despite her fickleness. Essences of folk, rock and jazz are liberally scattered throughout the collection

The boys' sexy, gravelly voices are great to listen to and their talent lives on. In the 1990's The Kinks discovered they could appeal to a new audience and a number of successful artistes named The Kinks as being inspirational to them.

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